Paul Lawrie Matchplay preview, picks & analysis

MOST of us love matchplay golf - it is, after all, the format we play most as amateurs, yet there is very little of it for us to enjoy in the professional game.

The European Tour is making a serious attempt to put that right, however, with the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Matchplay at the formidable Murcar Links Golf Club near Aberdeen. A total of 64 players will start the event, which is straight matchplay knockout and promises to be a terrific addition to the schedule.

This is a format that suits players who are capable of scoring lots of birdies. So, who fits the bill? Kridesh Aphibarnrat, from Thailand, has been rolling putts in all over the place this season, and the good news for his fans is that, unlike many golfers from his part of the world, the big man travels really well.

I also like the chances of David Howell, who is enjoying a resurgence and played well at The Open Championship. You don't need me to tell you that Howell has one of the best putting strokes in the business and when he is striking the ball well and holing putts, he is well-nigh unbeatable. Julien Quesne and Alexander Levy are two of the young guns to emerge from France. They are both fearless and capable of bursts of really low scoring, and if the wind blows it won't bother either man in the slightest.

I really fancy the chances of another Frenchman, however - I remain convinced that Romain Wattel is a major champion of the future. He has shown glimpses of what he is capable of in 2015 and matchplay should be right up his street because he will not be unduly punished for the odd bad hole.

A surprise invitee is John Daly, the former US PGA and Open champion, but he is centre to attract a great deal of attention and will believe he has a great chance of doing well. Daly remains one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour but has long ago lost his Tour card and now depends entirely on sponsors' invitations. Naturally, given his attacking style of play, there are no shortage of invitations, but Daly has largely become one of the forgotten men of golf.

He is thrilled to have the chance to take part at Murcar.  “I am really excited to be playing Paul’s inaugural European Tour event. I love match play and it is a format of the game that we do not get to play enough of on tour,"he said. “I really appreciate Paul for having me in his tournament. I am looking forward to a week in Aberdeen and hopefully playing really well in front of all the fans."  There would be no more popular winner, other than the host himself.

Lawrie was just two shots off the lead at the halfway stage of The Open Championship at St Andrews, but faded badly over the final two rounds, and will be desperate to prove to the home fans that he still has the game to compete at this level. There are several Scots in the field. Apart from Lawrie, Scott Jamieson, Richie Ramsay, Chris Doak and Marc Warren. I have a feeling that Warren could go all the way in this event and, if the draw permits it, I fancy that he could be facing Felipe Aguillar in the final.

The ill-fated Madeira Islands Open is also being re-staged after being washed out earlier in the year. Will they get all four rounds played this time? Who knows? The selections below are all from the matchplay field unless stated.

Paul Lawrie Matchplay Betting Picks

To win: Marc Warren 22/1 A great swinger of the club

Each way: Felipe Aguillar 80/1 Grit and fighting spirit

Each way: Romain Wattel 66/1 Mature golfer with buckets of flair

Paul Lawrie Matchplay & Madiera Fantasy picks:

Marc Warren. Flying Scot

Romain Wattel. Watch him go

Felipe Aguillar. Capable of beating the best

Sam Hutsby (Madiera) Will fancy his chances of winning

Alexander Levy. You wouldn't want to face Levy

Chris Wood. Loves matchplay

Robert Karlsson. Still capable of playing great golf

Kridesh Aphibarnrat. A birdie machine

David Howell. A hard man to beat

John Parry (Madiera) Having a decent season and played all four rounds in the US Open