Let history take its course again at Volvo China Open
Published:An odd-looking field are set to compete in the Volvo China Open’s 20th anniversary tournament but the result at Genzon Golf Club could end up being a familiar one.
Brett Rumford secured his fifth European Tour victory in the competition last year and at 50/1 the 36-year-old looks overpriced to land the double.
The Australian became the third player from Down Under to scoop the price 12 months ago and the fourth man from outside Europe and America to win in the last five years.
Rumford’s four stroke victory over Finland’s Mikko llonen capped a career-changing week for the Perth resident after coming through a playoff just days before to win his first title in six years at the Ballantine’s Championship.
Three top-eight finishes later in the campaign rounded off an excellent season and although the closest he has come to adding to the mantelpiece this term is a tie for 10th at the Volvo Golf Champions on his first start of 2014, his best finish before Ballantine’s last year was a meagre tie for 22nd.
Rumford’s last run-out was encouraging when finding only ten players too good in the Trophée Hassan II and considering the question marks surrounding market leaders Henrik Stenson and Ian Poulter the Aussie makes plenty of appeal.
Both Stenson (7/1) and Poulter (10/1) have been struggling for form, a negative that could have been levelled at Nicolas Colsaerts before last week where only Lee Westwood shot lower at the Maybank Malaysian Open.
At 20/1, the popular Ryder Cup star, requires consideration now back in form as none in the field will arrive with fonder memories of the event than the 31-year-old.
The Belgium swinger broke his European Tour maiden at Luxehills International CC in 2011 and showed that effort was no fluke when finishing best of the rest behind Branden Grace the following year at Binhai Lake.
It’s encouraging that even with a change of venue (the 10th time in the event’s history) Colsaerts was able to bring his A-game again and he looks a far more attractive proposition than the few ahead of him in the betting.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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