Updated Jul 22, 2009 7:30 AM ET
Danny Willett has been impressive since his move up to professional Golf Peter Hanson is looking to defend his SAS Masters trophy at Barseback this week
THE LOWDOWN
Chapman's top tip Danny Willett 33-1 The exceptional performance of Chris Wood in finishing third at Turnberry must act as a spur to his old sparring partner Danny Willett and this 21-year-old son of a Sheffield preacher-man can upset the star Scandinavians in the SAS
Masters at Barseback, Malmo, this weekend.
Willettt and Wood played international amateur
Golf together, got their tour cards together in Spain last November when finishing upsides in fourth and fifth places and, apart from Woods' two top-five Open finishes, their careers have trodden approximately the same path for quite some time.
It was Willett who did best as an amateur, earning the world No. 1 ranking before joining the play-for-pay ranks, but it was Wood who bagged the spotlight when fifth to Padraig Harrington at Birkdale last year.
Now Wood has pulled out of an already struggling SAS tournament to enjoy the biggest payday of his young career. He had to say no thanks to a share of Jim Furyk's ?180,000 fifth-place cheque last year because he was still an amateur, but on Sunday he made up for lost time by banking ?253,000 for his share of third with Lee Westwood.
Prize money for the SAS is down almost ?400,000 this year because of the economic climate and with just ?864,000 on the table for 156 runers to divvy up, the Swedes are lucky to have world No. 7 Henrik Stenson to top the bill. For a nation of
Golf fanatics desperate to host a Ryder Cup, it really isn't a great show and the field, once you get past the front few, is disappointing.
Admittedly, past dual champion
Jesper Parnevik brings a small party over from the American tour but Richard S Johnson, James Driscoll and Will MacKenzie are hardly likely to put bums on seats even if Johnson, Swedish son of an American father, did finish in a tie for eighth at Turnberry, sharing the spot with Soren Hansen, who has joined Wood in withdrawing.
Willett's claim rests on a recent tenth in France, a ninth in the BMW Open in Munich and a fourth in the Wales Open in a strong trio of performances before missing the cut at Loch Lomond. With earlier top-tens to his name in Joburg, Abu Dhabi and Korea, he has a built up a nice portfolio.
And the new boy will be meeting Barseback regulars on an almost level playing-field as the course has been drastically changed since the tour last visited in 2006. Over 300 yards has been added, making it at 7,627 yards the longest on the circuit, the par-three 11th is now a four, the bunkering far more demanding and two greens have been rebuilt.
In view of the unsympathetic weather forecast, I have my doubts whether they will play the course from the tips all week long because the wind will come seriously into play on the linksy holes by the sea.
So what value to put on the form from the four Barseback tournaments this century, with Colin Montgomerie winning in 2001, Adam Scott in 2003, Luke Donald in 2004 and Marc Warren in 2006, is open to question.
Only Warren is on hand this week but at 85th on the money list and with only an Irish Open fourth on the credit side, the Scot will have his work cut out.
Next best Thomas Aiken 40-1 Sticking with the younger generation, 27-year-old Thomas Aiken's eighth place at Turnberry seems to have been undervalued as he is available at 40-1. The South African does not even have a tour card and has been getting into tournaments either by finishing in the topten the previous week or being handed invitations. He is definitely a name for the future, and maybe even the present as Sunday's effort was his eighth top-12 finish in 14 European starts beginning with his Alfred Dunhill fourth in South Africa in December.
Outside his stellar Turnberry showing, his best performance was that seventh in the CA Championship against Tiger and all the cracks at Doral in March.
Other selections Henrik Stenson 15-2 Niclas Fasth 33-1 The two players at the head of the market, Stenson and Soren Kjeldsen, both missed the Barseback cut three years ago but Stenson is still a worthy single-figure-odds favourite.
He does have course form - second to runaway winner Scott in 2004 - and he is a Barseback member, having won the club championship four times.
Well, he would, wouldn't he? Stenson's length is bound to be a factor and his record in the last two Majors, ninth at Bethpage and 13th at Turnberry, puts him in a different form league now that Hansen, sixth and eighth in the same two championships, has pulled out.
Niclas Fasth has only one tiptop piece of 2009 form to his name, runner-up in Wales, and a fair one when 16th in the BMW, but his swing changes seem to be clicking into place and his Barseback form reads eighth in 2004, 13th in 2001 and 15th in 2006.
