Racing Post's Czech Masters predictions & free golf betting tips

Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the Czech Masters at the Albatross Golf Resort on the DP World Tour.

Where to watch

Live on Sky Sports Golf from midday Thursday

Best bets

Sean Crocker
2pts each-way 25-1 Betfred
Richard Mansell
2pts each-way 22-1 bet365
Eddie Pepperell
1.5pts each-way 25-1Hills
Espen Kofstad
1pt each-way 45-1Hills

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After a four-week stop in the UK, the DP World Tour moves on to the continent this week with the Czech Masters, and big hitters are likely to be licking their lips at the chance to get to grips with the Albatross Golf Resort.

The sight of Thomas Pieters' name on the honours board twice should encourage those whose strength is length off the tee, but solid tee-to-green efficiency has also been the key to success on the Prague track. America's Johanne Veerman is back to defend his crown.

Ian Wilkerson's top tip

Sean Crocker 25-1

Veerman won by a two-shot margin last year and a fellow Statesider who gave him most to think about is capable of going one better this week.

Sean Crocker performed superbly in finishing second at the Albatross last year, finishing top of the strokes-gained charts in both approach and tee to green, and he hit a whopping 87.5 per cent of greens in regulation on what was his first visit to the Czech venue.

So he should be confident of producing another excellent performance, and his mood should have been lifted by the one-shot victory he claimed at the Hero Open at Fairmont St Andrews three weeks ago.

He has the potential to perform well again and eclipse the efforts of what is again a modest DP World Tour field this week.

Next best bet

Richard Mansell 22-1

Richard Mansell has enjoyed a fine 2022, moving 138 places up the world rankings, and a first victory at this level may not be far away.

He claimed fourth spot at last week's ISPS Handa World Invitational behind Ewen Ferguson, who will not be in the field this week, and that was Mansell's fourth top-ten finish of the year.

The Englishman was 39th on his course debut last week when he was ranked eighth in strokes-gained: tee-to-green, and he has performed well in that sphere in general during this campaign.

With solid ball-striking coming to the fore and some decent results in recent tournaments, it seems just a matter of time before he truly makes his presence felt among this sort of company.

Other selections

Eddie Pepperell 25-1

Espen Kofstad 45-1

Eddie Pepperell was 32nd in the world rankings after he finished fourth in the Irish Open in 2019 and while he has slid outside the top 300, there does seem to be a bit of life in the player who finished third at the Players Championship three years ago.

He burst into life with 11th place at the Cazoo Classic last month despite shooting a second-round 74 and he built on that with a Sunday 65 that helped him finish runner-up to Crocker at the Hero.

Pepperell was 20th at the Cazoo Open last time out a fortnight ago, but he could go well again at a venue where he has posted three top-ten finishes in six visits.

Someone who could also make an impression a bit further down the list is Norway's Espen Kofstad.

He was 48th on his only previous outing here in 2019, but top-20 finishes in the co-sanctioned Barbasol and Barracuda Championships in America does not look like bad form in this sort of company.

Four top-25 finishes in his last five goes mean he should be in a positive frame of mind.

Players to note

Thomas Pieters
The Belgian has won this tournament twice and is the highest-ranked player in the field. Has not played since he was 28th at The Open and probably the man to beat, but a single-figure price is off-putting.

Renato Paratore
The Italian is now outside the world top 400, but the two-time DPWT winner has found some form, finishing third at the Cazoo Open and then fourth last week. Was fifth here in 2015 but not shown much at the Albatross since.

Albatross Golf Resort course guide

Course Albatross Golf Resort, Prague, Czech Republic
Prize money €1.75m (€297,500 to winner)
Length 7,468 yards
Par 72 - four par threes, ten par fours, four par fives
Field 132
Course records - 72 holes 266 Andrea Pavan (2018); 18 holes 64 Scott Jamieson (2014), Mikael Lundberg (2015), Paul Peterson (2016), Thomas Pieters (2018), John Daly (2018), Callum Tarren (2018), Gavin Green (2018 and 2019), Sebastian Soderberg (2021)

Course winners taking part Johannes Veerman, Thomas Pieters (twice), Andreas Pavan, Haydn Porteous

When to bet By 6.30am Thursday

When to watch Live on Sky Sports Golf from midday Thursday

Time difference Prague is one hour ahead of the UK & Ireland

Last week - ISPS Handa World Invitational 1 E Ferguson 22-1, T2 C Syme 20-1, B Virto 200-1, T4 M Helligkilde 33-1, R Mansell 22-1, R Paratore 110-1

Course overview The Albatross has been the sole venue for this tournament since its inception in 2014, although it was not contested in 2020 due to the pandemic.

It is a long, exposed track with water at the end of each nine. Two of the four par fives should be easily reachable in two while the ninth and tenth both weigh in at more than 600 yards.

The first three par-threes are long and testing, but the 168-yard 16th yields more birdies. The first six holes are the easiest stretch, so it is essential to make a fast start.

Story of last year Johannes Veerman put in a closing round of tee-to-green precision to card a 68 and claim a two-shot win over fellow American Sean Crocker and Finland's Tapio Pulkkanen.

Weather forecast The tournament should get off to a bright and warm start but temperatures should drop after anticipated thunderstorms on Friday. Further rain is anticipated on Saturday but the sun should return for the tournament's conclusion.

Type of player suited to the challenge Veerman was ranked sixth in strokes-gained: off-the-tee and third from tee to green when he won last year, so that displays the value of solid ball-striking. Length off the tee will also be a big benefit so long, accurate hitters can enjoy their visit.

Key attribute Power

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