Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer headline a stellar cast for this week's Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club.
The world's third and fourth-ranked golfers have contrasting records on the course with Westwood's third and fifth here giving him a distinct edge over Kaymer, who has never really contended and missed the cut last year. It was Westwood who was in the better form last week too - he played solidly all week for 17th, while the German missed the cut after a 77-73 start - and the Englishman is a single-priced favourite with some firms, although 10/1 is available with Ladbrokes, who are in generous mood this week, offering each-way terms of a quarter the odds the first six places.
They are joined by Sergio Garcia, a general 14/1 shot, Graeme McDowell (16/1 Coral), whose broken driver and resultant double bogey on the 17th cost him victory in Abu Dhabi (he finished only two behind surprise winner Robert Rock), and Alvaro Quiros (18/1 bet365), whose record of second, second and first here the last three years is easily the best course form on offer. Thomas Bjorn is back to defend the first of the three titles he won in 2011 and has been chalked up at a best-priced 22/1 with Stan James, while this week's interesting import is American Hunter Mahan (22/1 Paddy Power), fresh from his sixth place at Torrey Pines.
The course at Doha has been a bomber's paradise in the past with the likes Adam Scott (twice), Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Alvaro Quiros and Robert Karlsson all successfully employing aggressive driving tactics here. However, if the breeze gets up, more controlled golf is required and those hitters with a low ball-flight tend to flourish. If the forecast can be believed, conditions will be breezier in the afternoon on the first couple of days at least, but nowhere near as severe as last year when an early tee time was essential. The rough is less penal than in previous years.
My Three Against the Field:-
Paul Lawrie @ 50/1 bet365
I'd be wary of backing Westwood at a measly 10/1 considering he was feeling a neck injury during the first two rounds last week and I'd rather take the 16/1 on G-Mac, although in terms of sheer value nothing beats the 50s on Lawrie. The Scot won this title with a 20-under total in 1999, the same year he won the Open at Carnoustie, and has posted a couple of top-20s since, but it's his most recent form that is more compelling as regards a bet. After finishing runner-up to Quiros in the Dubai World Championship on his final outing of 2011, the Aberdonian has been a feature on the leaderboard in both the Joburg Open (10th) and in Abu Dhabi (8th), and he could do even better this week in the windy conditions he relishes. An early tee time on Thursday (7.10am) could mean he escapes the worst of the weather and he's worth backing too in BetVictor's First Round Leader market at 55/1 (1/4 odds, five places).
Thomas Bjorn @ 22/1 Stan James
The Dane has a much later tee off time on Thursday but he's still a player I want on my side from the get-go. Like Lawrie, the forty-something loves playing desert golf in the wind, as he showed 12 months ago when winning by four strokes, and he later went on to contend in the Open Championship at Royal St George's, before adding two more titles and finishing ninth in the Race to Dubai standings. Last week's third-place finish in Dubai, where led the field in terms of driving accuracy and ranked 13th for greens hit, signalled that his game is exactly where he wants it and, if Lawrie falls short, I fancy he can mount a successful defence.
Thorbjorn Olesen @ 80/1 Ladbrokes (1/4 odds, six places)
Bjorn's compatriot Olesen looks well worth adding to the staking plan at a juicy 80/1 with Ladbrokes, especially given their extra place. Three-times a runner-up last season, including at the prestigious Alfred Dunhill Championship, the young Dane clearly has bags of talent and it will be a surprise if he's still a maiden by the end of 2012. A victory last week against the likes of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy was perhaps asking too much, but he led the field at halfway and was under par both his weekend rounds, eventually finishing eighth. A big hitter - he ranked seventh in driving distance in Abu Dhabi - and a superb putter (2nd last week), he has the game to go well here.
Recommended Bets:-
Paul Lawrie 1pt each-way @ 50/1 bet365
Paul Lawrie First Round Leader 0.75pt each-way @ 55/1 BetVictor
Thomas Bjorn 1.5pts each-way @ 22/1 Stan James
Thorbjorn Olesen 1pt each-way @ 80/1 Ladbrokes
