Thomas Detry
Volvo China Open
Richard Castka Sportpixgolf.com
Joost Luiten
Volvo China Open
Richard Castka Sportpixgolf.com
Sami Välimäki
James Kennedy
Marcus Armitage
Marcus Armitage
Jamie Donaldson
DUP Photos
Sebastián García Rodríguez
Ping
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| The European Tour will be staying at the Cabell B Robinson designed Aphrodite Hills this week for what is being billed as the Cyprus Showdown, which will feature a 105-man field for the first two rounds of normal stroke play, with the top 32 players and ties progressing through to Saturday’s shootout when their scores will be reset.
Sunday will see the final showdown with the Top-16 and ties from Saturdays shootout progressing through to the final day. Once again, their scores will be reset with the remaining players battling it out in a further 18-hole shootout for the €200,000 first prize.
Aphrodite Hills is the first ever leisure and golf development of its kind on Cyprus, and meanders through indigenous olive and carob trees which were supplemented with additional flora to complete a mature Mediterranean landscape.
The course is a mix of challenging pot bunkers, cross bunkers, ponds, manicured fairways of lush Bermuda grass and large tiered greens, some of which have a horseshoe shaped design. The course is visually spectacular and laid out over two relatively flat pieces of land that are divided by a 150-foot deep canyon which Robinson has incorporated into the design to fashion two amazing holes on the front nine – the 3rd and 7th.
Cabell B. Robinson stated: “If you can carry 200 metres with your driver, you should try the back tee on the 3rd. It looks forever over the gorge, but it is only that far to reach safety. It is a thrill of a lifetime shot if you succeed. The 7th deep within the bowels of the canyon is another dramatic shot, while fantastic sea views are to be had at the 8th and 15th… reaching for the back-pin position on the 12th needs the most courage, while the 16th is my pick for the toughest par-4, and the 18th is a reachable and wonderful par-5.”
For another trusted Aphrodite Hills review click here
My tips to Win:
I think this format may just help Thomas Detry 33/1 – with UniBet – finally land his first European Tour victory. Thomas normally starts well in events which is going to be an advantage this week and with the field going down to thirty-two players on the Saturday and then down to sixteen players on the Sunday with the scores being reset each day on the final two days so you are not protecting a lead, I feel will free players up mentally so they can play their natural aggressive games.
It took Sami Valimaki 35/1 – with Oddchecker – a while to settle after the restart and it was bad timing for Sami after picking up his first win on the European Tour at the Oman Open after a Top 10 finish the week before that in Australia. Valimaki now has five Top 15 finishes from his last seven starts and four of those are Top 10s, which includes his runner-up finish at the Wales Open and a sixth-place finish at the weekend over this course and that should see the Fin in confident mood this week.
Each-way tips:
When it comes to aggressive players Joost Luiten 40/1 – with WilliamHill – is certainly up there the way he likes to attack flags, rather than go for the middle of the green and play percentage golf. After the restart Joost lead a couple of tournaments in Austria then fell away and this format will benefit Luiten this week.
I am going to stick with Marcus Armitage 45/1 – with OddsChecker – this week who had another Top 15 finish at the weekend over this course to make it his third in his last three starts. Marcus certainly got off to a fast start over the Aphrodite Hills track last week with opening rounds of 66 and 64 which will no doubt see him looking forward to this week’s showdown.
I did tip Jamie Donaldson 66/1 – with OddsChecker – two weeks ago and didn’t tip him last week and that was because of the way he slid out of contention at the Italian Open, but he certainly proved me wrong for doing so opening up with two rounds of 65 and finishing in third-place making it his third Top 10 finish in his last six starts. Playing the same course this week and that added belief he’s got through all his injury problems, can only add to his already positive vibes.
Longer odds:
Try Sebastián García Rodríguez 150/1 – with Ladbrokes
As always good luck
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