We were fairly unlucky last week as co-leader heading into the final round, Scott Jamieson fell away and finished outside a place. Perennial loser Ockie Strydom, finally got over the line to win the Alfred Dunhill Championship for his first DP World Tour win. Now we move onto the final tournament of the calendar year, The Mauritius Open. Phew…

As always, we have previewed the tournament and provided you with our best bets for the occasion.

Mauritius Open 2022 Betting Tips

• Sami Välimäki each-way (1/5 8 places) – 25/1
• Jayden Schaper each-way (1/5 8 places) – 30/1
• Louis De Jager each-way (1/5 8 places) – 30/1
• Tom McKibbin each-way (1/5 8 places) – 30/1

History

Just as in recent weeks, we have another co-sanctioned event between the DP World Tour and the Sunshine Tour, The Mauritius Open from Mont Choisy GC in Grand-Baie.

The tournament dates back to 2015 and has previously moved back and forth between Heritage and Anahita golf courses.

There was a two year break after the 2019 running, but we are finally back on the stunning island in 2022.

There is a €1m prize fund this week, with 2000 DPWT points up for grabs.

The Course

Mont Choisy Le Golf is an idyllic course in the north of the island and is the only 18-hole in that region of Mauritius.

It features unique landscaping with black volanic rock, ponds and natural water hazards.

Mont Choisy was opened for play back in 2017, in line with a Peter Matkovich organic design that promises to ‘listen to the land’.

The 18 holes are a par 72 7,051 yard layout and features five par-5’s and five par-3’s with fairly wide open fairways and good sized greens.

I’m expecting some low scoring this week.

The Field

2019 champion Rasmus Hojgaard has chosen not to defend his title this week and none of the previous champions (George Coetzee, Wang Jeung-Hun, Dylan Fritelli and Kurt Kitayama) line up either, meaning we are going to get a new Mauritius Open champion.

We have a wide open field including Thomas Detry, who leads the field at a short looking 6/1, Dean Burmester (13/2), Antoine Rozner (12/1), Laurie Canter (16/1) and Oliver Bekker (18/1).

In such an open field, with such a new and untested course, I think it’s unwise to go for the shortest selections and instead have taken four in form players who are all around the same mark, starting with Finn Sami Välimäki.

Sami Välimäki each-way (1/5 8 places) – 25/1

Välimäki has had a solid, if unspectacular start to the year with three made cuts of 2nd, T56th and T58th to sit 6th in the early DPWT rankings.

The 24-year old hasn’t won on tour since the 2020 Oman Open but went very close at the season opener in Joburg, playing superb golf and finishing -18.

In such an open field, I can see the Finn going very close this week.

Jayden Schaper each-way (1/5 8 places) – 30/1

Schaper has had an impressive South African swing with results of T18th, T9th and T26th, with a worst scoring round of 72 along the way.

The talented youngster had a fine amateur career and has won on this course before. He’s also picked up regular top 10’s on the Sunshine Tour since turning pro in 2020.

The 21-year-old is a fine ball striker and should go well in Mauritius again.

Louis De Jager each-way (1/5 8 places) – 30/1

Another South Africam , De Jager is my next pick. The 35-year-old started the season in fine style, finishing 5th at the Joburg Open, before playing ok but missing two cuts in recent weeks.

De Jager has five Sunshine Tour wins and played well on the DPWT last year, racking up six Top 25 finishes and three Top 10’s. I’m hopeful he can find his form here and go close again.

Tom McKibbin each-way (1/5 8 places) – 30/1

19-year-old Tom McKibbin hails from the same Holywood GC as Rory McIlroy and has had a superb start to the 2023 season. He finished T18th at the Joburg Open, before hitting a hole in one at the SA Open on the way to a T15th and then went slightly better last week at Leopard Creek, finishing T13th.

The young man has broken into the Top 300 in the world and is certainly a star for the future. McKibbin picked up eight Top 10’s from 23 starts on the Challenge Tour last year, earning his Tour card and I don’t think it will be long before he picks up his first win. Why not this week?

*All prices correct at the time of writing.

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