Qatar Masters 2016 Tips: Each-way selections for the second leg of the Desert Swing

Editor
25 January 2016

Former Qatar Masters winner, Thomas Bjorn, is Joe's pick this week at 50/1

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There was yet more profit for the Betfair boys last time out with two men in the top five of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. The European Tour remains in the Middle East for the second event of the Gulf Swing, here are our five to follow at the Qatar Masters...

Steve Rawlings: Back Mikko Ilonen @ 66/1

"He's a fine wind player and a terrific links exponent with proven form at Doha (also ninth in 2013) and I thought he was fairly priced at 66/1."

*Each-way terms: 1/4 odds, 5 places

Dan Geraghty: Back Tyrell Hatton @ 80/1

In a week where tee-times could be all important, I was struggling to decide between one from the morning - Benjamin Hebert - and one from the afternoon wave - Tyrell Hatton. Thursday's forecast weather conditions have scared me into siding with European Tour winner-in-waiting Hatton, who looks like he'll enjoy the best conditions of a particularly windy day two - Hatton is first on the course at 6:30am. The Englishman had a mixed week last time out in Abu Dhabi, a double bogey on his par five second hole put him up against it early but he bounced back well, making the cut and carding a final day 69. Despite missing the cut here last year, Hatton has a good desert swing record, he was 22nd on his Qatar Masters debut in 2014 and recorded two top 10s in Abu Dhabi prior to last week.

Paul Krishnamurty: Back Kiradech Aphibarnrat @ 50/1

There is a suspicion that players from outside the UK or USA are under-rated by golf markets, or at least take longer to be granted due respect. That may be the case with Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who is priced above players who achieved much less last season. At 26, he has bags of potential improvement and has made big progress across a range of continents, winning in China and on a Scottish links. The latter bodes well for this week's windy conditions, as does fourth in the Dunhill Links. I'm not reading anything in to an ordinary 38th on last year's course debut - apart from ability to handle wind, the key attribute at Doha is power off the tee, and Kiradech is one of the longest around.

Joe Dyer: Back Thomas Bjorn @ 50/1

An unexciting selection perhaps, but this event seems tailor made for big Tommy Bjorn so the elder statesman of the European Tour will be carrying my money this week. He's a previous winner of the Qatar Masters who comes into the week on the back of a good event (he contended for the lead before finishing in a tie for 11th at the Abu Dhabi Championship). Moreover, good links players often perform well in Qatar - Bjorn is a fine exponent of the links game - and the forecast wind will be in his favour, too. Bjorn endured a torrid season last time out and it's a concern that last week may have been a blip from a fading force, but that's built into the price, and 50/1 is a generous enough price to find out.

Steve Rawlings: Back Mikko Ilonen @ 66/1

Mikko Ilonen began 2016 nicely enough last week in Abu Dhabi, finishing tied for 22nd. In nine attempts previously he'd only bettered that once, when 13th in 2010, so that can't be described as a venue he likes. He's missed the cut there five times in total and he was only 50th there two years ago before losing in a play-off to Sergio Garcia in this event the following week. He's a fine wind player and a terrific links exponent with proven form at Doha (also ninth in 2013) and I thought he was fairly priced at 66/1.

Mike Norman: Back Alejandro Canizares @ 33/1

I've endured a frustrating few weeks to say the least; 125/1 shot Jacques Blaauw finished a stroke shy of a place a fortnight ago, and last week my 100/1 selection Rafa Cabrera-Bello was in the places until a poor back nine on Sunday (also not helped by the fact that he played the par 5s in over par during the week), but at least I'm confident that I'm looking in the right places for a winner. Alejandro Canizares is my selection this week, a player who hits a high percentage of Greens in Regulation (a key stat this week) because of his exceptional iron play, and someone who has gone well on a course where form stands up very well - fifth in 2014, eighth last year. What's more, Canizares really caught the eye last week in Abu Dhabi, finishing the event strongly to finish in a tie for fifth.

***

For golf previews, tips and analysis ahead of every event on the European and PGA Tours please visit our dedicated Golf section here on betting.betfair.

2016 Season P/L (£5 e/w per selection)

2016 Season P/L to date: + £217.91

- Abu Dhabi Championship, Thomas Pieters @ 50/1 - PLACE (Steve)
- Abu Dhabi Championship, Joost Luiten @ 66/1 - PLACE (Joe)
- South African Open, Christiaan Bezuidenhout @ 250/1 - PLACE (Dan)
- Alfred Dunhill Championship, Joost Luiten @ 40/1 - PLACE (Joe)

* Total P/L for 2015 Season: +£958.37
* Total P/L for 2014 Season: +£251.75