Czech Open 2011: Miguel Angel Jimenez Czech-ing In
By Ben, BettingExpert.com | Published
Google+: Ben Bexpert
Some of the European players that competed at the recent 93rd USPGA Championship are heading back in the European soil for the Czech Open 2011 on Thursday. Although most of the top 10 players are resting after the last major tournament of the season in which Keegan Bradley won last weekend, it does not mean that Celadna will be short of good players on its green to compete for its €1,500,000 prize purse. Staging the Czech Open for the third time, Prosper Golf Resort will have its designer, Miguel Angel Jimenez, teeing-off this week. On the other hand, Peter Hanson who won last year will be absent to defend his title.
Sometime around this year, Peter Hanson went on to a play-off match against Gary Boyd and Peter Lawrie after they all tied up on 10-under par. Needing the victory to get to Colin Montgomerie’s list, the Swede went on to secure not only the title but also took hold of his position in the Ryder Cup’s European squad in which his team won the title in Celtic Manor. Inspite of winning here last year, the 33-year-old Hanson will not be present to defend his title. On the other hand, both of the runner-ups will be in attendance.
The Favourite
Miguel Angel Jimenez co-designed the Prosper Golf Resort. This could be said that no one knows how to play the course more than he does. However, he has not won this tournament so far. On the return of the tournament in 2009, the Spaniard finished T17 with his total 4-under par 284. Nine shots short behind the Swede winner Oskar Hanningsson. Last year, he had a better result, he finished T7 with his total score of 7-under par 281. Ranked number 34 in the world, Jimenez has started the season very well. Early this year, he was in contention to win the Volvo Golf Champions in Bahrain but lost to Paul Casey by one shot. Once again, at the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea he lost to an Englishman, Lee Westwood, by one shot.
In between these tournaments, the 47-year-old is struggling with his game. At last week’s USPGA Championship he finished T64. But despite his underperformance in the last few months, where in his eight recent tournaments – four MC and failing to finish inside the top 20 – MA Jimenez is still the bookies’ odds favourite to win the Czech Open Championship at odds 12/1 in Ladbrokes. However, having taken note of his admission of being exhausted from playing in Atlanta Athletic Club and travelling back to Europe, Jimenez would have a hard time to notch his first victory of the season even against a weaker field.
The Three-some
Although the defending champion will not be present in Czech Republic, both the runner-ups last year will be playing in this week. Gary Boyd and Peter Lawrie who both lost in the playoff will once again take their chance in hope to secure their first win this season. Three weeks ago at the Irish Open, Lawrie finished T8 while Boyd was placed T25. Both players had their best results as runner-ups this year. The Irishman Peter Lawrie finished T2 at the Volvo China Open in April while Englishman Gary was T2 at the BMW Italian Open in June. With these two, the former has more consistency in his game. Together, they will be teeing in the first round with Oskar Henningsson who inspite had won in the inaugural of the tournament in 2009 is struggling with his games. The Swede Henningsson is at odds 16/5, while Peter Lawrie is at 5/4 and Gary Boyd at 11/8 for the 3 ball betting in first round of the 2011 Czech Open .
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