Mike Norman / 06 January 2010 Free Bet View Market

"Those type of memories never leave a punter, and sentiment almost dictates that you have to have a wager when you see someone with the ability and experience of (Phillip) Price available to back at [550.0] in such a weak field.

Trust me, there's only so many re-runs of Powder Adventures, Women's Pool and Spirit of Yachting that a sports fanatic like me can take. For those of you who are not quite on my wavelength, these are just some of the mundane programmes that Sky Sports have been showing over the Christmas period in slots normally reserved for top class golf action.

Hooray then for European Tour golf, which returns to our screens this week with the Africa Open, staged at the East London Golf Club in South Africa.

The action may turn out to be top class, but the assembled field can hardly be described as such - in fact it's probably one of the weakest fields ever assembled on the European Tour. Not one of last season's top 25 ranked players in the Race To Dubai standings has bothered to turn up, whilst by virtue of being at number 65 in the world rankings, pre-tournament favourite Charl Schwartzel is officially the highest ranked player on show.

But someone has to win this week, and whilst Schwartzel has just a good a chance as anyone, his single figure odds of [9.8] resemble the contents of a cheap Christmas cracker - a bit of a laugh. I know I put Schwartzel up last time, but his odds were bigger then and it was also on the back of an excellent second place finish at the Alfred Dunhill Championship. His never-in-contention 26th place finish in the South African Open was a poor showing and he is easily passed over this week.

Also passed over are the likes of Richard Sterne ([13.0]), Darren Clarke ([20.0]), James Kingston ([22.0]) and Darren Fichardt ([26.0]). There's nothing to say they can't win, I just feel that their odds don't represent terrific value in an event that looks ripe for an upset.

Last season I put up Michael Lorenzo-Vera as a selection on a few occasions on the strength of his excellent ball striking ability. He performed admirably in much stronger fields than he faces this week though it was very evident that his Achilles heel was his putting. If he can improve with the flatstick this year - and the signs were good at the Alfred Dunhill - then I think he is a player who can make a breakthrough. Consequently then, at [60.0] to back, he is my main selection ahead of this week's action.

Fredrik Andersson Hed ([70.0]) is my second selection, not with a huge amount of confidence, but more down to the fact that he had an excellent finish in the South African Open (tied 4th) and can usually be relied upon to show his form in these weak-looking fields.

My final selection - Phillip Price - is a huge long shot, but not a forlorn hope by any means so I suggest you back him in both the Top 5 and Top 10 Finish markets.

I remember Price - with all my hard earned on him - holding a one shot lead coming down the last in the Portuguese Open one year, only for Gary Orr to eagle the 72nd hole and snatch the prize. I also remember Price winning me a lot of money when he finished runner-up to Tiger Woods at massive odds in a WGC event at Firestone, and I also remember him defeating Phil Mickelson in a Ryder Cup singles match.

Those type of memories never leave a punter, and sentiment almost dictates that you have to have a wager when you see someone with the ability and experience of Price available to back at [550.0] in such a weak field. True, his best form appears to be long behind him but he is still only 43 years-old and more than capable of rediscovering some of the old magic. To coin an old horseracing term, he'd be able to pick some of his rivals up and carry them if anywhere near his best this week.

Recommended Bets

1 pt win Michael Lorenzo-Vera @ [60.0] in Winner market
1 pt win Fredrik Andersson Hed @ [70.0] in Winner market
1 pt win Phillip Price @ [35.0] in Tip 10 Finish market
0.5 pt win Phillip Price @ [550.0] in Winner market
0.5 pt win Phillip Price @ [70.0] in Top 5 Finish market