Golf Bets / Mike Norman / 18 August 2010 / Leave a Comment

Mike Norman is a bit surprised at the lack of Ryder Cup hopefuls on show at this week's Czech Open, but he believes the door is wide open for an old favourite of his to bag his first victory of the season.

Martin Kaymer's victory at the US PGA Championship last week meant that - after victories for Graeme McDowell (US Open) and Louis Oosthuizen (Open Championship) - three of this year's four Major tournaments were won by European Tour members. There were no flukes about the victories either; all three golfers were winning for the second time this year after winning on the Tour prior to their Major success.

Attention now turns to Ryder Cup qualification, with this week's Czech Open being the penultimate event in the race to qualify for team Europe.

It's a little surprising then that most of the men on the fringe of making Colin Montgomerie's team have decided to swerve this event for reasons only known to them. I was fully expecting to see the likes of Luke Donald, Paul Casey, Edoardo Molinari, Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose, and Rhys Davies in contention for a share of the two million euros on offer this week; instead only European stalwart Miguel Angel Jimenez - co-designer of The Prosper course which is being used this week - Sweden's Peter Hanson (15th on the European Points List), and England's Simon Dyson (16th) have bothered to show up.

The non-appearance of some of Europe's star names means there's an opportunity for one of the Tour's lesser lights to grab a victory; and I fancy three players - not huge prices by any means - to go well this week as they attempt to put the shine on what has been a largely consistent season for each of them.

I make no apologies for my first pick, Ignacio Garrido, who is available to back at [44.0] in the Winner market and at [10.0] in the Top 5 Finish market.

I must have selected Garrido at least ten times this year, but apart from maybe once, each time he has been an educated selection rather than a 'heart ruling the head' one. From 14 cuts made on the European Tour this season, the Spaniard has finished in the top 30 on 11 occasions and in the top 15 on six occasions. True, he is finding it difficult to get his head in front, but his improved driving accuracy means he is setting himself up for more birdie chances than he has in a long time, and just one good week with the putter will surely see him go close.

Adding further confidence is the fact that Garrido has form around this week's Prosper Golf Resort course. He was one shot off the lead going into the final round here last year, and despite shooting a lever par round of 72 he still managed to finish in a tie for fourth, just three shots off the eventual winner Oskar Henningsson.

Scotland's Stephen Gallacher - available to back at [26.0] - has had an extremely consistent season following the worrying illness that kept him from the game during the second half of last year. He has made nine consecutive cuts now and has had four top-six finishes in that time. He arrives at this tournament in good form having finished in a tie for 18th at last week's final Major, so presented with a much easier task this week, I fancy him to go well.

With two second place finishes in the bag - both by virtue of losing a play-off - no one would begrudge Alejandro Canizares a victory this week. Of my three selections Canizares is undoubtedly the class act, but he often follows a string of good results with a string of bad ones and catching him right is the problem. After finishing down the field in his last three events he's had a few weeks to recharge his batteries, so if the rest has done him good then there's no reason why this likeable Spaniard can't be in contention come Sunday afternoon at odds of [29.0]. Both myself and The Punter have our fingers firmly crossed.

Recommended Bets

Back Ignacio Garrido @ [44.0] in Winner market
Back Stephen Gallacher @ [26.0] in Winner market
Back Alejandro Canizares @ [29.0] in Winner market
Back Ignacio Garrido @ [10.0] in Top 5 Finish market

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