The Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, South Africa once again plays host to the Nedbank Challenge beginning Thursday. With only 12 players making up the field, there’s a much better chance of picking the winner and we’ve put a bit of a guide together for you.

Favourite is the in form Spaniard Sergio Garcia. The newly installed world number 2 is playing the best golf of his life, with two wins in his last three events and two wins here at Sun City he’s a worthy favourite and totesport go best price 11/4 here.

Swedes Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson won the World Cup last week after a blistering final round of 63 in the foursomes. They’re next best 6/1 and 13/2 in the betting respectively and if we were to take anyone to beat Garcia it would be Stenson at that price.

If Stenson’s a next best, Lee Westwood wouldn’t be far behind. The Englishman’s had an astonishing year, with so many top ten finishes, including numerable runners up spots, it’s remarkable that he’s yet to win a prize in 2008! A fitter than ever Westwood could get that first win of the year here at 7/1, that’s for sure.

The lowest South African in the betting is Trevor Immelman, a 7/1 shot with totesport. The 2008 Masters winner has dropped off the radar a bit since his win back in March but he won this title last year and deserves respect again here.

Justin Rose went toe to toe with Immelman here last year eventually losing out by a shot. The Englishman’s had a poor second half of the year, except for a fine debut in the Ryder Cup in September, but he’s difficult to back here at 12/1.

Rory Sabbatini’s another player you could easily put a line through. The South African’s a 14/1 shot with totesport but hasn’t threatened the leaderboard in the last few months and will do well to improve on his fifth place here last year, with other players having better chances.

Three players sit on 16/1 in the betting with totesport, with Miguel-Angel Jimenez probably representing the best chance of the trio. KJ Choi and Kenny Perry have played very little golf in the past couple of months and if Jimenez can overcome the length of the monster Sun City track he might be a good value each-way bet after his strong showing in the World Cup last week.

As for unknowns, Luke Donald hasn’t been spotted on a golf course for most of the year due to injury so it’s a bit of a ‘finger in the air’ job about his chances here. This is reflected in the 22/1 on offer at totesport and it might be worth a small each-way bet as it’s terrific value if he’s close to his best.

The outsider of the pack and the last of the South African players on show is James Kingston. The European Tour player is a 40/1 shot and only has some modest results in the last month or so. He does however have some excellent top ten finishes to his name in 2008 and could spring a surprise here.

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It’s a strange time of year on the golfing calendar. No sooner had the European Tour finished for 2008 than the Race to Dubai started in China in earnest. As the weeks go by it’s difficult to know which event is affiliated to which tour and plenty names are missing as they take a well earned break in the tax havens around the world.

So, where does the golf World Cup stand in all this? Well, it’s not included in the Race to Dubai, but 28 teams of 2 do battle for $5 million worth of prize money and a bit of national pride to boot.

The tournament’s still out in the far east as the Mission Hills Country Club in China hosts the event. This shouldn’t have too much affect on the betting as the players have been playing all their latest golf in that part of the world and should be well acclimatised.

The format of the event sees 36 holes each of foursomes and fourballs, there’s no individual competition and no cut. The fourballs are played on Thursday and Saturday and the foursomes Friday and Sunday.

When approaching this format from a betting perspective you need to look at the teams and how they complement each other. If you look at the top of the betting, Sweden and England are 4/1 each a two. The Swedes are both huge hitters in the shape of European Order of Merit winner Robert Karlsson and world number 12 Henrik Stenson. Both this and their combined Ryder Cup experiences should help them here on this mammoth Mission Hills layout and look worthy joint-favourites.

The English duo of Poulter and Fisher also look a strong pair. Ross Fisher’s length off the tee and Ian Poulter’s combative style of play could make this a dream team.

You might be better placed though to invest your well earned cash on a few longer priced options , with Thailand and Italy eyecatching runners.

Prayad Marksaeng comes here off the back of a victory in Japan last week and with European Tour regular Thongchai Jaidee by his side make a very attractive pairing at 14/1.

The Italians are an even bigger price at 33/1 and very much fall under the ‘outsider’ category. The Molinari Brother’s sound like a circus act, but there’ll be no clowning around here with Francesco losing in a play-off in last weeks Hong Kong Open. Their week will very much depend on older brother Edouardo if they’re going to climb into the places and they’ll definitely have to improve on their ‘down the field’ finish in this event last year.

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No sooner had Robert Karlsson been congratulated for winning the European Order of Merit at Valderrama on Sunday evening, the Swede was then whisked off to board his flight to China and take his place in the field for the 2009 Race to Dubai.

