Johnnie Walker Championship Betting Preview

The Ryder Cup will be at the forefront of many people’s thoughts this weekend, with the final qualifying event to make the team being played at Gleneagles.

The Johnnie Walker has attracted a fairly strong field, with some Ryder Cup hopefuls in attendance; but there are also some notable absentees who have elected to compete in The Barclays event instead and leave their Ryder Cup fate in the hands of skipper, Colin Montgomerie.

Montgomerie will of course be naming his final twelve to face the United States at The Celtic Manor Resort, Wales after the conclusion of the Ryder Cup and Simon Dyson, Ross McGowan and Alvaro Quiros will be hoping to win this week in order to usurp Spaniard Miguel Angel Jiminez from the final qualifying berth. Jiminez is also in attendance this week after a late change of heart and will be looking to consolidate his place.

The 7,100 yards long, par 72 PGA Centenary course at Gleneagles hosts this event for the eleventh time and will be the venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup. While not overly tight from the tee, the course can severely punish wayward shots, and with five par-5 holes to contend with players who can hit the ball long and straight look to have an advantage.

The first player to make the shortlist is home player Stephen Gallacher. The Scot was put up last week in the tipster trio and still held a chance – albeit slim – going into the final round of producing a good finish. Any hope was wiped out quickly with a triple bogey at the opening hole, but Stephen otherwise played well and recent form shows he is playing as well as anyone in the field. Stephen has featured in the top 30 in nine of his last 10 starts – four of which have seen the Bathgate player inside the top six, and Gleneagles is a course Gallacher plays well, with four top tens here in the last ten years. What’s more, he won’t mind the weather if it turns nasty – which could happen; it’s Scotland after all! Must have a sound chance at 28/1.

Jamie Donaldson has enjoyed a solid, if winless, 2010 and the Welshman finished in a tie for sixth place here last year. He’s also had six top-10 finishes and, like Gallacher, won’t be too inconvenienced should the weather turn. He’s gone off the boil somewhat and has looked a less than resolute battler in the past when in contention, but 66/1 looks a decent each-way price.

Gregory Bourdy also looks reasonable value at 66/1 and he finished alongside Jamie Donaldson last year. The Frenchman held his own at Whistling Straits in the recent US PGA Championship where he was in contention at the top end of the leaderboard before fading. Bourdy has made his last 14 cuts and although not featuring at the sharp end on Sundays is fancied to go well again.

Of the three main Ryder Cup candidates – Dyson, McGowan and Quiros – none really strike me as likely types when the chips are down. Although all three players have gained some black type over recent seasons, there’s going to be a lot of pressure on the three players, especially given the groups the players find themselves in. McGowan plays the first two rounds with Jiminez and Edoardo Molinari, who will be hoping to play his way to a wild-card selection, while Dyson and Quiros will play alongside Peter Hanson who has all but qualified. I just feel there’ll be too much pressure on them this weekend, and while they should play well I can’t see anyone getting the result they need to sneak into the team. If anyone is to do so, I’d wager on it being Quiros at odds of 25/1 given his extreme length from the tee and the likelihood of his handling potential wet conditions.

I’m akin to give Nicolas Colsaerts another chance to impress after a decent showing last week. The Belgian shot a second round 65 to get into contention but wasn’t able to last the distance and not for the first time fell away in the final round. But the big-hitter will enjoy the wide expanses of Gleneagles and he has performed creditably in recent weeks. He could go well at odds of 50/1.

The unpredictable nature of the Scottish weather means it could be an idea to stick with proven bad weather performers. Alongside those already mentioned, Shane Lowry must then come in for consideration should the elements worsen. The Irishman has taken time to get to grips with the professional game, but won the Irish Open in 2009 as an amateur – some feat considering the final round was played in a monsoon! Lowry has put together some solid efforts in 2010, and although never really challenging can’t be ruled out if the weather gets bad. Should that happen then 50/1 could be good value.

Selection: Stephen Gallacher
Savers: Jamie Donaldson, Gregory Bourdy