Following a one-week hiatus the European tour returns to the Middle East when the field pegs it up at the third playing of the Oman Open. With players getting ready ahead of The Masters and the start of the Florida Swing on the PGA side, the field has been thinned out. That doesn’t mean it lacks star power, though. Joost Luiten, the 2018 champ at Al Mouj Golf is returning and former World No. 1 Martin Kaymer is giving it a go. They are behind Thomas Pieters, who opened as the betting favorite at online sportsbooks. A closely packed field yields a number of tantalizing matchups and you can check them out by visiting BookMaker.eu for a complete list of tournament matchup odds and to place your wager.
Alexander Levy -134 vs. Joachim B. Hansen +104
Jorge Campillo -113 vs. Alexander Bjork -117
Clement Sordet +141 vs. Scott Jamieson -178
Renato Paratore -122 vs. Zander Lombard -108
Thomas Pieters -141 vs. Thomas Detry +111
Martin Kaymer -130 vs. Thomas Detry +100
Adrian Otaegui -103 vs. Pablo Larrazabal -127
Matthieu Pavon -145 vs. Ashun Wu +115
Brandon Stone +135 vs. Mikko Korhonen -170
Dean Burmester +100 vs. Romain Langasque -130
Gavin Green -145 vs. Min Woo Lee +115
Victor Dubuisson +134 vs. Benjamin Hebert -168
Haotong Li -150 vs. Shaun Norris +120
Paul Waring -170 vs. Jason Scrivener +135
Thomas Pieters -126 vs. Martin Kaymer -104
Andy Sullivan -123 vs. George Coetzee -107
Joost Luiten -157 vs. Min Woo Lee +125
Adri Arnaus -119 vs. Haotong Li -111
Joost Luiten -146 vs. Gavin Green +116
Ross Fisher +105 vs. Jordan Smith -135
Jeff Winther +126 vs. Justin Harding -158
Sam Horsfield -183 vs. Darren Fichardt +145
Adri Arnaus -156 vs. Shaun Norris +124
Need to Know
Al Mouj Golf is the only host the Oman Open has known. This is just the third edition so don’t get all sentimental. Despite its youth the course has become known as one of the best on the circuit. Spanning the coast of the Indian Ocean and overlooking the Gulf of Oman, the layout is flat and exposed with a traditional links-style appeal. However, given its location it also has a coastal flavor with the gusty winds that come with it. The course plays long at approximately 7,365 yards, but strategy is required to navigate around the numerous water hazards and strategically placed bunkers. Outside of possible wind gusts, the conditions are expected to be favorable. Though the course is around a decade old, it has hosted a number of Challenge Tour events and is no stranger to many of those in the field this week.
Odds Analysis
Clement Sordet +141 vs. Scott Jamieson
Every so often for various reasons players get overlooked. As thorough as oddsmakers are it happens to them sometimes. I’m not claiming to be smarter than the people who set the numbers, but I think Sordet is much better than what he’s given credit for. He’s spent a lot of time recently on the South African Tour flying under the radar with decent showings. And he’s no stranger to Al Mouj with a win in the Challenge Tour Grand Final in 2017. He also had a runner-up finish last year, so he’s certainly worth a pick at plus-odds.
Adri Arnaus -119 vs. Haotong Li
Arnaus has been consistently solid for some time playing the weekend in his last nine starts with two top-4s mixed in. It seems as though his ball-striking skills have improved since a T45 here last year, and now that’s he’s based in Dubai, which is a short distance away from this week’s venue, he’ll have a travel advantage. That doesn’t mean he’s going to have a higher finish, but Li has struggled in the Middle East and the consistent play of Arnaus stands out.
Joost Luiten -157 vs. Min Woo Lee
Luiten has seen Al Mouj at its best and close to its worst, and he’s survived beautifully both times. He captured the inaugural playing two years ago clearing the field by two shots at 16-under in pristine conditions. Battling the elements 12 months ago he fought his way to a T12, so he certainly knows what the course has to offer. He’s made all three cuts this season but hasn’t finished inside the top-40. This is a good time for him to make a leap up the leaderboard.
Martin Kaymer -130 vs. Thomas Detry
Golf is golf, right? Knock the little ball into the hole from whatever distance in as few swings as possible. But this layout offers a little bit of everything and can be tricky for a first-timer. Kaymer is debuting here, but as a former World No. 1 he’s probably seen more than most players in the field. He also has some consistency back in his game going 7 for 7 with six top-21s in his last seven starts.
Jordan Smith -135 vs. Ross Fisher
And talking about consistent players Smith is near the top of the list. He cashed in his last 11 starts, unfortunately there’s only one top-20 finish among them. He’s probably not the guy you throw down on to win the individual title, but given his recent play and familiarity with Al Mouj, he’s hard to pass on in this matchup.
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