The start of the 2012 Race To Dubai sees the players return to South Africa for the Africa Open at the East London Golf Club. Many of the top European players have opted to enjoy a longer break, with defending champion Louis Oosthuizen taking favouritism from several other South Africans in the latest odds with Ladbrokes.
The €1m event suits players that are accurate off the tee and everyone will be keen to get off to a quick start in the Race To Dubai. Early momentum can count for a lot and Oosthuizen will look to justify his odds of 5/1. The South African beat Chris Wood and Manuel Quiros in a play-off last year after the trio had finished 16 under par.
However, things didn't go to plan after that opening victory for Oosthuizen as he endured a tough year. He turned things around at the end of the year though as he notched six top ten finishes from his final seven outings in 2011.
Oosthuizen's compatriot Retief Goosen is the next best in the odds at an industry best priced 12/1 with Ladbrokes, as the 2009 winner looks to improve on a disappointing tied 87th finish here last year. However, Goosen hasn't won a European Tour event since the 2007 Qatar Masters and he hasn't won a tournament anywhere since March 2009.
It could be time for some of South Africa's young stars to step up to fill the boots of Goosen and Ernie Els, and 2011 suggested that there is plenty of talent coming through. Thomas Aiken started the year well last term as he notched six top fifteen finishes in seven appearances and he will be looking to start quickly again. He has course form after finishing runner up here in 2010 and tied 14th last year, with Ladbrokes.com offering a tempting 14/1 for Aiken to take the Africa Open.
Also at 14/1 is George Coetzee, who enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2011, although he was tied 71st here last season and has yet to win a European Tour title. Jaco Van Zyl, tied fourth in 2011, joins his fellow countrymen at 14/1 and he arrives on the back of two top 20's in Africa in November, including a tied third at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
Garth Mulroy actually took the title at Leopard Creek and was tied ninth at the South African Open, with Ladbrokes going 16/1 on Mulroy this week. Jbe Kruger is a 16/1 punt as well and he could provide interest after finishing in the top ten here for the past two years, including a third in 2010. Those two years have seen him record the joint best score average with Thomas Aiken, as the pair average 69.13 per round.
Away from the South African contingent, Englishman Chris Wood is available at odds of 33/1 after finishing runner-up last year, although he will be keen to put an injury ravaged second half of 2011 behind him. Fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood makes his first European Tour start and he can be backed at a juicy 50/1 after he topped the 2011 Challenge Tour standings.
2012 Africa Open Tips
Tip #1: Thomas Aiken to win outright @ 14/1 with Ladbrokes.com
Tip #2: Jbe Kruger to win outright @ 16/1 with Ladbrokes.com
5/1 Louis Oosthuizen
12/1 Retief Goosen
14/1 Thomas Aiken
14/1 George Coetzee
14/1 Jaco Van Zyl
16/1 Garth Mulroy
16/1 Jbe Kruger
33/1 Chris Wood
33/1 Branden Grace
33/1 Andrea Pavan
40/1 Danny Willett
50/1 BAR
Odds supplied byLadbrokes.com bookmakers, who provide a variety of betting markets - including live betting in-running - for the 2012 Africa Open.
Posted: Tuesday, 3rd January 2012
Author: Chris James
Tags: european tour, africa open, louis oosthuizen, retief goosen, ladbrokes,
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