Dan Roebuck’s BMW International Open preview: Bjorn the clear pick

The top four golfers in the outright market for this week’s BMW International Open at Nord-Eichenried in Munich all played in last week’s US Open and the brutal Merion Golf Club, where rain and thunderstorms blighted the first day’s play.

So, as usual, punters will have to work out if any of those players who performed in the second major of the season have anything left in the tank just a few days later to warrant support at what look like cramped odds.

Sure, not all of those who played in Pennsylvania made the cut, so were spared further torture on the tough track that saw Justin Rose emerge as the last man standing. But even so, of the eight players priced at 20/1 or shorter on the opening show – six of whom teed up in Philadelphia – none represent any real value.

That’s not to say I don’t like one player who did battle Merion’s tight fairways and treacherous greens, but more of him shortly, as he’s not my headline pick. The name up in lights this week just has to be Thomas Bjorn at 33/1.

The Dane is the clear selection on course and current form. He’s twice a winner at Nord-Eichenried, has rewarded each-way backers in both of his last two starts and with prowess on and around the greens this week key, it’s a huge plus that he ranked top in putting averages on his last start and has scrambled better than most in two of his last three appearances.

Of the rest, Miguel Angel Jimenez (33/1) is another former winner whose stats suggest he will go close this week, while the golfer I like from Merion is Paul Casey (50/1). The Englishman has finished third three times at Nord-Eichenried and topped the greens in regulations standings in Philadelphia last week.

My three off the tee – Bjorn, Jimenez and Casey.

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