Omega European Masters: Hopefully Armitage Can Become the 4th English Player in the Last 7 Editions to Take Victory

• The DP World Tour moves from the Czech Republic to Switzerland
• The picturesque Crans-sur-Sierre course has been an ever-present host
• New Zealand’s Ryan Fox heads the betting market

Omega European Masters Odds

The odds for this tournament are provided by Caesars Sportsbook. Click on the odds below to head to Caesars Sportsbook and place a bet.

Omega European Masters Picks

Marcus Armitage was tied seventh here last year and has his irons dialed in. Back the Englishman for the win at +3500 with Caesars Sportsbook.

Recent Hero Open winner Sean Crocker finished fourth here in 2021. He can beat Victor Perez (no course form) in a 72-hole match bet at -105 with DraftKings Sportsbook.

Ashun Wu thrives in these conditions. Take him for a top 20 at +350 with bet365.

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One criticism of golf is that many of the courses look the same.

But that complaint can’t be rolled out this week as the DP World Tour heads to Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland.

The short par 70 is set high in the Swiss Alps and the views are spectacular. For many pros on the circuit, this is one of the most enjoyable weeks of the year.

Some background. This event was first played as the Swiss Open before changing its name to the European Masters in 1983.

The great news for punters is that the course has been an ever-present. If you want to rewind 80 years or more, the champion lifted the trophy at this very venue.

The course, which sits high up in the mountains, features sloping, tree-lined fairways and small, upturned saucer greens.

Measuring just 6,848 yards, very few drivers are hit and the main skill is approach play.

Given the unusual nature of the course, perhaps it’s no surprise that it has thrown up a number of tournament specialists.

US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick is a dual winner (2017 & 2018) while Thomas Bjorn (2011 & 2013) and Alex Noren (2009 & 2016) also have their name on the trophy twice.

The great Seve Ballesteros produced all sorts of magic here during his three wins while the storied list of winners also includes Sir Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Jose Maria Olazabal, Sergio Garcia, Colin Montgomerie, Nick Price, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood.

Last year, Danish prodigy Rasmus Hojgaard edged out Bernd Wiesberger by a shot, the winning score of just 13-under showing that the course is no pushover.

Looking at his stats, Hojgaard ranked 3rd for Greens in Regulation and 5th for Strokes Gained: Approach, validating the need for stellar iron play.

It all sounds great but there’s a big fly in the ointment: a poor weather forecast.

T-storms could affect the final three days and they’re predicted to be severe in round three.

After just 54 holes were played at the Czech Masters last week, we could be in for a rain-reduced tournament again here. Let’s keep everything crossed.

Make it Marcus

Hojgaard won on his first Crans start last year but he’s an exceptional talent and history suggests playing the course form angle is a smart move.

The one I like at the prices is Marcus Armitage at +3500 with Caesars Sportsbook.

The Englishman has pegged it up twice in this event, banking a top 20 on debut in 2017 and posting tied seventh on his only other appearance in 2021.

Twelve months ago he started out with a 63 to lie second and closed with a 66.

As mentioned, we’re looking for an elite iron player and Armitage ranks 3rd this season on the DP World Tour for SG: Approach.

And a latest thermometer check shows those irons are red hot right now after he gained 9.136 strokes on Approach (rank: 1) on his last start, a ninth place at the Cazoo Open at Celtic Manor in Wales.

Prior to that Armitage was tied 16th in the Cazoo Classic in England and that followed eight rounds mixing it with the elite as he made cuts at the Scottish Open and the Open Championship.

In other words, last year’s Porsche Open winner is trending in the right direction and this looks a great venue for his stellar approach play to get full reward.

He’s a nice price too at +3500 and hopefully Armitage can become the fourth English player in the last seven editions to take victory.

Crocker holds the aces

We bagged another 72-hole match bet winner last week as Thomas Pieters defeated Victor Perez.

This week I’m going to take on Perez again, this time with Sean Crocker.

Perez has had two cracks at this tournament and not managed much: he missed the cut on debut in 2019 and was tied 50th last year.

Crocker, who scored his breakthrough DP World Tour win when landing the Hero Open in Scotland at the end of July, has played Crans on three occasions and improved his finish each time: 54th, 28th and 4th.

That top four came last year when he twirled middle rounds of 65-64.

Perez has lost strokes to the field on approach in each of his last three events so Crocker is the call at -105 with DraftKings Sportsbook.

Back Wu for a Top 20

Alfredo Garcia Heredia did us proud last week as he landed the +300 for a top 20 by finishing tied 13th in the Czech Masters.

This week’s pick is course horse Ashun Wu at +350 with bet365.

The Chinese golfer was ninth on debut in 2017 and added sixth place a year later thanks to a pair of 65s in his middle two rounds. That means he has two top 10s in his three visits.

This is just the sort of test he relishes and Wu showed his ability to thrive on short courses set at altitude by winning the Kenya Open in Nairobi earlier this year.

Omega European Masters Information