We’re moving on to big things, with a major and plenty of other tournaments to get stuck into. Over on Out of the Rough, you’ll find my preview of the Colonial Life Charity Classic, a new tournament at a new course on the KFT. At some point soon you’ll also find my preview of the Challenge de Catalunya, a new tournament at a well-known course on the HPT. Which leaves us with a beloved Sunshine Tour event, and the small matter of the PGA Championship. Worth noting that the International Series event in Vietnam, much ballyhooed, appears not to be taking place this week.

Beginning with the lesser event, the Kit-Kat Pro-am (put the capital letters wherever you want in that ridiculous name) is a rock-solid Sunshine Tour event, and you only have to look at the performance of Yurav Premlall this week to see the value of keeping an eye on that tour. Played at Irene Country Club, this is a short, classical test and it is a shame that frequent contenders like Kieran Vincent and Jonathan Broomhead miss it. Instead, I’m going for two emerging talents with decent prices and some good course form, Estiaan Conradie and Gerhard Pepler. The former is an absurd price.

I’ve already backed Tommy Fleetwood for the PGA Championship, but I’ve been convinced that he’s not worth the price I have him at (28/1) given that he’s neither long enough to get over the hazards from the tee nor accurate enough with long irons. Still, I’ll hold onto hope that he can grab us a place. I’d like to add a couple of other players at longer prices, and that’s Chris Gotterup and Akshay Bhatia, both of whom are powerful drivers and good putters, both of whom are younger US players (a group with a great record in this event) and both of whom look like value to me. I’ll also take the pair of them, with Rickie Fowler, in the first round leader market.

PGA Championship
Tommy Fleetwood, 28/1, ¼ odds 5 places, Bet365 (advised in December)
Chris Gotterup, 55/1, 1/5 odds 8 places, Betfred
Akshay Bhatia, 90/1, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365

PGA Championship FRL
Chris Gotterup, 55/1
Akshay Bhatia, 70/1
Rickie Fowler, 60/1
All ¼ odds 5 places, Ladbrokes

Challenge de Catalunya
TBC

Colonial Life Charity Classic
Jeremy Gandon, 33/1
Adam Hadwin, 75/1
Ben Kohles, 40/1
All 1pt e/w, 1/4 odds 5 places, Bet365

Kit-Kat Pro-am
Estiaan Conradie, 140/1
Gerhard Pepler, 33/1

I’ll also be turning all my HPT, KFT and PGA picks into e/w trebles and doubles, and will be backing all of them in the FRL market as well (except Fleetwood will be replaced by Fowler in the FRL market).

We’ve four more to look at, so let’s quickly clear LIV off the table – I think that the Virginia course is as fair a test as the doomed circuit has to offer and any of the bigger names could win. For reasons of value, and the sense that he has the least to worry about concerning his future playing time, Tyrell Hatton is my sole pick.

Of slightly more interest, but I’m getting sick of reduced field Signature Events, the Truist is back at Quail Hollow. Whilst I agree with the consensus that length matters, I think the reliance on ATG statistics is overdone – partly because I think the best players will minimise the need to scramble here, and partly because the statistics are, in my opinion, quite noisy. All of which is to say I’m taking a risk that Viktor Hovland will chip well enough to win, given his tee to green prowess as his game returns closer to his brilliant best. I’m also keen to given Daniel Berger another chance at an event that should suit despite an indifferent record to date.

A much lesser event, but of greater betting interest, Myrtle Beach is undoubtedly the pick of the courses for the opposite field events and I’m starting my selections with one of the classiest players in the field, as I continue to anticipate Billy Horschel returning to his best following injury. I’m coupling him with a pair of Europeans who can score heavily and, on their day, putt the lights out – Adrien Dumont de Chassart and Sami Valimaki.

Finally, the welcome return of the Catalunya Open sees a great course and a so-so field assembled as the DPWT returns to Europe for the first time. I am just looking for tee to green accuracy and experience, and that leads me to Matteo Manassero and Jacques Kruyswijk. Such is my faith in the quality, especially on tight courses, of Jayden Schaper that I’m willing to overlook both his youth and his price.

Catalunya Open:
Jayden Schaper, 16/1, 2pts win only, Unibet
Matteo Manassero, 45/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 7 places, Ladbrokes
Jacques Kruyswijk, 100/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365

Truist Championship:
Viktor Hovland, 33/1
Daniel Berger, 80/1
Both 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365

Myrtle Beach:
Billy Horschel,45/1
Adrien Dumont de Chassart, 35/1
Sami Valimaki, 35/1
All 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365

LIV Virginia:
Tyrell Hatton, 10/1, 2pts win only, Ladbrokes

Italian Challenge:
TBC

As ever, there’ll be first round leader action on the PGA and DPWT events, as well as doubles on my Myrtle Beach and Catalunya picks and a Canadian on Hatton, Valimaki, Schaper, Hovland and my leading pick from the Italian Challenge. Best of luck to everyone following along.

Doral means bombers and this isn’t a field with a lot of realistic chances, I don’t think. I want someone really strong off the tee but also able to manage an all-round game. Unfortunately I don’t want Cam Young at the prices, which makes this tough. I’m taking Chris Gotterup, Sahith Theegala and Nicolai Hojgaard.

Turkey, meanwhile, is a new course but it looks like accuracy is going to be at a premium. Despite the attractions of Daniel Hillier and Jayden Schaper I’m again going to turn them down on grounds of value. I will take Oliver Lindell, Marcus Armitage, and Davis Bryant.

Next week will see this blog start to earn the “all tour” respect it is currently lacking, with the chance to look at two PGA events, a DPWT and LIV event, and the return of both the HPT and the Sunshine. Happy May!

Cadillac Championship:
Chris Gotterup, 22/1
Nicolai Hojgaard, 45/1
Sahith Theegala, 60/1
All 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365

Turkish Airlines Open:
Oliver Lindell, 25/1
Marcus Armitage, 60/1
Davis Bryant, 80/1
All 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365

As ever, I’ll have a small bit on each of these in the FRL market and will also have 9 e/w doubles!

Volvo China Open:
Ewan Ferguson, 27/1, 2pts enhanced win only, Bet365.
No other picks this week. I’ll also take Ferguson in the FRL market.

