IAN POULTER (ENG) 70/1 – £5EW PP 8 PL
KEVIN NA (USA) 50/1 – £5EW Boyle Sp 8 PL
ABRAHAM ANCER (MEX) 30/1 – £5EW PP 8 PL
MATT KUCHAR (USA) 66/1 – £5EW PP 8PL
EXTRA TIP ON THE SHORT LIST WAS:
SHANE LOWRY 45/1 – £5EW PP 8 PL
NINO BERTASIO (ITA) 60/1 – £5EW PP 7 PL
LEE SLATTERY (ENG) 300/1 – £3EW PP 7 PL
ASHLEY CHESTERS (ENG) 150/1 – £3EW PP 7PL
MATTHIAS SCHWAB (AUT) 16/1 – £5EW PP 7 PL
HARBOUR TOWN GL
The RBC Heritage, known for much of its history as the Heritage Classic or simply the Heritage, is a PGA Tour event in South Carolina, first played 51 years ago in 1969. It is currently played in mid-April, the week after The Masters in Augusta, Georgia.
The venue for its entire existence has been the Harbour Town Golf Links at the Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island. The Harbour Town course, which frequently appears on several “Best Courses” lists, was designed by famed golf course architect Pete Dye, with assistance from Jack Nicklaus. In 1972, the first two rounds were played on both the Harbour Town Golf Links and the Ocean course at Sea Pines, with the final two rounds at Harbour Town.
Originally played in late November, it moved to mid-September in 1973, March in 1974, and April in 1983. The inaugural champion in 1969 was forty-year-old Arnold Palmer, his first win in over a year. Course co-designer Nicklaus won in 1975, two weeks before his fifth Masters win. Davis Love III leads with five victories in the event, Hale Irwin has three, and eight others have won twice.
PLAYERS SUITED AND COURSE CONDITIONS
What to be looking for this week. Very high GIR is a big advantage here. Small greens mean a good scrambling game is also needed as I am sure not everyone will hit 18 greens in regulation play this week that’s for sure. Not a long course so it’s all about positioning and hitting the right side of the fairways in order to get a good view of the smaller greens. Short game experts who rarley feature on the betting could be worth a few pounds here.
This event over the years have had some very big priced winners:
- CT Pan – 160/1 – 2019
- Kodaira – 250/1 – 2018
- Bryan – 80/1 – 2017
PAST RESULTS
| 2006 | Aaron Baddeley | 269 | Jim Furyk | 270 |
| 2007 | Boo Weekley | 270 | Ernie Els | 271 |
| 2008 | Boo Weekley | 269 | Aaron Baddeley | 272 |
| Anthony Kim | 272 | |||
| 2009 | Brian Gay | 264 | Briny Baird | 274 |
| Luke Donald | 274 | |||
| 2010 | Jim Furyk | 271 | Brian Davis | 271 |
| 2011 | Brandt Snedeker | 272 | Luke Donald | 272 |
| 2012 | Carl Pettersson | 270 | Zach Johnson | 275 |
| 2013 | Graeme McDowell | 275 | Webb Simpson | 275 |
| 2014 | Matt Kuchar | 273 | Luke Donald | 274 |
| 2015 | Jim Furyk | 266 | Kevin Kisner | 266 |
| 2016 | Branden Grace | 275 | Luke Donald | 277 |
| Russell Knox | 277 | |||
| 2017 | Wesley Bryan | 271 | Luke Donald | 272 |
| 2018 | Satoshi Kodaira | 272 | Si Woo Kim | 272 |
| 2019 | Cheng Tsung Pan | 272 | Matt Kuchar |
273 |
| 2020 | Webb Simpson | 262 | Abraham Ancer |
263 |
DIAMOND CC – CLUB PROFILE
The Austrian Open is a men’s professional golf tournament on the European Tour. It was founded in 1990, and was a European Tour event for seven straight years up to 1996, being held under a variety of names due to regular changes of title sponsor. The tournament dropped down to the Challenge Tour schedule between 1997 and 2005, with a sharp reduction in prize money, before returning to the main tour for the 2006 season. In 2012, it was announced that the Austrian shopping community Lyoness and its affiliated Green finity foundation would be the title sponsors for three seasons, that is, through 2014.
The 2018 event was the first professional tournament to use a shot clock on every shot. The official European Tour time allowances were used: a 50-second allowance for a “first to play approach shot (including a par three tee shot), chip or putt” and a 40-second allowance for a “tee shot on a par four or par five, or second or third to play approach shot, chip or putt”. Players that failed to play within these time limits incurred a one-shot penalty, which was added to their score for that hole. Players had two “time-extensions” in each round, each giving them an extra 40 seconds.
Since 2010 the tournament has been held at the Diamond Country Club in Atzenbrugg, Lower Austria, 35 km west of Vienna.
In 2020, the tournament was a dual-ranking event with the Challenge Tour, due to revamp of the European Tour’s schedule because of COVID-19 pandemic.
PLAYERS SUITED AND COURSE CONDITIONS
The Diamond CC is picture perfect placed near Vienna, a Jeremy Pern designed course.
Par 72 – 7458 Yards – Fairways Poa/Rye – Greens
Lots of water here so accuracy will be key, good iron play will be a must and distance control. The team love coming back here and you can see why. Hosts some of the best putting greens on the tour calendar so no excuses for a missed four footer here. So what else we looking for GIR a must, long and straight off the tee could make this place a birdie feast.
