Golf Bets / Mike Norman / 28 October 2009 /

With some of Europe's best golfers absent this week, a tremendous opportunity has arisen for Thongchai Jaidee to wrap up the Asian Tour Order of Merit Say "Mystical" Mike Norman. But don't rule out Padraig Harrington.

Despite some of Europe's (and the world's for that matter) finest golfers teeing it up in Spain this week for the Volvo World Match Play Championship, a high class field has still been assembled at this week's other European Tour event - the Barclays Singapore Open.

World number two Phil Mickelson ([9.4]) for victory) is an understandable favourite having recently won the season-ending Tour Championship in America, whilst three-time major winner Padraig Harrington ([11.0]) will be looking to build on his solid recent form in Europe (three top ten finishes in his last four events). Ernie Els ([19.0]), Geoff Ogilvy ([26.0]), KJ Choi ([29.0]), Ian Poulter ([32.0]), and Adam Scott ([40.0]) are just five other big names hoping to be in contention at the Sentosa Golf Club come Sunday afternoon.

But except Harrington (who is no stranger to success in Asia and finished second in this event last year), none of the above named players are worthy of being amongst my selections this week - either because of poor recent form or being too short for my liking in the outright Winner market.

Harrington however has an outstanding chance. His recent resurgence in form, and his undoubted class, makes him the man to beat this week without and shadow of a doubt.

Measuring 7,300 yards, the course can play quite long for a par-71 set-up, all of which will play right into Harrington's hands now that he is finding the fairways with regularity. The Irishman is desperate to make up ground in the Race To Dubai standings, and with many of the players above him being absent here, this week presents him with the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Thongchai Jaidee is impossible to ignore also. He has some added incentives to do well this week, knowing that a victory will see him climb into the world's top-50 as well as virtually wrap up the Order of Merit title. On top of that Jaidee has played well at this course before, finishing fifth in 2005 and 13th in 2008. He hasn't missed a cut since the middle of the year, so at [44.0] for victory, and at [9.0] for a Top 5 Finish, Jaidee is definitely amongst my selections.

At massive odds - [420.0] in Winner market and [30.0] in Top 10 Finish market - keep an eye on local favourite Mardan Mamat. He won the Singapore Masters back in 2006 and could be inspired by playing in one of the marquee groups alongside KJ Choi and Justin Rose.

I'm slightly down on profit with my first round 3-ball selections (one success out of three so far) but hope to put that right when Prayad Marksaeng ([3.45]) tees off alongside Ernie Els ([1.89]) and Jyoti Randhawa ([2.8]). Marksaeng is one of the big names, and best players, on the Asian Tour and I'm taking him to prevail against two players who have been playing in America and Europe respectively of late.

Best Bets

2 pts win Padraig Harrington @ [11.0] in Winner market
2 pts win Thongchai Jaidee @ [9.0] in Top 5 Finish market
0.5 pt win Thongchai Jaidee @ [44.0] in Winner market
1 pt win Mardan Mamat @ [30.0] in Top 10 Finish market
0.25 pt win Mardan Mamat @ [420.0] in Winner market
3 pts win Prayad Marksaeng @ [3.45] in First Round 3-Balls

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