The 'Race to Dubai' starts this week with the first counting event towards what was formerly the Order of Merit taking place in China, and with a first prize of $830,000 up for grabs, the winner is assured of a flying start.
The Course: Sheshan International GC, Shanghai, China (par-72, 7,199 yards)
A tree-lined course with average width fairways. There are four par-5's - the 2nd, 8th (the longest at 603 yards), 14th and 18th. with Water is in play on 11 holes.
Ross Top Tip: Sergio Garcia @ 11/1 Coral
There's a cracking field assembled this week, including seven of the world's top eight active players, so the betting has an open look to it. Most firms are going 9/1 the field, which means there are some tasty prices available on the big name players, and the Spaniard in particular looks worth an interest at double-digit odds. I like the way Garcia has been talking up his chances of winning the Race To Dubai, saying: "I want to be in it and I want to win it." Obviously then, he'll be looking to get his campaign off to a flyer and he arrives here in great heart, fresh from a victory in the Castello Masters and a tied-fourth at last week's Volvo Masters.
Next Best: Paul Casey @ 20/1 Stan James
I put Casey up as a lay last week as Valderrama has never suited his style of play, so it was to his credit that he still managed to finish 29th, and he would have finished even higher but for a final round 78. We can disregard that and concentrate instead on his form at Sheshan International, which is better than most. The Englishman has form figures of 7-6-9 here and has won twice in China in other events on the European Tour, so the 20/1 looks excellent each way value.
Outsider: Soren Kjeldsen @ 45/1 totesport
I advised bettingpro followers to back the Dane last week and he duly obliged at 45/1 - hope you were on! Winning back-to-back is never easy, but that impressive two stroke win followed on from a consistent run of good form and he could be worth following for at least another week, especially as he finished a respectable tied-15th here last year.
Tournament Lay (Betfair): Padraig Harrington
Needed to win last week to have any chance of the Order Of Merit title, but the writing was on the wall after an opening 76. He did rally for a tie of 13th place (10 shots off the lead), but it was still a disappointing effort nevertheless, and at just 14/1 in the outright market, he's worth taking on.
Ross' Match Bet: Paul Casey to beat Robert Karlsson @ Evens William Hill
Recommended Bets:
Sergio Garcia 2pts each way @ 11/1 Coral
Paul Casey 1pt each way @ 20/1 Stan James
Soren Kjeldsen 1pt each way @ 45/1 totesport