Moving on to a new week, we have the excellent but badly positioned RBC Heritage to look forward to, together with a small but charming event on the Sunshine Tour and two events in Mexico. Please note that there were a few errors in my schedule, which I’ve corrected – and I’ve also added the newly confirmed events for the start of the Sunshine Tour season. That’s all in with the updated ledger. As to Mexico, the Tulum Championship on the KFT will of course be covered on Out of the Rough.

The Heritage is back at Hilton Head and despite the renovation this is going to be all about approach play and scrambling, with course knowledge at a premium. I suspect that the work on the greens will mean that they are even harder to hit than in normal years. I’m taking two players with a great record here, Matt Fitzpatrick and Sahith Theegala together with perhaps the best scrambler in the field who isn’t Scottie Scheffler or Justin Thomas, Harry Hall.

LIV are hosting the second of the Mexican events and it’s a shame they’ve moved to Chapultapec from the far more interesting Mayakoba course. I’m looking here for good drivers and putters, and I’m also looking for form players who haven’t been through the Masters wrangler but are in decent form. That made the selections fairly easy, with Thomas Detry a confident pick and Caleb Surratt a clear bit of value.

Finally, the Mediclinic Invitational returns to the Sunshine Tour (played once before, in January 2025). We’re just south of Johannesburg/Pretoria at Heron Banks, which is a typical modern golf course, and not as long as it seems given the altitude. It’s hosted one Sunshine Tour event and multiple Q-school events. From the leaderboards and course reviews it seems clear that approach play is critical. This looks like a good place for Nikhil Rama to step forward and win his maiden event. I’m sure I’ve written that before, but he was 8^th here in 2025 and is playing better golf this season. Similarly, after some weaker months Jonothan Broomhead is showing signs of returning to his best, and he was third here in 2025 as well as finishing second in 2023 Q-School. A warning that this event starts on Wednesday, local time.

RBC Heritage:
Matt Fitzpatrick, 18/1, 2pts win only, Sporting Index
Harry Hall, 75/1, 1pt e/w, 1/4 odds 5 places, Bet365
Sahith Theegala, 55/11pt e/w, 1/4 odds 5 places, Bet365

LIV Mexico:
Thomas Detry, 18/1, 2pts win only, Sporting Index
Caleb Surratt, 60/1,1pt e/w, 1/4 odds 5 places, Bet365

Mediclinic Invitational:
Jonothan Broomhead, 33/1
Nikhil Rama, 70/1
Both 1pt e/w, 1/4 odds 5 places, Bet365

Tulum Championship:
Adam Hadwin, 60/1
Taylor Montgomery, 33/1
Davis Shore, 60/1
All 1pt e/w, 1/4 odds 5 places, Bet365

As ever, FRL bets will be placed on all of these selections (except for Mediclinic) and I’ll have e/w doubles and trebles on all my PGA, KFT and LIV picks too.

I have updated my ledger after a quiet and intensely frustrating week last week, and I have had a few bets. I have already recommended, and bet on, Scottie Scheffler to win and JJ Spaun to make the top ten (with ties) and they are the first leg of two of my yankees, with Hideki Matsuyama the third. I was tempted to bet on Matsuyama but the value has gone with a number of prominent tipsters taking him early.

So, I’m adding a few other bets. First is Sami Valimaki who I’m taking as top debutant at 18/1, in my belief that his experience, power and all-round game will be suited to Augusta. Three places in this market is generous. I also have my usual missed cut bet on a number of players I am keen to oppose. This is a Heinz of players at decent odds as the cutline will be hard to miss, but if a two or three struggle this can be profitable. It’s also fun, in a grim sort of way. I’m against Jon Rahm (general, ongoing prejudice against his golf game that I can’t fully explain or justify with stats), Jordan Spieth (can’t putt, can’t drive, not worth the hype), Shane Lowry, Patrick Cantlay, Russell Henley and, thanks to the injury, Collin Morikawa. His injury is sufficiently bad that he’s missing from some odds boards.

Finally, I have to have a look at the first round leader market. I am taking Patrick Reed and Adam Scott as veterans who play this course well and can spike, and I’m also taking another flier on my man Sami Valimaki.

What do I think will happen this week? Well, I think we’ll see a dominant display and probably a comparatively boring week – after last week, that seems inevitable. With the greens particularly firm and the need for game management, iron play and great hands around the green, I still think Scheffler is by a margin the likeliest winner. Boring, yes, and not worth a further bet, but that’s where the smart expectation is.

To miss the cut Heinz: Rahm (11/2), Spieth (12/5), Lowry (2/1), Cantlay (2/1), Henley (12/5), Morikawa (11/4). 0.02pts per line = 1.14 lines, pays up to 220pts. Bet365

Top Debutant: Sami Valimaki, 18/1, 0.5pts e/w, ¼ odds 3 places, Bet365.

First Round Leader:
Patrick Reed, 35/1
Adam Scott, 45/1
Sami Valimaki, 100/1
All 0.5pts e/w, ¼ odds 5 places, Bet365

Already Advised:
Scottie Scheffler, Master, 2pts win only, 17/5
JJ Spaun, Masters, 2pts top ten (including ties), 9/2
Both Bet365

First of those is the International Series which returns for the year and is back in Japan after a break, at the Caledonia Club. This is a tight, classical and tree-lined course and not too long, which isn’t ideal for favourite Wenyi Ding. I’m looking to take him on and my two against the field are HPT emerging talent Julian Perico and quiet performer at DPWT level Kota Koneko, neither of whom are priced to match my view of their skills here.

Over in the USA, we have the Texas Open, which is a longish course that is still all about second shots and short games. After Jordan Smith and SH Kim performed very well for us at the Valspar both are selected to do the same again at a course which makes similar demands. My third pick may be the most motivated of the shorter priced players and is certainly the one I think represents the best value, Alex Noren.

