Golf Outsider: HSBC Golf Championship

It is going to be a hard week for a column entitled “The Golf Outsider”. Not only are the best four players in Europe teeing up, but also a potentially revitalised Tiger Woods! The good news is the ridiculous prices on decent players; we must remember that on any given week it only takes a few missed putts from the big guns, and a few to drop for the outsiders.

Abu Shabi HSBC Golf Championship Selections

The price on Simon Dyson seems big for a player who won twice on tour last year, beating Westwood and McIlory in the KLM Open. He is not the sort of player to rest on his laurels and has no doubt realigned his goals for this year. Winning a tournament in exalted company is surely at the top of his list.
Recommended Bet: Simon Dyson at 130.0 (Betfair)

Thomas Bjorn managed to go one better than Dyson with three wins, including victory in the Middle East at the Qatar Masters. I think the layers believe he is older than his 40 years as I can’t really explain the price despite the relative strength of the field. The great Dane has plenty of years left in him and I would have expected nothing over 80/1 for the 13-time European Tour winner.
Recommended Bet: Thomas Bjorn at 150.0 (Betfair)

Danny Willett has started the season in a positive fashion, with a 7th and a 14th place finish and six rounds in the sixties. He was 8th here on debut in 2009; his good form combines with those early positive memories to provide a great bet at juicy odds.
Recommended Bet: Danny Willett at 270.0 (Betfair)

Richard Finch went on a horrendous string of missed cuts at the end of last season but sprang back into life at the Joburg Open. He is a tough one to catch right, but with a 4th place finish in 2008 this could be the week it all clicks into place at a massive price.
Recommended Bet: Richard Finch at 770.0 (Betfair)