Avantha Masters Betting: Bhullar to make it four on the bounce?

Golf Bets / Mike Norman / 15 February 2011 /

" class="free_bet_btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">

Indian starlet Gaganjeet Bhullar is looking to win his fourth successive tournament

"Some will argue that ordinary efforts on the European Tour are still better than winning efforts on the lesser-light tours, but when those wins have all been achieved by the same player then you have to take note."

There's no substitute for winning golf tournaments says Mike Norman, and that means his selection in the Winner market this week is an automatic choice.

Throughout this season Mike will give one selection in each of the Winner, Top Five Finish and Top Ten Finish markets every week a European Tour event is being played.

We're moving in the right direction. Lee Westwood finished ahead of his two 'main rivals' Martin Kaymer and Tiger Woods at last week's Dubai Desert Classic meaning I at least got something correct (big congrats to The Punter on his success). But still, my form is a bit like Westy's at the moment - ordinary at best. But like the world's number one, I'm confident of some imminent improvement.

The European Tour moves to India this week for the Avantha Masters, once again to be staged at the fantastic looking DLF Golf and Country Club in New Delhi. Australian Andrew Dodt won last year's renewal when I was very confident that the local - and in particular the PGTI (Profession Golf Tour of India) and Asian Tour - players would go well. Unfortunately they didn't; but despite the 20% increase in prize money for this year's renewal the field assembled doesn't look particularly strong, and I will once again be pinning my main hope on a local.

India's most successful golfer - Jeev Milkha Singh - heads the market at [19.0] but he comes into this event on the back of some ordinary efforts in the Gulf Swing (his best finish was 42nd at last week's Dubai Desert Classic). Some will argue that ordinary efforts on the European Tour are still better than winning efforts on the lesser-light tours, but when those wins have all been achieved by the same player then you have to take note.

Winner

Which brings me nicely on to this week's main selection, a man who is destined to become the next big star of Indian golf - Gaganjeet Bhullar - available to back at [36.0].

Bhullar, still only 22-year-old, is a bit of a phenomenon in India after effortlessly racking up win after win in Asia. I highlighted last year how he has a fantastic record around this golf course having played it many times on the PGTI and Asian Tour (he won the DLF Masters at this venue by five shots in 2009), and he couldn't come into this event in better form if he tried. Remarkably Bhullar has won the last three tournaments in which he has participated, including the Gujarat Kensville Challenge making him the first Indian golfer ever to win on the Challenge Tour.

Nothing breeds confidence more than winning golf tournaments, regardless of the class, and I'd much rather back Bhullar at [36.0] than players such as Singh and Soren Hansen ([20.0]), who despite playing in a stronger grade, haven't recorded a victory or shown any consistent form for some time now.

Top Five Finish

Richard Finch - available to back at [8.6] in this market - is in decent form and has every chance of recording a top-five finish this week. The Englishman closed out his Volvo Golf Champions challenge at the end of last month by shooting a final round 63, and then carried that form into the following week at the Qatar Masters where he played consistently well for all four rounds, eventually finishing in a tie for ninth. Adding further confidence is the fact that Finch was an excellent second here last year - just one shot behind Dodt - so this relatively new venue (to non-Asian players that is) will hold no fears for him.

Top Ten Finish

Last season I followed Spanish veteran Ignacio Garrido on a regular basis, but this season I've switched my allegiances to Dutchman Joost Luiten. He hasn't started this year in blistering form admittedly (his best finish was 23rd in Abu Dhabi) but Luiten is a player I rate very highly - finishing 28th on last season's Race to Dubai was no mean feat. Players such as Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke have spoke about Luiten in glowing terms and that will do for me. The Top 10 Finish market is just beginning to take shape and I should get matched at a price of at least [6.0] on Luiten, and if so (I'll update his odds on Wednesday evening) I'll be very happy. (EDIT: Matched at [5.3]).

Recommended Bets

Back Gaganjeet Bhullar at [36.0] in Winner market
Back Richard Finch at [8.6] in Top Five Finish market
Back Joost Luiten at [5.3] in Top Ten Finish market

*Please not that New Delhi is five and a half hours ahead of the UK so a player teeing of at 07:00 local time will tee of at 01:30 GMT - so get your bets on early.

Total pts bets this season (one pt bet per selection): 21
Total pts returned: 5.5
2011 European Tour season Profit/Loss: -15.5

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>