It’s a double-header on The European Tour this week with events going on in both Florida and South Africa. In terms of the Fantasy Race to Dubai, players in both the WGC-Cadillac Championship field and the Africa Open will be eligible for selection. With that in mind, here’s five players our stats gurus are tipping for success.
Patrick Reed
Having joined The European Tour this season, the 24 year old American is one of the favourites heading to Doral this week. The defending champion won his third of four US PGA Tour victories here last year and went on to pick up 3½ points at the 2014 Ryder Cup, more than any other American. Reed finished seventh last week in the States and will be looking to continue his strong recent form on a course he’s clearly suited to.
Graeme McDowell
When it comes to WGCs and Majors, few players consistently perform better than GMac. The Northern Irishman was the only player who finished in the top ten of each of the four WGC events in 2014. Having yet to add a WGC trophy to his mantlepiece he’ll be keen to do so this week in Florida, where he’s made his home since 2011. In his last five visits to Doral he has finished in the top 15 four times including two consecutive top tens.
Charl Schwartzel
Few player will be more eager to take home the trophy this week than the World Number 31. Having missed out on two 54-hole leads already this season, Schwartzel will be hoping to contend at an event he has performed well at in recent times. He’s finished in the top 25 in each of the last five years at the WGC - Cadillac including a runner up finish in 2010 and a fourth in 2012.
Jaco Van Zyl
Switching focus to the Africa Open, it doesn’t take a stats guru to look towards local players for inspiration. South African players have won all seven editions of this event with wins from Retief Goosen, Louis Ooshuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Thomas Aiken, Darren Fichardt and Shaun Norris. Could Van Zyl add his name to this list? Of his nine top five finishes on The European Tour, four have come at this event. The 36 year old has finished fourth, fourth, second and fifth in the last four Africa Opens with a combined score of 82 under par in those 20 rounds. Having finished second last week at the Joburg Open, could it be time for Van Zyl to pick up his first The European Tour win?
David Howell
Ten days after being part of the Selection Panel which announced Darren Clarke as the 2016 European Ryder Cup captain, David Howell was playing the last hole at the Joburg Open with a chance of going into a play-off. A par five on the 72nd hole saw the Englishman fall short of the ‘W’ but a second place finish earned Howell a ticket to The Open Championship. The 39 year old has special affinity with this part of the world in recent years with top 25 finishes in each of his last five starts in South Africa. Howell finished in the top 30 in his only appearance at the Africa Open back in 2012.
