This preview was written before the tournament. Prices quoted are pre-tournament prices and are not current.
Best Bet
Daniel Hillier to win (outright, $31). Hillier is a big-hitting New Zealander who finished in the top five at the British Masters the week before, and he has made a strong start to life on the DP World Tour. He is also close to locking in a PGA Tour card, so he has plenty to play for. A $31 price is too big for a player in this sort of form, and the main thing holding him back is closing out rounds on Sunday. If he tidies up his final-round scoring, he is a winner waiting to happen.
The reasoning
The PGA Tour was off, so a good chunk of the European circuit’s best players headed to the Omega European Masters. Ryan Gerard was the $12 favourite after finishing third at the Tour Championship, which tells you how open the market is behind him. In a field with no dominant name, we want to be on a consistent player at a price, and Hillier ticks both boxes.
Other plays
- Marco Penge ($21). Penge finished sixth at the British Masters despite an even-par final round, so there is a feeling he left something out there. He hits the ball a long way and has already won on this tour.
- Patrick Reed ($23). Reed has won more than once on the DP World Tour since leaving LIV, and he rarely misses a cut. His T55 at the British Masters looks like a one-off, and he is arguably the best player in the field on pedigree.
- Sudarshan Yellamaraju ($41, roughie). A former top amateur who has played on the PGA Tour this season. He has not won yet, but he is the sort of young player who can play himself into contention in Europe.
- Angel Ayora (top 10, $4.20). The 21-year-old Spaniard keeps putting himself into winning positions and is a good fit for a top-10 bet.
How we’d play it
- Main bet: Hillier outright, small stake given the price.
- Cover: Ayora for a top 10 at $4.20 gives a safer return if the outright bet misses.
- Value: Penge and Reed for punters who want to spread the risk across a few outsiders.
