The European Tour’s run of Europe-based tournaments continues this week with the Belgian Knockout following on from the Made In Denmark. This is just the second edition of this stroke play/match play hybrid event which went down well upon its addition to the schedule last year and has once again attracted a decent field to Rinkven International Golf Club.
As last year, the first two rounds of the Belgian Knockout will be played as a regular stroke play event before a cut limits the field to 64. From then on, the players are split into two groups and seeded ahead of nine-hole stroke play matches with playoff holes used as required. It’s the same format on Sunday to decide the winner. Chris Paisley will need to learn the Belgian Knockout format on his tournament debut but once he settles in to simply playing golf, he could be a real contender for the title at 45/1 with Coral.
Top Tips
Chris Paisley @ 45/1
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Course Info
The course at Rinkven International used for the Belgian Knockout is a composite of the club’s North and South courses. Together, they combine to make a par 71 layout that measures 6,924 yards. Last year, the players who best coped with the change in feel from the front to the back nine to play controlled golf on both the tree lined and exposed holes, were generally able to score well across the first two days of stroke play. Hitting fairways and greens repeatedly is the formula to follow on Thursday and Friday but things get a little more complicated on the weekend.
Saturday sees the 64 players who make it through to the second stage of play split into two groups. This is significant as the two halves of the draw will play on separate nines which feel quite different to each other. The changeable nature of the tournament means that it is ripe for in-play betting and there is opportunity for those getting involved in individual match bets by looking at the respective records of the competitors on the separate nines.
| Course | Location | Length | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rinkven International Golf Club | Antwerp, Belgium | 6,924 Yards | €1,000,000 |
Recent Winners
Adrian Otaegui claimed his second European Tour title by winning the inaugural Belgian Knockout last year. The Spaniard added the title to his win in the Paul Lawrie Match Play to prove once again that he comes alive when faced with the challenge of a head to head battle. Indeed, there was little that Otaegui did during the two rounds of stroke play to suggest that he would be a danger in the knockout portion of the tournament but he played some wonderfully consistent golf to ensure that his opponents barely got a sniff of knocking him out en route to the final which he won by two strokes, shooting -3 over nine holes compared to the -1 that Benjamin Hebert managed.
| Year | Winner | Course | To Par | Winning Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Adrian Otaegui | Rinkven International | -5 in Stroke Play | Beat Benjamin Hebert by 2 Shots in Final |
Analysis: Control is the Name of the Game
One of the strengths of the Belgian Knockout for punters is that there are so many different ways to approach it from a betting perspective. Most bookies are taking bets on the winner of the 36-hole stroke play across the first two days in addition to the outright tournament winner. Then there are the individual matches in which savvy punters can utilise their knowledge. These bets all require slightly different thought processes but control should prove to be the common theme throughout the four days of golf.
As the matches are stroke play rather than out and out match play, winning them requires a more controlled approach than the sort of aggressive golf you picture when thinking of the Ryder Cup for example. One bad hole can cost players dearly so those who keep themselves out of trouble and relentlessly hit greens in regulation to give themselves birdie putts should be favoured.
Paisely to Build on Last Week
It is no coincidence that Chris Paisley picked up his best finish of the season at last week’s Made In Denmark. His game was very well suited to the Backtee Course at Himmerland and in finishing tied for fourth place he returned very nicely for those who got on each way at 100/1. Paisley’s performance in Denmark and his suitability for courses which reward accuracy, patience and approach play means that he’s a lot shorter this week but still appeals at 45/1 with Coral for the Belgian Knockout.
He didn’t play in last year’s tournament but Paisley will surely have heard good things about the Belgian Knockout from his peers. He’ll also have time to get used to Rinkven International in the opening two rounds before facing anybody head to head which should dispel worries about a lack of course knowledge. Paisley has also had some good finishes in match play events, most notably the Paul Lawrie Match Play, so looks to have all the tools for the job.
Green Can Top the Stroke Play Portion
The dubious benefit of the seeding for the knockout portion of the Belgian Knockout means that players who perform well during their round on Thursday can take things a bit easier on the Friday. That’s what Gavin Green did last year, shooting a -1 round of 70 on Friday after an impressive 67 the first day. Both rounds showed that Green’s quality approach play is very well suited to Rinkven but he was unable to find his best stuff on Saturday and shot just level par through nine holes which saw him eliminated in his first match against Matthias Schwab.
Green has not been put off from that match play disappointment and may feel that two strong performances on Thursday and Friday will give him real momentum to go deeper in the knockout stage this time around. The Malaysian will have to put last week’s missed cut at the Made In Denmark behind him, but providing he clicks back into gear at a course that he’s very fond of, Green could be a real contender to top the leaderboard after 36 holes at 60/1 with Paddy Power.
Final Verdict: Chris Paisley to Win
After picking up his maiden European Tour win in the 2018 South African Open, Chris Paisley lost his game a little bit. That win remained his motivation through the tough times and he’s worked his way back admirably well to the stage where he can contend for titles again. Following on from last week’s quality play in Denmark, Paisley can go well again at the Belgian Knockout where he can use his excellence into the greens and match play experience to win at 45/1 with Coral.