What's better than a European Tour event? How about two European Tour events. That is what is on the schedule this week as visit both Murcar Links in Scotland for the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play and Portugal for the weather-delayed Madeira Islands Open. With even more players to choose from, our statistics guru has hand picked these five players you should consider for yourFantasy Race To Dubaiteam this week.
Tyrrell Hatton
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Having had a successful week in Switzerland, Hatton returns to Scotland full of confidence and ripe for his maiden European Tour victory. The 23 year old finished third last week at the Omega European Masters and has shown his touch around links courses already this season with a top 25 finish at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and a fourth place finish at Royal County Down. Hatton has fond memories of this part of Scotland having finished in the top five at the Scottish Open at the neighboring Royal Aberdeen Golf Club just over 12 months ago. Having added distance off the tee and lowered his putting average this season, Hatton appears to be in position for a victory soon.
Raphaël Jacquelin
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Jacquelin has turned his season and his form around in recent weeks. Having failed to play the weekend in five straight starts on The European Tour, the Frenchman has now notched three top 25 finishes in his last four starts including a seventh place finish last week in Switzerland and a runner-up finish at the Scottish Open down the road in East Lothian. Having made his 500th European Tour start earlier this season in China, Jacquelin is not short in experience but will be keen to add to his four European Tour titles with his first match play victory this week at Murcar.
Nicolas Colsaerts
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It’s rare that a player can be one up in match play before they’ve finished the first hole but when Nico Colsaerts sends a drive 350 yards down the first, it’s safe to say that can be an advantage. The Belgian will hope to use his length this week at Murcar Links, one of the shortest courses on The European Tour schedule at just 6,409 yards. The 32 year has tones of match play experience with a win at the 2012 Volvo World Match Play Championship as well as a successful rookie appearance at the Ryder Cup later that season. Whilst his stroke play form has been up and down this season, a second round 65 at the Scottish Open three weeks ago showed his ability to not only shoot low but do so on a links course. Colsaerts is also one of only five players who rank inside the top 20 on The European Tour in both Driving Distance and Greens in Regulation.
Chris Paisley
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When the category 15 re-rank was made back in June, Chris Paisley was the chief beneficiary, jumping from 22nd to rank ten after a consistent run of eight cuts made from nine appearances after the Lyoness Open. The Englishman hasn't slowed up much since then either, grabbing a best finish of the season in a third place at the BMW International Open in June and the 29 year old currently lies 83rd in The Race to Dubai. Back in Madeira this week, Paisley has had some solid finishes at the event in previous years, too, having finished 16th, 15th and 22nd in Madeira in the last three years.
JB Hansen
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No one will be looking forward to getting back under way in Madeira more than Joachim B. Hansen. The 24 year old Dane was leading the way back in March after posting a first-round 68 when the tournament was cancelled, so he'll be hoping to pick up where he left off. Hansen has been in decent nick of late, too, and lies 12th in the Road to Oman Rankings on the Challenge Tour after three top ten finishes in his last five appearances on the second rung of European golf.
So that's our picks, now it's time to make yours. Make sure and pick yourFantasy Race To Dubaiteam before both events kick off on Thursday.
