Volvo China Open Tips

Volvo China Open - Binhai Lake GC,Tianjin,China

02 May 2013 - 05 May 2013

Tip date: 30 April 2013

Binhai Lake GC is the venue for this week’s China Open. The course staged this event for the first time last year and is an unusual Pete Dye design. It is a very exposed, wide open set-up and wind could well be a factor this week. The course itself is a 7667 yard monster that will certainly favour the longer hitters. There are three extremely long par 3s, the longest being the 287 yard 13th! The bent grass greens are relatively slow. Not much course form to go on as the course was first used in 2012. Branden Grace defends this week but he’s not in the nick he was in last year. Our perennial favourite Mr. Howell might struggle on such a long layout. What we’re looking for this week is someone who can give it a good smack off the tee and handle the possibly windy conditions. Paul Lawrie anyone?

Name	Odds	Bookmaker
Paul Lawrie	2pt each way 45-1	Bet365	Finishing position: T14 Back Paul Lawrie Again
This place looks taylor made for Paul. He still gives the ball a decent clip off the tee, there’s plenty of room and if (as forecast) the conditions are windy then he looks a decent bet. He’s not really caught fire this season yet but he’s a player who knows how to win and won’t be afraid of contending here. He had a decent T14 last time out at Binhai Lake and looks a sound bet to improve on that this year.
Matthew Baldwin	2pt each way 80-1	Bet365	Finishing position: T24 Back Matthew Baldwin Again
Matthew Baldwin is one of those solid, competent middle ranking players who pops up with a nice punter-friendly finish every now and then. This could well be one of those weeks. He’s had a reasonable start to the season with a T5 at the Trophee Hassan II the highlight. He’s reasonably long off the tee and finds alot of greens in regulation. Binhai looks well set up for his game. A very solid T14 last year backs this up. We can him getting into contention this week and a nice top 5 looks on the cards.
Jbe Kruger	1pt each way 100-1	SkyBet	Finishing position: T91 Back Jbe Kruger Again
Jbe is our last pick this week for a few good reasons. He’s had a steady, consistent start to the year, having only missed two cuts so far. He’s pretty long off the tee and a decent wind player which should stand him in good stead at Binhai Lake. He’s also had a solid T18 at his only visit to this venue in 2012. At the current 100-1 we reckon he’s well worth a small interest this week.