Omega European Masters: golf betting guide

Our golf betting tipster analyses the field and comes up with some top golf betting tips ahead of the European Tour's Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Switzerland

Miguel Angel Jimenez

Omega European Masters: golf betting guide

This week, the European Tour heads to the Swiss mountains for the Omega European Masters at beautiful Crans-sur-Sierre.

The prestige of the venue - a permanent fixture on the European Tour since the circuit's inception in 1939 - is matched in the strength of field, with some of Europe's top names taking part this week.

The likes of Matteo Manassero, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Branden Grace, Paul Casey, Francesco Molinari and Padraig Harringon are all in the Omega European Masters field.

They will be hoping to seize Richie Ramsay's crown, the Scotsman having fired four rounds in the 60s en route to a four-shot victory last year.

Crans-sur-Sierre is arguably the most spectacular course on the European Tour roster, and its mix of reachable par 5s and drivable par 4s usually ensure scoring is relatively low.

In-form Dutchman Joost Luiten is the 16/1 favourite with Ladbrokes this week, but there are plenty of other players in the field who warrant some attention. Miguel Angel Jimenez's name is synonymous with the Omega European Masters, and he's well worth backing at 20/1 with Ladbrokes. The entertaining Spaniard has finished inside the top 11 at Crans-sur-Sierre for the last five seasons, including victory in 2010. Jamie Donaldson, at 25/1 with Ladbrokes, is another player with a good record in the Omega European Masters. The Welshman hasn't played since the PGA Championship, but he finished ninth here last year and third in 2011. Brooks Koepka, at 50/1 with Ladbrokes, is worth keeping an eye on this week. The American won three times on the Challenge Tour earlier this season, earning a European Tour card for 2013, and he's notched three top-28 finishes in his last five events. I'm feeling confident about Fredrik Andersson Hed's chances this week, especially given his 80/1 price with Ladbrokes. The tall Swede generally comes into form around this time of year and he's in need of a big week to move inside the top 115 in the Race to Dubai standings. He contended at the Johnnie Walker Championship, finished second here last year and sixth in 2011. Espen Kofstad, at 150/1 with Ladbrokes, is worth an each way bet this week. Much like Anderson Hed, he's in need of a huge week, and despite falling away Celtic Manor, he opened up with a superb 64 to lead after round one. 

Omega European Masters advised bets:

3pts each way on Miguel Angel Jimenez at 20/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts each way on Jamie Donaldson at 25/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts each way on Brooks Koepka at 50/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts each way on Fredrik Andersson Hed at 80/1 with Ladbrokes 1pts each way on Espen Kofstad at 150/1 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