GOLF: BMW INTERNATIONAL/QUICKEN LOAN TIPS

THIS week we have the BMW International in Cologne which includes US Open champ Martin Kaymer who grew up around 30 kilometres from the venue and Henrik Stenson who finished a credible T4th behind Kaymer at Pinehurst.

In his last three European outings Stenson has not been out of the top seven. His driving accuracy is around 67 per cent and GIR 70 per cent and isprobably hitting the ball longer than ever.

Stenson has an impressive record in the BMW International, finishing inside the top 10 in five of his last seven appearances. That includes when he won in 2006 after a play-off with Retief Goosen and Padraig Harrington courtesy of an eagle at the first extra hole.

Frenchman Victor Dubuisson looks a certainty to be in the Ryder Cup squad this year. His second in the Accenture Matchplay Championship earlier in the year brought him into Paul McGinley’s sights and he’s now sixth in the Race to Dubai, leads the European Points List and is sixth in the Worlds Points List so looks a good bet for Gleneagles.

Two weeks ago he finished T2 in the Nordea Masters and a credible T28 in the US Open. Could go all the way this week and well worth a bet.

Over in the US Tiger Woods is back just 87 days after surgery which caused him to miss the first two Majors of the season. His Foundation is the host and benefiting charity for this week’s Quicken Loans National at the Congressional Country Club but is probably a few weeks from being sharp enough to be in contention.

Jason Day seems to have recovered from his thumb injury with a T4th in the US Open and T18th in the Travellers last week. He was second in the US Open in 2011 and has had a T8 (2012) and T21 (2013) here since. His driving accuracy and GIR stats are in the mid-60s and is a long hitter (302 yards average) and seems to like the course.

One man who seems to be returning to some sort of form is Keegan Bradley. He let us down last week but did have four solid rounds. He’s a long hitter and his driving accuracy is around 61 per cent so the Congressional should suit him. He tied for fourth two weeks ago and is currently 17th in all-round and 21st in scrambling. When he’s on form he can’t be ruled out and I don’t think he’s that far away.

I wasn’t going to bet on Sergio this week but after his T2nd last week I can’t ignore him. In his last five outings on the PGA Tour he’s had three top-three finishes, unfortunately the other two were the Masters and the US Open! If only he could convert his Tour form to Majors. Hopefully he can do us a favour this week as he did earlier in the season.

20pt staking plan

Henrik Stenson 3pts 8-1 ew (Ladbrokes, bet365)

Victor Debuisson 1pt 30-1 ew (888sport)

Sergio Garcia 2pts 12-1 ew (Betfred)

Jason Day 3pts 14-1 ew (William Hill)

Keegan Bradley 1pt 25-1 ew (Betfred)

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