Outsider
Jesper Parnevik 100-1 It is virtually impossible to make a case for Swedish legend
Jesper Parnevik on this year's US form - only four cuts made - but he won't be coming to make up the numbers and he does have an outstanding record at Barseback, where he won in 1995, was runner-up to Monty in 1999 and eighth and seventh in 2004 and 2006. Backers can only hope that his old stamping ground brings about a return to the good times.
Also attractively priced is another
PGA Tour visitor, James Driscoll. Like Parnevik, he has struggled but did show his merit when runner-up to in the Texas Open, a sizzling Sunday 62 putting him in a play-off with Zach Johnson. If that was not a fluke, and subsequent results suggest it might have been, 110-1 would look enormous.
Dangers Defending champion Peter Hanson - he won at Arlandastad - has ever chance of hanging on to his crown on his fourth in France and US Open top-20.
Soren Kjeldsen also has great 2009 form on the board but is rejected because it's Barseback where he has never challenged. He is probably not long enough. Another American, Will MacKenzie, is a bit of a joker but he can play as when tenth at Memorial and fifth at Honda. But he may just be coming over for the craic.
Recommendations D Willett 1.5pts each-way 33-1 general T Aiken 1.5pts win 40-1 Blue Square, Ladbrokes 1pt place 40-1 Blue Square, Ladbrokes H Stenson 2pts 8-1 Boylesports, Tote N Fasth 0.75pt each-way 33-1 Blue Square J Parnevik 0.5pt each-way 100-1 general
MATCHES AND GROUP BETTING
Bet365 5-6 Fasth v Willett Evs 10-11 Kingston v Drysdale 10-11 8-11 Kjeldson v P Hanson 11-10 10-11 Peter Lawrie v R S Johnson 10-11 4-5 Lynn v Derksen 21-20 10-11 Aiken v Edfors 10-11 10-11 Steve Webster v Jacquelin 10-11 Ties 16-1 Group A: 13-8 Stenson, 9-4 Kjeldsen, 17-5 P Hanson, 4 Willett; Group B: 10-3 Fasth, 7-2 Steve Webster, Aiken, Jacquelin, 18-5 Edfors; Group C: 11-4 Peter Lawrie, 7-2 Lynn, 18-5 Noren, 19-5 Donaldson, Derksen; Group D: 5-2 Kingston, 13-5 Ferrie, Dyson, Fraser.
Blue Square 10-11 Fasth v Steve Webster 10-11 10-11 Aiken v Edfors 10-11 10-11 Lynn v Peter Lawrie 10-11 10-11 Kingston v Dyson 10-11 Ties 14-1 Boyle 4-6 Stenson v Kjeldsen 6-5 8-13 P Hanson v Jacquelin 13-10 17-20 Fasth v Steve Webster 19-20 10-11 Edfors v Willett 10-11 5-6 Aiken v Peter Lawrie Evs 5-6 Noren v Lynn Evs 10-11 Waring v Maybin 10-11 Dredge v Rock 10-11 Ties 16-1 Group A: 6-4 Stenson, 11-4 Kjeldsen, 4 P Hanson, 13-2 Fasth, 7 Steve Webster; Group B: 10-3 Jacquelin, Edfors, Willett, 4 R S Johnson; Group C: 3 Lynn, Dyson, 7-2 Derksen, 4 Donaldson, Fraser.
Coral 8-15 H Stenson v P Hanson 6-4 4-6 Kjeldsen v Fasth 6-5 8-13 Willett v Dyson 6-5 8-13 Steve Webster v Fraser 5-4 8-13 Aiken v Kingston 5-4 4-6 Jacquelin v Donaldson 6-5 4-6 Lynn v Horsey 6-5 8-11 Edfors v Waring 11-10 Ties 16-1 Ladbrokes 10-11 Fasth v P Hanson 10-11 10-11 Steve Webster v Edfors 10-11 10-11 R S Johnson v Peter Lawrie 10-11 10-11 Aiken v Jacquelin 10-11 10-11 Derksen v Ferrie 10-11 10-11 Kingston v Fraser 10-11 10-11 Waring v Rodiles 10-11 10-11 Parnevik v Siem 10-11 10-11 Mackenzie v Horsey 10-11 Ties 14-1 Group A: 3 Fasth, 10-3 P Hanson, 7-2 Willett, 4 Steve Webster, Edfors; Group B: 7-2 R S Johnson. Jacquelin, Peter Lawrie, Lynn; Group C: 7-2 Derksen, Ferrie, Kingston, Noren, Fraser.
