The European Tour remains in Australia this week after a very well received renewal of the Vic Open. The headlines were made both by David Law’s stunning eagle to win the tournament and the fact that the men’s and women’s tournaments took place at the same time. That innovative spirit is evident again this week in the ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth.
This is the third edition of the World Super 6 Perth since the format was changed to a hybrid event including both stroke play and match play competition. Many players in the field don’t believe there is enough match play golf in the professional ranks. Thomas Pieters is one such player and providing he makes it to Sunday he can show his match play class by winning at 18/1 with bet365.
Top Tips
Thomas Pieters @ 18/1
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Course Info
Some fans and players are still getting their heads around the current format of the World Super 6 Perth but the course is much more familiar. Lake Karrinyup Country Club has been hosting top level golf events for some years now including the Perth International between 2012-2016 (although there was no tournament in 2015).
Lake Karrinyup used to be a course at which the world’s best players filled their boots. Ernie Els’ win in the 2003 Johnnie Walker Classic remains the lowest ever European Tour score at -29 but following reworking by Mike Clayton it’s a much better defended course. Scoring well requires a variety of shots as the tree lined course features dog legs both ways whilst the wind is a menacing threat.
| Course | Location | Length | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Karrinyup Country Club | Perth, Australia | 7,143 Yards | A$1,600,000 |
Recent Winners
This is the third renewal of the World Super 6 Perth since it became a hybrid stroke play/match play event. Currently, there are two rounds of stroke play over 18 holes each before a cut falls. A further round of stroke play will see the top 24 qualify for the match play portion of the tournament in which the top eight players receive a bye to the second round. Matches are held over six holes with a 100 yard sudden death hole used to separate ties. Prior to the last two events, the Perth International was a straightforward stroke play event which is reflected in the list of recent winners below.
| Year | Winner | To Par | Winning Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Kiradech Aphibarnrat | Final vs James Nitties | 2 & 1 |
| 2017 | Brett Rumford | Final vs Phachara Khongwatmai | 2 & 1 |
| 2016 | Louis Oosthuizen | -16 | 1 Stroke |
| 2014 | Thorbjorn Olesen | -17 | 3 Strokes |
| 2013 | Jin Jeong | -10 | Playoff |
Analysis: Multiple Ways of Attacking This Unique Event
The bookies found it a challenge to price this event up in the first couple of years but they appear to have cracked it for the 2019 renewal. There are several betting options available including betting on the outright winner of the tournament, on the winner of the stroke play event and on whether a player will make it through to the match play stage.
Competitive Spirit Looks Perfect for Pieters
Thomas Pieters is not a player to hide away from the challenge of one of these new events. In fact, he hosted the Belgium Knockout last season which followed a similar format. Although he was unable to win in front of his home fans he is one of the bookies’ favourites to go all the way in Perth.
Pieters has been competing amongst the best on the European Tour for some time now but didn’t come to global prominence until his excellent debut performance at the Ryder Cup in 2016. The two years or so to have followed his appearance at Hazeltine have obviously not gone to plan but Pieters is showing signs of arresting the slump.
You get the feeling that Pieters is the type of player who needs something extra to spur him on. He loves being in contention but struggles to get there so the extra pressure to make it to the top of the leaderboard should suit him down to the ground. There are a lot of moving parts in the World Super 6 Perth but they have combined to make Pieters very backable at 18/1 with bet365.
Cullen’s Event Form Makes Him a Big Price
Winning the World Super 6 Perth inevitably requires a bit more luck than your usual European Tour event. That said, players who have shown an ability to cope with the unique pressure provided by this tournament in the past should raise punters’ eyebrows for the 2019 edition. Nick Cullen is particularly eyebrow raising at 100/1 with Ladbrokes given that he has made it into the match play section of the tournament in both editions so far.
Cullen was confident coming into both events because he has played well at Lake Karrinyup before. It’s a course that suits his game and a format in which he clearly loves playing so he is a must bet each way.
Otaegui’s Match Play Past Too Good to Ignore
Adrian Otaegui has won two European Tour events, the Paul Lawrie Match Play and the Belgian Knockout. He has played some very good golf in stroke play events and has many more wins in him but he is clearly a player who relishes match play golf.
Otaegui will be looking forward to the chance to pitting his wits against his fellow pros in a one on one format. He certainly needs something to jumpstart his season after three missed cuts in four events. You can’t write off a player of Otaegui’s class or tenacity in this event so consider backing him to win at 45/1 with Coral.
Final Verdict: Thomas Pieters to Win
Thomas Pieters has shown much of his best golf when under pressure so it is no surprise that many punters are expecting him to go well in the ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth. He is far too good to go much longer without winning and the competitor in him will relish some match play action so back Pieters to win at 18/1 with bet365.