• The Betting Bunker

Dyson to rekindle his love of Asia

Simon Dyson will be keen to keep the ball on the straight and narrow © Getty Images

Enlarge

Click here to bet on the Thailand Golf Championship at bet365

After failing to defend his title at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, Lee Westwood heads to Asia looking to avoid a repeat scenario in the Thailand Golf Championship.

Westwood was totally dominant last year at the Amata Spring Country Club, thrashing that year's Masters champion Charl Schwartzel by eight shots. Understandably, the bookmakers are once again running scared of the Englishman. He is the 5/1 favourite with bet365, a shade ahead of Schwartzel.

Both, though, look ones to avoid as they have been in action pretty regularly in recent weeks and it could be that the batteries are running low. Of the two, Schwartzel looks marginally the better bet. He was our tip at the Nedbank last week and looked primed to score, only for Martin Kaymer to turn on the afterburners over the closing holes. A similar performance will see the South African contend deep into the weekend.

Betting bullets

• Simon Dyson E/W - 35/1 at bet365
  Nicolas Colsaerts E/W - 22/1
  

Schwartzel and Westwood are not the only draw cards in the field, as Sergio Garcia and current Masters champion Bubba Watson are in the field. Garcia's 9/1 does not offer much by way of value as he has only recently come back to action following eye surgery and it could be that he is getting some playing time under his belt ahead of a tilt at the majors in 2013.

Watson is certainly someone who will add a few extra through the turnstiles, with his grip-it-and-rip-it style a sight to behold. He has talked a good game since his arrival in Bangkok, however he has also revealed he will have a host of new equipment in the bag.

"Pretty much everything is brand new since China and I'm trying to get ready for next year," he said. "I worked on it last week and it's feeling better. I missed some putts and hit some bad shots last week but I'm looking forward to the momentum of this week and trying to play some good golf."

Anyone has to get to grips with new gear at some stage, but it is clear that his focus is on next year and he is one to keep an eye on rather than punt.

Our idea of a value option is Yorkshireman Simon Dyson. He absolutely loves playing his golf in Asia. He is winless for over a year, but he made his name in Asia and has four wins on the Asian Tour under his belt. He is hovering just outside the world's top 50, but this time last year he got into the 20s. That was on the back of some fine form in, you guessed it, Asia - which included a fourth place in this event.

The Amata Spring track is one that favours the longer hitters, but there is rain around and that will punish those who stray into the rough. Dyson's driving accuracy this year is up at 68.35% and that sort of number will put him in the mix - at 35/1 he is worthy of consideration.

Our second selection is the longest of the long bombers, Nicolas Colsaerts. If he gets paired together with Bubba Watson, expect fireworks. Either way, expect fireworks as Colsaerts has confirmed he has a new shaft in his driver that, if it's possible, has added a bit more length off the tee. If he can keep the ball in play while blasting it into the stratosphere, he could be taking very short irons into greens and the 22/1 makes it a worthwhile investment.

Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.