Celtic Classic preview: TV times and betting tips
It’s week four of the UK Swing and we move over the border to one of the European Tour’s former stomping grounds at the Celtic Manor in Wales. The Twenty Ten course, host of the Ryder Cup in 2010 (obviously), will welcome Europe’s finest for the next two weeks, starting with the inaugural Celtic Classic…
Venue: Celtic Manor, Newport, Wales
Date: August 13-16, 2020
Course stats: Par 71; 7,354 yards
Course summary: A long and challenging test for players, there are plenty of areas to avoid, with water coming into play on half of the holes and long rough awaiting wayward shots.
Purse: £1 million
Defending champion: N/A (inaugural event)
Celtic Classic TV coverage
Thursday: Sky Sport Golf and Mix from 12pm and again from 4pm
Friday: Sky Sport Golf and Mix from 12pm and again from 4pm
Saturday: Sky Sports Red Button from 2.30pm and Sky Sports Golf from 4pm
Sunday: Sky Sports Red Button from 2.30pm and Sky Sports Golf from 4pm
Celtic Classic betting: Each-way tips
Brandon Stone (55/1 with bet365) clearly enjoys the test of challenging courses, evidenced when winning the Alfred Dunhill Links in 2016 and posting a final-round 60 to take the Scottish Open in 2018. Currently ranking 9th on tour for Driving Distance and 14th for GIR, Stone can take his build on his T6 last week to challenge for his fourth European Tour title.
Nicolas Colsaerts (55/1) arrives in Wales off the back of a top 10 at Hanbury Manor. The Belgian is a three-time European Tour winner, including most recently in France in October, and possesses the length off the tee to compete here. Crucially, though, he is accurate and despite the absence of consistency in his recent form I’m prepared to trust his undoubted class. He is worth including here at a decent price.
Dean Burmester (90/1) produced his best performance since the restart with a T6 finish at the English Championship. The South African certainly fits the brief this week, ranking 2nd on tour for Driving Distance and demonstrating fantastic putting in a second-round 63 at Hanbury Manor. Burmester produced five consecutive cuts earlier in the year, including three top 11 finishes, demonstrating how good he can be when things start to click. Burmester is ready for another big push, and on a course that suits his game he is worth backing each-way here.
Celtic Classic betting: The long shot
Following the recent success of twin brother Rasmus, I am going to chance Nicolai Hojgaard (150/1) this week at a big price. The Danish twins were tipped for greatness from a young age and Nicolai was the more successful amateur player, which is why I cannot ignore the fact that his price is so inflated. Four under-par rounds helped him to a T26 finish at the English Championship and shows signs he is nearly ready to contend again as he did when second at the KLM Open last year. Like his sibling he hits the ball a long way off the tee, ranking 4th on tour, and I’m also banking on a bit of sibling rivalry here. He won’t want Rasmus having all the limelight…
Celtic Classic betting: Top tip
While Thomas Pieters (22/1) has only played in six European Tour events in this disjointed season, he made the cut in five of those including when 3rd at the Saudi International. A four-time European tour champion, Pieters has the necessary experience to shake off the rust and take on what is a challenging golf course. Pieters ranks 11th in Driving Distance this season, so the length won’t be an issue, and also ranks favourably in GIR, Putts per Round, and Stroke Average. If Pieters can make a fast start, and settle quickly back into competitive tournament golf, he will have a great chance here.
For more prices, visit bet365.
- Related: Wyndham Championship betting tips
Follow NCG on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram – and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest equipment and golf course reviews and exclusive interviews.