The Race to Dubai replaces the Order of Merit for the 2009 season, with the top sixty players entering into the Dubai World Championship in a years time where there’ll be a staggering $10 million prize fund.

The season kicks off in Shanghai this week in the form of the HSBC Champions Tournament and there’s no surprise that some of the US Tour regulars are trying to get a piece of the action. Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and Anthony Kim head the betting at 9/1, 10/1 and 12/1 respectively with totesport. Other US Tour regulars Camillo Villegas, Adam Scott, KJ Choi and Geoff Ogilvy also make the trip.

It’s the two Aussies that spark interest with Adam Scott at 20/1 and Ogilvy a 33/1 shot. Scott had a poor 2008 season by his hi standards but much of his woes can be put down to injury. If the young Australian can come back refreshed here he’s a decent price. Ogilvy’s another steady Eddie and at 33/1 represents some value in this field.

Make sure to get your bets on early as the event tees off at1.25am UK time tonight.

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There’s a stellar line up at this weeks Volvo Masters at Valderrama in Spain and why not with €4.25m on offer for the top sixty European Tour players plus the Order of Merit title at stake.

Sergio Garcia cannot win the Order of Merit but has been installed as the 5/1 favourite with totesport after his fine victory last week in the Castello Masters. The Spaniard has never won the Volvo Masters but has three second places there in the past four seasons so should go close again this week.

Robert Karlsson leads the Order of Merit by a couple of hundred grand going into the tournament but with Padraig Harrington breathing down his neck and a mouthwatering €708k on offer to the winner there’s still some work to do. These two are 10/1 and best price 11/1 with totesport respectively but mathematically two more players have a chance of taking the title.

Lee Westwood is currently third in the rankings and Miguel Angel Jimenez fourth. It would probably take a miracle for the latter to win the title but he does have some course form at Valderrama. Winner here in 1999 and a top ten finish last season could see the 33/1 shot Spaniard gain another title to cap of a really good season.

Another 33/1 shot who could come from the pack is Rory McIlroy. The young Ulsterman has been knocking on the door with three top ten finishes in the last four weeks and will relish this chance to mix it with the big boys. He’s had a brilliant first season and it’d be the icing on the cake if he could make the top five here.

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It’s a strong field at this weeks European Tour event in Spain. Sergio Garcia heads the field at 11/2 in what is essentially his home club event. Garcia will know every inch of the Club de Campo Mediterraneo and is a worthy home favourite.

Stacking up behind him are some of Garcia’s Ryder Cup teammates, including Henrik Stenson, Paul Casey and Justin Rose, available at totesport at 16/1, 14/1 and 22/1 respectively.

After last week’s 40/1 pick finishing third in the form of Steve Webster, here are a few other bigger priced fancies for you to have a look at.

Consistent Frenchman Gregory Bourdy is another 40/1 shot and showed some good form in Portugal finishing 7th last week. David Howell is another player returning to form after injury and after a week off he could come back refreshed and finish in the top 5. The Englishman is a 50/1 chance with totesport and it would be great if he could get a big prize before the season is out.

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What a life it must be playing golf on the European Tour. Playing at the home of golf one week, then the autumn warmth of Madrid the next. Just a short trip west this week to the Algarve and it’s the Portugal Masters.

There’s €3m in prize money on offer and it’s brought out the big guns as Robert Karlsson bids to win a third consecutive European Tour title. The giant Swede is 8/1 favourite to add the Portugal masters to his wins in Scotland and Germany.

It’s a quality line up and plenty have claims, none more so than Lee Westwood who at 10/1 is sure to be in the reckoning on yet another Sunday. Westwood has yest to win on the European Tour this season but has had 12 top ten finishes and four runners up spots to his name.

Looking further down the field Steve Webster’s name catches the eye. Winner here last October in the tournament’s inaugural year the Englishmen finished 13th last week in Madrid so is in decent nick and a 40/1 shot at totesport.

It’s at this time of year that not only are the top players battling it out to win the Order of Merit, but plenty more at the other end of the scale are looking to keep there card for next year.

We’ve picked out two to keep an eye out this week at big prices in the betting. Robert Rock carded a heroic last round of 64 finishing fourth in Madrid last week to give him every chance of making the top 125 at the end of the month. Another good show in Portugal and the 110/1 could represent some value.

Two other men to look out for at big prices are Patrik Sjoland and and Jose Felipe Lima at 150/1 and 125/1 respectively. The Swede Sjoland got a late entry into this tournament and is right on the cusp of keeping his card so will be looking to grab the opportunity this week. Lima is another needing a big finish and can be forgiven his poor showing last week in Madrid. On home turf he may just have a squeak at a top ten finish.

