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Malaysian Open
Course: Royal Selangor Golf Club, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Par: 72
Weather
Forecast Past Winners:
2001 - Vijay Singh
2000 - Wei Tze Yeh
1999 - Gerry Norquist
1994 - Joakim Haeggman
1993 - Gerry Norquist
1992 - Vijay Singh
Outright plays:
Padraig Harrington to win 9/1 @
TattsBet
or Stan James
A simply great record in South-East Asia. 2nd in this event two years ago, 2nd
in this event last year and 5th in the Singapore Masters last year on his three
starts in this part of the world in the last two years. True, he has failed to
win here as elsewhere - he missed a 10-foot putt last year to win when Vijay
virtually handed the title to win by driving out-of-bounds on the 71st hole -
but this is a much weaker field than he is accustomed to. Padraig to win ... at
last!
Nick Faldo to win 25/1 e.w. @
BetInternet or Victor Chandler
Wins have been even rarer for Faldo in recent years, but three top-10 finishes
in three starts this year cannot be ignored and in much stronger company.
Harrington or Faldo to win ... let's see if the times are a-changing!
Desvonde Botes to place [top-4] 40/1 @
Centrebet
Would have liked the comfort of a 5th place option, but 160/1 to win are far in
excess of those elsewhere, so to place only seems the best option for a player
who has not won on the European Tour, though did top the 2000 Q-school. Current
form may be dreadful, though he didn't play in Singapore last week and there are
reasons to expect a marked improvement in form in this climate. In five starts
on Asian PGA Tour-sanctioned events, he can boast a runners-up spot in the
Singapore Open in 2000 and a 7th place finish in this event last year.
72-hole plays:
Thomas Levet to beat Andrew Coltart -110
@ Surrey
Coltart is not a regular on these Asian PGA Tour co-sanctioned
events and this may well be preparation for next week's Dubai Desert Classic.
Levet, on the other hand, comes off a top-10 finish in the ANZ Championship and
finished in the top-20 in the Asian Open and Hong Kong Open at the end of last
year.
Thomas Levet to beat Nick Dougherty -111
@ BetInternet
[2 units]
A difficult introduction to the humidity of the region for the young Englishman
last week as he missed the cut with rounds of 69-77 in Singapore. Should
improve, but not enough to be as competitive as Levet.
Nick Faldo to beat Ricardo Gonzalez -111
@ Easybets
[2 units]
Backing the rejuvenated Faldo in match bets as well. Gonzalez finished well back
of Faldo in 26th last week in his debut in the region and can see no reason why
this week should be any different on this tight, tree-lined course.
Nick Faldo to beat Eduardo Romero -110
@ Bet365
[2 units]
El Gato was a closer 10th place to Faldo last week, but like Gonzalez, he is not
a regular on this leg of the European Tour and Faldo's form just seems to be
more solid at this stage of the season.
Mid-point update:
Levet/Coltart All Square
Levet/Dougherty WON by 9
Faldo/Gonzalez LOST by 13
Faldo/Romero LOST by 9
Harrington 20th
Faldo mc
Botes 31st
Very disappointing 79 in the 2nd round from
Faldo to fall from 14th overnight to missing the cut
 That scuppered three plays.
Harrington is just about in contention and if Botes is to make the event a
profitable one, he will have to improve on his 25% driving accuracy so far this
week.
Final update:
Matchups: 1-3; -3.54 units
Levet/Coltart LOST by 1
Outrights: 0-3; -3.00 units
Harrington 11th
Botes 27th
Very poor. Roll on Dubai and the traditional
start of the European Tour.
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