European Tour Tips & Preview
Cyprus Open 2020 Preview
Starts - 29th October 2020
Course - PGA National Cyprus Course
Par - 71 (36-35)
Length – 6,956 yards
Defending Champion - N/A
Course - PGA National Cyprus Course
Par - 71 (36-35)
Length – 6,956 yards
Defending Champion - N/A
Course Info
Type of Course - Coastal, Resort, Birdie Fest.
Course Designer - Cabell Robinson
Course Links - Been described as a similar test to Vilamoura which hosts Portugal Masters. Robinson also designed Valderrama.
Fairways - Wide, Bermuda.
Greens - Large, Bentgrass
Par 5's - 3rd, 6th, 10th and 18th.
Hosted Since - Debut
Significant Info To Be Aware Of
Continue to exercise caution in relation to Covid-19 related withdrawals. Last week saw JB Hansen withdraw after Round 3 when his caddy tested positive.
The temperatures in Cyprus this week will be a big change from recent weeks and will favour players who prefer warmer conditions.
The course is set up for tourists primarily. Under 7,000 yards, wide fairways, large greens and moderate winds should see a low winning score, probably low to mid 20's.
Weather Forecast
Sunny all four days. Temperatures expected to reach 27 degrees, with winds ranging from 5mph in the mornings to 10mph in the afternoon.
Thursday - Sunny and gentle breeze.
Friday - Sunny intervals and gentle breeze.
Saturday - Sunny and a moderate breeze.
Sunday - Sunny intervals and gentle breeze.
Stats Analysis
With no previous events here, we have no stats analysis.
Trends
With no previous events here, we have no trends analysis.
In-play
Tough Holes - Slim pickings! The 627 yard par 5 3rd hole may prove tougher than your average Par 5. Several par 3s are also worth noting, the 236 yard 15th and the 7th hole which plays over a ravine. 16th is stroke index 2.
Birdie Holes - The short par 4s (8th and 14th) will offer longer hitters a short pitch in and three of the par 5s are reachable in two - 6th, 10th and 18th.
Fast or Slow Start - With no previous course form to draw on, no analysis on whether a player can play catch up.
*As ever, follow our daily in-play updates and tips on our Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open in-play page*
Type of Course - Coastal, Resort, Birdie Fest.
Course Designer - Cabell Robinson
Course Links - Been described as a similar test to Vilamoura which hosts Portugal Masters. Robinson also designed Valderrama.
Fairways - Wide, Bermuda.
Greens - Large, Bentgrass
Par 5's - 3rd, 6th, 10th and 18th.
Hosted Since - Debut
Significant Info To Be Aware Of
Continue to exercise caution in relation to Covid-19 related withdrawals. Last week saw JB Hansen withdraw after Round 3 when his caddy tested positive.
The temperatures in Cyprus this week will be a big change from recent weeks and will favour players who prefer warmer conditions.
The course is set up for tourists primarily. Under 7,000 yards, wide fairways, large greens and moderate winds should see a low winning score, probably low to mid 20's.
Weather Forecast
Sunny all four days. Temperatures expected to reach 27 degrees, with winds ranging from 5mph in the mornings to 10mph in the afternoon.
Thursday - Sunny and gentle breeze.
Friday - Sunny intervals and gentle breeze.
Saturday - Sunny and a moderate breeze.
Sunday - Sunny intervals and gentle breeze.
Stats Analysis
With no previous events here, we have no stats analysis.
Trends
With no previous events here, we have no trends analysis.
In-play
Tough Holes - Slim pickings! The 627 yard par 5 3rd hole may prove tougher than your average Par 5. Several par 3s are also worth noting, the 236 yard 15th and the 7th hole which plays over a ravine. 16th is stroke index 2.
Birdie Holes - The short par 4s (8th and 14th) will offer longer hitters a short pitch in and three of the par 5s are reachable in two - 6th, 10th and 18th.
Fast or Slow Start - With no previous course form to draw on, no analysis on whether a player can play catch up.
*As ever, follow our daily in-play updates and tips on our Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open in-play page*
Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open - Six To Watch
As outlined in our Tipping Record, our strategy is to focus on speciality bets and value in-play. However, we have identified the following six players if you do wish to place a bet before the event begins:
Antoine Rozner - 35/1 @ Betfred
Sami Valimaki and Sean Crocker narrowly miss out this week, mainly due to missing the early value, but we feel there is still enough juice in the Frenchman's price despite also shortening. Antoine fired a final round 65 last week en route to 10th place and stats show his long game was in great shape, finishing 5th SG: Tee to green and 6th SG: Approach. He clearly didn't have a great week on the greens but in general he is a good putter - he ranks 37th SG: Putts per GIR for the season. Finishes of 3rd at Valderrama, 10th in Oman and 2nd in Mauritius show he likes warm weather golf and form figures of 2-2-47-1-1 on the lesser tours in 2019 show exactly how much talent he has.
Joachim Lagergren - 45/1 @ Betfred
Coastal, wind exposed, resort - the first name that sprung to mind this week was the Swede. He delivered for GBC with an each way 3rd at the Portugal Masters, won in Sicily on the coast, and has several good results in wind exposed venues all over the world. We've seen the importance of putting in the last two weeks with Ross McGowan and Adrian Otaegui holing everything. Putts Per GIR may be the key stat in what should be a birdie fest. Lagergren ranks 12th for the season and was 13th in this category in his last start at Wentworth.