Valero Texas Open
Alex Noren, 33/1
Jordan Smith, 55/1
SH Kim, 140/1
All 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365

LECOM Suncoast Classic
Blades Brown, 20/1, 2pts win only, Fitzdares
Noah Goodwin, 60/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 6 places, SportingIndex
John Marshall Butler, 200/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 7 places, Fitzdares

IS Japan
Kota Kaneko, 35/1
Julian Perico, 60/1
Both 1pt e/w, 1/4 odds 5 places, Bet365

I do like the Indian Open. Obviously, the course is bonkers and the players will be losing their minds, but it is a lovely betting opportunity. Partly that’s because of misinformation – it is quoted as a 7,600 yard course but it never plays to anything like that length as they muck about with tees – but mostly it is because, however long it is, disaster lurks everywhere. You can’t pick bombers here. Smart, accurate players who putt and scramble well, hit good medium to long irons and are mentally strong are the order of the day. Experience in physically tough conditions appears to help too – plenty of successful links players, guys with form at altitude and in hot conditions are also effective. For some reason, it is a course that has seemed to suit Japanese players, but this year I can’t find any that I think represent value and have the necessary form. I’m happy enough to take on Akshay Bhatia (distracted by the circus around him, potentially frustrated by conditions) and David Puig (not convinced his short game will hold up) with the experienced and back-to-his-best Nathan Kimsey together with two vastly overpriced youngsters, Davis Bryant and Cameron Adam.

Over in Houston, I’m looking for a very different kind of player. This really is about power off the tee, coupled with great scrambling and putting. I’m still looking for experience and I’m also looking for players with a history of going well on courses where birdies aren’t widely available. That leads me to a team of Ryan Fox, Max Greyserman and Davis Riley, all of whom were at longer prices than I expected. Can Scottie make a mockery of this event? Absolutely, and I wouldn’t be surprised. But at the prices, I’m happy to look elsewhere and even place money would be appealing.

Indian Open
Nathan Kimsey, 20/1
Davis Bryant, 110/1
Cameron Adam, 200/1
All 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365.

Houston Open
Ryan Fox, 75/1
Max Greyserman, 66/1
Davis Riley, 350/1
All 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365.

Club Car Championship
Greyson Sigg, 45/1
Ben Silverman, 40/1
Nick Gabrelcik, 60/1
All 1pt e/w, ¼ odds 5 places, Bet365. Better odds may come available as other markets open.

I don’t know how often I’ve said that I’m getting tired of moral victories, but once again I sit down to write after a (marginally) losing week and with a ledger showing a 41 point loss on the season to date. Coincidentally, that’s the difference between a place and a win for Matt Fitzpatrick, who came awfully close to winning in The Players and was trading odds-on after 70 holes. It is one point fewer than we’d have picked up had Joaquin Niemann completed the last ten holes in par and stayed dry on the playoff hole (he was trading odds-on after 64 holes). So another frustrating week but I still see a method that’s working and some good options for the week ahead.

With a PGTI event still being co-sanctioned with the Hotel Planner Tour, I’ll have an article up in the next couple of days on Out of the Rough about that. Here, we’ll cover the Valspar, the first LIV event in South Africa and a DPWT event in China. Let’s take the last first and look at the Hainan Classic which I think is a serious betting opportunity. We know at this point what is needed – serious power from the tee and a solid approach game. The addition of a second course probably increases the importance of approach play slightly but doesn’t change things too much. We also need to acknowledge that this is the weakest DPWT event in a while and we have a justifiable favourite at 11/1 who is yet to win at this level. Much though I love Angel Ayora, I am happy to take him on.

I think that Wenyi Ding isn’t playing well enough despite homefield advantage. I was tempted by Oliver Lindell and Niklas Norgaard, both of whom should enjoy the challenge, but I think that there’s too much value further down the board to pick one of the favourites. I’m grabbing a trio of Swedish Hotel Planner Tour graduates who have serious power and who all played well in China last year in Hugo Townsend, Tobias Jonsson and Albin Bergstrom and adding, for pure value and despite his current form, powerhouse Ivan Cantero. Regular readers will know how rare it is for me to reach four players for a single tournament so make of that what you will.

LIV South Africa is easily dealt with – it is a course requiring power from the tee and excellence on approach. It’ll also be played at altitude with players having limited time to adjust from a big change in weather and conditions after Singapore. I think this gives the advantage to home star Dean Burmester who was second in the sole DPWT event here, whilst I’m also keen to keep David Puig onside in an event that should suit him perfectly. Jon Rahm is playing very well, as is Bryson DeChambeau, and Joaquin Niemann cannot be ignored but that does lead to appealing prices elsewhere.

Finally the Valspar – and as I said last week, my favourite course of the Florida Swing by far – and I’m looking for excellent putters who can also be tidy from tee to green. This is a course with lots of crossover to the Sony and I have one pick in common from that event, in blog favourite SH Kim. I’m also picking former Sony winner Nick Taylor together with Jordan Smith who played well enough in patches in the Cognizant and will again find a course to his liking here. As with the Hainan Open, this looks to me like an event with plenty of value away from the top of the market.

Hainan Open:
Hugo Townsend, 66/1
Tobias Jonsson, 450/1
Albin Bergstrom, 80/1
Ivan Cantero, 100/1
All 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 5 places, Bet365
You might get better odds for Bergstrom and Townsend if you’re willing to take 6 places and can get on with BetMGM

Valspar Championship:
Nick Taylor, 35/1
Jordan Smith, 80/1
SH Kim, 170/1
All 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 5 places, Bet365

LIV South Africa:
Dean Burmester, 16/1
David Puig, 16/1
Both 2pts win only, Bet365

PGTI Open - TBC

As ever, small bets for FRL on each of these selections. I’ll also have an e/w yankee on Townsend, Taylor, Burmester and my shortest-priced PGTI player, and I’ll have 12 e/w doubles on my PGA and DPWT picks. Let’s hope this is the week our luck turns!

Moving into the new week, the Indian event that was supposed to be co-sanctioned with the Hotel Planner Tour is now solely a PGTI event and isn’t one I have a strong view on, so there’ll be no coverage there. I’m interested in the Serengeti playoffs on the Sunshine Tour but waiting for more odds, so keep an eye on twitter/x for any picks for that. Which just leaves The Players and LIV Singapore. The latter is a long test on paspalum and very different from the Hong Kong event and is a chance for two of the more athletic and powerful young players to step up on previous form, so I’ll be looking at Joaquin Niemann and Tom McKibbin to star for us.

