The Jack Nicklaus-designed Montreux golf club plays host to this week’s PGA Tour event - the Reno-Tahoe Open.
Like most Nicklaus courses the Arizona lay-out offers generous fairways and large undulating greens. The venue is also at altitude and that means club selection can be tricky as the ball travels 10-15% further than at sea level.
Therefore players who have experience of Montreux are at an instant advantage to first-timers. Another factor to consider this week is the Arizona sierra winds that are usually at their most severe in the afternoons.
2007 winner Steve Flesch romped home by five strokes by taking advantage of a calm first morning to shoot a stunning 63.
With that in mind we are narrowing down our staking plan to players with an early Thursday tee-time who have an ability to hack it the wind.
With all of the big guns up in Ohio it is pleasing to see ultra-talented Nick Watney up for grabs at 28/1. Watney, who claimed the 2007 Zurich Championship, is a class above 95% of this field and his big hitting will be suited by this spacious course.
He finished 5th in Hawaii’s Mercedes-Benz earlier this season when it was blowing a gale.
Local resident Kevin Stadler was runner up here last year and clearly knows his way around Montreux. There is a lot more to come from the son of former Masters winner Craig, as his 15th at this year’s Players Championship suggests.
Have a nibble at the 50s on offer.
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