ISPS Handa Perth International: golf betting guide

Our tipster analyses the field and comes up with some top tips ahead of the ISPS Handa Perth International at western Australia's Lake Karrinyup Country Club

The European Tour heads down under this week for the inaugural ISPS Handa Perth International on Australia's west coast.

The event, co-sanctioned between the European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia, has attracted some big names from all around the world.

Among the golfers making the long trip are 2012 Ryder Cup player Jason Dufner, his compatriot Bo van Pelt and 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.

There will also be a big emphasis on tour card retention, and many players in the field will need a big week to breach the all-important top 115 in the Race to Duba standings.

The tournament will be contested at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club just outside Perth, widely regarded as western Australia's premier golf course.

Players will be required to work the ball off the tees, but the fairways are sizeable and, as a par 72 standing at less than 7,150 yards, there will be many birdie opportunities on offer.

The bookmakers have installed Dufner as the favourite, but he simply isn't worth considering a 6/1, especially playing in his first competitive tournament since Ryder Cup heartbreak.

Greg Chalmers, at 12/1 with Ladbrokes, has to be considered a favourite this week. He is coming off a successful PGA Tour campaign and won back-to-back tournaments in his native Australia at the end of last season. He has one of the best short games in golf and will come into the week relaxed and with high expectations.

Lorenzo Gagli, at 50/1 with Ladbrokes, is worth considering this week. He needs a decent finish to guarantee his 2012 European Tour card, but will be confident after a good run of recent results. The Italian has finished inside the top 30 in three of his last four events and will be looking to push on in an event with a weaker field than normal.

Steve Webster, at 66/1 with Ladbrokes, is well priced this week. The Englishman has been struggling all season, but shot 68-64 over the weekend at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship to secure his 2013 playing privileges. He will be confident and relaxed and that should translate into a good showing this week. Mikko Ilonen is another player generously priced this week at 80/1 with Ladbrokes. At 84th in the Race to Dubai, he will be looking for a big finish on infiltrate the top 60 and earn his place at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship. He has finished 27th, 22nd and 27th in his last three tournaments, with a cumulative total of 28-under-par.

Michael Hendry, at 125/1 with Ladbrokes, is a good each way bet. The New Zealander will be unknown to most, but he currently leads the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit and has won four times in 2012.

ISPS Handa Perth International advised bets:

3pts each way on Greg Chalmers at 12/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts each way on Lorenzo Gagli at 50/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts each way on Steve Webster at 66/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts each way on Mikko Ilonen at 80/1 with Labrokes 1pt each way on Michael Hendry at 125/1 with Ladbrokes  

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x