The Players, which is not a major, is the most interesting of the true Florida tests (I prefer the Valspar at Copperhead, but in my mind that’s a Carolina course that just happens to be in Florida) but that just makes it ordinarily boring rather than unsubtle and tedious beyond belief (yes, I’m talking about Bay Hill. Yawn. Binary tests are not fun.). This is a great field and should be an interesting test but I’m less excited than the bulk of golf fans. I’m looking for accuracy from tee to green and good scrambling, as well as course form where there’s experience. I’m also taking outsiders so I’m going to recommend getting involved in the first round leader market with all three picks, too.

Corey Conners last five finishes here have been 7^th, 26^th, MC, 13^th and 6^th, and he comes here with improving iron play leading to a decent enough week in Bay Hill, and at a very attractive price. I also think that people may have been a week early on Matt Fitzpatrick, who has shown enough to finish 9^th and 5^th here but has never really performed as I’d expect him to on a course that is ideal for his game. Needs to dial in his irons after a tough week at Bay Hill but a shorter and more accuracy-driven course will help with that. Finally, I’ve been trying to back Christiaan Bezuidenhout less often as I am drawn to his game like a moth to a flame, but this is a much more suitable test than Puerto Rico, where he finished 8^th (albeit against a much weaker field). He’s trending in the right direction during a strong build-up and his record here has two 13^th places before a missed cut last year. He can surprise.

The Players:
Corey Conners, 90/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365
Matt Fitzpatrick, 40/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365
Christiaan Bezuidenhout, 100/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 10 places, Ladbrokes

The Players (First Round Leader):
Corey Conners, 70/1
Matt Fitzpatrick, 45/1
Christiaan Bezuidenhout, 70/1
All 0.5pts e/w, ¼ odds 5 places, Bet365

LIV Singapore:
Joaquin Niemann, 20/1, 2pts win only, Sporting Index
Tom McKibbin, 30/1, 1pt e/w, ¼ odds 5 places, Bet365

Serengeti Playoffs - TBC

No early bets this week (though if you’re interested in the ECCO event again, I would cheerfully go back to the well with Jean Bekirian whilst Herman Wibe Sekne remains a young Norwegian I have high hopes for) and I’m keeping away from the women’s and old men’s golf, but that still leaves five tournaments for me to cover. The Chile Classic on the KFT will be elsewhere whilst the accursed Florida Swing continues with the Arnold Palmer. There’s also the final DPWT event in South Africa, an opposite field PGA event and the return of LIV after a brief break.

Dealing with LIV first and most straightforwardly, we know what’s needed around Hong Kong and that’s strong game management, accuracy from the tee and good putting and scrambling. Defending champion Sergio Garcia might not be my favourite golfer but I think he’s overpriced here and I’m happy to go back in, whilst Elvis Smylie lacks course experience but is ideally suited to this test and better than plenty of these. The prestige event of the week is the Arnold Palmer and I hate the course, the small field, and everything about it. That said, it is the first properly hard test of the year on the PGA card and as such it provides an opportunity for players who do well in grinds, and I’m happy to keep Robert MacIntyre and Cameron Young onside.

The Joburg Open may be a weak DPWT event but as a betting prospect it is far more the sort of thing I enjoy betting on. We’re looking for greens in regulation merchants who can avoid the tricky rough, play to the right sides of doglegs and tricky approaches, and manage their games well. Of the younger players on tour, that suits Martin Couvra best and he’s showing a few signs of returning to his best. I’m also taking a pair of South Africans who know the course well and are playing good golf, and both have gone well in this; Thriston Lawrence and Daniel van Tonder.

Finally, over in Puerto Rico there’s essentially a hit and giggle on a coastal course that’ll be a birdie fest in the projected light winds, and we’re looking for long hitters who can putt the ball on paspalum. A real shame that big Sami Valimaki doesn’t start but I’ll take his fellow Scandinavian Jesper Svensson, whilst Adrien Dumont de Chassart is ready to make noise at this level and I’m even going to take a chance on the high class but badly out of form Frankie Capan who is at a ridiculous price.

Arnold Palmer Invitational:
Robert MacIntyre, 30/1
Cameron Young, 28/1
Both 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365

Puerto Rico Open:
Jesper Svensson, 35/1
Adrien Dumont de Chassart, 35/1
Frankie Capan, 275/1
All 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365

Joburg Open:
Thriston Lawrence, 22/1,1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365.
Daniel van Tonder, 40/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 7 places, Ladbrokes
Martin Couvra, 45/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 7 places, Ladbrokes

LIV Hong Kong:
Sergio Garcia, 35/1
Elvis Smylie, 35/1
Both 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 5 places, SportingIndex

Chile Classic:
Sandy Scott, 60/1
Nick Gabrelcik, 70/1
Yuta Sugiura, 150/1
All 1pt e/w, ¼ odds 5 places, Bet365.

I’ll be taking all of my picks in the FRL market as well - and thus far this season, that’s been the way to bet my selections. I’ll also have e/w doubles on my Chile Classic and Joburg Open picks, and an e/w Canadian on Scott, Garcia, Lawrence, Svensson and Young.

Moving on to the coming week, and hopefully many followers saw my Sunday tweet and discord messages about the ECCO Tour, where Jean Bekirian (30/1) and Mats Ege (20/1) are taking part for us down at Infinitum, with the former off to a hot start as I write this. I have looked seriously at the New Zealand Open but can’t find a way to oppose the favourites or value in backing them, so I’m reluctantly leaving them aside. I will have a KFT article up on Out of the Rough looking at the Argentine Open, so the only picks left to make are for the DPWT and PGA events.

Both are storied events, with the Cognizant, still thought of as the Honda by most of us, no longer quite the event it was. The South African Open remains the National event for – as we’ve just discussed – one of the biggest nations in golf, and as such is a big deal. I’m not sure that the return to the Stellenbosch course makes the best use of the wonderful arenas all around South Africa but at least the forecast is for warm and dry conditions so we should see 72 holes, something that Durban seemingly cannot provide. I looked seriously at backing Jarvis to win a second consecutive event on a course that should suit but in the end I’ve gone with the more accurate but shorter Jayden Schaper as my lead pick, looking to establish himself even higher in the pecking order of stars. Alongside him, I think that club member Keenan Davidse can build on some solid recent form and make some noise at an extraordinary price, whilst the best iron player in the field may just be Oliver Lindell so, despite a very ordinary record in South Africa to date, I’m taking a risk on his upside.

