The new European golfing year starts this week after the drama of the DP World Tour Championship, with the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship taking place at Leopard Creek Country Club in South Africa.
As beautiful as this course clearly is, many of Europe’s elite have chosen to take a break as the festive season draws near. As a result many of the leading candidates are local, with the favourite being South African Brandon Stone.
He clearly has a chance, and we wouldn’t put anyone off, but we’re going to side with his compatriot Zander Lombard. Last time out he finished eighth in the Nedbank, also held in South Africa but with a much more classy field. Play of similar quality could see him getting very close this week, and let’s not forget he finished third here last year.
Our each way selection is another South African – Hennie Otto. Good enough to have won three times on the European Tour, Otto had fallen on harder times. However, he’s been playing well again on the Sunshine Tour of late, including winning an event. He should know the course, and we’ll take a punt.
Recommendations:
Lombard to win, 1 pt, at 22/1, widely available
Otto 0.5 pts each way at 100/1, 1/5 the odds for the first seven places, SkyBet
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