Schwartzel favourite to win first 2011 Race to Dubai event, in 2010

It may be ridiculous that the European Tour starts its 2011 Race to Dubai in 2010, but such is the demand for professional golfer’s time, punters are afforded the opportunity to bet on golf every week of the year.

Graeme McDowell may have ended his incredible year with a win in California last week, but many of the European Tour players have headed to South Africa for the opening event of the 2011 Race to Dubai.

While the Alfred Dunhill Championships may not contain the top calibre of player such as Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer, this year’s renewal is set to be a strong contest.

Last year’s 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen heads the field, but not the betting market as his fellow countryman, Charl Schwartzel, is the 6/1 favourite.

Ossthuizen is 10/1 to win the Alfred Dunhill Championship but the reason the major winner is behind Schwartzel in the betting is because of Schwartzel’s incredible start to last season’s Race to Dubai.

Schwartzel finished second here last year behind Pablo Martin (40/1 to win this week) before winning two of his next three tournaments, amassing over €2m in prize money in his first four tournaments of 2011.

And in his home country of South Africa, Schwartzel has to be respected.

For those looking for a bit of value further down in the betting, Damien McGrane had a strong finish to his 2010 season with two top 15 finishes from his final four tournaments, and the 20/1 shot finished T8 in this event last year.

But the two market leaders are by far the strongest competitors in this field, and come Sunday night they can be expected to be challenging for the €1m prize come Sunday.

A £10 stake on Graeme McDowell winning the 2011 Race to Dubai would return £150. New customers can sign up here for a free £10 bet.