Golf Form Guide: Course lover Jimenez to hit the heights in Swiss Alps

Jimenez has a fantastic record at Crans-Sur-Sierre

Mike Norman takes a look at this week's two main golf events from a form perspective and he fancies veteran Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez to go well in Europe...

Two more cracking events this week with the continuation of the Fedex Cup play-offs in America and the stress-free Omega European Masters on the European Tour.

Last week didn't go too well with all selections making the cut but none getting into serious contention. Big outsider Bud Cauley continues to impress however, recording his fourth top-10 finish from his last five starts.

PGA Tour - Deutsche Bank Championship

(Tournaments used: The Barclays, Wyndham Championship, US PGA Championship, Bridgestone Invitational, Canadian Open, The Open, True South Classic)

Brandt Snedeker (2) 29.028/1 ... 28 (T5 2011, T5 2010)
 Steve Stricker (2) 29.028/1 ... 25 (T10 2010, W 2009)
 Bud Cauley (4) 110.0109/1 ... 23
 Keegan Bradley (2) 50.049/1 ... 22
 Rory McIlroy (2) 13.5n/a ... 21.5
 Luke Donald (3) 17.016/1 ... 21 (T5 2011, T10 2010)

*number in brackets after a player's name is the number of top-10 finishes achieved in last six weeks/tournaments on tour

**information after a player's points relates to wins (W), top-five (T5) and top-10 (T10) finishes in corresponding tournament in previous three years

It makes sense to back the top three players in my Form Guide ratings this week; of the next three Rory McIlory and Luke Donald make little appeal at the odds on offer and Keegan Bradley comes into this event on the back of a missed cut at the Barclays after a mentally-draining previous fortnight.


Brandt Snedeker played four solid rounds last week to finish runner-up behind Nick Watney and that was his second top three finish recently after performing well at the Open Championship.

Encouragingly Snedeker finished third at the Barclays last year before going on to challenge for this title a week later, and the fact that he has another top-10 finish at this week's venue - TPC Boston - to his name in recent years suggest he will go very well again in the next few days.

Steve Stricker has also been in good form lately as I highlighted in last week's preview. He didn't perform to his best at the Barclays but this course usually brings the best out of him; Stricker won this even in 2009 and recorded another top-10 finish a year later. As Paul Krishnamurty points out here, the American will be doing all he can to impress Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III. A win will do the job we reckon!

And finally we've got to stick with young Cauley. Four top-10 finishes - three of them being top four finishes - in five events is highly impressive by any standards on the PGA Tour but especially so for a youngster in just his second year on tour. I'm sure he'll record a big breakthrough win sooner rather than later so fingers crossed it will be this week.

Recommended Bets: Brandt Snedeker @29.028/1, Steve Stricker @ 29.028/1, Bud Cauley @ 110.0109/1

European Tour - Omega European Masters

(Tournaments used: Johnnie Walker Championship, US PGA Championship, Bridgestone Invitational, Lyoness Open, The Open)

Miguel Angel Jimenez (1) 34.033/1 ... 16 (T10 2011, W 2010, T5 2009)
 Paul Lawrie (1) 24.023/1 ... 14
 David Lynn (1) 46.045/1 ... 13 (T10 2011)
 Alex Noren (2) 26.025/1 ... 12 (T10 2011, Won 2009)

Recent form, or at least players in consistently good form, is thin on the ground again this week, though in Miguel Angel Jimenez we have a player who plays the stunningly beautiful Crans-Sur-Sierre course extremely well.

Jimenez showed he is no back number by recording a top-10 finish at the Open Championship last month and his form around this track entitles him to go well; in the last four years the loveable Spaniard has finished third, fourth, first, and ninth. His odds reflect his good course form but it will be no surprise to see him in contention come Sunday afternoon.

Last week's picks David Lynn and Alex Noren have to be retained. They performed ok at Gleneagles but the fact that they have form around this course means I have to give them another chance to shine.

Recommended Bets: Miguel Angel Jimenez @ 34.033/1, David Lynn @ 46.045/1, Alex Noren @ 26.025/1