Golf: HSBC World Matchplay Preview

World Number one Tiger Woods and defending champion Michael Campbell lead the field this week for the HSBC World Matchplay golf at Wentworth. It is an incredibly strong field this year with six of the world's top ten and seven major champions included in the seeded draw. The traditional approach by the tournament organisers to seedings means that Campbell as defending champion is the number one seed with Woods having to settle for an unusual (for him) title of being the number two. This of course doesn't stop the seemingly unstoppable American – a now living legend in world golf from being the overwhelming favourite. Tiger is a best priced 6/4 to take the title with bet365 and VC Bet, this is incredibly short since he hasn't played in this event since 1998 an has never actually won it, but he is currently on fire having won his last five events in a row, so it would be a brave punter to bet against him.

Ernie Els provides much better value at 7/1 with Ladbrokes and Stan James. No player knows this course better than the giant South African; his house backs on to the course, he is an honorary member and he has helped to redesign a few of the holes here in recent years, so Ernie's local knowledge could not be stronger. – It's likely he will go far in this event, which he has already won six times. He faces big hitting Argentinean outsider Angel Cabrera in what is likely to be one of the exciting games of the first round. Cabrera is highly regarded in world golf and is an intimidating opponent due to his sheer power and length from the tee, which against a lot of opponents would be a distinct advantage but with Els being no slouch with the big stick either this should be an intriguing blow for blow swash buckling encounter. Cabrera is priced at 25/1 with Pinnacle Sports and bluesq, which is good value but taking on the 'big easy' in round one could see him going home early and it is likely to be a step too far for him.

Defending champion Campbell is priced at a very enticing 29/1 with Pinnacle Sports; he has course and distance and is seeded as number one, so should have the benefit of an easier draw in the early rounds – although this is the World Matchplay and there is really no such thing as an easy draw. England's Simon Khan (seed 16) is his opponent in round one, which should please the likeable kiwi as in theory Khan would be the least difficult opponent of the other fifteen in the draw. Khan is priced at a massive 125/1 with bet365 and Sky Bet and is really given very little chance in here this week against a field that reads pretty much like a who's who of world golf. Campbell's game suits Matchplay golf as he is a resilient fighter, which is a valuable characteristic for a player to have in this event as all games are settled over 36 holes (2 rounds), meaning there will be plenty of time for players to mount a recovery should they get off to a bad start. Campbell, however can be a little erratic but this is less destructive in this form of golf as big numbers can only be punished by losing one hole at a time rather than wrecking an entire card, which would be the case in a strokeplay event.

Aside from Woods, the form men are American Jim Furyk, available at 10/1 with VC bet and Adam Scott of Australia who expect.com has priced at 12/1. These odds are very tempting in deed given the form these players come here in. Furyk arrives here at Wentworth of the back of a victory in the Canadian Open and Scott has just won the Singapore Open, where he edged out Ernie Els in a play off so if you can bring yourself to see past the Tiger and big Ernie for this event then surely your money has to be placed on one of these guys.

The draw has thrown up an all European Ryder Cup team affair with Scotland's Colin Montgomerie taking on Englishman David Howell. Montgomerie, who is a past winner of this event, holds the record here for the best 18-hole score when he managed 11 under par back in 2000 so it's fair to say he knows his way round this Wentworth track, therefore he might be worth a punt at a reasonable 25/1 with bluesq and Paddy Power. Howell currently leads the European Order of Merit and will line up alongside opponent Montgomerie in the Ryder Cup later this month, so he has a real chance here this week and is priced at 16/1 with VC bet and Ladbrokes.

As well as outright betting on this event, nearly all firms are offering match bet markets. Here is the full draw with the best priced match odds in brackets alongside the player's name;

Michael Campbell (10/17) v Simon Khan (7/4)
David Howell (7/8) v Colin Montgomerie (11/10)
Retief Goosen (8/13) v Paul Casey (11/8)
Adam Scott (4/7) v Mike Weir (18/11)
Jim Furyk (7/15) v Robert Karlsson (2/1)
Ernie Els (11/18) v Angel Cabrera (13/8)
Luke Donald (4/7) v Tim Clark (18/11)
Tiger Woods (1/6) v Shaun Micheel (16/3)

Good Luck!

Ed note: Make your golf bets at VC Bet

• 
• 
• Email to a friend
• Print