DP World India Championship tips and predictions

The Punter's Preview: Rory on the drift in a tough market to call

Steve Rawlings: Rory McIlroy opened at 7.413/2 on the Betfair Exchange market on Monday but after his disappointing course debut 12 months ago, when he finished down the field in a tie for 26^th, he's drifted ever since and he's been matched at as high as 11.010/1.

The defending champion, Tommy Fleetwood, is trading at slightly bigger than Rory but he makes little appeal given he's far from prolific and defending a title is never easy.

I like the chances of Aaron Rai, who should love the venue, and the in-form Spaniard, Eugenio Chaccara, but both have shortened up to prices that are just too low for my liking.

Casey Jarvis, who traded at a low of 1.51/2 when a 120.0119/1 selection last time out at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, finished 17^th last year, having sat third after round one, and given he won at Karen Country Club in February, it's not surprising that the venue appears to suit, but he too looks short enough now having been well backed on Monday.

The in-form Dane, Jacob Skov Olesen, appears to enjoy a tree-lined test but he's finding it tough to grab that illusive first victory so I'm happy to leave him out before the off too.

I have picked out a couple of long-shots, and I'll be back later with all the details, but this is a tough tournament to get to grips with and I'm happy to leave the front of the market alone before the off.

First Round Leader Tips: In-form Spaniard can start well

Dave Tindall: The 18-hole leaderboard here last year was full of familiar, top-class names rather than local Indian players so it's fair to think the cream rises to the top straight away.

It may be a surprise to some but Eugenio Chacarra is currently 2nd on the Race to Dubai, moving above Rory McIlroy after finishing runner-up in his home Open de Espana last week.

The Spaniard now has a second, a third and a fourth in his latest five starts and an opening 66 in Madrid last week gave him a piece of the first-round lead.

His performances in India also take the eye as in four events across the last two seasons he's posted a win (The Hero Indian Open, his first victory on the DP World Tour), a second, a fifth and a 26th here. Chacarra's FRL positions in that quartet were 1-10-44-2.

The 26-year-old tees off at 07:05 from the 10th in one of the marquee groups alongside Justin Rose and Min Woo Lee. Back him at 30s (1/4 Odds, 5 Places).

Long Odds Golf Tips: Good omens for backing Lawrence at 69/170.00

Steve Rawlings: With the market leaders drifting, several players have shortened up in the Betfair Exchange market and my first pick, Thriston Lawrence, is one such player.

The prolific South African opened at 80.0 and he was somehow matched at as high 130.0, but odds of anything over 50/1 look fair to me. Lawrence signed off last year's inaugural edition with a seven-under-par 65 to climb up into a tie for third and it's no surprise to see he likes the course.

Lawrence won his third Omega European Masters title in Switzerland around the tree-lined Crans-sur-Sierre layout last month and he has top 10 finishes at a plethora of other tree-lined tracks, including Rinkven, Muthaiga, Karen Country Club, the Belfry, and Wentworth, as well as victories at Randpark and the Golfclub München Eichenried.

In addition to having the course form in the bank, Lawrence signed off last week's event, the Open de Espana, around another tree-lined track, Club de Campo, with a six-under-par 65 to finish tied for 13^th, and that looks like a good omen.

Form stats for this week's tournament at Delhi Golf Club

Course Form Pick: The defending champion arrives in decent form after finishing T4 at the Alfred Dunhill last time out. That followed a withdrawal and a missed cut - in France and at Wentworth respectively - but prior to those disappointments, he was 11th at the Tour Championship.

Get in-play golf betting updates this weekend from The Punter