Nicolas Colsaerts - 45/1 @ 888Sport
Infuriatingly, the Belgian was shortlisted but left off the GBC in-play tipping service after 36 holes in Italy but we won't make the same mistake this week. Nicolas ranked 4th for SG: Approach, 11th for SG: Tee to green and 2nd for Putts Per GIR showing all aspects of his game were in fine 'Nic'. He is a dangerous player when the putter is working and we expect him to improve on his ranking of 24th for birdies this season. He won the Open De France last year so there are no doubts that he could get over the line if in contention.
Jorge Campillo - 60/1 @ Skybet
The return to high temperatures led us to the Spaniard who saves his best golf for the sun. He boasts recent finishes of 8th in Portugal, 17th at Valderrama and a win in Qatar. He also won in Morocco and posted top 3's in India, China, Qatar and Oman in 2019. He finished 48th place last week but a closer inspection shows he was 20th SG: Tee to green and 16th SG: Approach the green so his game is in fine fettle.
Adrian Meronk - 80/1 @ Betfred
The Pole continues to impress in his maiden season on the European Tour with form figures of 36-10-51-22 in his last four starts and a forgiving course like this may enable him to make that extra leap. Adrian ranks 143rd for driving accuracy which has probably held him back so far. What's interesting is he finished 12th SG: Tee to green last week and the week before in Scotland he finished 2nd SG: Putting. If he can piece the two together he should go well. Finally, he won at a resort course in Portugal in September last year which bodes well for this test.
Garrick Porteous - 175/1 @ Betfred
We were very close to keeping faith in Gonzalo Fernandez Castano for the final pick but are happy to take a punt on Garrick riding the wave of his best ever European Tour finish at the Scottish Championship two weeks ago. The Englishman is a long hitter off the tee and a fine putter, ranking inside the top 30 for SG: Off the tee and SG: Putting. This could be the perfect combination for a resort course which will demand aggressive golf. He ranks 49th for birdies this season so is capable of low numbers.
Antoine Rozner - 35/1 @ Betfred
Sami Valimaki and Sean Crocker narrowly miss out this week, mainly due to missing the early value, but we feel there is still enough juice in the Frenchman's price despite also shortening. Antoine fired a final round 65 last week en route to 10th place and stats show his long game was in great shape, finishing 5th SG: Tee to green and 6th SG: Approach. He clearly didn't have a great week on the greens but in general he is a good putter - he ranks 37th SG: Putts per GIR for the season. Finishes of 3rd at Valderrama, 10th in Oman and 2nd in Mauritius show he likes warm weather golf and form figures of 2-2-47-1-1 on the lesser tours in 2019 show exactly how much talent he has.
Joachim Lagergren - 45/1 @ Betfred
Coastal, wind exposed, resort - the first name that sprung to mind this week was the Swede. He delivered for GBC with an each way 3rd at the Portugal Masters, won in Sicily on the coast, and has several good results in wind exposed venues all over the world. We've seen the importance of putting in the last two weeks with Ross McGowan and Adrian Otaegui holing everything. Putts Per GIR may be the key stat in what should be a birdie fest. Lagergren ranks 12th for the season and was 13th in this category in his last start at Wentworth.
Nicolas Colsaerts - 45/1 @ 888Sport
Infuriatingly, the Belgian was shortlisted but left off the GBC in-play tipping service after 36 holes in Italy but we won't make the same mistake this week. Nicolas ranked 4th for SG: Approach, 11th for SG: Tee to green and 2nd for Putts Per GIR showing all aspects of his game were in fine 'Nic'. He is a dangerous player when the putter is working and we expect him to improve on his ranking of 24th for birdies this season. He won the Open De France last year so there are no doubts that he could get over the line if in contention.
Jorge Campillo - 60/1 @ Skybet
The return to high temperatures led us to the Spaniard who saves his best golf for the sun. He boasts recent finishes of 8th in Portugal, 17th at Valderrama and a win in Qatar. He also won in Morocco and posted top 3's in India, China, Qatar and Oman in 2019. He finished 48th place last week but a closer inspection shows he was 20th SG: Tee to green and 16th SG: Approach the green so his game is in fine fettle.
Adrian Meronk - 80/1 @ Betfred
The Pole continues to impress in his maiden season on the European Tour with form figures of 36-10-51-22 in his last four starts and a forgiving course like this may enable him to make that extra leap. Adrian ranks 143rd for driving accuracy which has probably held him back so far. What's interesting is he finished 12th SG: Tee to green last week and the week before in Scotland he finished 2nd SG: Putting. If he can piece the two together he should go well. Finally, he won at a resort course in Portugal in September last year which bodes well for this test.
Garrick Porteous - 175/1 @ Betfred
We were very close to keeping faith in Gonzalo Fernandez Castano for the final pick but are happy to take a punt on Garrick riding the wave of his best ever European Tour finish at the Scottish Championship two weeks ago. The Englishman is a long hitter off the tee and a fine putter, ranking inside the top 30 for SG: Off the tee and SG: Putting. This could be the perfect combination for a resort course which will demand aggressive golf. He ranks 49th for birdies this season so is capable of low numbers.
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