Over in Florida, I think that this test of risk-and-reward and of accuracy with every club will suit a few of the European imports, and whilst I thought about John Parry among others, in the end I am happy to lead my squad with Rasmus Neergard-Petersen and Jordan Smith – the latter being a player I never liked at the available prices on the DPWT but who is an appealing each-way price here in a fairly shallow PGA field. Of the US threats, my eye was drawn to Max McGreevy who went well here last year, putts well especially back on Bermudagrass, and is striking the ball particularly sweetly at the moment.

South African Open:
Jayden Schaper, 16/1, 2pts win only, Skybet
Oliver Lindell, 30/1, 1pt e/w, ¼ odds 5 places, Bet365
Keenan Davidse, 500/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 12 places, Skybet

Cognizant Classic:
Rasmus Neergard-Petersen, 30/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365
Jordan Smith, 45/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365
Max McGreevy, 33/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 10 places, Boylesports

Argentine Open:
Adam Hadwin, 28/1
Mason Anderson, 45/1
Tyler Duncan, 125/1
(If no Adam Hadwin in field) Mitchell Meissner, 40/1
All 1pt e/w, ¼ odds 5 places, Bet365

Infinitum ECCO Masters (Already advised and started):
Mats Ege, 20/1
Jean Bekirian, 30/1
Both 0.5pts e/w, ¼ odds 5 places, Fitzdares

The two other events I want to cover are the big ones, the Magical Kenya Open and Genesis Invitational. I came close to skipping the Genesis as I simply couldn’t find value against Scottie Scheffler. I’m firmly of the opinion that he is a golf completist and he’ll want a win at this prestige course. As it favours elite ball striking and strong scrambling, he’ll get one, and it could very well be this year. After a lot of thought, I think that the 16/5 enhanced win represents decent value, and I’ll have four of my usual six points for a tournament on him to win. The remaining two are attempts to get extra value as I think he could be dominant – one on him to go wire to wire as I don’t believe he’s stopped knowing how to play on Thursday, and one on him to lead after the second round and win. Let’s see if he can oblige.

The Magical Kenya was a little easier. This is an all-rounders course but good approach play on the classical course is ideal and I’ve got three players with a great GiR game and good history on this sort of track. Where prices are shorter, they’ve got great records in Africa, too. Casey Jarvis, JC Ritchie and Conor Syme.

Genesis Invitational:
Scottie Scheffler, 16/5, 4pts enhanced win only, Bet365.
Scottie Scheffler, 16/1 wire to wire winner, 1pt, Bet365.
Scottie Scheffler, 7/1 second round leader and winner, 1pt, Bet365.

Magical Kenya Open:
Casey Jarvis, 30/1
JC Ritchie, 33/1
Conor Syme, 75/1
All 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365

Jonsson Workwear Open:
Brandon Stone, 10/1, 2pts win only, Skybet
Nikhil Rama, 70/1, 1pt e/w, ¼ odds 5 places, Bet365
Matthew Southgate, 125/1, 1pt e/w, ¼ odds 5 places, Bet365

Other than the HPT event in South Africa, just two events to cover this week, neither of which, for different reasons, thrill me either as a punter or a viewer. LIV Adelaide may be the best fan experience that the breakaway tour offer but the timing is a nightmare and now that it is behind a paywall I imagine I’ll see none of it. However, I do think there’s some value in the defending tournament champion Joaquin Niemann who seems destined always to be underrated at this level and who played nicely enough in Riyadh on his return from a long break. I also think the course could set up well for Byeong Hun An, and Benny might represent the class drop between the PGA and LIV quite usefully.

Meanwhile, the PGA are at Pebble Beach for the usual slow rounds and split course event. I know that we’re supposed to be in awe of this event, and it is very pretty, but the course doesn’t stand up to modern equipment, the format is dreadful, the time of year idiotic for this part of the world, and the notion that this is a Signature Event and Phoenix isn’t makes me giggle in admiration. As with “The Players is better than a Major” the PGA seem to believe in speaking things into existence. Anyway, in calmer conditions and with the fairways drier than in some recent years, I’m looking for ball strikers with course form and a bit of value in the price. That, for me, means taking a risk that the good Viktor Hovland shows up, going back to the well with Daniel Berger, and coming back after a down week with Andrew Novak.

Finally, ahead of the start of the NTT Data Pro-Am proper, we have a classic Sunshine Tour qualifier. Fitzdares are kind enough to provide odds and there are some decent prices and some good players. This is 18 holes around the Montagu course, which is a classic parkland layout and should be a fair test of a good field. I think that Karabo Mokoena is among the up and coming talents in South African golf and is good value, whilst I would put nobody off Cape native and DPWT winner Justin Harding showing his class. Reduced stakes for what is a shoot-out event.

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Viktor Hovland, 25/1, ¼ odds 5 places
Daniel Berger, 45/1, 1/5 odds 8 places
Andrew Novak, 160/1, 1/5 odds 8 places
All 1pt e/w, Bet365

LIV Adelaide
Joaquin Niemann, 16/1, 2pts enhanced win only, Bet365
Byeong Hun An, 33/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 6 places, Fitzdares

NTT Data Pro-Am Qualifier
Justin Harding, 16/1
Karabo Mokoena, 25/1
Both 0.5pts e/w, ¼ odds 5 places, Fitzdares

LIV is the first event to start as it runs Wednesday – Saturday. I wondered seriously about not betting this event and I’m certainly going to be more selective with LIV events this year. I do think, however, that there’s a bit of value here. I am firmly of the opinion that a fourth round will throw the balance towards the stronger players, and there are fewer of them this year. Adrian Meronk won last year after an opening -10 saw him finish at -17 and beat Jon Rahm and Sebastian Munoz by two strokes. Would he have been favourite going into a fourth day with that lead? If so, not by much. I certainly looked at Rahm again but last year he’d at least played in Dubai (poorly) before a slow-starting second place here. This year he hasn’t been in competition since Spain in mid-October and I’m happy to swerve him, whilst Bryson DeChambeau surely has other things (golf and business) on his mind, for all this course should suit. Instead, I’m going with David Puig who is in great form and always motivated, and who finished well for 6^th place last year. Alongside him, Dean Burmester played well enough at home over the winter and is always excellent value on these straightforward courses and against the increasingly ordinary LIV opposition.

