European Tour Tips & Preview
ISPS UK Championship 2020 Preview
Starts - 27th August 2020
Course - The Belfry Resort
Par - 72 (36-36)
Length – 7,233 yards
Defending Champion - N/A
Course - The Belfry Resort
Par - 72 (36-36)
Length – 7,233 yards
Defending Champion - N/A
Course Info
The European Tour moves to The Belfry for the final leg of the UK Swing.
The resort has three 18 hole courses but it is the Brabazon in use this week. Ryder Cup venue on no less than four occasions, it has also hosted 16 European Tour events. It was last used in 2008 for the British Masters and most of the players will be making their course debuts.
Given a facelift in the late 1990's by Dave Thomas, the Brabazon has water in play on a number of holes.
It is a par 72 with three par 5s and three 3s. With 12 par 4s a premium will be placed on par 4 performance. The 10th is a driveable par 4 for those who want to take on the risk. The 18th is also notable with water being in play for both drive and approach.
Significant Info To Be Aware Of
Continue to exercise an abundance of caution (credit: Chase Koepka and the PGA Tour) in relation to Covid-19 related withdrawals. Alex Levy and Romain Wattel withdrew from the Celtic Classic two weeks ago, with Levy subsequently testing positive.
Light showers and a gentle breeze are the forecast.
Trends
When the British Masters was held at The Belfry between 2006-2008 the winning scores were -11, -15 and -12.
All three winners had four rounds under par.
There's a clear course correlation with Loch Lomond Golf Club, host of the Scottish Open until 2010. Johan Edfors and Lee Westwood won here in 2006 and 2007 and both are course winners at Loch Lomond. Even 2008 winner, Gonzalo Fernandez Castano, has a 2nd place finish at Loch Lomond.
For a more recent correlation, the Portugal Masters offers a number of similarities. Westwood is a winner at the Dom Pedro Victoria golf course, Fernandez-Castano has a runner up finish and Edfors has a solid enough record there too.
The UK Swing put together by the European Tour has been dominated by English golfers, with three wins out of five. It's also worth noting that in the five events, every one bar the English Championship has seen UK golfers occupy at least 50% of the top 5 places.
Stats Analysis
At first glance the winners of the last three British Masters (2006-2008) have all been accurate iron players. Water is in play on a number of holes so those who are wild off the tee or inaccurate with approach shots often pay a high tariff. We should favour players with good Strokes Gained: Approach stats.
In-play
Third round leaders have a terrible record in recent times with every 3rd round leader beaten between 2006-2008. Edfors won from 4 back, Westwood won from 2 back and Fernandez-Castano came from 3 back.
All opened with under par rounds when winning their British Masters titles.
*As ever, follow our daily in-play updates and tips on our ISPS Handa UK Championship in-play page*
The European Tour moves to The Belfry for the final leg of the UK Swing.
The resort has three 18 hole courses but it is the Brabazon in use this week. Ryder Cup venue on no less than four occasions, it has also hosted 16 European Tour events. It was last used in 2008 for the British Masters and most of the players will be making their course debuts.
Given a facelift in the late 1990's by Dave Thomas, the Brabazon has water in play on a number of holes.
It is a par 72 with three par 5s and three 3s. With 12 par 4s a premium will be placed on par 4 performance. The 10th is a driveable par 4 for those who want to take on the risk. The 18th is also notable with water being in play for both drive and approach.
Significant Info To Be Aware Of
Continue to exercise an abundance of caution (credit: Chase Koepka and the PGA Tour) in relation to Covid-19 related withdrawals. Alex Levy and Romain Wattel withdrew from the Celtic Classic two weeks ago, with Levy subsequently testing positive.
Light showers and a gentle breeze are the forecast.
Trends
When the British Masters was held at The Belfry between 2006-2008 the winning scores were -11, -15 and -12.
All three winners had four rounds under par.
There's a clear course correlation with Loch Lomond Golf Club, host of the Scottish Open until 2010. Johan Edfors and Lee Westwood won here in 2006 and 2007 and both are course winners at Loch Lomond. Even 2008 winner, Gonzalo Fernandez Castano, has a 2nd place finish at Loch Lomond.
For a more recent correlation, the Portugal Masters offers a number of similarities. Westwood is a winner at the Dom Pedro Victoria golf course, Fernandez-Castano has a runner up finish and Edfors has a solid enough record there too.
The UK Swing put together by the European Tour has been dominated by English golfers, with three wins out of five. It's also worth noting that in the five events, every one bar the English Championship has seen UK golfers occupy at least 50% of the top 5 places.
