The world’s best golfers, with a few notable exceptions are teeing up in China this week for the HSBC Champions, which is being played as a World Golf Championship event.
 
With world No.1 Luke Donald taking the week off to be with his expectant wife, this looks a good opportunity for Rory McIlroy to close the €1.3million gap between them in the Race to Dubai standings and he’s 9/2 favourite with most bookmakers, so Rory backers will be all over the 5/1 on offer with Paddy Power.
 
However, this is far more competitive than last week’s Shanghai Masters, which he won in a playoff from Anthony Kim, and he’s hardly value at that price in a field which includes world No.2 Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Adam Scott and a gaggle of top Americans. Admittedly, a good proportion of the 78-man field are no-hopers from the Asian Tour, but this is going to take some winning and the 5/1 is not for me.
 
Bookmakers are asking us to take a single-figure price on Westwood too with Paddy Power again the most generous at 9/1. Considering his record here - twice a runner-up – and his consistency – inside the top-10 in all seven starts since early August, including a nice warm-up in fifth last week – that price will tempt plenty of punters. I’m not one of them, though, as the Englishman wins far less than expected and never when my money’s on him!
 
I’d much rather have an each-way bet on his compatriot Paul Casey at a tasty looking 50/1 with Totesport. True, he’s not had the best of seasons due to a toe injury but there have been signs recently that he’s coming back to something approaching his best – seventh in the Frys.com Open - and he’s usually a contender here, having not finished outside the top-11 in five completed starts. He’s normally a fast starter too so I’m also going to play him in Totesport’s First Round Leader market at 45/1 (1/4 odds, five places).
 
I also like the look of Ernie Els at Victor Chandler’s 50/1, which looks big given the South African has finished runner-up and sixth on his last two starts here, and was fourth on his last outing on the PGA Tour. What’s more, he should be raring to go after a three week break and will be well acclimatised having spent last weekend in Hong Kong for a company day. His nerve when standing over the shorter putts may not be as good as it was but he’s looked better since switching to the belly putter and I’m convinced there is one more big win in him.
 
Belgium ’s best golfer Nicolas Colsaerts also looks over-priced at 80/1 with Paddy Power. His most recent form is nothing to write home about, which explains why he’s such long odds, but he did finish ninth in the Alfred Dunhill in early October and he was a winner the last time he visited this country back in April, breaking his Tour duck in the process. A return therefore could well spark him back into life and he’s since finished third in the World Match Play Championship and Scottish Open, underlining the fact he’s a class act on his day. At 20/1 a place, he’s worth adding to the staking plan.
 
Recommended Bets:-
 
Paul Casey 0.75pt each-way @ 50/1 Totesport
Paul Casey First Round Leader 1pt each-way @ 45/1 Totesport
Ernie Els 1pt each way@ 50/1 Victor Chandler
Nicolas Colsaerts 0.75pts each-way @ 80/1 Paddy Power