Dan Roebuck’s European Tour preview – Maybank Malaysian Open

Punters are presented with a price conundrum ahead of this week’s Maybank Malaysian Open at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. Charl Schwartzel and Luke Donald take a massive percentage out of the book for this co-sanctioned tournament and there’s little doubt either could blow the rest of the field away if they bring their A game.

And it’s not as if they don’t do just that in this part of the world. The South African won the Thailand Championship on his last Asian Tour start, while the Englishman won on the nearby Japanese Tour late last year when capturing the Dunlop Phoenix tournament.

Donald’s form figures in four appearances in Asian Tour events read 9-6-14-3, although none have been at this week’s venue. Schwartzel has been a more regular performer on the Asian Tour, racking up 24 starts with his recent numbers 11-2-6-1.

However, the former Masters champion, unlike Donald, has played at the Kuala Lumpur track before. Last year Schwartzel was sixth and, 12 months prior, 11th. A week off will have recharged Schwartzel’s batteries after a lengthy run on the fairways, while Donald is flying from Florida after four tough days on lightening fast greens in the Tampa Bay Championship.

Of the top two in the betting, then, it’s Schwartzel that gets the nod at 6/1.

Elsewhere, Victor Dubuisson’s top ten in India on Sunday, as well as 11th place in this event in 2012, bodes well at 40/1. The Frenchman is known for his length off the tee but his iron play has also stood out recently.

As have the form figures of Kiradech Aphibarnrat at 50/1. The Thai golfer hasn’t finished worse than sixth in his last four starts, including in the Avantha Masters last time out, and was third on his first visit to Kuala Lumpur GC in 2010.

My three to follow – Schwartzel, Dubuisson and Aphibarnrat.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.