In-Running Picks - European Tour

Tipster: Jumbo

Odds: In-Running

Alexander Levy - top-10 - 3 points @ 3-1 (Stan James)

I haven't managed to see an lot of this event but I have seen Graeme McDowell play an awful lot over the last couple of months and when five-footers may count for plenty he has just not been convincing and certainly not at 11-8 in what is a putting contest. Whilst extremely likeable, the Irisherican has been in the final group four times since 2010 and has converted none of those, including the Irish Open when he could not buy a putt despite his usual tee-to-green brilliance. It may all come right this week on a track that has seen him put up low weekend rounds but he can run without my money.

Opting one or two against him is tough though. A few of these are out here for the holiday whilst putting trust in many of them is hard at this time of year so I am leaving the in-running trades alone this week.

Instead, whilst it may be overboard I am rowing in with Alex Levy to keep his star in the ascendency and make it to a place on the front page. Tempting fate but he looks to have the 72-hole matchbet under wraps and can keep widening the gap between himself and Shane Lowry with a further 36-holes of quality iron play, and therefore moving up the board.

Most pundits know that Levy's record in China this year should be two from two, and if it wasn't for very tough conditions last Sunday he would be coming here seeking a unique hat-trick. Still, he leads the GIR stats this week so far, drives the ball far enough to have plenty of chances and just needs the putts to drop. He is tempting as a back-to-lay but I'll take the safer option with the top-10, a price that just looks too big.