Getinthehole’s Volvo Golf Champions 2012 Betting Preview

It has been a great start to the after year tipping Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace to finish in the top 5 (and in fact winning the Africa Open and Joburg Open respectively). Getinthehole is showing a 27.15 unit profit for the 2012 season and we are looking to grow our profit with our picks in this week’s Volvo Golf Champions 2012 Betting Preview.

We are in South Africa for the third week in a row now and this time at the exquisite Links at Fancourt in George. The Links is an exceptionally difficult golf course that has been open for 11 years now and hosted the SA Open in 2005; in that year Ernie Els and Retief Goosen were fighting out the Championship and left the field behind with only 4 players breaking Par for 72 holes! It measures just over 7200 yards and there are no bail outs on this track…there is only a field of 35 players this week so let us take advantage of bookmakers still offering 5 places. Let’s take a look at our Getinthehole selections for the Volvo Golf Champions.

Ernie Els for a place @ 9/2 (World Sports Betting) – We’ve included ‘The Big Easy’ as a joker this week, the Links is a pure ball striker’s course and having length off the tee is a distinct advantage. Ernie has incredible touch and creative feel around the greens and if he can get the putter rolling he will definitely be a player to be wary of. All the years gone by Ernie fancies his own chances for the first couple of events of the season as it’s “a fresh start”

Branden Grace for a place @ 11/2 (World Sports Betting) – Fresh off his maiden European Tour victory at the Joburg Open last week, Branden Grace is the form player and has played many rounds at the Links. Branden is attached at Fancourt and feels very comfortable there being in ‘his home town’. If he can keep a clear head he will be challenging for the title and perhaps even make it two in a row! He is a great ball striker and held the lowest stroke average on the Sunshine Tour last season.

Retief Goosen Each Way @ 12/1 (World Sports Betting) – Retief has had a reasonable start to the year with a 3^rd at the Africa Open and then a disappointing weekend to the Joburg Open to finish in T16^th. He hasn’t won on tour for quite a while since 2009, but he will have fond memories of the Links at Fancourt after winning here on 10 under at the SA Open in 2005.  The Goose loves links golf after having posted eight top 10 finishes in the British Open and then winning the US Open at Shinnecock Hills in 2004, which is a very similar feel and difficulty to the Links. We’re backing another local and let’s see him enter the winner’s enclosure again!

Miguel Angel Jimenez for a place @ 8.25/1 (World Sports Betting) – ‘The Mechanic’ is a sound, solid player who may not hit the ball a long way, but he hits it straight! This will be his first tournament of the 2012 season and he is one player who enjoys tough golf courses where accurate iron play is rewarded. Last year at the Volvo Champions he finished 2^nd and that included him making 3 birdies putting with a wedge after a broken putter incident!

Summary for Volvo Golf Champions 2012

• Ernie Els for a place @ 9/2 – 2 units
• Branden Grace for a place @ 11/2 – 2 units
• Retief Goosen Each Way @ 12/1 & 3/1 – 1 unit each
• Miguel Angel Jimenez for a place @ 8.25/1 – 2 units

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