Solheim Cup: golf betting guide

Our golf betting tipster analyses the European and American teams and comes up with some top golf betting tips ahead of this week's Solheim Cup at Colorado Golf Club

European Solheim Cup Team 2013
Nick Bonfield
By
published

This week, the biggest event in the women's golfing calendar, The Solheim Cup, takes place at Colorado Golf Club in America.

The USA are firm favourites this time around, and history is certainly on their side.

Since the Solheim Cup's inception in 1990, the Americans have never lost on home soil. They've also won eight of the 12 contests staged over the last 21 years.

On paper, the American team looks stronger, especially as they've never lost to Europe at home, and the odds reflect that. They are 1/3 to win with Ladbrokes, but I'd be reticent to stake a large amount of money at that price. Instead, I'd take a gamble on Europe at 3/1.

On balance, I think America has the stronger team, but not by far. And as their odds are less than favourable, it's impossible to predict rookie performance and anything can happen in matchplay golf, I'd be tempted to back Europe.

They are 3/1 with Ladbrokes to win the tournament and 9/4 to retain the Solheim Cup which, all things considered, are relatively generous odds.

Despite her age, I like the look of Thompson at 10/1 in the Top American Points Scorer market. She's demonstrated an outstanding pedigree in her two years as a professional and shown she's more than capable of dealing with the big occasion. What's more, she's a future world number one in the making and I'd expect her to play in every session. Paula Creamer, at 5/1 in the same market, is also a decent bet. She has won a point in 71% of her Solheim Cup matches to date, and she's almost certain to play in every session.

In the Top European Points Scorer market, I fancy Beatriz Recari at 9/1 with Ladbrokes. The Spaniard has been plying her trade in America since 2011 and she's already won twice in the USA this season.

Solheim Cup advised bets

3pts on Europe to win the Solheim Cup at 3/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts on Lexi Thompson at 10/1 as Top American Points Scorer 2pts on Paula Creamer at 5/1 as Top European Points Scorer 2pts on Beatriz Recari at 9/1 as Top European Points Scorer

Nick Bonfield
Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x

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