Paddy Power 4-6 Stenson v Kjeldsen 11-10 Evs Fasth v P Hanson 8-11 5-6 Steve Webster v Jacquelin 5-6 5-6 Lynn v Peter Lawrie 5-6 4-5 Fraser v Derksen 10-11 8-11 Donaldson v Horsey Evs Tie no bet Group A: 13-8 Stenson, 11-4 Kjeldsen, 4 P Hanson, 11-2 Fasth, 13-2 Steve Webster; Group B: 3 Aiken, Edfors, 10-3 Jacquelin, 15-4 Peter Lawrie, 4 Lynn; Group C: 11-4 Kingston, 10-3 Donaldson, Fraser, 15-4 Derksen, Maybin.
Stan James 10-11Webster v Willett 10-11 10-11 Aiken v Fasth 10-11 10-11 Derksen v Kingston 10-11 10-11 Waring v Maybin 10-11 10-11 Fraser v Noren 10-11 10-11 Driscoll v Mackenzie 10-11 Ties 16-1 Group A: 13-8 Stenson, 9-4 Kjeldsen, 7-2 P Hanson, 4 Fasth, S Hansen NR ; Group B: 7-2 Willett, Steve Webster, Jacquelin, Edfors, R S Johnson; Group C: 10-3 Peter Lawrie, 7-2 Dyson, 18-5 Noren, Donaldson, Kingston.
SAS Masters Prize money EUR1m (?864,000) with EUR166,660 (?146,000) to winner Field 156 The course Barseback, Malmo, Sweden Length 7,627 yards Par 73 Course records - 72 holes 268 Colin Montgomerie (1999) 18 holes 63 Robert Karlsson (2006) The longest course on the European Tour after this year's revamp adding over 300 yards, it is hosting this event for the ninth time. A mix of tree-lined parkland and links that challenges accuracy more than power. The par threes are all tough, but there are birdie chances on the par fives. Sweeping changes have been made - the 11th has been turned from a par three to four, all the bunkers have been rebuilt to be smaller, deeper and more strategically placed, two greens, six and 15, have been altered, the traps next to the sea have new characteristics, and a few holes have been lengthened Last year Peter Hanson won for the home side, beating compatriot Martin Erlandsson and Nick Dougherty by a shot at Arlandastad When to bet By 6am tomorrow Where to watch Live on Sky all four days, starting at 9.30am tomorrow Weather forecast Not nice - 50 per cent chance of rain tomorrow, escalating to thunderstorms on Friday. Pretty windy as well, and a chance of rain at the weekend. Temperatures around 23C Last week - AT & T National 1st S Cink (175-1), 2nd T Watson (1500-1), T3 C Wood (250-1), L Westwood (33-1), T5 L Donald (110-1), R Goosen (55-1), M Goggin (350-1)
TOUR STATS FOR MARKET LEADERS
Scoring Driving Driving Greens in Putts Sand average distance accuracy regulation per GIR save H Stenson ............71.35 (77) 281.8 (137) 64.0 (42) 69.1 (52) 1.777 (52) 45.7 (168) S Hansen..............70.63 (23) 298.4 (19) 56.7 (143) 75.7 (11) 1.821 (161) 63.0 (34) S Kjeldsen ............70.39 (12) 278.4 (171) 64.6 (38) 67.6 (78) 1.757 (24) 49.0 (141) P Hanson ............70.69 (31) 280.9 (148) 58.8 (114) 70.7 (30) 1.803 (120) 49.1 (140) N Fasth ................71.36 (80) 282.2 (141) 63.9 (41) 69.4 (54) 1.819 (159) 51.5 (111) T Aiken ................70.25 (10) 296.8 (26) 61.1 (79) 65.3 (121) 1.697 (2) 69.1 (8) J Edfors ................70.67 (29) 300.5 (13) 58.6 (117) 76.4 (8) 1.793 (94) 51.6 (107) R S Johnson* ......70.90 (102) 275.3 (182) 66.19 (48) 64.44 (101) 1.776 (86) 46.9 (124) S Webster ..........71.95 (131) 286.3 (100) 65.3 (24) 71.8 (27) 1.802 (118) 46.2 (160) D Willett ..............70.75 (33) 293.9 (39) 59.6 (103) 69.9 (45) 1.781 (67) 56.5 (77) R Jacquelin ..........71.30 (76) 281.8 (146) 57.0 (131) 67.6 (84) 1.796 (105) 40.4 (184) Peter Lawrie ........71.0 (47) 278.1 (173) 70.2 (6) 67.2 (86) 1.755 (21) 51.7 (106) R J Derksen ..........71.06 (49) 281.5 (142) 56.3 (149) 66.6 (98) 1.785 (75) 60.3 (47) S Dyson................70.91 (42) 286.4 (99) 62.0 (55) 68.7 (65) 1.789 (91) 47.9 (150) D Lynn..................71.18 (59) 280.3 (154) 56.3 (149) 67.7 (76) 1.784 (70) 65.3 (19) A Noren ..............70.47 (18) 290.7 (65) 58.9 (109) 77.6 (4) 1.810 (134) 67.5 (16) J Donaldson ........71.40 (89) 287.4 (88) 65.6 (20) 70.4 (37) 1.812 (141) 51.1 (118) D Drysdale............70.7 (32) 286.7 (95) 62.5 (63) 68.8 (59) 1.761 (28) 53.1 (92) K Ferrie ..............72.77 (225) 277.3 (179) 67.4 (15) 65.4 (119) 1.803 (120) 59.4 (53) M Foster ..............71.41 (83) 279.9 (157) 63.1 (52) 71.2 (29) 1.799 (111) 50.0 (122) M Fraser ..............70.87 (40) 273.9 (191) 68.2 (13) 67.6 (78) 1.774 (48) 60.0 (49) J Kingston ............71.50 (93) 277.7 (176) 65.6 (27) 67.5 (81) 1.792 (92) 59.5 (52) M Siem................72.29 (166) 292.6 (48) 63.0 (54) 67.9 (75) 1.772 (42) 62.3 (37) B Dredge..............71.29 (73) 278.3 (172) 60.9 (81) 70.6 (31) 1.772 (42) 61.5 (39) Figures in brackets denote ranking, *US Tour stats
PAST SAS MASTERS RESULTS 2008 (Arlandastad GC) 271 P Hanson............................35-1 272 N Dougherty ......................45-1 272 P Edberg ..........................100-1 273 G Orr ................................150-1 273 P Broadhurst ....................125-1 273 Sam Walker ......................300-1 274 S Kjeldsen, 275 B Dredge, D Chopra, J Donaldson, O Fisher, P McGinley, R Jacquelin, 276 D Lynn, J Sandelin, M Kaymer, R McGowan, 277 C Wood, D McGrane, 278 C Cevaer, C Lee, G Storm, I Garrido, M Ilonen, N Fasth, 279 C Rodiles, F Zanotti, P Baker, R Dinwiddie, 280 A Noren, A Wall, M Brier, M Jonzon, M Lafeber, M Warren, Magnus A Carlsson, P Sjoland, T Aiken, 281 A Hogberg, B Lane, Fredrik Andersson Hed, H Bjornstad, J B Gonnet, L S James, R J Derksen, 282 Anders Hansen, F Aguilar, G Murphy, J Parnevik, M Erlandsson, P Waring, P Whiteford, T Levet, 283 J Edfors, M Tunnicliff, M Wiegele, 284 A Canizares, C Suneson, M Quiros, P Archer, 285 M Eliasson, M Millar, P Hedblom, P O'Malley, P Price, 286 A Haig, D Palm (AM), R Rock, 287 P Linhart, S Wakefield, 288 J Bjerhag, 289 G Paddison, 806 J F Lima. Missed Cut: 142 A G Quiros, A Velasco, G Bourdy, J A Larsen, J Abbate, J Bickerton, J F Lucquin, J F Remesy, L Claverie, L Slattery, M Foster, P Gustafsson, P U Johansson, R Karlsson, R McIlroy, S Barr, S Bebb, S Luna, S Manley, 143 A Da Silva, B Barham, D Hart, D J Trahan, I Pyman, J Zapata, M Vibe Hastrup, P Fowler, S Alker, S Gallacher, T Pilkadaris, 144 G Canizares, J Backstrom, K Sullivan, M Fraser, M Lundberg, P Bocian, Paul Lawrie, S Drummond, S Dyson, S Khan, Sam Little, T Finau, T Whitehouse, 145 C Hanell, D Drysdale, D Griffiths, G Houston, H Nystrom, J Kamte, J M Lara, J Moul, L Saltman (AM), O Suhr, P Golding, R Echenique, Ricardo Gonzalez, S Struver, 146 A Canete, E Canonica, J Sjoholm (AM), V Flatau, 147 D Fichardt, E Molinari, H Norlander, H Rey, P Terreni, P Widegren (AM), S Dodd, W Ormsby, 148 A Larson (AM), M Siem, Peter Lawrie, 149 D Dixon, F Mansson, 150 C Nirat, P Barth, P Meesawat, S Jeppesen, 151 D Vancsik, F Praegant (AM), 152 V Hielte, 806 J F Lima. Withdrew: M Thorp (AM).
