After Pablo Larrazabal quite literally limped his way to victory at Leopard Creek, the new European Tour season continues with its second event: the Mauritius Open. The tournament is co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and the Asian Tour which provides a varied and interesting field that makes up for a dearth of star names.
Heritage Golf Club is one of the most scenic golf courses used on the European Tour. That is saying something given the places the tour visits in the course of a season. It’s also a top class golf facility which is why Romain Langasque uses it as a base. The young Frenchman has been knocking on the door of a first European Tour win for a while and would dearly love to get over the line at a venue that means so much to him.
Top Tips
Romain Langasque @ 20/1
{module Tips Button}
Course Info
Mauritius is only a tiny island but it has two top class golf courses which share hosting duties for the Mauritius Open. After last year’s tournament took place at the Four Seasons Resort Mauritius in Beau Champ, it’s time for the 2019 edition to return to Bel-Ombre and Heritage Golf Club.
With only two previous renewals at Heritage, there isn’t a huge amount of statistical information for punters to go on. What we do know is that this is a relatively short course. The par 71 layout stretches to a maximum of 6,986 yards. Most players will be able to have a crack at the four par fives in two shots but the five par threes are particularly tricky with all but one measuring 195 yards or longer.
The other major thing to note about Heritage is that scoring is largely determined by conditions. The course is set on the coast which provides some stunning views but also means that scoring can become much tougher very quickly as the wind begins to whip up.
| Course | Location | Length | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage Golf Club | Bel-Ombre, Mauritius | 7,401 Yards | €1,000,000 |
Recent Winners
The strong South African contingent in the field for the 2019 AfrAsia Mauritius Open will be buoyed by the last renewals at Heritage Golf Club. George Coetzee hammered home his position as one of the highest ranked players in the field for the 2015 tournament when he held on to win via a playoff before fellow South African Dylan Fritelli won two years later, also in a playoff. It’s not just South Africans who will be looking at those wins for inspiration. Each of the high calibre players found towards the top of this week’s early betting will fancy their chances of imposing their own quality on the rest of the field.
| Year | Winner | Course | To Par | Winning Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Kurt Kitayama | Four Seasons Resort Mauritius | -20 | 2 Strokes |
| 2017 | Dylan Fritelli | Heritage Golf Club | -16 | Playoff |
| 2016 | Wan Jeung-hun | Four Seasons Resort Mauritius | -6 | 1 Stroke |
| 2015 | George Coetzee | Heritage Golf Club | -13 | Playoff |
Analysis: Cream to Rise to the Top Once More
This sort of relatively low key event always provides an opportunity for unheralded players to become a European Tour winner. Being presented with that opportunity and grabbing it with both hands are two very different things however. The four previous renewals of the Mauritius Open have either been won by players who had already broken their duck on the European Tour or went on to contend at a much higher level than this. Whilst you cannot write off the chances of a hungry young player doing something special to change the trajectory of their career, it would be no surprise for the winner to come from the upper part of the betting market.
Time for Langasque to Start Fulfilling His Promise
The four previous winners of the Mauritius Open all went on to play some very good golf at bigger tournaments. Kurt Kitayama is the odd one out in that he didn’t already have a European Tour win to his name but winning this tournament was an important moment in all four men’s careers. It could prove to be every bit as important in the career of the promising French golfer, Romain Langasque.
It would certainly be fitting for Langasque to break his duck on the European Tour at Heritage Golf Club. He is an ambassador for Heritage, carrying their logo around the world, and has played plenty of golf at this venue. As well as getting plenty of support this week, Langasque will have a rock solid game plan alongside his caddie which should be a great help.
The main issues about backing Langasque is that he doesn’t arrive with much in the way of positive form. However, this is a 24 year old golfer who made it all the way to the DP World Tour Championship on his first season on the European Tour. He has bags of ability and will surely win multiple events on tour. Langasque has bags of potential which he can really start to unlock this week with a maiden European Tour win at odds of 20/1 with Ladbrokes.
Stone Can Kick on From Last Week
Brandon Stone was one of the big disappointments from the Alfred Dunhill Championship. The South African never really got going on a course that he loves and a tournament that he has won before but he is getting right back on the horse this week. Given that he was returning from a sizeable break in Malalane, Stone can be forgiven for perhaps being a little ring rusty and he’ll be hoping for much better in Mauritius.
Stone fits the profile of a high calibre golfer capable of dominating this event. The 26 year old has all the tools required to succeed at the very top levels of golf. He is powerful, is an excellent ball striker and has nerves of steel on and around the greens. If Stone gets going with a strong first round, his odds of 28/1 with BetVictor will quickly look very generous.
Final Verdict: Romain Langasque to Win
It’s a bit of a stretch to call this a home game for Romain Langasque but his ties with Heritage Golf Club and previous experience of the golf course should stand him in very good stead for this week’s event. French golf fans have high hopes for Langasque. He can show them and the rest of those who follow the European Tour what he is all about with a first win on tour at 20/1 with Ladbrokes.