Portugal Masters

Subscribe

Chris Wood to beat Eddie Pepperell - 4 points @ 10-11 (Ladbrokes/Boyle)

I'm a fan of Pepperell but it still remains that he is unproven when in contention and whilst his claims here are valid given his 4 top-5s in six recent outings and a closing 64 here last year, he cannot be the same price as Chris Wood.

Pepperell's form is there to see but he can be very in-and-out and at this still early stage of his career he has a bit to learn about when to attack and defend. He'll win a few for sure but Wood's claims are far more convincing and he is the pick at an each-of-two price.

The Bristolian did us a favour with the halfway column last week but it could have been so much better but for calling a two-shot penalty on himself after the first hole on Sunday. That couldn't have helped him when in the lead after a few holes and he did well to keep it together to finish top-10.  Other columns have pointed out the very valid link between here and Doha and, of course, that was the scene of Wood's maiden (and only) main tour victory thus far. Around here he brings a top-10 and 26th from three outings and from the head-to-heads it seems as though it is often the Sunday rounds that is the difference between these two. He seems well and truly over a rough August when he couldn't find a fairway and given that leap back into form at last week's Links, I expect the selection to prove too consistent for his promising rival.