Profile / Editor / 28 February 2007 / Leave a Comment

has fond memories of the course at the Blue Canyon Country Club and will be hoping to go one better when the Johnnie Walker Classic returns to Thailand this week.

The tournament was last held at the Phuket lay-out nine years ago when Els found himself locked in a battle with Tiger Woods for the title.

On that occasion, the 37-year-old South African was forced to settle for second best as he lost out in a play-off to the American.

But Els is a two-time winner of the event and is well-fancied to complete a hat-trick of titles this week on a course and in a location that he has a lot of affection for.

Despite his shock first round exit at the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship last week, Els is currently trading as the 7 favourite to record his second success of the 2007 European season.

Compatriot Retief Goosen has also started the new campaign well and can be backed at 10 to win, ahead of world number four Adam Scott (13), Paul Casey (13.5) and the pair of Colin Montgomerie and Thongchai Jaidee (both 34).

This week's venue has hosted the Johnnie Walker Classic twice before but the field will find a much-changed Blue Canyon course to the one that they encountered last time.

The venue has been lengthened by around 100 yards while a number of the tees have been moved back and repositioned to ensure the course plays tougher.

Blue Canyon sets up well for a player who drives the ball well while the spectacular back nine should ensure no shortage of excitement throughout the four rounds, especially at the par-three 14th hole, where players may have to hit as much as a five-iron to reach an island green if the wind blows.

It was a shock to many when Els was beaten by Welshman Bradley Dredge at the earliest possible stage last week but his defeat in Tucson allowed The Big Easy to arrive in Thailand early to begin his preparations and he is really looking forward to the week ahead.

Els has not finished outside the top three in his last three stroke play events and he looks comfortable with his game and his next victory appears just around the corner. He can be backed at 2.4 to finish in the top five.

But the three-time major winner is not the only player who enjoys playing in the Johnnie Walker Classic and the course in Phuket.

Goosen led by a record 13 strokes after 54 holes on his way to victory in the event in 2002 and was only one shot behind Els and Woods when the tournament was last played in Thailand in 1998.

He also finished joint-winner of a Skins event with Thomas Bjorn at Blue Canyon two years ago and is very familiar with the dangers that the course poses.

Goosen's decision last year to consult a coach for the first time in several years has already paid dividends with his victory at last month's Qatar Masters and he looks back to near his best. He is available at 3.1 to place in the first five and 1.8 to come in the top ten.

Scott was another player who suffered a high-profile exit at the WGC event last week and still appears to be easing his way back after a six-week break.

The Australian, 3.75 to come in the first five in Thailand, has won in Asia before when he claimed victory at this event in 2005 when it was held in China, and will be eager to regain his place in the world's top three after slipping to number four in recent weeks.

His first round pairing with Montgomerie and Jeev Milkha Singh in the Betfair three-balls market, where he is favourite at 2.24 to come out on top, is one of the more fascinating match-ups but it could pay to follow one of the other two.

Singh, 55 to win this week, has a good record in Asia and is eager to follow up his career-best season last year, while Montgomerie also has a fine record on the continent and is swinging well at present.

The Scot's last win came in Asia at the 2005 Hong Kong Open and he produced a string of birdies to beat Johan Edfors last week before running into an in-form Casey in the next round. Montgomerie looks attractively priced at 8.2 to finish in the first five.

Casey also has particular affection for Asia, having won there twice last season, and appears in the mood for another big week after reaching the quarter-finals at the Accenture event last week.

The 2006 European Golfer of the Year has already won once this year, in Abu Dhabi, and is now being more selective in the tournaments he plays. He is also, importantly, not over-burdening himself with pressure by setting himself too many long-term goals and he looks a good bet again for the Order of Merit title.

Local favourite Jaidee has an enviable record in tournaments in Asia and is desperate to do well in front of his home crowd.

After his poor showing at the Malaysian Open, he returned to form a week later in Indonesia and may be a player to follow, while it will be interesting to see how former US Masters champion Mike Weir, 38 to win and 9.6 to place in the first five, fares on his debut in the event.

Asian specialist Simon Dyson, who is trading at slightly longer odds than Weir, is unlikely to be too far away from the leaders while Mikko Ilonen, 100 to win, arrives in Thailand full of confidence after his maiden Tour win in Indonesia.

Shiv Kapur (60 to win and 12 to place) may also come into the reckoning, while it could also pay to keep an eye out for reigning Japanese Order of Merit champion Shingo Katayama, who is trading at 75 to win and 13 to come in the top ten - the same odds as Jyoti Randhawa.

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