The DPWT event is the next to start, early Thursday in Qatar at my favourite of the Middle Eastern courses that we see every year. I’m taking a risk here and picking two players who’ve travelled from Torrey Pines in Jesper Svensson and Matt Wallace, both of whom are dropping markedly in class since that last start. Yes, the travel is a worry but PGA quality players in this field are few and far between. Wallace was impressive in Dubai two starts ago and has a decent record (9^th and 19^th) here, and may well need to win back his PGA card on this side of the Atlantic. He can take a big step forward here. Svensson, too, is in need of shoring up his PGA status and was 16^th on his only start here – coming in a rare week when he putted badly on these sorts of greens – he would win in Singapore a few weeks later. Third on my list is another returning from PGA last season, Antoine Rozner, who has a price that reflects his missed cuts in his last two starts but not his top ten in the Dubai Invitational, his overall class, or his record here (a win, a fifth, and a sixth from six starts and six made cuts).

Finally, the PGA Tour goes to Phoenix and I am for the first time really feeling the chilling effect of Scottie Scheffler. I don’t mind taking a short price but I don’t really think he’s value at 9/4. On the other hand, he’s such a presence that you need to either have someone you think can look him in the eyes and beat him, or find a price that you’re happy with for placing. I’m taking the latter approach and my three approach specialists are Daniel Berger (great record here), the fast-improving Sam Stevens and possibly not for the last time this spring, Billy Horschel.

LIV Riyadh:
David Puig, 11/1, 2pts enhanced win only, Bet365
Dean Burmester, 25/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 5 places, Fitzdares

Qatar Masters:
Matt Wallace, 23/1 2pts win only, Sporting Index
Jesper Svensson, 33/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 6 places, Sporting Index
Antoine Rozner, 60/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 6 places, Boylesports

WM Phoenix Open:
Daniel Berger, 55/1
Sam Stevens, 75/1
Billy Horschel, 225/1
All 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365.

As ever, I’m playing all of these guys for FRL as well, and have each-way cross-doubles on my Qatar and Phoenix picks. I’ll also play an e/w Canadian with Puig, Wallace, Stevens and my shortest-priced picks from the Astara and the Cape Town Open.

The PGA event is at Torrey Pines and has a weaker and less motivated field than usual, as it is the last event before a run of essential events for the biggest names. There’s a level of rustiness in the field, a sickness bug, two courses and winter weather, and this isn’t a course that everyone loves. All of which had me leaning towards outsiders. However, having seen the prices I do think that Hideki Matsuyama is value at 33/1 as a win-only play (though I’ve taken slightly different pricing). He’s difficult to get right but is in solid recent form (a win at the Hero, 13th at the Sony) and has been solid or better here on every start - with nine straight made cuts featuring a third place and three other top 15 finishes. With a weaker field, he could get away from there here. I’m following him with two comparative outsiders who I think will enjoy this event, Jake Knapp (somehow better than expected returning from a genuine personal tragedy) and the still-underrated Sudarshan Yellamaraju.

Meanwhile, the DPWT returns suddenly to very thin gruel both in terms of the field quality and the event quality, with Bahrain among the least appealing courses on the rotation. I’m looking for powerful players with some decent record in the Middle East and on slow greens, and I’m thinking more about price than any other consideration. For me, that drives me away from short-priced golfers who I really liked (Daniel Hillier, Laurie Canter, and even Angel Ayora though I fear his putter won’t stand up to this challenge) and towards, again, three relative outsiders. Frederic Lacroix, Eugenio Chacarra and big Shaun Norris.

Farmers Insurance Open:
Hideki Matsuyama, 40/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 3 places, Bet365
Jake Knapp, 45/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365
Sudarshan Yellamaraju, 350/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365

Bahrain Championship:
Frederic Lacroix, 55/1
Eugenio Chacarra, 40/1
Shaun Norris, 200/1
All 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365

A word on multiples. With prices not yet available for the KFT and HPT events, I’m placing 9 e/w doubles on the above selections and will do the same with my KFT and HPT picks. I’ll also add Matsuyama and Chacarra to my primary picks from the other two events for a ridiculous e/w yankee. Oh, and I’ll have FRL bets on all my picks, too!

Going into next week, we still have live bets on the Great Abaco Classic which are live (another FRL chopped place return on Barend Botha who is not far off the lead early in round two as I write this) so hopefully we’ll find something more optimistic, but we do need to look ahead to the events starting on Thursday. I don’t have any picks for the Sunshine Tour’s return at Killarney Country Club for the Cell C Challenge, so it is just the “main” tours to look at this week.

The DPWT is in Dubai again for the bigger and more prestigious, but infinitely less interesting Dubai Desert Classic. We know what we’re getting from Emirates GC and we need a powerful golfer and a good all-rounder. With the likes of Rory McIlroy in the field it is hard to see an outsider winning – certainly he’ll be more invested than he was when Nacho Elvira shocked the field last week. I contemplated Dan Hillier who continues to look good at this level but I think that the only value I could find against the big favourites were two players with the potential one day to be top ten in the world. Rasmus Neergard Petersen and Wenyi Ding make up my team.

As with the Sony, I don’t much care for the Amex as a spectacle but it is a quality betting heat and I have four players who can put and can play wedges with precision. At a massive price, I’m keen to take a chance on Emilio Gonzalez who was among the best putters and the best on approach on the KFT last season and deserves to be shorter in the market. More sensibly, this is a Sam Burns type of event, and I also think there’s value in JT Poston and Davis Thompson.

