Golf: European Tour – ISPS Victorian Open
Venue: 13th Beach Golf Club, Victoria
Dates: Thursday 5th – Sunday 9th February 2020
Tournament Preview
The ISPS Victorian Open is one of the newest events played on the European Tour having been co-sanctioned with the Australasia Tour in 2019. The event has a rich history in Australia with the likes of Greg Norman and Ian Baker Finch amongst its previous winners and with over £750,000 in the prize pot, it is a very reputable event on the European Tour. Whilst many of the field are based in Australia and the surrounding countries, there is a strong European and Asian contingent in the field. In addition, the event sees men and women competing together and in the event with the LPGA Tour also sanctioning the event for rankings points.
Betting Preview
Outright Winner
Plenty of big names are descending on Victoria in what promises to be a hotly contested weekend of golf:
Despite not starting 2020 in the richest vein of form, Haotong Li has become one of the most consistent performers on the European Tour in recent seasons and he’ll be keen to pick up a tournament win here.
Australian Lucas Herbert started 2020 incredibly with a win against the odds at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and he will be willed on by the crowd in his home state of Victoria.
Brad Kennedy is a serial winner on the Australasian PGA Tour and despite being one of the relative veterans on the circuit, he will fancy his chances of picking up yet another trophy here.
Western Australian Jason Scrivener is another man that has made a habit of winning on the Australasian PGA Tour and he has a game well suited to the 13th Beach Course here.
Seasoned pro Wade Ormsby was runner-up at this event last year by only one shot and how he would love to go one better in 2020 with the home crowd sure to be backing him to the hilt.
1st Round Leader
Producing the goods over 72 holes is often the most difficult thing for any golfer to do therefore here are our first round leader picks:-
Defending champion David Law has not enjoyed the most promising season since his win at 13th Beach 12 months ago but a return to familiar surroundings could help him this week.
Swede Rikard Karlberg has picked up 8 professional wins throughout his career and that experience could hold him in good stead going in a relatively inexperienced field here in Victoria.
Big hitting Englishman Ashley Chesters continues to search for his best form on the European Tour but he could get off to a flyer in favourable conditions here.
Top Ten Finish
With so many quality players assembled here in Victoria, getting into the winning enclosure could be tough but there are plenty of candidates to finish in the top 10 come Sunday:
Englishman Sam Horsfield has enjoyed a terrific 12 months on the European Tour and he will be one of the front runners to not only finish in the top 10 but to go ahead and win the event.
Home favourite Brett Rumford has been flying the flag for Australian golf for the best part of a decade on the European Tour and should relish familiar surroundings this week.
Former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy flies under the radar in most events these days but he could go deep in an event well suited to his skill set this week.
BetXChange Best Bets:
Outright Winner: Haotong Li – 11.00
