Mauritius Open preview, picks & analysis

Post by Sports Writer, Derek Clements 

The European Tour returns, this time with the inaugural AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, which will be played at the Heritage Golf Club.

It is the first tournament to be sanctioned by the European, Asian and Sunshine Tours and has a respectable prize fund of €1m. It has attracted a decent field, including George Coetzee, Thomas Bjorn and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, the Thai golfer who recently won his second European Tour title at the Shenzhen International.

Aphibanrat is a big golfer in every way - he would never describe himself as being small in stature and he is rapidly becoming a big-time player. Naturally, he hits the ball a country mile, but it is his short game that marks him out as a special player.

Coetzee, on the other hand, has struggled all season around the greens, despite his victory at the Tshwane Open. Coetzee strikes the ball beautifully and is a terrific iron player. Thankfully, he is also among the best putters on tour, which is just as well as his pitching has been shocking. He has been working hard to sort it out, and when he gets back into the groove with his wedge the sky is the limit for the South African.

Bjorn is having a poor season and is quickly sliding down the world rankings, but he is a determined character and will be doing everything within his power to halt the slide.

Also in the field is 16-year old Chinese golfer Guan Tianlang. If the name rings a bell it is because, two years ago, at the age of 14 years and five months, he became the youngest player to make the halfway cut in a major championship at The Masters

Others worth watching include Matt Fitzpatrick, who has made a steady, if unspectacular, start to his professional career. Moving to the paid ranks is a huge step and very few golfers are successful immediately - the likes of Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Sergio Garcia are notable exceptions. Make no mistake though - Fitzpatrick is the real deal.

He has a terrific allround game. The Englishman drives the ball well, hits his irons superbly and possesses a wonderful short game. But the best club in his bag is the one he carries between his ears. Fitzpatrick is utterly unflappable, and there is not the slightest shadow of a doubt that he is a future tournament winner - and he could well win some BIG tournaments.

The winner in Mauritius is likely to come from South Africa. Grainy greens are part and parcel of golf in that part of the world, just as they are in Mauritius.

Thomas Aiken, Tjaart van der Walt and Hennie Ottie will all fancy their chances, as will the big-hitting Australian Scott Hend. It will also be fascinating to see how Nick Dougherty plays. Here on a sponsor's invitation, he is far too gifted to be spending his days in the Sky TV studio.

Mauritius Open Betting Picks

To win: Kiradech Aphibarnrat. This course is made for his game

Each way: Thomas Aiken. Has been too quiet for too long

Each way: George Coetzee. Guaranteed top-10 finisher

Mauritius Open Fantasy Picks:

Scott Hend. Capable of winning anywhere if he's in the mood

Matt Fitzpatrick. This could be the week he makes his mark

George Coetzee. The only surprise would be if he is not in contention

Thomas Aiken. Is there a better swinger of the club anywhere?

Kiradech Aphibarnrat. The conditions will suit him perfectly

SSP Chawrasia. Terrific Indian golfer, in top form

Thomas Levet. Frenchman has been through the mire

Richard Lee. A decent Canadian who has already contended

Gaganjeet Bhullar. I have a sneaky feeling about this guy

JBe Kruger. Long overdue another victory