PAST RESULTS
Austrian Open
2020 CHA, EUR Scotland Marc Warren 275 −13
2019: No tournament
Shot Clock Masters
2018 EUR Finland Mikko Korhonen 272 −16
Lyoness Open powered by Organic+
2017 EUR South Africa Dylan Frittelli 276 −12
Lyoness Open powered by Sporthilfe Cashback Card
2016 EUR China Wu Ashun 275 −13
Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity
2015 EUR England Chris Wood 273 −15
2014 EUR Sweden Mikael Lundberg 276 −12
2013 EUR Netherlands Joost Luiten 271 −17
2012 EUR Austria Bernd Wiesberger 269 −19
OUR PICKS FOR THE WEEK
KEVIN NA (USA)
I have been given the heads up this guy is going to win again very soon from some fellow coaches I know on the PGA Tour. Similar with Matsuyama last week from nowhere he wins the Masters coming in with shocking form, his coach was flown in especially for the preparation for the Masters and we now know why.
Already a winner at the Sony Open this year and since then has followed it up with more solid rounds and finishes.
- Saudi Int – 21st
- WGC Workday – 11th
- Masters – 12th
He has had four top ten’s here over the past ten years and see yet another great week in store for him.
Like I said his coach has been here again as he was at the Masters last week, what he has given Na is the feeling that he minimising the poor shots and holes now, so this can only mean more constancy and should amount to more wins.
Looks great out there playing the course a great worker of the ball and the putter is on fire, should go low here.
IAN POULTER (ENG)
Saw a lot of Poults last week at Augusta and saw plenty to be happy about so he goes in this week as a good contender to win this event. The team caught up with him after the missed cut at the Players it was just one of those days he saw the funny side of things.
What we did like was the feedback I received from his caddy after the Dell Match Play, he said be on the lookout for a win from him soon something happened at the match play, and he feels his game is ready to get the job done again very soon. He was not wrong what a performance at the Masters the following week. He always starts slow at the Masters but a weekend close of 72/70 is worth of my bet on him this week.
How about his form here as well over the past five years – 18-54-11-7-10-14
All over this bet this week.
ABRAHAM ANCER (MEX)
Another player who has to be in the mix this week, talk about a horses for courses fit.
He ticks all the boxes to score well around here.
- Greens in Regulation – Ranked 14th PGA Tour 70%
- Driving Accuracy – Ranked 2nd PGA Tour 72%
- Bermuda Positive – YES
- Coastal Positive – YES
- Scrambling – Ranked 36th PGA Tour
As for his previous at Harbour Town he has gone missed cut and runner up in 2020.
He is ready for his first PGA Tour Title and this could be his best chance to collect it since the American Express where he came very close with a tied fifth place finish.
Not much else to say in great form loves this place should be another no brainer bet to be honest.
MATT KUCHAR (USA)
This is one player we have been waiting to play recently, many people after his good run the WCG Dell Match play backed him for the Masters we knew different he was tired at the Match play and then decided to play at the Valero Texas Open, for me the wrong move having come out in round one shooting a 78 was so unlike him around Augusta, I am putting this down to fatigue.
So this is better reading for us, his odds have gone up and has had the weekend off to relax and recover.
Winner of this event on 2014 and backed up a lot of great results here over the years, he came close to winning it again in 2019 but ended up a runner up to Cheng Tsung Pan 160/1.
He got here early and has been looking himself so relaxed and only playing a few holes in practice, the game is solid enough and could be a good week for him.
NINO BERTASIO (ITA) 60/1
Nino has been having a great season so far, he has been preparing here for quite a while and for good reason he has never been playing as well coming into the tournament in previous years.
He has manged a top twenty here in 2016 and then followed that with an even better top ten in 2017 he had to withdraw in 2018 and that was his last appearance here.
He has improved all aspects of his game since 2020 again working with a new coach and building confidence is key to the build up to his first victory on the European Tour.
Something you might not know being Italian his birth place was in fact Switzerland and this course he has great memories at playing from a young age.
Watch this space!!!!
MATTHIAS SCHWAB (AUT) 16/1
This guy is ready to collect his first European Tour title. His previous results have shown me already this season he has a different attitude to the player we a few years ago.
He has matured well and previous around here will count for a lot, since 2010:
32-44-MC-14-43-12
He did not take part in 2020 so will be ready to get stuck in early doors this week I am sure of it.
Accuracy of the tee will be key around here and with a 55% accuracy and ranked 23RD I see that not being a problem. The smaller greens here will also help Matthias and should mean a lot more birdies from him. Good each way bet.
LEE SLATTERY (ENG) 300/1
I know Lee well having caddied and played against him back on the EuroPro Tour days in the early 2000’s, yes he is an old git like me.
He has won twice on the ET picking up the Madrid Masters in 2011 and then the Russian Open in 2015. It will be a big ask for him to win this I know but he always talks about this place and loves the set up and the choice of shots needed to great a good score.
Since 2013 here he has gone 9-4-32-42-MC-19 again missing 2020.
We spoke to him this week and he said he has never been flushing his irons and wedges distance control is the best for quite some time.
His form is not great but his last showing was at the Kenya Classic where he manged a top twenty.
Could be a missed cut so do not bet your house on him but if he can make the cut then who knows, could be a good top 20 bet or top 10 as well.
ASHLEY CHESTERS (ENG) 150/1
He is a must for this week and I feel most people’s ew banker for the week, in horse racing terms our (NAP).
Lot’s to like here coming into the event in good form, three cuts made in a row including a tied 14TH at the Savannah Classic. Another player who has been here early and lapping up this beauty spot.
He had a skins game here and bagged a lot of cash, that’s all I am saying against another Englishman.
So the putter looks trim and his overall game looks solid. He has to win on the ET Tour and with a weaker field this week it could be up his alley.
Two of the top favourites this week are Sam Horfield and Jacques Kruyswijk, but for me having not played this course at alluded before now they could struggle with yardages and distance control. But Ashley has been here twice before and managed a 28TH and 7TH so well worth the cash this week.