Betting tips: Who wins the Turkish Airlines Open?
The winner: Bernd Wiesberger
I feel a little sorry for the Turkish Open organisers. A few weeks ago, they thought they were getting Tiger Woods. Now, after Rory McIlroy’s withdrawal, the tournament favourite is Bernd Wiesberger.
In fact, most of the Race to Dubai’s top 10 are sitting out over a various concerns and a new course, the Regnum Carya, makes previous form almost completely redundant.
Except in the case of the Austrian. He played in a Challenge Tour event here in 2011 and made the top 10 – although he was nowhere near the winners.
Add in some very impressive recent European Tour form (2nd in the British Masters, tied 7th at the Alfred Dunhill, 5th at the European Open and 2nd at the KLM Open) and it’s hard to get away from him. Even at 12/1.
If Andy Sullivan can hole some of the many putts that cost him victory in Portugal a couple of weeks ago, he’d be the logical alternative at 16s.
The each-way back: Lee Westwood
Can one putt still influence a price nearly a month on? I think it can. Everyone saw Lee Westwood’s wobble at the Ryder Cup but, with the field as it is, I’m really surprised to see him at 25/1 for this.
Take out a miserable first day at Hazeltine and I felt he was actually pretty good from tee to green. Has everyone forgotten the shot to the 18th on Saturday before that bottled tiddler? No-one else got close to that pin position all day.
Westwood then finished 3rd at the British Masters and would have been much closer in China last week but for a disappointing third round.
The point I am making is that his game doesn’t seem to be in bad shape. Yet he’s the same price as Danny Willett. Go figure.
The dark horse: Robert Rock
His last three holes have gone birdie, eagle, birdie. He’s steady, hardly ever misses a cut and is coming off a tied 5th at the Portugal Masters.
At 66/1, Robert Rock is my idea of a perfect dark horse for the Turkish Airlines Open and, crucially, he’s got something to play for this week as well.
With the top 60 advancing to the Nedbank Challenge, and Rock sitting in 64th, he knows a decent week will extend his season.
A heathland feel to the Regnum Carya should suit.
Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
