Wednesday 4 March 2015 14:52, UK
Ben Coley checks out the field for the Africa Open, and tips Simon Dyson to get the better of African specialist Andy Sullivan at East London.
Andy Sullivan bids for a third win of the season in the Africa Open.
The former Walker Cup star has his gaze fixed on a Masters debut and, at 58th in the world rankings, victory here should just about seal a major debut at Augusta National.
This week’s host course is a world away from those he has dominated already in South Africa but Sullivan was fifth at East London on his last visit two years ago and backers have every reason to be hopeful.
However, at just 12/1 he does look awfully short and I’d much rather chance another prolific Englishman in Simon Dyson, who can be backed each-way at 66/1.
A six-time European Tour winner, including in the lucrative Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Dyson knows how to get the job done and will have been disappointed in his failure to do so in the Joburg Open last week.
However, East London will suit much better and the fact that he ranked fourth for greens hit suggests he’ll be able to control his ball in the forecast high winds, avoiding the punishing numbers which can find their way onto scorecards at this quirky, old-fashioned track.
Dyson was ninth here a couple of years ago and I was surprised to see him on offer at 66s after such an eye-catching display last time.
Adrian Otaegui is an improving Spaniard with a neat and tidy game but at the prices he’s short enough, while the same goes for the experienced and in-form Richard Bland.
Instead, Tom Lewis and John Parry are two other English players who could follow on from the success last week not only of Sullivan, but of David Howell and Anthony Wall.
Lewis has been just inside the top 25 on each of his last two starts as he bids to recapture the form which saw him win Rookie of the Year despite just a handful of starts three years ago.
Many will recall that he burst onto the scene at the 2011 Open when playing alongside Tom Watson and, as a highly successful amateur, there’s plenty of evidence that this week’s windswept test will be right up his street despite a missed cut on his only previous visit.
Potential
Lewis remains a player with vast potential – just look at the way he swings it – and it’s just a case of him finding more confidence around the greens as he goes in search of what would be a second European Tour title.
Confidence was also an issue with Parry last year but, following another successful trip to Q School, he’s back close to his best.
Last week’s missed cut is easily forgiven in light of the pair of top-20s which preceded it and here’s another player who thrives in the wind. Indeed, all three of these selections have either won or nearly won the Dunhill Links.
Parry is healthy and happy once more while his 17th place here in 2013 suggests he has the game to go well if starting a little better than he has been lately.
Finally, although I can’t see him winning, the 4/1 about Adilson Da Silva finishing inside the top 20 makes a lot of appeal.
This short, straight-hitting Brazilian plies his trade on the Sunshine Tour and has long been a factor when his lack of distance off the tee is no hindrance, which is certainly the case here.
Da Silva was 12th at East London two years ago when leading after each of the first two rounds, while he’s also been 18th, 26th and 21st from just seven starts in the event.
Having finished 12th on another fiddly track in Delhi two weeks ago, his game looks sharp enough to reward a decent bet at the price.
Watch the Africa Open live on Sky Sports 4 from 8.30am on Thursday.
