The DP World Tour visits Belgium this week with the Soudal Open at Rinkven International, Antwerp, Belgium.
The 156 field, with the top 65 including ties making the cut, will all be competing for a share of the $2m prize purse with the winner collecting the title and a cheque for $330,330.
Rinkven International will be playing 6,924 yards this week, it’s a par 71, parkland track where the key attribute will be precision tee to green with a hot putter on the dance floors.
The weather is forecast to be sunny and warm throughout with some cloudy intervals. The breezes are expected to peak at around 25mph on Thursday and Friday becoming more gentle over the weekend.
This event will be screened on Sky Sports Golf & Sky Sports Main Event with live coverage starting at 12pm GMT on Thursday.
Last weekend on the DP World Tour our 66/1 selection Marcus Armitage certainly gave us a run for our money only to capitulate with two double bogeys on the final round which all but ended any chances. He actually went favourite at one point on Sunday's final round before the double bogeys so for anyone who cashed out, well done if you got out of it with a nice profit.Unfortunately I can’t count cash outs as profit but it can sometimes be useful.
So let’s move on with this week's selections for the Soudal Open.
Victor Perez
For my first and main selection in Belgium I’m going to single out Victor Perez 30/1 EW Bet365.
The 29 year old Frenchman was ranked 9th on the DP World Tour last year for greens in regulation and it’s that stat that could be the key to any success this weekend.
A decent couple of efforts recently should see Perez arrive in Belgium with bags of confidence. He finished in T21st place at The British Masters last weekend, that’s a very respectable effort at the Belfry.
An even better effort was a top ten place at the ISPS Handa Championship in Spain where he finished in 8th place. This recent return to form suggests to me that Victor Perez could go close here at Rinkven International with course and conditions set to suit.
Sam Horsfield
For my next selection I’m going to point you in the direction of Sam Horsfield 22/1 EW Bet365.
The 25 year old from Manchester has only played at four tournaments this year. He was T21st at last week's British Masters just as our main selection above.
Before that he withdrew from the Saudi International with an injury but previous to the Saudi International, Horsfield finished 4th at the Dubai Desert Classic and 12th at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
He is currently ranked 110th in the World so will be aiming to get inside the Top 100 soon.
The Englishman already has two DP World Tour titles in the bag when winning the Celtic Classic and the Hero Open, both in 2020.
The stats that interested me were the putts GIR where Horsfield ranks 7th this year on the DP World Tour. I mentioned earlier that a hot putter will be pivotal and Sam Horsfield could be hotter than anyone on his way to victory at the Soudal Open this coming Sunday afternoon.
Richie Ramsay
For my next suggestion I’m going to advise Richie Ramsay 60/1 EW BetVictor 1-6 places.
The 38 year old Scotsman from the granite city of Aberdeen finished 3rd at the Belfry last weekend at the British Masters. That effort is enough to get my attention especially at the price advertised. I’m always on the look out for value as you all know only too well and this could be another classic example where the bookies have got it all wrong when pricing the markets.
Now I’m fully aware that the Scotsman hasn’t won an event on the DP World Tour since 2015 but I'm also sure that Ramsay still has a victory or two still left in him and it could happen as soon as this weekend if producing the same form as last week at the Belfry.
With three DP World crowns already in the bag, a return to form could see Richie Ramsay back in the winners enclosure and it could be as soon this weekend as we all celebrate on our way to emptying those bookies' satchels.
Thomas Pieters v Ryan Fox
For my final selection it’s the customary matchbet and this week on the DP World Tour I’m going to recommend the local lad Thomas Pieters to beat Ryan Fox over 72 holes 10/11 Nap Betfair.
Soudal Open Tips
- Victor Perez 30/1 EW Bet365
- Sam Horsfield 22/1 EW Bet365
- Richie Ramsay 60/1 EW BetVictor
- Thomas Pieters to beat Ryan Fox, 10/11 Nap Betfair. 72 hole matchbet
Booooooom
Caddy……..mate, I have no words so I’ll just say Thank you.
????????????????????