The European Tour and South Africa’s Sunshine Tour merge this week for the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Golf Club (7,249 yards). By and large this event has been good to punters, with five of the past nine winners being fairly predictable - Ernie Els (twice), Adam Scott, Justin Rose and Charl Schwartzel have all obliged at relatively short prices, or in Els’ case, very short prices. The Big Easy is the market leader for this year’s renewal, with Stan James going a standout 10/3 and that price can’t be sniffed at.

Els may be struggling to win elsewhere in the world, but he’s still something to bet when he plays in his native South Africa - two wins in his last four starts on home soil, including this event in 2006 (form figures of T8 - 1 - T3 since the event moved to Leopard Creek). He arrives here in good form too having finished third in last week’s Nedbank Challenge, a much better quality event than this. In fact, with the European challenge looking particular weak, it’s difficult to see where the challenge is going to come from, so he’s a must for any staking plan this week.

If he doesn’t perform, I expect one of his compatriots to prevail, and Louis Oosthuizen looks sure to give his backers a run for their money at 28/1 (Boylesports, VCbet). This young and up-and-coming Bok has been playing fantastic on home soil, with three wins and two seconds in his last five starts on the Sunshine Tour. He also brings course form to the table. Oosthuizen chased Els home to finish second at Leopard Creek in 2005 and he also finished runner-up at this course in the 2004 South African Tour Championship. Last time out, he was just outside the top-10 at the HSBC Champions event in China so, having had a few week's rest, he should be raring to go in one of his favourite events.

Marc Cayeux is a more speculative selection, but he can normally be relied upon to play well in one pf these co-sanctioned events (this week’s and the next three events are) and comes into this event with his game in good shape. The Zimbabwean won an event on the Sunshine Tour back in October, and can boast three other top-three finishes on the local tour in 2007, so he could sneak a place at 80/1 (bet365), although a place only bet would be more prudent - 16/1 with Paddy Power to finish in the top five.

Recommended Bets:

Ernie Els 4pt @ 10/3 Stan James
Louis Oosthuizen 2pt each way @ 28/1 Boylseports, VCbet
Marc Cayeux 2pt @ 16/1 Paddy Power (Place Only)