KLM Dutch Open Betting Preview

The European Tour heads to Holland and Hilversum for this week’s Tour event, the KLM Dutch Open. Hilversum stages the tournament for the 15th time, although this is the first time in five years that the tournament will be played over its 6,900 yard layout.

There is a strong lineup for this event, which was won last year by Englishman Simon Dyson and the field includes European Ryder Cup team-members Martin Kaymer and Francesco Molinari, as well as the Open Championship winner, Louis Oosthuizen.

Hilversum’s course is a tight, tree-lined affair with some heavy rough and heather aplenty waiting to catch wayward drives so it might be an idea to concentrate on those players who can keep the ball in play. Small, firm greens also place emphasis on a good short game.

The first player to make the shortlist this week is defending champion, Simon Dyson. While his win in this tournament came at Kennemeer Golf Club, the layout of Hilversum should suit the Yorkshireman, and he has a good record in this event with a previous victory in 2006 to add to last year. Plus, Dyson has some form over the course and finished in the top 20 back in 2003, while he has shown good form on another of Kyle Phillips’ creations, Kingsbarns – one of three Alfred Dunhill Links Championship courses – of which Dyson is also the holder. In terms of driving accuracy, Dyson ranked 12th at Crans-sur-Sierre and 16th at Gleneagles, so his driving should stand him in good stead and while his closing 74-75 rounds last week could be a bit off-putting, his record in this event makes him of strong interest around the 33/1 mark.

Marten Lafeber is an attractively-priced 55/1 and the Dutchman can go well in his home tournament. Lafeber endured a slow start to his season, and has been largely out of sorts until recent weeks, which has seen top ten and top thirty finishes from his last three tournaments and with exceptional course form, could make a mockery of his odds. His course form reads tied-5th in 1999 and 2005, while he won round this course in 2003, making him of real interest this week.

US PGA winner Martin Kaymer returns to action for the first time since his Whistling Straits win and should once again challenge for top honours. However, the suspicion for me is Kaymer could well use the tournament to ease him back into the swing of things ahead of the Ryder Cup match at The Celtic Manor in a few weeks time, and so on that basis he is passed over. Odds of just 10/1 don’t really make a lot of appeal in any case.

Similar comments could be made about Kaymer’s fellow Ryder Cup team-mate Francesco Molinari, who has been installed as bookies’ second favourite at 12/1. Francesco has played second fiddle somewhat to big brother Edoardo in the past couple of weeks, but with Edoardo now taking time off ahead of the Ryder Cup, Francesco could well look to step back into the limelight, making him at least more likely than Kaymer to put the effort into mounting a challenge. The Hilversum course should suit him, and his recent record of four top-10s in his last 7 starts makes a strong case for his chances.

Damien McGrane has come to the fore (no pun intended!) in recent weeks, and he is a player who seems to hold an affinity with Holland. McGrane has carded inside the top-10 on half of his appearances in this event and finished 4th behind Simon Dyson last year, as well as 9th in 2005. McGrane has made 12 of his last 13 cuts and has finished inside the top 20 in eight of those, making his 50/1 odds of real interest this week.

A top-5 finish at Crans-sur-Sierre after a three-week layoff should have put South African Charl Schwartzel cherry-ripe for this event, and he will be looking to improve on his current 5th place on the Race to Dubai rankings. But while 18/1 might not be the best value about his chances, he can’t be ignored this week as a serious contender.

Selection: Charl Schwartzel
Savers: Damien McGrane, Marten Lafeber