Preview & outright plays:
The last of the co-sanctioned Australasian Tour events of the season and already some of the European contingent have brought their Southern Hemisphere jaunt to an end. Noteworthy though is the late arrival of another, Sergio Garcia. Not that many months ago, he was the precocious teenager taking world golf by storm; this week he will be the elder statesman to the young Aussie contingent who have been as brilliant as Garcia was in 1999, but equally as erratic!
The move away from the searing heat of Perth will help the Europeans who dominated the leaderboard last year. Parsons and Senior did finish in the top-two places, but the visitors filled eight of the next ten places. Absent was Greg Norman who has missed the cut in the two years since his event came back to The Lakes. Also of benefit to the Europeans will be the cool weather. Rain has been falling in Sydney though the forecast for the duration of the event is for fine weather with no more than a chance of thunderstorms over the weekend. Temperatures in the 21-28 degree range will be much more palatable for the Northern Hemisphere contingent.
The three outright plays this week are Sergio Garcia, Pierre Fulke and Dean Robertson. Once again opposing Michael Campbell on value grounds. Garcia is in Australia for this and next week's event, the Ericsson Masters, the scene of his only other visit to Australia: he finished 3rd last year. Provided the rain does clear, this course should play into his hands. He likes hard, fast greens and has noticeably struggled when they have been slow. Slow they were last week in the AT&T, but in playing with his sister and noting his weekend efforts, it is quite easy to discount that performance. Like the other plays, his putter is his biggest asset and that has also been a notable feature of the two previous winners at The Lakes, Lucas Parsons and Michael Long. Expect a strong challenge both this and next from the Spaniard.
It didn't appear to be the case in the 1st round last week, but definitely in the 2nd, the change in climate from Melbourne to Sweden to Perth was a little unsettling for Fulke's game. It should be business as usual this week for the Swede as he picks up from where he left off at the World Matchplay. That was a great effort, but which had been preceded by two wins on the European Tour in the six months beforehand. Despite the rain, his lack of length will not be a problem this week and he will revel playing in Greg Norman's company for the first two days. As strong a chance of winning as Garcia.
Robertson has been in great form since the start of the year. He opened his campaign with a course record 62 at Houghton and was a creditable 3rd overall since it is so difficult to defend such a large early lead. That can excuse his missed the cut the next week, but then he came over to Perth and finished strongly to end in 4th place. He has looked very good throughout and is justly being quoted at 25/1 in places. A good chance of a place finish.
Outright plays:
Sergio Garcia to win 14/1 e.w. @
Victor Chandler
Pierre Fulke to win 20/1 e.w. @
Victor Chandler
Dean Robertson to win 50/1 e.w. @
Victor Chandler