National Bank of Oman Golf Classic

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Antonio Hortal - 1.25 points each-way @ 40-1 (General)

Jeppe Huldahl – 0.50 points each-way @ 66-1 (Skybet)

Pelle Edberg - 0.50 points each-way @ 50-1 (General)

Joel Sjoholm (top10) -  0.50 points @ 9-1 (Skybet)

Stunning though it may be, a golf punting colleague has taken the view that ‘The Wave’ golf course is ‘a fake Greg Norman pseudo-links’ although that may be a tad harsh given Duncan Stewart compared it to an old-style ‘home’ Links course. Either way, the 7300-yard par-72 can give rise to the coastal winds and, whilst long driving is an asset, it is more important to drive it straight as the many bunkers (and coastline) do come into play for the wayward. Looking at last year’s highlights, a few holes are situated perilously close to the sea line and those desperate to get into the top-45 may be wobbling a little over the weekend.

This is the final chance for those outside of the critical top-45 to gain entry to the Grand Final and thus a chance for the fifteen European Tour cards. Last year’s winner Roope Kakko ensured his card with the win and there a few here this week that are automatically assured and may just enjoy the first-class hospitality.

This is only the second running of the event and, as mentioned, the wind probably did not have as much effect as it could have done in 2013. Going into it blind last year I mentioned a possible link between the Scottish Hydro Links and Madeira but looking at the eventual top handful or so a few clues have emerged.

The top three from 2013 all have significant traits – they all had form at either Madeira or Finland, although the latter seems very much the stronger, whilst most of them were in decent form. It looks as if form at this year’s Vacom plus those in good nick are those to concentrate on and that leaves about ten players to consider. A quick recce sees that the top-3 from last season went 11/11/24 in Finland whilst all three were in form, whilst below them the likes of Brandon Stone also carried that form. Of major interest was winner Kakko’s maiden victory some nine years previous, at Finland.

Being a huge Mark Tullo fan it is hard to leave him out this week but the price dictates we must. The Chilean is in great form with four top-10s and a top-20 in his last five starts, loves the Links and has form at main Tour Links events as well as the Scottish Hydro. He also won the Vacom in Finland so why ignore him? It is a grind but at the price there is no option. Similar comments apply to Callum Shinkwin, who will love the chance to open his shoulders. Given I was backing him at 175+ earlier in the year, it is hard to now take 40; in similar way to backing Jason Palmer at 80-1 way back and not taking 150-1 last week. (Oh). Also of consideration were excellent wind player David Law and last week's runner-up Ben Evans, who is on a good run of form and never gave up chasing Palmer all weekend. Both miss out as they just fail on one of the criteria.  

Those immediately below Tullo in the market all have their claims although none of them show strong form at either of our marker events. Respect of course to future world top-twenty player Matthew Fitzpatrick but he hasn’t done it yet and so sub-20 is no good to me, whilst I baulk at the prices that maiden Edouard Espana is going off at each week. Byeong-Hun An has that form in Finland but has let us down twice recently and has to be sacked on this occassion. 

After a bit of a sift, I am left with four players but am going to chuck Lasse Jensen despite being 17th on the ranking list and being Danish and possibly inspired by the win of Thorbjorn Olesen last week (come on, factor boys!). His recent form doesn’t match up to the remaining three players and he didn’t play Finland.

First up are a couple of old stalwarts from both Tours. Backing both Jeppe Huldahl and Pelle Edberg makes perfect sense given their experience and similar career path to that of last year’s victor.

Huldahl will forever be remembered for somehow holding off a decent field at the 2009 Welsh Open, when virtually self-combusting down the stretch. Whatever the merits of that result, it can’t be taken from him and does give him the experience in pressure situations. That he hasn’t won since is a worry but we have recently seen with Oliver Wilson, Johan Edfors and Thorbjorn Olesen that time is no barrier and they can still do it when inspired to do so although it is maybe unfair to put the younger player in the same group. The Dane has made the Grand Final in each of the last three years and, currently sitting 37th in the table, will want to do so again. Huldahl’s significant result is the 11th in Finland and comes here making seven of his last eight cuts and with memories of better from early to mid-season. The Olesen factor may be of significance given Huldahl has been on the main Tour, and with a 6th here on debut after an opening 76, he tipped the scales on to the side of ‘bet’.

Similar qualifications apply to Edberg, other than the fact he has never actually put his head in front. Still, the old war-horse knows what to do to get into contention and currently 43rd on the rankings, needs a good finish to ensure his place on the lucrative finale. The Swede may well be inspired by compatriot Edfors' win a couple of weeks ago, and comes here after a 9th in Italy and a 6th last week in Foshan. Sure, he is in-and-out and was poor here last year when needing a similar result, but that runner-up in the Vacom is an excellent pointer (63/65 weekend) and he has past results at St.Omer and at the main Scottish Open. Edberg will enjoy any wind that comes along and it may be that he carry on his mini-streak and finish above those more fancied given his qualifications.

Easily the best bet of the week though is Antonio Hortal. I fancied Hortal last week on the back of a very good effort in China when he led after two rounds before collapsing on the final day of the interrupted event. I didn’t think that was his form and he played well again last week in the Foshan, coming to the fore with a third-round 66. It may be that the effort chasing after a moderate first two days was too much and he couldn’t challenge the top lot but that made it a form run of 14/13/9/mc/24/13/23 and given he knows how to win, as he did at home at the start of the year, he is well worth the punt at the same price this week. He hasn’t played here but was 3rd at Madeira and 23rd in Finland, whilst his ranking just inside the top-15 needs a few more Euros to ensure his card. Young enough to keep improving, Hortal rates more a 25-1 chance with me this week.

One player I may regret not backing is Joel Sjoholm. The Swede has always been very inconsistent but he keeps saying/tweeting that he is now completely fit and that his practise is going well, and he is a very good friend of last week’s Perth victor. That worked for Edfors following Oli Wilson’s win and he needs a big result whilst sitting in 75th on the rankings table although only 21k outside the top-45. At treble-figures he may be worth a shekel or two, and certainly considering in the top-10 market.

For sado-masochists, Skybet are offering dual forecasts in this event. Go for it!