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A $600,000 cheque and a two-day jolly in Bermuda awaits the winner of the 2008 Grand Slam of Golf. Open and PGA Champion Padraig Harrington will be hoping to add the prize to what has been a wonderful haul in 2008, with the Irishman still favourite to top the European Order of Merit at the end of October as well.

Totesport go best price 5/2 Harrington in the 36 hole stroke-play event at the Ocean Club in Bermuda starting Tuesday. In his way stand 7/4 favourite Jim Furyk and South African paid Trevor Immelman and Retief Goosen, 3/1 and 7/2 respectively in the betting.

The double major winner from Dublin has looked jaded in recent weeks but if the wind blows off the Atlantic the course could play into his hands.

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The Texas Open at LaCantera is the latest stop on the PGA Tour merry-go-round and home boy Justin Leonard justifies favourtism at 8/1 with totesport.

The Texan has won this event three times in nine attempts and looks a good bet to be in the reckoning again on Sunday. The shortish par 70 course certainly plays into Leonard’s hands and on his day has one of the hottest putters int he game.

If you’re looking for a bit of value in the field, totesport go 20/1 on second favourite and another Texan Chad Campbell. The Ryder Cup wildcard finished fifteenth here last year and comes into the tournament in good form after defeating three time major winner Padraig Harrington in the singles at Valhalla.

Bigger priced eye-catchers include Aussie Matthew Goggin and veteran Davis Love III, both 33/1 shots with totesport. Goggin has been in fine form of late and a win could be just around the corner. Love on the other hand is on the borderline of the 125 place qualifying mark for the 2009 Tour, however he could claim exemption based on being fifth on the all time money list. This fact aside, after a third place finish last time out and player pride I expect him to have a big week here.

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The Madrid Masters returns to the European Tour this week for the first time since 2000 and although the course has hosted the Madrid Open five times since then there’s still not a huge amount to go on in the form book.

Head of the betting with totesport is Martin Kaymer at 9/1. The young German has had a hectic year, with the loss of his mother, missing out narrowly on Ryder Cup selection and a couple of tour victories to his name but it looked like it took it’s toll last Sunday at St Andrews. After being in contention all week in the Dunhill Links Championship and leading coming down the notorious 17th at St Andrews his putting let him down, resulting in a play-off loss to Robert Karlsson. This could prove to be a big enough betting turnoff this week as he acclimatises to the Spanish sun.

So, who are the other main protagonists in the betting? Angel Cabrera makes a rare forray onto the European Tour and Miguel Jimenez will be looking to secure a victory on home soil after yet another consistent year. Both players are 12/1 shots with totesport so we’d recommend you look elsewhere for some value.

Sticking with the Spanish theme, recent British Masters winner at the Belfry, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano is an eye-catching price at 20/1 to pick up the spoils on his home track. Jose Maria Olazabal has claims at 28/1 but could be somewhat of an unknown quantity what with his injury dogged year. At a bigger price, French Open winner Pablo Larrazabal is available at 50/1, whilst you can get on Jose-Felipe Lima at the same price. The Portuguese talent carded a sixth place here back in 2005 and his 5th place in Scotland last week shows he’s in form.

Other course form lends itself to Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin, a winner in 2005 and Paul Lawrie of Ireland, runner up on that occasion. They’re 20/1 and 40/1 respectively with totesport.

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Who needs Tiger Woods you could hear America’s adoring Ryder Cup fans hollering as Anthony Kim produced one of the most impresive match-play displays for many a moon to take care of Sergio Garcia.

Trounced, thrashed, hammered are not the sort of words the Spaniard is used to hearing in defeat but they are just about the only ways to describe his 5 & 4 pasting to this future titan of the game.

Readers of these pages know just how highly we rate AK - we had him down as our top US Points scorer tip  - and although he fell just shy of that prediction we reckon this week’s Tour Championship is within his compass.

East Lake golf club is unfamiliar territory to this dual 2008 winner, but then again so was Valhalla and just look what happened there. Kim’s all round talents mean he has the tools to shine on any kind of lay out and the straightforward Georgia track, with its 23 under winning score from Woods in 2007, holds no fears.

We believe that the confidence instilled from his Ryder Cup expolits will set Kim on course for a Major victory within the next 18 months. Take him at tasty golf odds to bag this mini-major.

Another man on a Ryder high is Hunter Mahan who actually finished fifth at East Lake last term. Mahan was a huge success at Valhalla finishing as top points scorer and given his huge current confidence, outstanding present form and great course memories he is a must for the staking plan.

It is hard to think that many were calling for Mahan to be axed from the Ryder Cup following his controversial slaves comment. At the current online betting golf odds he looks a cracking punt.

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