Stats Analysis
At first glance the winners of the last three British Masters (2006-2008) have all been accurate iron players. Water is in play on a number of holes so those who are wild off the tee or inaccurate with approach shots often pay a high tariff. We should favour players with good Strokes Gained: Approach stats.
In-play
Third round leaders have a terrible record in recent times with every 3rd round leader beaten between 2006-2008. Edfors won from 4 back, Westwood won from 2 back and Fernandez-Castano came from 3 back.
All opened with under par rounds when winning their British Masters titles.
*As ever, follow our daily in-play updates and tips on our ISPS Handa UK Championship in-play page*
ISPS Handa UK Championship - 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:
Bernd Wiesberger - 20/1 @ William Hill
Bernd recorded a solid 43rd place finish at the US PGA on his last outing. He drove the ball really well that week and that should stand him in good stead. A three time winner in 2019, he's the player we like best out of those at the head of the market.
Chris Paisley - 66/1 @ Genting Bet
Chris has recorded some nice finishes since golf resumed, banking two top 20 finishes before the UK Swing moved to Wales. A solid 27th place last week with a pair of weekend 69s (which included a triple bogey 7 in the 3rd round) was enough to catch our attention and we fancy him to go well at The Belfry.
Aaron Rai - 70/1 @ Betfred
Aaron has been playing solid if unspectacular golf since golf resumed but we feel this could be the week he posts a big finish. His Greens In Regulation stats were excellent once again last week and a return to a venue he is extremely familiar with should allow him to flourish.
John Catlin - 125/1 @ William Hill
John missed the cut in Wales last week but windy conditions are not his forte and a return to calmer conditions this week should suit him. He recorded a 6th place finish at the Celtic Classic the week before and if he gets in the mix he's a player who is capable of winning having won three times in 2018 and once in 2019 in Asia.
Garrick Higgo - 150/1 @ 888 Sport
Garrick was Rookie of the Year on the Sunshine Tour last year and it will feel very much like a Sunshine Tour event for him this week as he is paired with compatriots JC Ritchie and Jacques Kruyswijk for the first two rounds. His last start was at the Euram Bank Open in Austria where he recorded a 6th place finish, posting four rounds in the 60s. He's an emerging talent and worth chancing at this price.
Maverick Antcliff - 300/1 @ Betfred
Maverick caught our eye with his 31st place finish at the Celtic Classic two weeks ago. On first glance it was a fairly ordinary result but his Greens In Regulation stats were excellent over the final two rounds (he ranked first both days) and he was driving it nicely too. A three time winner in China last year, he's capable of getting in the mix this week.
Bernd Wiesberger - 20/1 @ William Hill
Bernd recorded a solid 43rd place finish at the US PGA on his last outing. He drove the ball really well that week and that should stand him in good stead. A three time winner in 2019, he's the player we like best out of those at the head of the market.
Chris Paisley - 66/1 @ Genting Bet
Chris has recorded some nice finishes since golf resumed, banking two top 20 finishes before the UK Swing moved to Wales. A solid 27th place last week with a pair of weekend 69s (which included a triple bogey 7 in the 3rd round) was enough to catch our attention and we fancy him to go well at The Belfry.
Aaron Rai - 70/1 @ Betfred
Aaron has been playing solid if unspectacular golf since golf resumed but we feel this could be the week he posts a big finish. His Greens In Regulation stats were excellent once again last week and a return to a venue he is extremely familiar with should allow him to flourish.
John Catlin - 125/1 @ William Hill
John missed the cut in Wales last week but windy conditions are not his forte and a return to calmer conditions this week should suit him. He recorded a 6th place finish at the Celtic Classic the week before and if he gets in the mix he's a player who is capable of winning having won three times in 2018 and once in 2019 in Asia.
Garrick Higgo - 150/1 @ 888 Sport
Garrick was Rookie of the Year on the Sunshine Tour last year and it will feel very much like a Sunshine Tour event for him this week as he is paired with compatriots JC Ritchie and Jacques Kruyswijk for the first two rounds. His last start was at the Euram Bank Open in Austria where he recorded a 6th place finish, posting four rounds in the 60s. He's an emerging talent and worth chancing at this price.
Maverick Antcliff - 300/1 @ Betfred
Maverick caught our eye with his 31st place finish at the Celtic Classic two weeks ago. On first glance it was a fairly ordinary result but his Greens In Regulation stats were excellent over the final two rounds (he ranked first both days) and he was driving it nicely too. A three time winner in China last year, he's capable of getting in the mix this week.
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