Golf Bets / Mike Norman / 04 November 2009 / Leave a comment

Tiger Woods and co are coming to town for the European Tour's latest event, and because Woods is the most likely winner, "Mystical" Mike Norman suggests looking at some alternative markets in search of a winner.

"True, Casey is a player that has had a stop-start year because of injury, but the fact that he is here, when he doesn’t need to risk any further injury at this time of the year, tells me that he is 100% fit."

The European Tour continues its 'Asian Swing' this week with the added spice that the HSBC Champions is, for the first time, a World Golf Championship event.

This means that the cream of world golf, including the top two in the world Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, will be teeing it up in the early hours of Thursday morning at the picturesque Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai.

Woods - who has finished runner-up at this venue on the two occasions that he's participated - is the understandable short-price favourite at [3.1] given his class and magnificent record in WGC events. This relatively short, par-72 tree-lined course has been much toughened since last year and that should suit Woods perfectly. He is the obvious winner in my book, but because I'm a fan of 'double-figure' odds I'm looking to some other markets in search of a winner or two.

There are three players who I like the look of this week, each for completely different reasons, but all of whom have played well at this venue before.

Padraig Harrington was my selection last week but he never landed a blow, narrowly making the cut and finishing down the field come the tournament's conclusion. But if there's one player in the world who can match Woods' grit and excellence around the greens then Harrington's that man. With 'major-length' rough this week, scrambling and mental toughness are going to be key and the Irishman fits the bill on both scores.

In the Winner w/o Woods market Harrington can be backed at [12.0], whilst in the Top European market he is available to back at [8.4]. I suggest a wager in both.

Englishman Paul Casey has played in this event in each of the last four years and has made the top 10 on three occasions and the top 20 on his other start. True, he's had a stop-start year because of injury, but the fact that he is here, when he doesn't need to risk any further injury at this time of the year, tells me that he is 100% fit.

On a course that he clearly plays well, Casey can be backed at [19.0] to be Top European and at [10.5] in the Top 5 Finish market. Again, I suggest a wager on both.

My final selection is Retief Goosen, a man who putts fantastically well on fast undulating greens - the type that he will be faced with this week. The Goose is a great iron player and one that I've always regarded as one of the best par-3 players in the world. On a course that has some extremely tough par-3s I fancy the South African to put up a bold show.

In the Winner w/o Woods market Goosen is available to back at [28.0] and that's too big a price to miss.

Recommended Bets: 1pt win on each

Padraig Harrington @ [12.0] and Retief Goosen @ [28.0] in Winner w/o Woods market
Padraig Harrington @ [8.4] and Paul Casey @ [19.0] in Top European market
Paul Casey @ [10.5] in Top 5 Finish market

Tags: European Tour Golf, HSBC Champions, HSBC Champions Betting, Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey, Phil Mickelson, Retief Goosen, Tiger Woods