Find Me A 100 Winner: Johan Edfors

Find Me A 100 Winner / Paul Krishnamurty / 17 November 2009 / Leave a Comment

"The ever-present hazards on this risk-reward layout suggest the winner will be someone who hits lots of greens in regulation and shoots plenty of birdies. Edfors scores well across all of those areas, and has long looked overdue another title in Europe."

In a season of shocks it would be fitting for the European Tour's flagship event to fall to a player trading at three-figures - so here's Paul Krishnamurty's prediction for an outsider worth backing

After Gregory Bourdy became the 18th triple-figure priced winner of this European Tour season in Hong Kong last week, another shock at the Dubai World Championship would be a fitting climax to a quite bizarre year.

Such is the quality amongst this 58 runner field, that group includes plenty of very capable players and in truth, none would really represent a great shock - at least compared to the likes of Shane Lowry. Several characters took the eye, including 2009 winners Nick Dougherty and Rafael Cabrera-Bello, plus emerging English star Danny Willett. However, the best pick in my view is a man with three European Tour titles to his name already - [190.0] chance Johan Edfors.

The Earth Course is very long at nearly 7,700 yards, presenting an obvious advantage to the bigger hitters. Moreover, the ever-present hazards on this risk-reward layout suggest the winner will be someone who hits lots of greens in regulation and shoots plenty of birdies. Edfors scores well across all of those areas, and has long looked overdue another title in Europe.

I have no doubt that Edfors is an improved all-round performer from the inexperienced player who shocked European golf with three wins during 2006, including prestigious titles at Loch Lomond and The Belfry. He's never been particularly consistent so the last couple of missed cuts can be ignored in preference of a sixth place registered last month under more suitable conditions in Portugal. Another point for encouragement lies in Edfors' last effort in this country, when finishing fifth at January's Abu Dhabi Championship.