Dubai Desert Classic:
Rasmus Neergard Petersen, 20/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365
Wenyi Ding, 80/1, 1, 1pt e/w, 1/4 odds 5 places, William Hill

The American Express:
Sam Burns, 25/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 6 places, Sporting Index
Davis Thompson, 50/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365
JT Poston, 55/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365
Emilio Gonzalez, 1000/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365

As ever, I would recommend FRL bets and some small e/w doubles on all of these picks.

Of the two events, the Dubai Invitational is clearly the better event. As someone who notably dislikes the Middle Eastern events, I quite enjoy golf at Dubai Creek. As with my love for Doha, I can’t fully explain it, but here we are. For all that I’m looking forward to it, it isn’t a great punting event in my opinion. Had the market been different I might have skipped it altogether. I do think that Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood are the class of the field and could well have this between them. Fleetwood might even be better value at a course that suits him well. However well he played last year, his win record doesn’t justify playing him at these odds and I assume all the bigs are more interested in the forthcoming Rolex event.

Given the need for high quality ball-striking and putting, I do think there’s a bit of value in looking away from the big two, and I had hoped to find at attractive price for Thorbjorn Olesen after his underwhelming year on the PGA. However, the bookies haven’t missed him. Instead, preference is for the always underrated Matt Wallace who I think could be very good indeed if he focuses on the DPWT this season, and on the improving Oliver Lindell who again represents value at the odds.

Of much less interest in terms of quality is the Sony Open, but it is a more appealing betting prospect. Here, my difficulty was in keeping my shortlist short enough. I’m looking here for course managers, players who are solid with their wedges and can chip and putt well. There’s often value in weeks where driver is less important on the PGA Tour, and such weeks are rare. I have had this in mind for Ryo Hisatsune for some time and despite the early odds shrinkings slightly he is still great value on a course that will definitely suit him. Another I was expecting to back and for whom I’d have taken a shorter price was Billy Horschel who is showing sings of being recovered from injury and needs to be taken more seriously in the market than he is. He could outclass this field.

I was more surprised by my other selections, having though that the likes of Jordan Spieth, Daniel Berger or Eric Cole might represent value. First, I was hoping to recover from over-betting SH Kim last year now that he’s on the PGA Tour. Well, I will back him less, but at these odds on an ideal track – and with more recent playing than many of these guys – I had to have one more go. Finally, I can’t remember the last time I backed John Parry but he comes here with great DPWT form and again, this is an ideal test. If he’s going to be a success in America arguably his best chance is in the first event of the year. Let’s hope at least one of these guys can scare the leaderboard.

Dubai Invitational:
Matt Wallace, 30/1
Oliver Lindell, 80/1

Both 1pt e/w, ¼ odds 5 places, Bet 365

Sony Open:
Ryo Hisatsune, 170/1
Billy Horschel, 66/1
SH Kim, 180/1
John Parry, 110/1

All 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Bet365

I don’t think I’ll have time to wait for KFT picks to get multiples on all three events so I’ll have 8 cheeky e/w doubles on these players, and I’ll have them all in the FRL market too.

It should go without saying that this is mostly done for fun – obviously tips made closer to the time will come with knowledge of form, weather, and myriad other factors that will make a huge difference. However, I wanted to have a look at some of the main storylines that I think will bubble through the season, some of the players I’m particularly sweet on, and look at each of the majors. I’ve borrowed some KFT thoughts from my article on Out of the Rough – and my HPT thoughts are limited until I put the thought it to write for that website in due course.

Ante-post bets for the Majors

As ever, I’m placing three yankees at the start of the year – a win only, an e/w, and a top ten (with ties). I’ll quote the odds that Bet365 are offering for each of the players I pick. Needless to say, this is minimum stakes stuff – for one thing, you can’t pick players twice, so if Scottie wins two majors it is impossible to collect the full return! Unfortunately, Bet365 have dramatically cut the price of 2+ major wins for Scottie after that came in last year. I have picked out seven bets that I’m recommending as single bets, however.

Thank goodness for Augusta. We can’t expect the 2025 Masters drama again this year (or possibly ever again) but it is always a great tournament. For the punter, of course, it is the only major that is always at the same course, and a highly predictable course at that, so it is always a great betting event. At the risk of being incredibly boring – Scottie Scheffler is still too big a price at 17/5 enhanced win only, and I can’t not bet him. This is such a good course for him, he won’t come in with the favourite pressure (though I’ll probably back him in 2027 regardless) and he has thus far had a better preparation than Christmas Day last year. I was also very taken with the odds for JJ Spaun, who continues to be overlooked by the markets. I don’t think 2025 was a fluke. Yes, he’s a shorter hitter than ideal for this course but he was 23^rd when a much lesser player in 2022 and I think with his approach game and excellent putting he’s value at 9/2 to make the top ten. Finally, I’ll take Hideki Matsuyama in the e/w market at 30/1 for my yankee. If he turns up in form, he’s one of the few who can truly trouble Scottie here.

The PGA takes us to Aronimink and that means that putting is critical – though good iron play is of course still essential. That already limits a number of the top players. I think Xander Schauffele is returning to his 2024 form after an injury-plagued year in 2025 and this course should suit his all-round excellence. At 19/1 he’s in my yankee. Almost replacing him was Tommy Fleetwood who I think will love this challenge at he’s 28/1 with each-way prices, and that’s a definite bet for me. I was tempted to run back my 2025 Open picks (Tommy and Bobby Mac) but I think the pressure on the local lad in the north-west might play against Tommy at Birkdale, whilst this test is perfect. He’s too good a player not to grab a major at some stage. Finally, Justin Rose still has the game for major championships, can putt the lights out and is a former winner on this track. He’ll do for my top ten list at 4/1.

To my lasting surprise, the major that I’m most confident in betting this year is the US Open. We’re going to Shinnecock Hills. That means hard, long, windy and with brutal greens to top it off. The only chink in Scottie’s armour is a willingness to down tools if things get tough or “unfair” and I don’t think he’ll love this course. Whilst he can win here, I think this goes the way of the second-best player in the world. Having barely bet him in the last few years, I think that the 17/2 for Rory McIlroy is cracking value, especially if the win does blow. I also think that a New York course, playing tough and with length at a premium screams Cameron Young and the 55/1 is each-way value. Finally, I’m wrapping up my top ten yankee with Harris English who comes alive on the toughest tests and is also each-way value at 80/1.

