The NH Collection Open Preview

This week marks the first instalment of the NH Collection Open and the event has drawn a field that consists of a number of previous European Tour winners, with even more up-and-comers who will be eager to prove their worth in what should be an interesting event. With its wide, long fairways the course is almost certainly going to favour the big hitters and accuracy off the tee won’t be a factor as wayward drives will not be punished. The real challenge is going to come on the undulating greens, so watch out for players who are good with the putter. If the wind blows, which it is known to do in this area, iron play will also be an important factor so keep an eye on players who can put it close from the fairway. So who has it in them to win this one? Let’s have a look.

David Horsey  14/1

Alejandro Canizares  16/1

Bernd Wiesberger  16/1

Lucas Bjerregaard  22/1

Simon Dyson  25/1

As you would expect, there is a strong Spanish presence competing here and Canizares looks the best of the locals to go far here. A strong start to the season saw him finish fifth at the Qatar Masters and he showed it was no flash in the pan when he converted that form into a win at the Trophee Hassan II. He generally plays his golf out of Club de Golf Valderrama, which is in the same area as this course, and so will be familiar with the conditions. A win here looks possible for this talented golfer so get on soon.

A disappointing year resulted in Ramsay falling off of the radar of a lot of punters, but he has returned with a bang this season and his form is steadily improving.  His best finish so far came a few weeks ago where some consistent golf in competitive conditions saw him finish just outside of the Top 10 at the Trophee Hassan II. Against this field, he should be confident that he can finish inside the Top 5. 25/1 looks about right on Ramsay, get on before he shortens.

Paul Waring has been struggling with injury lately but he seems to have returned to his best over the past few weeks. This was evident when he finished inside the Top 25 at the Tshwane Open, an event he could have done even better in had he started the week off on a better note, and a Top 10 in the Trophee Hassan showed he has what it takes to get close. He’ll relish the idea of competing against this field and will almost certainly be keen to get inside the Top 5 for the first time this year.

It’s not often I get to tip a 100/1 shot but this week I reckon Richard Finch has a serious chance of getting close. A talented player who has fared well in Spain over the course of his career, he is well known to be someone who can handle windy conditions and will be eager to show the young guns what he can do. He’s had a great start to the season with a second-place finish at the Dunhill Championship and an impressive eighth in Hong Kong. Hollywood have him on offer at 9/1 to finish inside the Top 10, so that looks a lot of value to me, but put a little something on him to go all the way. At 100/1 you can’t go wrong.