Betting tips and stats for the British Masters

Local lad and tournament host Tommy Fleetwood is the clear 8/1 favourite this week at the iconic links style Hillside Golf Club, which hosts this year’s British Masters. Whilst his credentials are clear, with all of the surrounding noise in hosting this week, I’m happy to swerve him and select some juicy each way value.  The field also contains Tyrell Hatton, defending champion Eddie Pepperell, Matt Wallace and Joost Luiten.

Defending champion Eddie Pepperell is an obvious pick this week, a lover of the links and in fine form this year, he looks a good each way price to contend again. He bagged a 3rd place finish at The Players Championship in March, and I can’t see the extra pressure of defending a title at a different course bothering the Englishman at all.

Smith is in a rich vein of form, with four top 15 finishes in his last five starts, including a 5th place last week in China. He has some decent form on similar style courses, such as Qatar and Oman, as well as finishing 3rd in this event last year, albeit at a different track. His game has been simmering for a while now, and combining his strong driving and tremendous approach play, Smith is a real danger this week. Smith sits 10th in GIR for the season

Whilst he has had a few weeks off, if there is someone in the field that will absolutely love the challenge ahead at Hillside, its Ryan Fox. Winner already this season in Perth and 6th in Saudi, Fox loves links style golf. He had a great run last summer, finishing 2nd at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, 6th at the Scottish Open and a commendable 39th at the Open Championship. Fox is currently 15th off the tee, 3rd in GIR, 15th in strokes gained approach and 7th tee to green.  In this field and at this price, I can see him dusting off the cobwebs and competing nicely.

Lewis was 5th in this event last year, and has two top 25 finishes in his last two starts, while he also shone in Saudi with a 3rd place finish. A known lover of this style of golf, the Englishman’s current stats also suggest he is primed for a big performance this week; he is 29th tee to green, 12th in approach and 23d in scrambling. Winner at last year’s Portugal Masters, Lewis knows how to get across the line, and it would not be a surprise to see him challenge this week.

Without his well-publicised injury problems of the past 12 months, the Austrian would surely be nearer the top of the betting this week. Back in amongst it in his last two outings, with a 14th place last week in China and a 23rd at the Indian Open, Wiesberger looks ready to fire once more.

Stephen Gallacher 110/1

Richie Ramsey 110/1