Singapore betting preview

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Australian Adam Scott can add to his fantastic record in Singapore this week with another victory, says Dave John.

The Singapore Open has had its prize money fund boosted by $1m this year and the sponsors Barclays have certainly got plenty of bang for their buck.

They would have had all four major winners competing this year but for the late withdrawal of Louis Oosthuizen as he continues to battle with an ankle injury he sustained in September.

Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell’s battle for the Race To Dubai goes on and a first prize here of over 700,000 euros could see the Ulsterman claim first place if he can get his hands on it with two events to go.

And to cap it all, the field has been increased this year to 204 players with three rounds taking place on the Serapong course at Sentosa and one on the Tanjong course so every one can be accommodated.

This is a very tough event to weigh up as you have some bang-in-form European players but they will have to adapt to the heat, humidity and tricky putting surfaces in Asia.

However, I do think the winner will come from the upper echelons of the betting and a price that does stick out a little bit is Robert Karlsson at 40/1.

The Swede missed the cut here 12 months ago but had a viable excuse considering he was finding his way back to form after missing much of the 2009 with an eye problem.

Normal service was resumed with a win at Qatar earlier this year but his most notable piece of form lately was a second in Portugal where he looked quite majestic at times.

He nearly managed to pinch to title too but for dunking his drive in the drink on the final hole and if he can repeat that sort of ball-striking week then he will be right in the mix on Sunday.

Currently five spots outside the lucrative top 15 in the Race To Dubai, Karlsson still has plenty to motivate him as the season draws towards a conclusion.

I think that Adam Scott has a point to prove as well this week considering he has to skip the JBWere Masters in Melbourne.

Scott has had a long relationship with the event in Singapore and he has shown his loyalty by turning out this week rather than in his homeland following a rather unfortunate clash in the calendar.

Punters have latched on to his tremendous record here having won back-to-back in Singapore in 2005 and 2006 while he does not look too far away from a victory judged on a handful of recent performances.

The 16/1 available is not giving a great deal away but you know he will handle conditions and want to make the trip to Singapore worthwhile if he has to miss out on a domestic major.

Final selection this week is the red-hot Joost Luiten who has done everything bar win in 2010.

Finally injury free, he has shown what a tremendous talent he is and is finishing off the year in storming fashion. with his last three outings 2-3-5.

He said recently after finishing runner-up to Richard Green in Portugal: “I’m really happy that I managed to get back on my level and maybe a little bit better now and from here, hopefully we go to the next step and that’s winning a tournament.”

He has looked pretty fearless as well under pressure and it will be sooner rather than later that he gets across the line first.

With the amount of golf that he has missed, Luiten’s form in Asia is thin on the ground – but he did manage a top five in Indonesia a couple of years ago and that suggests he can make an impact once again.

Tips:
3pts win Adam Scott at 16/1 (totesport, Victor Chandler). Twice a winner in Singapore and will want a big display having stayed loyal to the event.
1pt e.w. Robert Karlsson at 40/1 (1/4 1,2,3,4,5 general). Played some superb stuff in Portugal and a repeat makes him a threat.
1pt e.w. Joost Luiten at 50/1 (1/4 1,2,3,4,5 general). Finishing 2010 strongly and can’t be far off a victory.

  • Preview posted at 2150 GMT on 09/11/2010.
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