We’re back in the Czech Republic capital of Prague for the fifth edition of the D+D REAL Czech Masters this week, with the event once again being held at the Albatross Golf Resort.
A host of good players are in the field looking to take Haydn Porteous’ crown, and our stats guru has crunched the numbers and picked three players worth backing this week.
Pick of the Favourites: Thomas Pieters
An in-form Thomas Pieters is a danger on any course, let alone a layout that has brought him one victory and one second placed finish from three starts, like this week’s D+D REAL Czech Masters venue, Albatross Golf Resort, has. The signs are there that the big Belgian, who is averaging 304.2 yards from the tee this season, isn’t far off his best, with Pieters finishing in a tie for sixth in two of his last three events, at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and the US PGA Championship. Those two impressive showings meant the 26 year old moved up to 22nd in the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex, as he lines up a big finish to the season.
On average Pieters is 9.27 shots better off than the field at Albatross Golf Resort, which unsurprisingly sees him leading the Strokes Gained category. The 2016 Ryder Cup star was a combined 34 under par in 2015 and 2016 in this event, and also has the most birdies to his name of any player in the field this week, with 66. The fact that the European Ryder Cup Qualification race only has two more events to run will only provide Pieters with more motivation as he looks to force his way into Thomas Bjørn’s plans with another impressive showing in the Czech Republic.
Form Horse: Lee Westwood
Lee Westwood is widely regarded as one of the most consistent players on the European Tour and the Englishman’s form in Prague over the last two years has been just that; consistent and solid. In eight rounds Westwood is still to shoot over par in Prague and has finished 27th and ninth in his two visits to this part of the world.
The 45 year old has shown glimpses of his class this season, most notably at the Italian Open, where he shot a final round 63 to finish fifth. The Ryder Cup veteran ranks in the top 25 in the European Tour Stroke Average stats, with a return of 70.06 and also ranks in the top 15 in both Par three and Par five scoring, which could prove very useful this week.
However, at 55th in the Race to Dubai, Westwood will be keen to make his mark over the final stretch of the season. One of the few golfers who has won tournaments on five continents – Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and Australia – the Czech Republic is one country the 23-time European Tour winner hasn’t won in. He has the game to change that this week.
Wildcard: David Lipsky
There’s something about the Albatross Golf Resort that seems to suit David Lipsky’s eye, with the American second only to Pieters in the Birdies Made category over the last four years, with 59 to his name during that period. All those gains have seen Lipsky post three top 25 finishes from his four starts in Prague, and at 89th in the Race to Dubai, the 30 year old comes into this week chasing another strong performance.
The Californian showed some strong form in his last European Tour start at the Porsche European Open, where he finished in a tie for 13th. Not afraid of going low and already a European Tour winner, don’t be surprised if the 2014 Omega European Masters champion is in contention come Sunday evening.
