Golf Betting: Nedbank Challenge

Million dollar-man Ernie Els looks to have a major chance of bagging the Nedbank Challenge at Sun City in South Africa. The Big Easy has found life a dream after scooping the million-pound paycheck for winning his seventh World Match Play at Wentworth and he goes into the $1.2m tournament as the understandable 100/30 favourite with Coral for a shoot-out he has won three times and finished first loser three times. Only compatriot Retief Goosen has won at this course out of the 12-strong line-up and even he has had a year which he would like to forget. Of the others to have won here, 2004 champ Sergio Garcia misses out while the likes of Jim Furyk and Padraig Harrington also give South Africa the swerve. For those who play golf regularly, the course is a whopping 7,800 yards - hands up who could go round in less than 95 on this killer? - and those who don't give Els even some consideration are betting loosely indeed. Although he was below par at the World Cup last week, Trevor Immelman would be worth a look on his own patch and may merit each-way value at 12/1. He has had a rotten year, plagued by a stomach virus, but that World Cup effort was decent enough to show he is attaining higher levels than some of the others in the field. English trio of Justin Rose, Ian Poulter and Luke Donald all have black marks against them with Rose looking tired after a successful year and Donald and Poulter looking unable to dominate a field as classy as this at the moment despite putting in solid efforts at the Dunlop Phoenix two weeks ago. As such, Immelman looks decent value at 11/8 with totesport against Rose in their two ball which begins at 9.10am. Of the others, Henrik Stenson should be in with a shout despite not being a big hitter and at 11/1 with Paddy Power, he also looks worth an each-way look. Verdict:Ernie Els 1pt at 100/30 Coral T Immelman to beat J Rose 11/8 totesport