Scottish Championship Tips & Predictions: Three against the field at Fairmont
With two winners in his last three previews on the European Tour, Russell Palmer is back with another three this week as we travel north for the Scottish Championship...
- Gavin Green 1pt each-way @ odds of 28/1 with William Hill (6 places)
- Masahiro Kawamuro 1pt each-way @ odds of 40/1 with Betfred (6 places)
- Scott Hend 1pt each-way @ odds of 80/1 with William Hill (6 places)
I'll be honest, I've not found the European Tour easy on the tipping front. I've had a few hard luck stories when in contention on a Sunday but I was absolutely thrilled to see Tyrrell Hatton do the job for us last week at the BMW PGA Championship, put up at 16/1. With John Catlin winning the Irish Open three weeks ago advised at 40/1, we have a bit of a bank to play with this week where I've gone very much with an international feel.
It's St Andrews, but not as we know it! I can't say this very often but I've actually played this week's track as the European Tour arrives at Fairmont St Andrews for the Scottish Championship.
Amazingly, it was my first week on the job for my current employers when I nervously lined up in the pro-am of the 2009 Party Poker International on the Euro Pro Tour. Still very much the best trip I've been invited on through work, I was privileged to play with the great amateur Gary Wolstenholme who was actually giving our professional two shots given his amateur status, I don't remember a whole deal about the course other than it wasn't overly challenging and had big greens, but Gary did share a little rumour about a certain Tiger Woods which would become worldwide news a year or so later.
Anyway, enough of the reminiscing, the hotel was amazing and will be the main factor why the players are here this week, I think the scoring will be low if the weather behaves and I've taken three players against the field.
First up this week is a standing dish in Gavin Green at odds of 28/1.
The Malaysian is becoming a bit of a 'cliff horse' for me having tipped him up a number of times since the restart without yet returning any profit. This week I'm giving Green one last chance in what is a weak looking field on a course which should suit.
The 26-year old has just the one top ten finish in the six events he's played since lockdown, but he's shaped well the last couple of weeks before falling away on the Sunday.
His all-round stats are really strong and I'm particularly keen on his shots gained putting where he ranks 8th on the European Tour. He also ranks 10th for driving distance which should put him in good positions this week at a course which if reasonably accurate (ranks 17th for driving accuracy in 2020) shouldn't pose any problems from the weather if the forecast is to be believed.
Ranking 4th for stroke average on Tour, I'm hoping Green can challenge at 28/1 with William Hill who are paying six places for that little added insurance.
Second up this week is for a player who ranks 1st on the European Tour for shots gained around the green, Masahiro Kawamura.
The Japanese player has been in good form making the last seven cuts and finishing in the top ten twice.
Whilst not the longest on Tour he ranks in the top 25 for driving accuracy and his consistency could pay off for him this week. A winner on the Japan Golf Tour when he was only 20, I'm hoping he can make a splash at 40/1 with Betfred paying six places.
My last pick this week comes in the shape of Scott Hend, who is an 80/1 chance with William Hill paying six places.
You're going to have to trust me a little on this one as the Australian hasn't enjoyed the best of form this year, missing four of his first six cuts coming back off the enforced lay-off.
However, there's been signs of life in recent weeks, with an 11th place finish in the Irish Open three weeks ago and 10th last week at Wentworth.
A serial winner having 15 professional wins, all have come aboard and all three on the European Tour have come in Asia where he's played a lot of golf.
The 47 year old is sneaky long with the driver averaging over 307 yards this season which will help here and he's also a good putter, ranking 8th for average putts per round.
It's a bit of a leap at the odds but he won't shirk it if in contention and I like the play this week.
As ever, good luck with your bets if you're following and please gamble responsibly.
Follow me at Twitter @rustyboy75.
Post-lockdown form:
Winners
- Tyrrell Hatton - BMW PGA Championship - advised at 16/1
- John Catlin - Irish Open - advised at 40/1
- Jon Rahm - BMW Championship - advised at 14/1
- Dustin Johnson - Northern Trust - advised at 20/1
- Justin Thomas - WGC FedEx St Jude - advised at 12/1
- Webb Simpson - RBC Heritage - advised at 30/1
Placed
- Kristoffer Ventura - T6 Sanderson Farms Championship - advised at 80/1
- Xander Schauffele - 5th US Open - advised at 16/1
- Kristoffer Ventura - T7 Safeway Open - advised at 80/1
- Laurie Canter - 2nd Portugal Masters - advised at 66/1
- Si Woo Kim - T3 Wyndham Championship - advised at 40/1
- Jason Day - T4 USPGA Championship - advised at 40/1
- Phil Mickelson - 2nd WGC FedEx St Jude - advised at 110/1
- Viktor Hovland - 3rd Workday Charity Open - advised at 25/1
- Kevin Streelman - T7 Workday Charity Open - advised at 60/1
- Tyrrell Hatton - T4 Rocket Mortgage Classic - advised at 16/1
