Hong Kong Open: golf betting guide

Hong Kong Open: golf betting guide

The European Tour heads to Asia this week for the Hong Kong Open at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling.

With many of the European Tour's top players teeing it up at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, the tournament presents a good chance for some of the tour's lesser lights to shine.

That said, there are still a number of high-profile names in the field, including defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez, Thorbjorn Olesen, Rafa-Cabrera Bello and John Daly.

The par-70 Hong Kong Golf Club is one of the shortest courses on the European Tour roster, so precision, course management and accuracy will be key attributes this week.

Three-time Hong Kong Open champion Jimenez is the 8/1 favourite with Ladbrokes, and whilst it's a course that clearly suits his eye, I'd be looking for slightly better odds.

Marcus Fraser, at 16/1 with Ladbrokes, is one of the stand-out options this week. He finished third at the Hong Kong Golf Club last year, one of his favourite courses in the world. The Australian is also in good form, having finished inside the top 30 in each of his last three starts. Rafa Cabrera-Bello, at 20/1 with Ladbrokes, is also in good form. He finished eighth at the BMW Masters and 14th at 2013's season-ending DP World Tour Championship. His record in Asia is also very strong.

Andy Sullivan, at 50/1 with Ladbrokes, has made a very steady start to the new season. He started off with a top 15 at the South African Open and followed that with a 14th-place finish at last week's Alfred Dunhill Championship. Thus far this season, the Englishman ranks eighth in stroke average and sixth in driving distance.

Jbe Kruger, at 50/1 with Ladbrokes, is well priced this week. His game, based on consistency and solid tee-to-green play, should be well suited to the Hong Kong Golf Club. What's more, he finished second at the South African Open and only a anomalous third-round 81 at the Alfred Dunhill prevented him from challenging again. Chris Doak, at 100/1 with Ladbrokes, has shown some positive signs of late. He played well at the season-opening South African Open and, despite an average finish last week, he led the field after 11 holes of round one after a blistering start. The Scotsman could be one to watch this week.

Hong Kong Open advised bets:

3pts each way on Marcus Fraser at 16/1 with Ladbrokes 3pts each way on Rafa Cabrera-Bello at 20/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts each way on Andy Sullivan at 50/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts each way on Jbe Kruger at 50/1 with Ladbrokes 1pt each way on Chris Doak at 100/1 with Ladbrokes