The week in golf: Longshots to storm Turkey and Kuala Lumpar
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If Ladbrokes’ markets are to be believed for the two major golf tournaments this week, the fields pose little threat to the two favourites.
Rory McIlroy is the runaway leader in the Turkish Open’s betting at 4/1, with Shane Lowry deemed his closest challenger at 16s. Over on the PGA Tour, Henrik Stenson tops the list at 6/1 from red-hot 14/1-shot Kevin Na.
However, in both tournaments Ladbrokes News are looking at the longer-priced options, and for good reason.
2015 will see the third edition of the Turkish Airlines Open. Brooks Koepka won last year at odds of 33/1 and a year prior 80/1 poke Victor Dubuisson sprung a complete surprise so backing McIlroy feels a little like having cheese and biscuits for desert, when there’s toffee sponge and custard on offer.
The form of Thailand star Kiradech Aphibarnrat belies his 40/1 odds here. Cruelly overlooked for a Presidents Cup spot despite a stellar season, the 26-year-old arrives in Turkey having placed in the top six in all of his last three starts.
Into the world’s top 50 for the first time, Aphibarnrat has claimed three titles in 2015, including two on the European Tour. He is picked to continue the longshot winners’ trend in this tournament.
Similarly, the winners of the last five CIMB Classics have been priced no lower than 20/1. Ryan Moore has won the last two of those, but is 16/1 now having stung the bookies with consecutive 33/1 successes, so is overlooked.
Instead, 33/1 hope Gary Woodland is the selection. He’s followed Moore home in both of the last two editions and should be fighting fit for a challenge at the trophy having taken the last five weeks off.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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