Volvo China Open

Y.E Yang sets out to become the first man to successfully defend the China Open this weekend as the European Tour travels to Luxehills International Country Club. Three other Major winners’ will be teeing off on Thursday along with Yang, in the shape of Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia and Colin Montgomerie. With a strong field in China, consider the following.

Challengers

YE Yang

YE Yang, the 2009 PGA Champion, clinched the China Open last season after a play-off. This was on the back of a Top 10 finish at the Masters and this year, he finds himself in somewhat of a similar position. While it is an Augusta Top 20 this time around, he has also displayed some excellent form with a Top 10 finish in Phoenix and a second place finish at the Honda Classic. Yang heads into the China Open as the bookies favourite and is priced best for the win at 12/1 (Boyle Sports). He is 6/5 (Paddy Power) for a Top 10 finish. But for me, I really like Y.E Yang to be Top Rest of World at 7/2 (Stan James).

Simon Dyson

Simon Dyson showed tremendous promise last weekend with rounds of 70, 64 and 68 to claim a seventh place finish. If it wasn’t for a catastrophic penultimate round of 76 in Malaysia, he may have been challenging Matteo Manassero on Sunday evening. Though this wasn’t to be, the Englishman still showed that he is a very capable competitor. Dyson also holds a good record in this part of the world and unlike some of the bookies favourites; he will not hold the burden of having to acclimatise before Thursday. Along with the good showing last weekend, he achieved a fifth place finish in Sicily some weeks back and should he maintain this form I expect Dyson to be in one of the later groupings on Sunday evening. He is best priced for the win at 25/1 (Paddy Power) and is good value at 11/4 (Tote Sport) for a Top 10.

Rafael Cabrera Bello

Spanish 26 year old, Rafael Cabrera Bello, finished tied for fourth last weekend in the Malaysian Open. This was his third Top 10 of the season so far. He is a man in form and if he brings consistency to China this weekend, he should be in the reckoning. He is best priced for the win at 25/1 (Boyle Sports), 12/5 (Paddy Power) for a Top 10 and 4/1 (Tote Sport) to be the Top Spanish Player.

Value

Feilipe Agruilar

The Chilean Pro is excellent value if one takes into consideration his sixth place finish last week.  He displayed good consistency with rounds of 70, 70, 66 and 70. Even though Agruilar’s last and only win on the European Tour was back in February 2008 at the Astro Indonesia Open, I think at 70/1 (Tote Sport) he is worth consideration. I can see the Top 20 option at 15/8 (Sky Bet) being a likely profitable punt.

Hyung Tae Kim

Korean born, Hyung Tae Kim, showed impressive recent form finishing sixth in Japan. He also displayed some course form, when he only lost out in a play off to YE Yang here last year. Kim registered an overall score of -21 and if he produces that again this week, he won’t be beat. He is crazy value for money at 125/1 (Coral) to win this weekend and is 9/2 (Sky Bet) for a Top 20.

My China Open Tips

1pt EW YE Yang Win

1pt YE Yang Top Rest of World

1pt Simon Dyson Top 10

1pt Rafael Cabrera Bello Top Spanish Player

1pt Hyung Tae Kim Top 20

1pt Feilipe Agruilar Top 20

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