Bad Griesbach Challenge

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An-Byeong-Hun - 1 point each-way @ 45-1 (Skybet)

Lloyd Saltman - 0.60 points each-way @ 50-1 (Bet365)

Thomas Norret - 0.40 points each-way @ 80-1 (General) 

Well, last week couldn't have gone much better. A comparison of courses led to lone selection South African Dylan Frittelli easing four shots clear at halfway before winning comfortably in trying conditions. A 40-1 winner in any event will change the season but that has set a type of precedent in the way each event can be studied.

In complete contrast to the Karnten Club in Austria, with it's narrow fairways and small greens, this week's challenge is the 7300+yard Hartl Resort in Germany and long-hitters are expected to prosper despite good use of water, which should make them think at least a little bit.

Immediately, several names are crossed off the list and whilst the likes of Sihwan Kim and Daniel Vancsik hold obvious claims given their length, they have had a few chances to do the job and look likely to be passed by some less exposed rivals. There was a possible link with the Madrid event back in April as that course measured even longer than Hartl, but the easy winner Calmels doesn't run, whilst clear form pick Eduoard Dubois is far too short at 20-1. There is one selection from that event in the way of Thomas Norret however and he is the first off-the-tee.

Norret isn't exactly banker material given the chances he has had, but 3rd in that Madrid event as well as a couple of top-30 places including the wind-riddled Scottish Hydro Open see him in good light. 4th in the 2011 Austrian Open is as good form as Norret can boast, but he is far too experienced to overlook given his 12th in the 2012 BMW Open on the main Tour, a league above most of this field.

Next up is the in-form Lloyd Saltman.

I may be guilty of following the Saltman family over a cliff as brother Elliot is being watched like a hawk as he flits between the Europro Tour and this one, but if there is length off the tee you want then the 27-year-old is your man. Top-60 in the CT rankings for three of the last four seasons, he made the main Tour for 2011 finishing 133rd in the end of season table. Clearly Saltman has the talent to achieve more and readily admits that he is lagging behind his Walker Cup team-mates Rory McIlroy Richie Ramsey et al but like his brother, continues to work hard for one goal - recovering their European Tour card. Seen as equal to those mentioned back in 2007, Saltman has improved the short game to go along with that power, no better illustrated than 5th last week in Austria, a course that would not have suited. That he could lead after the first day with a 63 and remain in contention throughout says a lot for his new versatility, he was 31st in that BMW Open at Munich and he is worth backing at 50-1. As an addendum, Lloyd has today qualified for the Open at Muirfield, a further boost to self-confidence.

The main bet however is  Byeong-hun An at 45-1.

Make no mistake, An is one of the most promising players to come out of American amateur golf and it is interesting that he should choose the CT route rather than the Web.com tour and the like. South Korean at birth, he was 14 when joining the David Leadbetter academy and at 17 won the US Amateur 7 & 5. The list of winners from that event include Tiger Woods, Matt Kuchar, Edourdo Molinari, Richie Ramsey and recent Madeira winner Peter Uihlein and An is fully expected to achieve at least similar success as some of those illustrious players. At just 21, An has plenty left in the locker and after two top-10s in his first season on the CT, has settled down and already lies 20th in the current rankings. His talent shows in the results with top-15s in his first three starts of the season (including Madrid), a further two in June and an excellent runner-up at the Scottish Hydro, opening his tournament with a stunning 62 including nice birdies and no bogeys. Don't worry about last week's missed-cut as the course did not suit his style but this is one class youngster and it is a matter of 'when' not 'if' he wins.