Dunhill Links Betting and Fantasy Guide

Post by Sports Writer, Derek Clements

THE Eurpean Tour returns to the home of golf this week, with everybody hoping that the weather is going to be kind. The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is a pro-am played over the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and the magnificent Kingsbarns, and for many in the field it represents one of the last chances to get enough money in the bank to secure their playing privileges for next season.

A number of Europe's beaten Ryder Cup team will be in action, including Matt Fitzpatrick, Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Thomas Pieters, as well as three men who will want to put Hazeltine behind them as quickly as possible in Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Danny Willett.

Thorbjorn Olesen will hope to defend his Dunhill Links trophy this week in Scotland

Fitzpatrick is entitled to feel that he wasn't given a fair crack of the whip by Darren Clarke, the European captain, having only been chosen for one foursomes match before being asked to play in the singles. He is a gritty young man and will want to get the Ryder Cup out of his system as quickly as possible. Fitzpatrick is an intelligent individual and will learn from his experience - don't be surprised to see him in the mix in Scotland.

Pieters and Cabrera-Bello were magnificent in Minnesota but the Belgian played five times in three times and is entitled to arrive in St Andrews feeling utterly exhausted. I have a feeling in my water that this brilliant young golfer will have something to say about the outcome of this tournament, and the same applies to Cabrera-Bello, a golfer whose reputation was hugely enhanced by his performance against the Americans. There has not been a more consistent player anywhere this season and all that he needs to capit off is a victory.

Westwood and Willett failed to muster a point between them, and once again there were signs of frailty on the green by the senior player, who travelled to America hoping to overtake Nick Faldo's Ryder Cup points record but missed a number of short putts that proved to be very costly to his team.

Branden Grace, a former winner of this tournament, returns to St Andrews as a global golfer. His stock has risen dramatically in the past couple of years and it is surely only a matter of time before the South African joins fellow countrymen Louis Oosthuzen and Charl Schwartzel as major winners. Grace is a beautiful ball striker and has overcome some problems on the green by turning to the claw grip. He loves St Andrews and will not worry if the wind blows, the temperature falls and the rain hammers down. In other words, he enjoys typical Scottish autumn weather.

Oosthuizen is also in the field, returning to the scene of his triumph in the 2010 Open Championship. His inability to win three or four times a season is one of life's mysteries as nobody in the game swings the club better or hits as many quality shots as the South African.

My money is going to be on none of the above however - Shane Lowry is the man I fancy. A slump in form saw him miss out on the Ryder Cup but Lowry grew up playing links golf. He revels in the wind, has a superb short game and is a wonderful putter. More than that though, the Irishman feels that he has a point to prove to both himself and his peers. He almost won the US Open but seemed to lose his way after that. He has now had time to get that out of his system.

Betting Picks

To win:

Shane Lowry. Has been working hard to get back to his best - 33/1 (Coral, Betfred)

Each way:

Thomas Pieters. Made of the right stuff - 18/1 (Stan James, Betfair)

Rafa Cabrera-Bello. Win would crown great season - 28/1 (Bet Victor)

Fantasy picks

Shane Lowry.

Thomas Pieters. The next big thing

Rafa Cabrera-Bello. Full of self-belief

Alex Noren. Having a terrific season

Louis Oosthuizen. Back to the scene of his Open triumph

Branden Grace. This is his favourite piece of golfing territory

Matt Fitzpatrick. Has a point to prove

Alex Levy. Back with a bang

Victor Dubuisson. The enigma is due a good week

Richie Ramsay. Loves playing on home soil