European Tour

Dave Tindall: Back Jorge Campillo @ 50/1

Jorge Campillo enters this week ranked fifth on the Race to Dubai so there is an immediate argument he’s a spot of worth at 50/1. Since the start of March, the Spaniard has awakened five top-three finishes, highlighted by a first European Tour win when landing the Trophee Hassan II at Morocco. There was a short pause in his run of amazing results but he is hit back with T15 and T7 in the last two weeks. The sole question is how can he play golf? He certainly showed he could with rounds of 69-64-69-66 for seventh place in last week’s Irish Open while he was tied eighth in this event at Castle Stuart at 2016 when not the player he is now. That outcome could be significant as local Scottish ace, Grant Forrest, has likened this week’s course, The Renaissance Club (opened 2008), with Castle Stuart, describing them both as modern links with big undulating greens. Campillo hit over 80 percent of greens in regulation last week (ranked third) and a repeat of that strong iron play can take him much.
Paul Krishnamurty: Back Erik Van Rooyen @ 40/1
Following a missed cut in Ireland when widely tipped, Erik Van Rooyen’s chances might be inflated. Every leading South African to emerge in the last 30 years moved on to create an impact at the highest level – winning figures or going very close. There’s plenty of proof from his early form on each side of the Atlantic which Van Rooyen will do the same and links golf looks a particular forte. He headed through 54 holes of last year’s Irish Open and contended for a very long way in the Open Championship at Carnoustie on what was his major introduction. His best 2019 outcomes were at exposed classes that correlate very well with links, when runner-up in the Trophee Hassan and Qatar Masters. He’s reinforced that positive feeling with cuts made from his first two US majors, such as a fine eighth place at the USPGA.