South African Open Championship Betting Tips and Preview
Durban Country Club
Durban, South Africa 16 Dec 2010 - 19 Dec 2010
Tim Clark 10/1
The Big Easy and a host of top Sith Ifricans might be jetting in for an appearance this week but of them all I fancy Tiny Tim Clark as the man for this one. He may not be able to roll his wrists, or even chip, but when you’re as good as he tee to green, those are just minor foibles. Clark was second to an on fire Lee Westwood (who is now back home roasting his chestnuts and tweeting) at the Nedbank Challenge two weeks back and a previous winner of the South Africa Open. Incidentally Clark clocked up that win during the 2005 season when the tournament was last staged in Durban.
Charl Schwartzel 10/1
![charl schwartzel airplane_thumb[2]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_K5YBwW8ZZgY/TQdvl9DmuuI/AAAAAAAAD9U/ERWXH7gG-QU/charl%20schwartzel%20airplane_thumb%5B2%5D_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800 "charl schwartzel airplane_thumb[2]")
“The cream always comes to the top” as my old mother used to say when she was pouring sour milk on our Cornflakes. Amateur pilot Charl Shwartzel turned on the afterburners last week at the Alfred Dunhill but ran out of fuel at the end tying for second. The winner of the Africa and Joburg Opens last January looks a good bet for a pre Christmas win in Durban, tying as he did for second the last time the event was staged here.
James Kingston 34/1
If you’re after a bit of value in the betting market this week, try James Kingston at 34/1 or 4/1 to finish in the top 10. Tenth last week even with a nasty third round 77 and always a real workhorse during the annual South African swing. Generally a good man to string a few good weeks together, Kingston notched up two top-10’s this time last year also. He also clocked up his first Tour win at the South Africa (Airways as it was then) Open in December 2007 and has a string of other top-10’s as long as your arm in the event. Notably came tied fourth last time it was staged in Durban too. He might be 45, but like the lovely Monserrat, there’s a bit of Jimenez in him!
Thorbjorn Olesen 55/1
Oh the joy of youth. This week will be the Dane’s fifth start on the big boy Tour and he’s not making a bad fist of it at all. Came to our attention back in May in Mallorca when he finished 13th on his second start. Olesen gained his card by coming third on last season’s Challenge Tour rankings where he won once (The Princess) and had a string of podiums. You just know he’s going to do well again this week!
Richie Ramsay 65/1
The bookies are brave to stick the defending champion in at 65/1. It might be because the Scot hasn’t teed it up since the Dubai World Championship or that he’ll be defending on a different course but I still think those odds are generous. There is something about being a defending champion, some find it difficult to cope mentally, and others love the confidence boost it gives them to see their face on a poster or be asked to do a few interviews. Let’s hope Richie is the latter, he wasn’t too shabby when he tied third at the WGC HSBC Champions in China last month.
1. Golfers, improve your bunker play indoors this winter by removing your cats crap from its litter using nothing other than a 58 degree wedge.
![charl schwartzel airplane_thumb[2]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_K5YBwW8ZZgY/TQdvk-bSnYI/AAAAAAAAD9Q/9JuqX25ebUc/s1600-h/charl%20schwartzel%20airplane_thumb%5B2%5D%5B4%5D.jpg "charl schwartzel airplane_thumb[2]")
