British Masters 2015: Odds, Picks and Predictions for Woburn Golf Club Field
Following a break of seven years, the British Masters returns to our screens this week to offer golf aficionados an opportunity to see some of the world's best golfers compete with just over two months left in 2015.
The last time the event was held back in 2008, it was Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano who took home the title with Lee Westwood winding up as the runner-up just one year after he himself won it in 2007.
That was a long time ago now, though, and there are already some favourites starting to shine through as the table below highlights.
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| Title | ||||
| First Round Leader | Shane Lowry (4) | Francesco Molinari (9/2) | Ian Poulter (7/2) | Paul Dunne (12) |
| Outright Winner | Shane Lowry (10) | Danny Willett (18) | Paul Dunne (150) | Ian Poulter (16) |
| Winning Nationality | Great Britain and Ireland (8/11) | European (6/4) | Scandinavia (8) | Rest of the World (6) |
So, let's examine some of the market leaders and analyse their chances of emerging victorious on the final day of action at Woburn Golf Club, Milton Keynes, England.
Shane Lowry
The year looks as though it could end happily for Shane Lowry, and all just a few months after he missed the cut at the USPGA Championship.
Returning from a six-week break from the world of golf, the Irishman is being tipped by many to use his freshness as a big weapon over the rest of the field. In particular, Sky Sports' Ben Coley has singled him out as the main man to watch: "The Irishman is flying right now, with a first World Golf Championship title in the bag as he graduates from solid European Tour professional to global star."
Not only this, but the 28-year-old can boast a pretty decent record at the British Open and is coming into himself more and more.
So, it's fair to say, he looks comfortable on this course and could well be coming into his own this season at precisely the right time. Having won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in August, he's not simply relying on form, but he's backing it all up with a winner's mentality.
Add this to the fact he is gaining more and more confidence in himself, and it's very difficult to bet against Lowry. Indeed, he's noticed the improvements in his play himself, as relayed by the Guardian's Ewan Murray:
"My game has definitely improved a lot over the last couple of years. I’m probably 20 yards longer than I was. My irons are so much more consistent. My wedge play is better. All round, I’m probably a better player and more mature as a player as well, which is a big thing.
"
Paul Dunne
Just a few short months ago, not many fans had an idea who Paul Dunne was. Fast-forward to today, however, and he's the talk of the professional circuit.
At just 22 years of age, he can already count himself among the best young players in the game, and he's sure to feel a lot more confident in his abilities following a great showing at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship recently.
At one point, the prodigious starlet even held a share of the lead at that tournament.
Arguably his biggest strength to date, though, is the lack of pressure he is placing on himself. As reported by Sky Sports during the week, the Irishman is simply happy to be playing golf at the highest level:
"I'm just going to try and keep getting better. I'm not going to put any pressure on myself to finish in a certain place or win a certain event or anything like that. I'm just taking the invites where I get them and [I am] very grateful for them as they're hard to come by.
"
Ian Poulter
A constant on the biggest and most prestigious golf courses around the world, this year's host has some pretty happy memories on a lot of them, and he's had his fair share of joy in many of the best tournaments across the European Tour. Sadly, for him, though, the British Masters is not one of them.
Most obviously, his loss to Justin Rose back in 2002 with the pair battling it out for the title underlines exactly that fact.
Finishing as runner-up on that regrettable day, the 39-year-old came closest to winning it that year, but he has the opportunity to go one better this time around, and that loss more than 13 years ago could prove to be the motivation he needs to do it.
Indeed, if his pre-tournament putting is anything to go by, he should be just fine:
Having shown glimpses of his talent during the year at the likes of the Crowne Plaza Invitational, his fans will be hoping he has one more big performance left in him.
Heading a strong British contingent, he is certainly one of the most skilled of contenders to challenge for the title, but he is certainly not alone, as Lee Westwood will also be looking to make an impact and end an eight-year wait for a title on home soil.
Conclusion
Lowry will hope to capitalise on his unerring capacity to dig out incredible approach shots, but perhaps more important than this will be his short game, something he has identified as an important aspect (via Today's Golfer): "Put it this way, every shot I play around the green, I’m looking to hole it. I’m always slightly disappointed if I don’t." He is probably the strongest Irish player on the roster and is the country's biggest hope of securing victory for the first time since 1992 when Christy O' Connor Jr. won it.
As reported by Balls.ie, Paul Dunne jumped over 200 places in the world rankings recently, but that doesn't exactly tell the full story of how he managed it. Through hard work and dedication, the youngster has benefitted immensely from his own momentum and that could well continue at Woburn, especially considering how well he performed here back in 2014 when he recorded a nine-under to qualify for the British Open. So, he knows the course well and has a friendly past with it, which could play into his hands.
As for Poulter, he certainly faces a real battle, but it's nothing he won't be used to. As he pointed out himself recently, he's not getting any younger, but that could prove to be his biggest advantage because it underlines his wealth of experience. Regain his ruthless streak and he could rampage through the field and make the course his own.
Who knows, it might turn out to be one of the most hotly-contested of all time. Here's hoping.
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