Nordea Masters Preview, Picks & Analysis

Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements

HENRIK STENSON leads the field at the Nordea Masters, to be played at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club - it is a measure of the debt that Stenson feels he owes Swedish golf that he has decided to prepare for the US Open by playing here rather than at The Memorial at Muirfield Village.

Stenson is a hero in this part of the world and will be cheered every step of the way as he tries to win this event for the first time. He still believes that he can land that elusive first major and will want to head off to Oakmont with a good week tucked under his belt. He wouldn't be here unless he felt that he had a chance of winning. And history may be on his side as Scandinavian golfers have a terrific record in the Nordea Masters. Alex Noren is the defending champion, and also won it in in 2011, while Mikko Ilonen was the champion in 2013 and 2007, Richard S Johnson in 2010 and Peter Hanson in 2008

Another surprise entrant is 2012 winner Lee Westwood, who finished second at The Masters in April and has continued that good form as he bids to secure his place in Europe's Ryder Cup team. The 43-year-old has admitted that his performance in Augusta gave him a huge injection of confidence as he had started to question whether he would ever again contend in a major. He has taken that form to both the Irish Open and BMW PGA Championship and his continued rise up the world rankings means he has now surely booked his seat on the flight to Hazeltine in September for a 10th Ryder Cup appearance.

Westwood drives the ball as well as anybody in the professional game. For him, it is all about the short game. He has never been a great putter but he has also never been as bad as some critics would have you believe. Nobody wins as many tournaments around the globe as Westwood has managed without the ability to get the ball in the hole when it matters.  He was bitterly disappointed with his final round at Wentworth and will want to put that behind him as quickly as he possibly can.

The evergreen Thongchai Jaidee, winner in 2014 at PGA Sweden National , is also back to see if he can win again. He is 46 years old now but seems to get better with age and it would be a surprise if he is not a contender this week.

Marc Warren is another former winner and the Scot is in need of a good week. He was tied for the lead after 36 holes of the recent Irish Open before losing his form in the third round. Warren has one of the best swings on the European Tour and is surely due a good week. He is a ferociously hard worker and will be bitterly disappointed with his form to date this season. He will return to Sweden with good memories which could spark a challenge.

Keep an eye on Tyrrell Hatton. The 24-year-old Englishman played superbly at the K Club and is far too good a player to go much longer without securing his maiden European Tour win. Hatton's best weapon is his temperament. Unlike Warren, who has a habit of getting down on himself when things are not going his way, Hatton takes the rub of the green in his stride. He has proved to himself that he can contend - now he needs to show that he can take the next step. This could be the week he does precisely that.

Like Westwood, he let a winning position slip at Wentworth and will want to put that to the back of his mind as quickly as he possibly can. He will arrive in Sweden knowing that his game is in great shape.

Jorge Campillo, of Spain, falls into the same category. He is enjoying a remarkably consistent season, with plenty of top 20 finishes, and it is only a matter of time before he improves his best finish of tied fourth at the Nedbank Malaysian championship back in February. 

To Win:

Lee Westwood. Playing well, full of confidence

Each Way:

Tyrrell Hatton. Ready to win

Each Way:

Henrik Stenson. Would love a home win

Fantasy Picks:

Lee Westwood. A great bet

Tyrrell Hatton. Fantastic temperament

Henrik Stenson. If he is on song, could win by a street

Alex Noren. Always plays well on home soil

Thongchai Jaidee. Impossible to rule him out

Jorge Campillo. There or thereabouts most weeks

Ross Fisher. Having a decent season

Marc Warren. Needs to do well for his state of mind

Eddie Pepperell. Ready Eddie go

Nacho Elvira. Capable of scoring very low

Nicolas Colsaerts. Slowly finding his best form again