Ogilvy To Smash Odds In Perth

The European Tour moves to Australia this week as a sterling field takes to the course in Perth.

The Tournament

The Perth International is in its third year and is the richest tournament in Australia. As the final regular event on the European Tour, it’s the last chance saloon for players trying to secure a top 110 place and a 2014 Tour exemption, and for those hoping to crack the top 60 to qualify for the Race to Dubai. There’s a sprinkling of big name players in the field for this year’s edition, but not much depth.

The Course

Lake Karrinyup Country Club, Perth is an undulating course with wide fairways, fringed with eucalyptus. Accuracy off the tee is not that important, so big hitters can swing freely, but the prevailing wind, known as the Freemantle Doctor, will be howling continually, so be wary of backing those with no record of playing well in windy conditions. The firm, sloping greens are also a challenge.

In The Bunker

Bo van Pelt won the inaugural Perth International and this year there’s another player from the United States near the top of the antepost lists. Major winner Jason Dufner heads to Perth after recovering from neck and shoulder problems that ruined his season, forcing him to withdraw from the PGA Championship back in August. He hasn’t played any competitive golf since and is bound to be a bit rusty, so although this event might not take much winning, he isn’t one to rely on at odds of 16/1.

Recommended Bets

At bigger odds than Dufner, fellow PGA regular Geoff Ogilvy is also prominent in the antepost betting, and is a much more appealing betting proposition. Ogilvy took three weeks off in the middle of the season to recharge his enthusiasm and came back in good shape, winning the Barracuda Championship in August and going on to finish second at the Deutsche Bank Championship.

After another month off, he should be raring to go on home soil and is an excellent bet at 20/1.

Edoardo Molinari had a disappointing time of it at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, but his form at the tail end of the season has been pretty good. He finished just outside the top ten at the Omega Masters and the KLM Open, then managed a fourth at the Wales Open, at which he carded a superb second round 63. A couple of weeks off will have refreshed him and he’s worth a look at 22/1.

Young Danish star Thorbjorn Olesen has had a disappointing season and has not added to his debut Tour win back in 2012, but his second round at the curtailed Portugal Masters suggested he could be coming into some late season form. After opening up with a 71, he managed a 64 in his second round and if he can continue in that vein at Perth, he could take some stopping. At 28/1 he’s worth adding to your shortlist this week.