German bomber Siem is ready to destroy his playing partners

First round starts 6am Thursday
Live on Sky Golf from 10am

Aggressive German Marcel Siem is relishing a home game in the European Open this week and the four-time Tour winner is a juicy price to win his first-round threeball.

The long, soft, open North Course in Hamburg suits attacking big-hitters, and Siem enjoys this kind of assignment. He was busy on the practice ground earlier in the week, adding loft to his driver, realising that he would need to give his ball a healthy ride off the tee.

Siem is up against injury-plagued duo Jamie Donaldson and Peter Hanson in the 11.30am threeball, and can be fancied to have the measure of both. Donaldson seems to be finding it impossible to get fully fit, labouring with tennis elbow, and he withdrew from the Irish Open earlier this month despite making the cut.

Hanson has not won on the European Tour for almost five years and the Swede has plummeted down the world rankings in that period. Siem can assert himself over his playing partners on the five par-fives.

Thorbjorn Olesen is also worth supporting against rare European Tour visitor Jimmy Walker and short-hitting Scot Richie Ramsay (12pm). Olesen is an in-form birdie machine who should love the North Course set-up.

Recommendations
M Siem
1pt 9-4 Betfred
T Olesen
1pt 7-4 Coral, Ladbrokes