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.
