Andrew's Interwetten Open Preview
- Nate (@WeKnowFantasy)
- Jul 1
- 3 min read
Despite a little success on some other tours, and some guys from my longlist going
well, there’s no denying that the picks on the always-tricky HPT have been
particularly poor recently. Well, good news – it just got even harder. Not only have I
gone off the rails, but so have the people who plan the HPT schedule. Strap in.
The Tournament
This week, we’re in Oberhaus, Austria, and we’re being hosted for the first
Interwetten Open at the enticingly titled Schladming-Dachstein Golf Club. If they put
the signs up with that on anywhere on the property, they’ll have to use tiny little
letters. This is a 6,438 yard par-69 and no, that isn’t a typo. It has three par-fives of
respectable length (535, 565 and the closing 551-yarder) but six par-threes, ranging from
152 yards to 213. There’s also a very drivable par four, the 295 yard second. You
get the idea – this is not long. It is short. Petite. Compact. Svelte. But don’t worry
about that length – because the whole thing is at 750m above sea level in the
Ennstal valley, part of the beautiful Austrian Alps, it won’t even play that long. So, not much length. Tree-lined, then? Bunkers everywhere? Tiny, sloping greens? No, no, and I don’t think so. Information about the course isn’t easy to find but this is clearly a resort course and is far flatter and far less narrow than you’d expect for a championship course of this length. I think we’re on 59 watch. What are we looking for? Well, we’re looking for guys who can putt, and guys who can play decent approach shots. Ironically, given the course length, I think a bit of pop might help, too. Oh, and don’t worry about the weather – there might be a bit of evening rain but it is going to be warm and calm.
Given all that, and the lack of course history, I think this is a week to play nice and
small stakes and keep it easy. We can’t even hope for many local players to take
pity on the tournament and pop down – with the BMW International nearby, all the
south German stars are staying at home. Finally, do keep an eye on the guys
who’ve come from Open Qualifying – 36 holes in the UK (if at Royal Cinque Ports in
a very un-British sweltering heat) on Tuesday is poor preparation and ruled out a few
in whom I might otherwise have been interested.
Selections
First up is a favourite of mine, Albert Boneta, who is doing a handy enough job of
combining grinding on the DPWT when he gets the chance – he was 41 st in Italy last
week with enough success to be 33rd on the HPT Oder of Merit. I think he’s here
because he needs to secure a DPWT card for next year and I think this is a great
place for him to leap towards that goal. I’ve talked before about his successful
amateur career in the USA, and about his abilities on the Alps Tour. What is notable
is that he’s a heavy scorer and a great putter, and I think he’s ready to take this
apart.
My second pick is another returnee, Albin Bergstrom. This is hardly a surprise
after he played particularly well at Le Vaudreuil last week without quite getting over
the line. His fifth place was by far a season’s best and represents another step
forward for a young man with loads of power and the ability to score heavily when
the opportunity arises.
Finally, Nick Carlson is another of the young Americans taking the DPWT/HPT
route towards success. At Michigan he was good without ever being excellent and
he then spent some years away from the professional game, returning last season to
make a run at DPWT qualifying. He’s quietly come on to be 33rd on the Road to
Majorca standings, with his seventh last week being a second top ten and a fourth
consecutive top 25 finish. This is a very American inland course of the sort he’ll be
more than familiar with and I can see him taking another step towards recognition at
very attractive odds.
Albin Bergstrom, 45/1
Albert Boneta, 33/1
Nick Carlson, 45/1
All ¼ odds 5 places, 1pt e/w, Bet365. Better odds may become available if you wait
for other prices.
Comments