06 November 2018, by: BET Contributer

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE – SIX OF THE BEST FOR SUN CITY

Africa’s Major gets underway at the Gary Player Country Club on Thursday.
We look at some interesting betting strategies if you’re keen on having an interest.

The Nedbank Golf Challenge has certainly lost a lot of its charm since it’s early years featuring 10 or 12 man select fields and humungous pay cheques. This year, the organisers have managed to convince Rory McIlroy to come on safari in the Pilanesburg and play four rounds of golf. He’s instantly the favourite but there are arguments that the real favourite should be Ryder Cup collague Sergio Garcia. The Spaniard’s return to form in Team Europe colours resulted in a win on home soil and he arrives with a great record at Sun City and that’s something to count on this week. Rory’s been out of touch for some time and his recent outings have yielded some pretty indifferent results. Swerve Rory and go for Sergio!

Sergio Garcia 12.00

No, we aren’t talking music genres but rather players with odds a little less flattering. Two names stick out straight away – Matt Wallace and Ryan Fox. While it’s extremely unfashionable to back an Englishman or a Kiwi both represent good value this week. Wallace has won a number of times and Fox, just outside the top 10 in GIR this year, has performed well for large portions of the year.

Matt Wallace 50.00 & Ryan Fox 60.00

If it does indeed turn into a heavyweight contest between McIlroy and Garcia and you feel strongly that it might. Then a nice, long-shot would be Shubhankar Sharma. Sure his form has tailed off a bit but the rising Indian star still has good memories of South Africa after his brilliant win at the Joburg Open. The takeaway? He knows how to win, go low and more importantly, deal with the kikuyu rough.

Shubhankar Sharma 140.00

What would any co-sanctioned event be without a strong South African challenge? Branden Grace defends this week and will do well if the course is indeed playing firm and fast, that’ll certainly suit his ball flight and precision accuracy from tee to green. Louis Oosthuizen has shown signs of improvement and this is one that he’s desperate to win and he starts with good form here but two options stand out to be SA’s best this week.

Erik van Rooyen and Darren Fichardt. Sure, a lot less popular or used to winning than Grace, Oosthuizen or Charl Schwartzel but Van Rooyen is the form horse and Fichardt was good last week and loves the course. Last year, Fichardt raced to the venue after being told he was now in the field after a late withdrawal and promptly secured a top 10 finish. What’s stopping him from going all the way especially with so many of the Race to Dubai’s leaders taking a week off.

Erik van Rooyen 66.00 & Darren Fichardt 110.00

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