Round 1 plays (2pts):
Keith Horne to beat Romain Wattel -105 @ Bet365 [also available @ Boyle Sports]
Surprised to see Wattel priced as the favourite in this matchup given the home advantage in this event. Horne has played in this event in each of the last four years that East London has been the venue - he has made the cut every time, including three top25 finishes. Wattel played here two years in his sole previous visit and missed the cut by six shots. Even in terms of current form, Horne has a clear edge - he comes into this event having finished 5th last year in the much stronger Joburg Open; Wattel has a best-finish of 49th in three starts in 2013.
David Drysdale to beat Ricardo Santos +120 @ Pinnacle [also available @ Stan James]
Santos is certainly a player in form, but form is never permanent. Despite that purple patch, he still trails Drysdale 16-9 h2h since the start of last season and looking at rd1 alone, the Portugese player has shotot the lower 1st round just four times out of 25 over that period. Add in the fact that this is an unusual Tour course - Santos missed the cut here last year; Drysdale finished in the top-20 - and Drysdale is also a player showing form, so there should be value at these odds from Pinnacle.
Jbr Kruger to beat Ricardo Santos +100 @ Bet365 [also available @ 5Dimes and Boyle Sports]
Opposing Santos with another player in decent form and one in particular who has played well on this course - Kruger finished 3rd and 8th around East London in 2010 and 2011, with the key to his success being his finishes of 1st and 2nd in greens in regulation respectively.
[unofficial rd1 system play: Maybin tb Derksen -105]
Keith Horne to beat Romain Wattel -105 @ Bet365 [also available @ Boyle Sports]
Surprised to see Wattel priced as the favourite in this matchup given the home advantage in this event. Horne has played in this event in each of the last four years that East London has been the venue - he has made the cut every time, including three top25 finishes. Wattel played here two years in his sole previous visit and missed the cut by six shots. Even in terms of current form, Horne has a clear edge - he comes into this event having finished 5th last year in the much stronger Joburg Open; Wattel has a best-finish of 49th in three starts in 2013.
David Drysdale to beat Ricardo Santos +120 @ Pinnacle [also available @ Stan James]
Santos is certainly a player in form, but form is never permanent. Despite that purple patch, he still trails Drysdale 16-9 h2h since the start of last season and looking at rd1 alone, the Portugese player has shotot the lower 1st round just four times out of 25 over that period. Add in the fact that this is an unusual Tour course - Santos missed the cut here last year; Drysdale finished in the top-20 - and Drysdale is also a player showing form, so there should be value at these odds from Pinnacle.
Jbr Kruger to beat Ricardo Santos +100 @ Bet365 [also available @ 5Dimes and Boyle Sports]
Opposing Santos with another player in decent form and one in particular who has played well on this course - Kruger finished 3rd and 8th around East London in 2010 and 2011, with the key to his success being his finishes of 1st and 2nd in greens in regulation respectively.
[unofficial rd1 system play: Maybin tb Derksen -105]
