Written by Commodore Vegas for @Hollywoodbets.
Shenzhen International Open | Thursday 21 April – Sunday 24 April | Genzon Golf Club
After just one week on the mainland, The European Tour heads back to Asia this week for the second edition of the Shenzhen International Open. Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson tops the bill and the betting, but he will face stern competition from a strong Asian contingent including last year’s winner Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
Apart from last year’s event, the Genzon Golf Club also played host to the 2014 Volvo Masters, won by Alex Levy, so there is some course form to go on. Any player who can hit the ball long and straight will give themselves a massive chance, with much of the scoring done over the long holes.
Both previous winners here have also fared well on the first day, with Levy going wire-to-wire, so perhaps an in-running punt is in order. There may be less value in backing the shorter prices, but a win is a win. This isn’t the time to get greedy. Now let’s go find us a winner.
To Win Outright
Bubba Watson 11/2 | Kirradech Aphibarnrat 12/1 | Joost Luiten 14/1 | Ross Fisher 18/1 | Tommy Fleetwood 25/1
Value Bets
Scott Hend (55/1 Win & 12/1 Place)
If there is one player who will be overjoyed about a return to Asia, it will be Hend. The Australian took home the True Thailand Classic earlier this year, while his only other victory on tour came at the Hong Kong Open in 2014. A 15th placed finish on his course debut last year is not to be overlooked, where he went 7-under through the long holes. He has the game to come out on top here and he has my backing.
Lucas Bjerregaard (60/1 Win & 13/1 Place)
A pair of 67s last year show Bjerregaard has what it takes to go low here. Unlike Valderrama last week, the course will play to his strengths. He has yet to win on the European Tour, but a second place finish behind Justin Rose at the 2015 UBS Hong Kong Open and a T3 in Shanghai suggest Asia might be the place to break his duck. A tour victory doesn’t seem far off, but at 48/1, an each-way bet seems the way to go here.
Haydn Porteous (70/1 & 15/1)
At just 21-years old, Porteous looks very much the future of South African golf. The big-hitting youngster from Modderfontein took home the Joburg Open earlier this year and followed that up with two top 10 finishes in Tshwane and Dubai. He may have had a tough time of it at Valderrama, but the layout here is more to his liking. If he can control that booming drive of his, being a patriotic punter could pay off very handsomely indeed.
Best Bet
Tommy Fleetwood (25/1 Win & 11/2 Place)
After finishing 2nd here in 2014 and 3rd in 2015, I’m backing Fleetwood to go one better this year. It’s clear that the Englishman loves this course, having gone a combined 26-under over those eight rounds, shooting nothing worse than 70. It’s hard to go against such strong form and with the British contingent having a great time of it lately, whose to say we won’t see another winner from them this week. Get onside at 22/1 and watch him shorten.
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