BMW Masters Tips: Ryder Cup heroes are the pick of the first round three-ball bets

Will Ian Poulter still be on a Ryder Cup high?

Dan Geragthy looks at the European Tour event in China where a plethora of Ryder Cup stars are turning out as the Race to Dubai heats up

Both this week's tour events feature shortened fields and I will be keeping stakes a little reigned in at the BMW Masters.

Louis Oosthiuzen finished level par on this course last year whilst the winner (Rory McIlroy) came home 18 under. He'll need to improve a fair bit on that effort to come out on top in his three ball featuring a confident Branden Grace and a determined Luke Donald.

Ian Poulter obviously didn't get the memo that this was a bomber's course. He was 11 under in sixth place at last year's tournament here. Poulter must be bubbling with (even more) self-belief and confidence following his Ryder Cup performance and that's a scary prospect. I fancy the Englishman to get the better of home favourite Wen Chong Liang and Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell in round one.

Bomber's course you say? Hello then, Nicolas Colsaerts. The course - with little rough and plenty of wide, open spaces - looks made for the Belgian, and he too should be still riding high from his euphoric Ryder Cup. Playing partner Peter Hanson, on the other hand, is still seething at Jose Maria Olazabal's decision to drop him. Liang Wei Zhang makes up the group and has it all to do.

The dogs are barking that Paul Casey is back, and here he has been handed the acid test. He cannot be truly back unless he emerges on top in his ragtag three ball of Jose Maria Olazabal and John Daly. Godspeed, Paul. (Daly beat Casey by two shots here last year so I'll keep it to just the one point!)

Happy punting!

Recommended Bets
1pt Lay Louis Oosthuizen @ 3.02/1
2pts Back Ian Poulter @ 2.68/5
2pts Back Nicolas Colsaerts @ 2.021/1
1pt Back Paul Casey @ 1.910/11

Season Profit/Loss: -1.67pts

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