|
South African Open
Course: Durban Country Club, Durban, South Africa
Yardage: 6733
Par: 72 (four par-fives) Weather
Forecast Best Players Last
5 Years Past Winners:
2001 - Mark McNulty
2000 - Mathias Gronberg
1999 - David Frost
1998 - Ernie Els (Durban CC)
1997 - Vijay Singh
1996 - Ernie Els
1995 - Retief Goosen
1994 - Tony Johnstone (Durban CC)
1993 - Clinton Whitelaw
1992 - Ernie Els
Outright plays:
Mark McNulty 33/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler (0.5 units)
He may have the burden of being defending champion, but his short, accurate game
is very well-suited to this short, demanding course. A triple winner on the
Southern African Tour last year and a top-10 finisher in the last three visits
to Durban CC. It is hard to see him out of the top-10 this time. Carl Pettersson 50/1 e.w. @ Bet247 (0.5 units)
Pettersson made his European Tour debut in this event last year and finished a
creditable 38th. But the former European Amateur Championship who had a distinguished career
at North Carolina State University had a very impressive debut season as well.
He finished in the top-5 in the Asian Open and Hong Kong Open at the end of last
year and is one of Europe's best young prospects Martin Maritz 125/1 e.w. @ Eurobet [5 places option] (0.5 units)
Amazing price for someone who pushed Els all the way four weeks ago in the
Vodacom Players Championship. He dropped a shot on the 17th and he finished 2nd, a shot behind
Els on that occasion and was a selection at 66/1. With top-3 finishes in his
last two events, he would have been a selection at half this price.
72-hole plays: Mark McNulty to beat Warren Bennett -118 @ Easybets
Opposing Bennett who is not the most
accurate of drivers and has only played once in South Africa before: he opened
his 2001 campaign by finishing 73rd in the Alfred Dunhill Championship. Enormous
potential if he remains injury-free, but have to side with the course
specialist. Steve Webster to beat
Warren Bennett -105 @ BetInternet (0.5 units)
Webster is a regular player on the South African leg of the European Tour and
has played consistently well in this part of the world. In the last four
seasons, he has finished 20th, 3rd, 22nd, 13th in his opening event and they
have all been in South Africa. Not likely to be rusty this week. Jean Hugo to beat Darren Fichardt -110 @ Surrey
Fichardt secured three top-10
finishes in his last three events of 2001, including one win (Zimbabwe Open),
but they were all weak Southern Africa Tour events. His record on the European
Tour last year was woeful after winning the Sao Paulo Brazil Open in March. He
missed 8 of 14 cuts and failed to record a single top-20. A better player in
South Africa, but his errant driving will be punished on this course. Siding
with Hugo who recorded three top-4 finishes on the European Tour last year. Trevor Immelman to beat Darren Fichardt -115 @ Intertops
(1.5 units)
9th in the Italian Open and 2nd in the Vodacom Players Championship is evidence
that Immelman's form is returning. Long-touted as a player to rival Els, he
could easily win this event if he finds the fairways enough times. Carl Pettersson to beat Darren Fichardt +100 @ Bet365 (1.5 units)
Not another South African to Fichardt, but Pettersson was at the top of game at
the end of last year. Am expecting a good week from the Swede, he should pass
Fichardt early in the week. Andrew
Marshall to beat Mark Pilkington -110 @ Surrey (1.5 units)
One of the best drivers on the European Tour - ranked 6th in driving distance
and 5th in driving accuracy - but one of the worst putters - ranked 182nd in
putts per GIR and 186th in putts per round. Pilkington missed the cut in his
only start in Southern Africa, so can't see a great week from the Welshman. More
things are expected from Marshall who gained his Tour card by finishing 4th on
the Challenge Tour Order of Merit. Roger
Winchester to beat Mark Pilkington +110 @ Camelot
Solid, unspectacular, Winchester can
be counted upon to make the cut. He needs more top-10 finishes if he is to
regain his Tour card, but solid should be enough against a player I expect to
struggle
Mid-point update: McNulty/Bennett All square
Webster/Bennett Leads by 6
Hugo/Fichardt Leads by 1
Immelman/Fichardt LOST by 6
Pettersson/Fichardt Trails by 1
Marshall/Pilkington WON by 10
Winchester/Pilkington WON by 5 McNulty
59th
Pettersson 32nd
Maritz 4th Decent start. Would have
been most excellent had Pettersson not shot 64-77 
Final Update: Matchups: 6-1-0; +4.87 units McNulty/Bennett WON by 1
Webster/Bennett WON by 13
Hugo/Fichardt WON by 11
Pettersson/Fichardt WON by 5 Outrights:
0-3; -1.50 units McNulty 26th
Pettersson 33rd
Maritz 9th Excellent week on the
matchups which more than covered a promising, but unrewarding week on the
outrights. Pettersson led on day 1, but faltered and Maritz finished 1 shot out
of a place finish
|
