Previews

European Tour heads to Germany

Author: John Harris
Date: 09/09/2009
Golf betting

The Race to Dubai steps up a gear this week when the European Tour heads to Germany for the lucrative Mercedes-Benz Championship.

With a prize fund of two million euros up for grabs, those who make it to the top of the leaderboard on Sunday evening are almost guaranteed their places in the top 60 on the order of merit and therefore a place in the end-of-season cash bonanza in the Middle East.

This week could also have a large bearing on who will finish the regular season as Europe's number one as Lee Westwood will be aiming to profit from the absence of three key rivals.

The Englishman is currently fourth in the Race to Dubai standings but none of the top three will tee it up at Golf Club Gut Larchenhof, near Cologne.

Leader Martin Kaymer and his closest challengers, Paul Casey and Rory McIlroy, have all opted to take a week off despite the hefty sums of cash on offer in Germany.

Defending champion Robert Karlsson will also be absent as the Swede continues his recovery from eye surgery.

Westwood is therefore the runaway favourite in the online betting markets to win in Germany.

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Westwood also has history on his side at this particular venue as he shot a scintillating final-round 62 on his way to finishing sixth two years ago.

Elsewhere, veteran German Bernhard Langer believes he has a realistic chance of becoming the first Seniors' Tour player to win on the regular Tour.

The former Ryder Cup captain has dominated on the over 50s circuit this season and believes he can again win a tournament he landed back in 2001.

However, on a course which measures a daunting 7,300 yards this may be more of an event for the longer hitters.

Big-hitting Swede Henrik Stenson is in the field and could figure should his short-game heat up, while the same can also be said of the streaky Alvaro Quiros.

England's Ross Fisher and past winner Soren Hansen must also be considered potential winners.

One possible dark horse is Graeme McDowell as the Northern Irishman has featured high up on a number of leaderboards in recent weeks.

McDowell hasn't won a tournament this season but has certainly knocked on the door and could finally find a warm welcome in Germany.

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