Golf Odds: Alexander Noren and Marc Warren lead the field for the Thailand Classic, which begins on Thursday, Feb. 12. None of the top players on the European Tour are in the field this week, meaning the tournament is wide open. All of the players are listed with odds of 12-1 or more. Let’s look at the field and golf picks.
Top Contenders
Joining Noren and Warren as contenders are Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee who is a three-time Asian Tour number one player, Thomas Bjorn, Emiliano Grillo, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Peter Uihlein. Local favorites in addition to Jaidee will be Thaworn Wiratchant, Prayad Marksaeng, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Prom Meesawat and Chapchai Nirat. Other players of note are Asian Tour Order of Merit champion David Lipsky, India’s Anirban Lahiri and Singapore’s Mardan Mamat.
Tournament Notes
This will be the first time that the European Tour will be having an event in Thailand since the Johnnie Walker Classic in March 2007. The Black Mountain Golf Club will host this event that is co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the Asian Tour. The prize fund for this tournament is $2 million dollars.
“The golf course is in the best condition it has ever been since opening in April 2007,” said Harald Elisson, Managing Director of Black Mountain Golf Club. “With mild weather conditions over the dry season, we have had perfect preparation. Players and spectators will see Black Mountain at its very best.”
The course measures 7,350 yards and is a par 72.
Golf Picks
It is all about value this week as there is no clear cut favorite. I will go with Warren at odds of about 14-1. I also think Miguel Angel Jimenez has a shot this week. He is listed at odds of 25-1. He is returning to Thailand for the first time in more than a decade. He won the 2004 Johnnie Walker Classic in Bangkok.
“I love playing in Asia,” said Jimenez, “I think the fact that I have won so many tournaments in this part of the world shows how much I enjoy competing here and when I saw that the Thailand Classic had been added to the European Tour tournament schedule it was an event that I really wanted to play, and so I am excited to be back.”
Jimenez has some real value at odds of 25-1 because he comes into this event playing well.
“My game is in good shape at the moment and I am playing well,” Jimenez said, “I am feeling confident on the course. I’ll continue to work on all parts of my game, spend a little time in the gym most days and then just enjoy competing, as I always do.”