2007 (Arlandastad GC) 274 M Ilonen ............................33-1 276 C Cevaer ..........................200-1 276 J B Gonnet........................200-1 276 M Kaymer ..........................80-1 276 N Dougherty ......................35-1 276 P Hedblom..........................66-1 277 C Pavin, J Kingston, P Broadhurst, 278 D Higgins, M Eliasson, 279 B Lane, M Erlandsson, M Jonzon, P Hanson, Peter Lawrie, S Alker, S Strange, Sam Walker, 280 E Rush, G Houston, Paul Lawrie, 281 A McLean, J M Lara, S Dyson, S Luna, 282 H Nystrom, J Backstrom, O Henningsson (AM), S Gallacher, T Whitehouse, 283 A Tampion, Fredrik Andersson Hed, L Claverie, R McEvoy, 284 B Rumford, D Carter, D McGrane, J Axgren, M Tunnicliff, P Archer, P U Johansson, 285 C Monasterio, D Van Der Walt (AM), I Garbutt, J Parnevik, J Sluman, R Bland, 286 A Canizares, G Emerson, G Lockerbie, G Murphy, L Slattery, W Ormsby, 287 F Qvicker (AM), R Cabrera Bello, S Khan, T Pilkadaris, 288 J Sandelin, J Sjoholm (AM), 289 A Marshall, D Bransdon, L S James, 290 J Bickerton, J Heath, S Dodd, 291 A Tadini, J Edfors, Shaun P Webster, 292 S Wakefield. Missed Cut: 80 M Pilkington, 144 D Griffiths, J Parron, J Spence, M Vibe Hastrup, N Colsaerts, R Finch, R Fisher, S O'Hara, S Struver, T Jaidee, T Levet, T Teshima, 145 A Noren, A Raitt, B Barham, C Hanell, I Garrido, J Lomas, K Sullivan, L Oosthuizen, M Higley, M Warren, P Gustafsson, P Widegren (AM), R Rock, 146 A Coltart, A Haig, B Akesson (AM), C L Nilsson, D Park, J Haeggman, J Skold, M Lafeber, M Mamat, P Price, R Karlsson, Steve Webster, 147 A Gee, B Hafthorsson, D Fichardt, E T Johansen, F Widmark, G Davies, J Daly, J M Arruti, M Bliss, O Fisher, P Edberg, R Echenique, T Price, T Sundstrom, 148 A Butterfield, A Hogberg, A McLardy, D Howell, J F Lucquin, J Hepworth, M Foster, S Bebb, T Finau, 149 A Hultman, M Millar, M Siem, M Zions, N Lemke (AM), S Drummond, Sam Little, T Edlund, 150 S Jeppesen, 151 A Rocha, D Frost, J Blixt (AM), J Wahlqvist, M Cayeux, P Sjoland, W Schauman, 152 G Finau, K Jorgensen, 153 A Forsyth, C Rodiles, 154 J H Hedin (AM), J M Carriles, 155 D Lynn, M Quiros, 156 A Mork.
2006 (Barseback) 278 M Warren ........................250-1 278 R Karlsson ..........................14-1 (Warren won at the second play-off hole) 279 R Sterne............................150-1 280 M Siem ............................125-1 281 P Gustafsson ....................175-1 281 R Jacquelin ........................66-1 2005 (Kungsangen
Golf Club) 262 M Hensby ..........................16-1 262 H Stenson ..........................20-1 (Hensby won at second play-off hole) 265 B Dredge ............................33-1 265 M Cayeux ........................200-1 268 A Scott ................................5-1 268 P Fulke ............................100-1 2004 (Barseback) 272 L Donald ............................33-1 277 H Stenson ........................125-1 277 P Hanson ........................300-1 279 C Montgomerie ..................25-1 279 I Poulter ............................25-1 2003 (Barseback) 277 A Scott................................25-1 279 N Dougherty ....................200-1 280 A Coltart ............................80-1 280 L Donald ............................40-1 280 R Karlsson ..........................40-1 2002 (Kungsangen
Golf Club) 270 G McDowell......................100-1 271 T Immelman ......................80-1 272 H Bjornstad ......................200-1 272 J Sluman ............................33-1 273 C Pettersson........................40-1
