The Race to Dubai continues this week moving down to Australia for the Johnnie Walker Classic.  After last weeks surprise winner in the shape of American Anthony Kang, there’s another open looking field here with plenty of scope for a big priced winner.

The tournament returns to the Vines Resort and Country Club in Perth, Australia for the first time since 2006, so course form is a little harder to come by.  Four names dominate the betting, with Paul Casey, Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas heading the field at 10/1 and Lee Westwood next best at 18/1.  Of the four, it’s probably Westwood who offers the best value at that price, although only Casey played here three years ago, finishing fifteenth.

Westwood has made a steady start to 2009 with only two starts and two modest finishes to his name in Qatar and Dubai in January.  His eyes are on a much bigger prize this year as he bids to get his first major under his belt after going close in 2008 and although being the best value of this quartet heading the betting on top form he might be best watched this week.

Casey was a 25/1 shot when winning the Abu Dhabi back in January against a tougher field than this and followed it up a fortnight later with a tied fourth place finish at the Dubai Desert Classic, so it’s no surprise to see him battling for favourtism here and of the four he probably offers the best chance of victory.

Anthony Kim shot a dreadful fist round 78 in Malaysia last week which added fuel to the critics fire by claiming he was only there for the huge appearance fee laid out.  However, after a second round 65 he made the cut by the skin of his teeth and went on to shoot a final round 68 finishing a respectable 33rd.  However, Kim looks too inconsistent at the moment and doesn’t yet have the maturity to travel far and wide picking up wins abroad like Tiger, so best left here.

Camilo Villegas hasn’t travelled well either so far in his short career, with a modest 24th place finish when invited by host Sergio Garcia in last year’s Castello Masters and a 20th spot finish in the first Race to Dubai ranking tournament, the HSBC Championship in Shanghai back in November.  A couple of top ten finishes on the US Tour in 2009 show that he does has some form though and could be one to watch out for if his putter is hot this week.

Looking further down the betting, Richard Green catches the eye at 20/1 with totesport.  The left handed Aussie finished tied third the last time the tournament was played at the Vines and has had some decent performances on tour so far in 2009.  His best performance of the year so far came last time out at the Dubai Desert Classic where he finished tied 11th after carding a below par final round of 73 which saw him slip out of the places.  He has however shot -22 under par for his three tournaments this year so is scoring well and on home soil could spring a surprise here.

It’s a pit of a shot in the dark as Ian Poulter has not been seen on the course so far this year, but playing near his best he could make a mockery of his 28/1 price with totesport and has course form, finishing tied sixth here three years ago.

The leader-board was dominated with Aussies last time the tournament was played her in Perth so I’ve picked out a couple at bigger prices here to consider.  Perth born Brett Rumford is a 50/1 shot, he’s had four solid tournaments in 2009 in tougher fields than this and has three tour wins to his name.  He also has some course form having finished 55th after dropping seven shots in his final round. 

Finally, a quick word for old timer Peter Senior.  He may have some miles on the clock but has an excellent record down under.  He finished tied eleventh in his only tournament in the Race to Dubai this season in the Australian Masters and has a victory to his name on the Vines course way back in 1993 in the Heineken Classic and finished tied 21st back here in 2006.  A multiple winner down under, in Europe and on the Asian Tour he knows how to put it in the hole and I wouldn’t be surprised if he places here this week and at 70/1 with totesport is definitely worth an each-way bet.

For all your golf betting this week visit totesport.