THE Turkish Airlines Open is the first of three consecutive Rolex Series that concludes the Race to Dubai.
Thorbjorn Olesen is trying to retain his title from last year and hoping to be the first person to do so and in doing so would be the fourth year in a row he has won on the European Tour.
He’ll not have it easy with a stellar field, including last week’s WGC-HSBC Champions winner Justin Rose, Race to Dubai leader Tommy Fleetwood, Henrik Stenson and a host of others
The Championship Course at Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort stages this event for the second consecutive year. The 7186-yard par 71 course is located close to the Mediterranean in the Antalya’s Belek region.
It’s an undulating, heathland course through a pine forest and finding the right side of the fairway is important to be able to attack the green. Many of the large and fast greens have plateaus which create greens within greens so apart from accuracy off the tee, putting could be important.
All Stenson’s stats point to him winning this week and a superb second at the WGC-HSBC Champions last week shows he has some back in good form. But his price is too short so I shall leave him alone.
After winning his first tournament of the season at the Omega European Masters in September Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick has played steadily. He has had two T15s, a T11 and last week finished T9 at the WGC-HSBC Champions.
His stats look good for here and although his form mid-season wasn’t good he looks to be back to his best. He was the youngest golfer to reach four wins on the European Tour after his Omega European Masters win and is well worth a pick. Driving Accuracy: 65.7% (6th) Putts per Round: 29.6 (27th).
Another Englishman who has the credentials to win here this week is Fleetwood. With two wins and four top-fives it has been a stellar season for the 26-year-old. His showing in the US Open after three rounds when he was tying with eventual winner Brooks Koepka was superb but unfortunately he couldn’t keep it going and finished fourth.
Leading the Race to Dubai by over 800,000pts he is in prime position to finish top in three weeks time. He won his first Rolex Series at the 2017 HNA French Open and is well placed to get his second this week. Driving Accuracy: 71.8% (3rd) Putts per Round: 30.4 (43rd).
Kiradech Aphibarnrat has always been a favourite of mine but hasn’t had the greatest season. He has shown some return to form and finished T2 at the Italian Open, following that up with a T24 last week. Although not at the same course he finished third in the Turkish Airlines in 2015 and a T25 last year. He hasn’t won since the Paul Lawrie Matchplay in 2015 but he is well worth a chance. Driving Accuracy: 60.7% (17th) Putts per Round: 29.5 (19th)
Recommended Bets
- 1.5pts ew Matthew Fitzpatrick (18-1, Betfred)
- 1.5pts ew Tommy Fleetwood (20-1, Ladbrokes)
- 1.5pts ew Kiradech Aphibarnrat (35-1, bet365 35-1)
