The Punter / Steven Rawlings / 12 November 2008 /

The golfing world is deep in the Far East this week with events in Singapore and Japan. Steve Rawlings has studied the form and made his picks...

Having gone headlong into the 2009 season without so much as a pause for breath the European Tour, rather bizarrely, takes a short break after just one event.

The Race for Dubai will resume again next week in Hong Kong but with the USPGA Tour now finished for the year it's the Asian Tour that provides the action with the Barclays Singapore Open from the Serapong Course at the Sentosa Golf Club.

As this week's sponsors are amongst the very few in their sector not to be propped up by the tax payer they're quite at liberty to dish out the dosh and it's resulted in a decent enough field.

Marginal favourite is Phil Mickelson who I simply have to abandon. It's very frustrating because he's very nearly at the top of his game but not quite. And I'd bet my bottom dollar frustration is the emotion he's really feeling right now too.

For the last six months or so he's driven well and putted poorly or driven poorly and putted well. His iron play and recovery skills remain spectacular and keep him in most events along with his tenacity. The fact that he tops the 2008 bounce back stat shows his grit and why, even when the machinery's not all working in unison and when many lesser players would cry 'enough!', he can still contend for titles in the very best events. But there were just too many errors last week and for now I've had my fill.

I just hope he bounces back soon because an on-song Lefty is a joy to behold. Maybe being gazumped by Sergio Garcia for the world number two spot will inspire him this week but it will be without my cash burdening him.

Adam Scott is understandably vying for favouritism as his record in this event is second to none. After winning here for two years running he couldn't quite make it three in a row in 2007 but still managed third. Having played OK last week after a lengthy break he's likely be in the hunt but some of his short putting in Shanghai was so bad it had to be seen to be believed and I have to pass him over.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Padraig Harrington contend at such a tough venue and I'd say the same about Ian Poulter, who does well in the Far East, but he was poor last week after having his driver stolen.

Ernie Els has to be left alone after a break and a missed cut here last year so given that the event tends to go to a high-profile overseas player, who is it going to be?

My guess is K J Choi. He failed to build on his first round 68 last year and ended up in a tie for 14th. If I remember correctly his first round could have and perhaps should have been a lot better than that but it showed he has an aptitude for the track. He looked value at [25.0] and at this stage is the sole pick.

Selection:

K J Choi @ [25.0]

There is another event this week, on the Japanese Tour, where favourite Trevor Immelman attempts to be the latest in a string of overseas players to win the Taiheiyo Masters.

I quite like a few in this: David Smail, Toru Taniguchi and Y E Yang were all considered but I'm going to keep the powder dry for now.

I'll post an update on Friday after the respective cuts.

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