Written by @Matt_Cee for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
The Trophee Hassan | Thursday 13 March – Sunday 16 March | Golf du Palais Royal
The European Tour heads to Morocco this week for the Trophee Hassan, an event which has in the past provided a lot of entertainment and some great golf. This year, the field appears to be missing a large number of the more well known players on the Tour, but with a few South Africans making an appearance it is one that local golf fans should be watching eagerly. The course measures in at 6,800 yards and is fairly tight, so accurate driving is a must. This is especially true considering the number of bunkers that players will be required to contend with. The course suits those who are accurate with their irons so approach play will be key , especially if the wind picks up at this coastal course. Last year the top players all hit their irons well and had great putting stats, so expect much of the same this time around. Who will win this one? Let’s have a look and see.
To Win Outright
George Coetzee 14/1
Ross Fisher 16/1
David Horsey 18/1
Mikko Ilonen 18/1
Rafael Cabrera Bello 25/1
VALUE BETS
Matthew Baldwin (35/1 a win, 77/10 a place)
In the absence of some of the bigger names on the Tour I always rate the chances of those who have fared well in past tournaments like these and Baldwin is such a player. A fifth place finish last year was a huge improvement on his 17th in 2012 and he appears to love the course. It certainly suits his accurate driving play and GIR% to a tee and he will be eager to one-up his performance last year and could easily find himself in the top five once again. A fifth in the Africa Open shows he has current form to back this course form up. Each way here is the bet for me.
Chris Wood (33/1 a win, 73/10 a place)
Chris Wood is another player whose game should suit this course perfectly. Looking at his performance of the past few years, his absence in 2012 and 2013 is concerning, but he did play prior to that and a few good rounds were intermingled with some shockers. I’m putting this to the side though because based on his current form and stats he should be able to string together a more convincing four rounds this year. The fact he is making a reappearance means that he could be ready to tear this course up. He’s a talented player in a field that he can beat, keep an eye on this guy.
Shane Lowry (70/1 a win, 15/10 a place)
Shane Lowry used to be a player to watch but he seems to have gone off the boil of late and I cannot remember the last time I saw his name anywhere near the top of the leaderboard. However, the wind could be blowing here this week and if there is one thing that this guy is known for, it’s his ability to play tight tracks in windy conditions. A top twenty here in 2012 bears testament to his ability to navigate the course and I reckon this could be his week for a comeback. 70/1 represents a lot of value to me so get on.
TOP BET: David Horsey (18/1 a win, 4/10 a place)
David Horsey comes into this as third favourite and I firmly believe that this is an oversight on behalf of the bookies, who don’t seem to have realised that whilst George Coetzee is playing some great golf at the moment, this course simply does not suit his game. That is not the case for the Englishman though, as he has proven in the past that he has what it takes to handle the technical layout. Having finished second last year, he comes into this on the back of some incredible form. A great run in South Africa saw him finish tenth and third in the Joburg Open and Africa Open respectively and he will be eager to claim his first win of the season here. Each way on Horsey is the bet for me.
