Start of the South African Swing

Best Bets

0.75 Pts E/W (1-5) Lee Slattery 55/1 (Bet 365)

0.5 Pts E/W (1-5) Adrian Otaegui 150/1 (Paddy Power)

0.5 Pts E/W (1-5) Justin Walters 150/1 (Paddy Power)

Boston Gambler brought you a winning tip last week in what was a thrilling finale to the European Tour Season with our Rory McIlroy tip. Andy Sullivan pushed McIlroy all the way and deserves a lot of credit for keeping it tight, when everyone else fell away, but in the end Rory proved too strong for everyone else, capping off an average season by his high standards.

So we are ready to go again for another year on the European Tour and this week players will be looking to get off to a fast start on the money list at the Alfred Dunhill Championship. This event is staged in South Africa as usual at the Leopard Creek course. This par 72 venue hasn’t changed much from last year measuring out at nearly 7,300 yards. The course has three par fives in the last six holes presenting players and viewers with a potentially exciting finish to the round. The specialist on this course is Charl Schwartzel who has won this event three times, and another home winner rose to the top last year in Branden Grace.

In terms of statistics there aren’t any obvious trends, aside from having a hot putter. This provides us with a change after a few weeks at courses favouring the longer hitters. Another factor to consider this week is we will see plenty of the new tour graduates this week. We have considered form late in the Challenge Tour season as well as Qualifying School performances in making our picks.

0.75 Pts E/W Lee Slattery 55/1 (Bet 365)

Our headline pick this week goes to Lee Slattery. The Englishman had a great finish to the DP Tour Champs last weekend shooting 68 65 over the weekend to move in to the top 20. Slattery has played well on this course before, and really shouldn’t be this long in such a weak field. We think he is fantastic value as an each way pick for this week.

0.5 Pts E/W Adrian Otaegui 150/1 (Paddy Power)

Our second pick this week goes to the Spanish golfer Adrian Otaegui who secured his card last week at Q School with a tie for first. He demonstrated great composure as well as a very strong last round under pressure to make the qualifying cut with ease. He failed to impress last year on this course missing the cut, but he does have a bit of course knowledge which will count in his favour. This form player looks like he has been priced to high and for that reason we think he is worth a small play this week.

0.5 Pts E/W Justin Walters 150/1 (Paddy Power)

Our final pick this week goes to Justin Walters for whom this will be a home event. Walters was the form man on the last two days of Q School shooting 67, 67 to secure his card in style. He will be keen to play in his native South Africa with the relief of knowing his card is secure for 2016. Walters has finished in the top 20 in this event before and we feel he is price too highly for this event.