Finally, the Open Championship is in Birkdale this year and once again I’m backing Robert MacIntyre. Bobby Mac is 10/1 to win a major (with Boylesports) and 12/1 to be top 20 in all four majors, and I thought long and hard about both bets, which are on the brink of being decent value for a player I think isn’t getting the credit he deserves as one of the best in the world and a highly versatile player. However, 28/1 to win at an Open venue that should suit the lefty particularly well is great value (and he’s 30/1 enhanced win only). I’m taking a bit of a risk in my each-way yankee with Maverick McNealy (80/1) who putts well on slower surfaces and is the sort who could easily pop up on an Open leaderboard a la Brian Harman. Finally, with putting and short game at a premium once again, I’m taking the experience of Jason Day at 11/2 for my final top ten bet.

Other Predictions:

PGA Tour:

• Rasmus Neergard Petersen will be the best of the DPWT rookies. He’ll be the first since Bobby Mac to really threaten the elite and I think he’ll be in signature fields by the end of the year. I think he’ll win a PGA event this year.

• The much-vaunted reduction to 100 full cards probably won’t make that much difference to the Tour in terms of playing time for the guys ranked 101-125, but I do think we’ll see fewer rookie winners than we have, and a higher number of elite players winning lesser events.

• The BMW Championship in St Louis will be the worst playoff event in some considerable time.

KFT:

• Topping the KFT rankings in 2026 will be… Frankie Capan III. Only a lack of starts (AKA PGA tour status) will stop him. He’s made for the easier courses of the KFT.

• Other qualifiers will be Sandy Scott, Cole Sherwood, Quade Cummins, Isiah Salinda and Kris Ventura. What the hell! Derek Hitchener, too.

• Scoring is going to be ever more out of control. ADdC’s record -33 will be beaten this year, and we’ll see at least ten single-round scores in the 50s.

• At least one player over 40 years of age will win a tournament. So will someone under 22.

• We’ll see more KFT events won by players with PGA status than ever before. Say, five events.

DPWT:

• This group of HPT graduates won’t be up to the standards we’ve seen previously, but there will be some good players among them. I think JC Ritchie will comfortable keep his card, together with a few other veterans (Steinlechner, Garcia, Young, etc). Long-term, I’m really high on Oihan Guillaumondeguy but I don’t think he’ll necessarily have a Martin Couvra-like ascendency to the DPWT. He might struggle this year. Looking for an unexpected DPWT rookie to do well? Tobias Jonsson might be your man. I think he’ll win a tournament.

• I will once again enjoy the Qatar Masters more than just about any other tournament – except, of course, the Hero Indian Open.

• This year’s schedule looks good. I’m glad Catalunya is back, and I’m glad that we’re back at Le Golf National. Just a shame that the South African Open is at a comparatively weak course.

• I have some thoughts on the DPWT cards, but they deserve a totally different section. I do think this is the year Rory doesn’t win the Harry Vardon. I think Tommy Fleetwood gets it.

LIV:

I only have two predictions for LIV this season, and one of them is for this week.

Season - I think the move to four rounds makes a massive difference, we see cream rising to the top and we see nearly all the events won by the top 5 golfers on the tour (for my money, Rahm, deChambeau, Hatton, Niemann and, controversially, Burmester). I’ll be scaling back my bets accordingly.

Promotions - Haven’t seen odds yet, but I’ll be looking to back John Catlin to win one of the three cards and probably the tournament as the classiest player in an ordinary field. Of the guys in the first round, the likeliest bet for me is Dominic Clemons who knows this area from his college days and I think is a bit better than many of these.

PGA cards from the DPWT:

If you’re not on discord, then that’s an error. Much better golf interactions than twitter these days. Out of the Rough is good, and so is Gambler’s Paradise. Let me know if you want invitations to either. Through that, I have a season-long bet with Titanic Gambler (follow him on twitter too) about the ten players most likely to win DPWT cards. We shared these with each other before the season started, which makes us both look like idiots as Jayden Schaper isn’t on either list. His list will be posted in his bold predictions this week which I can’t wait for! However, for the record, here are my ten:

· Daniel Hillier

· Matt Wallace

· Angel Ayora

· Wenyi Ding

· Oliver Lindell

· Sam Bairstow

· Alejandro del Rey

· Casey Jarvis

· Jesper Svensson

· Martin Couvra

Recommended bets:
Scottie Scheffler, Master, 2pts win only, 17/5
JJ Spaun, Masters, 2pts top ten (including ties), 9/2
Tommy Fleetwood, PGA, 1pt e/w (1/4 odds 5 places), 28/1
Rory McIlory, US Open, 2pts win only, 17/2
Cameron Young, US Open, 1pt e/w (1/4 odds 5 places), 55/1
Harris English, US Open, 1pt e/w (1/4 odds 5 places), 80/1
Robert MacIntyre, Open, 1pt e/w (1/4 odds 5 places), 28/1

Just for fun!
Win only yankee: Scheffler (17/5), Schauffele (19/1), McIlroy (17/2), MacIntyre (30/1)
E/w yankee: Matsuyama (30/1), Fleetwood (28/1), Young (55/1), McNealy (80/1)
Top ten (including ties) yankee: Spaun (9/2), Rose (4/1), English (9/2), Day (11/2)

Here’s to a great 2026 for all of us and loads of winning bets, beginning with some of these!

I’ll be back somewhere around new year with my predictions for 2026, with a seasonal HPT preview, and with my first picks (which will probably be for the Bahamas Golf Classic and possibly the LIV promotions event). For now, thank you all for bearing with me through a year with lots of promise but no real returns. We’ll be profitable in 2026.

Mauritius is about finding players with some power and good approach games who are in form and will be somewhat motivated. I think JC Ritchie could be the class of the field whilst Stefano Mazzoli is quietly playing much better than his odds suggest and should enjoy this test. Finally, outsider Karabo Mokoena is playing superbly on the Sunshine Tour and should be a shorter price to at least make some impact.

Mauritius Open:
JC Ritchie, 35/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds top 8
Stefano Mazzoli, 70/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds top 8
Karabo Mokoena, 14/1, 2pts, top 20 (including ties).
All Bet365