Steve Palmer's European Masters predictions & free golf betting tips

Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre on the DP World Tour.

Where to watch

Live on Sky Sports Golf from 12.30pm on Thursday

Best bets

Marcus Kinhult
2pts each-way 55-1 bet365

Alexander Bjork
2pts each-way 40-1 bet365

Sean Crocker
2pts each-way 40-1 bet365, Hills

Lucas Bjerregaard
1pt each-way 90-1 bet365, Hills

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The PGA Tour has got the jaw-dropping prize money this week, but the DP World Tour has got the eyecatching views - the beautiful Crans-sur-Sierre takes centre stage for another European Masters.

Ryan Fox and Adrian Meronk head the betting, but the New Zealander may be too clumsy to trust at fiddly Crans, while the Pole will have great pressure put on his suspect chipping around these small, tricky greens.

Steve Palmer's top tip

Marcus Kinhult 55-1

Neat and tidy Swede Marcus Kinhult has got an ideal game for Crans-sur-Sierre and the former prodigy can get his career right back on track by claiming a second DP World Tour title on Sunday afternoon.

Kinhult made his debut at Crans in the 2015 European Masters in the week of his 19th birthday. He was still an amateur, but was in fourth place at the halfway stage, before finishing tenth. As a pro, his Crans form figures are 56-12-47.

Some health issues saw months of struggle and a failure to build on his 2019 British Masters success, but at the age of 26 he seems over his problems and ready for further glory.

Third place in the Cazoo Classic a month ago was greatly encouraging and 23rd spot in the Czech Masters last week was a decent effort on far less suitable terrain.

Next best bet

Alexander Bjork 40-1

A Swedish one-two could be on the cards this week with Alexander Bjork capable of joining compatriot Kinhult on the leaderboard. There has been a Swedish champion at Crans six times and this year's crop look particularly promising.

Like Kinhult, Bjork fell in love with Crans from the off, finishing 16th in 2017 as a European Tour rookie maiden ranked 127th in the world. He opened with a solid 69 in 2018 despite arriving off form figures of MC-48-MC-MC, but overnight food poisoning meant a withdrawal prior to round two.

Subsequent Crans finishes of 28-13 confirm that this layout is ideal for Bjork and 20th place in the Cazoo Classic last time out was a solid warm-up spin.

Other selections

Sean Crocker 40-1

Lucas Bjerregaard 90-1

The monkey is off the back of Sean Crocker, who landed his maiden DP World Tour title in the Hero Open at the end of last month, and this top-class ball-striker could be set for a rapid follow-up success.

Crocker putted superbly in the Hero, hinting that he may have found a solution to the department of the game which had been holding him back, and the 26-year-old can look to the future with confidence.

Crocker's Crans form figures are a progressive 54-28-4 - and he was joint-leader after three rounds last year. An edgy start meant a trophyless Sunday, but he is better equipped to handle himself in contention this time.

Complete a four-pronged attack with Lucas Bjerregaard, who won the 2017 Portugal Masters, the 2018 Dunhill Links, then beat Tiger Woods on his way to fourth place in the 2019 WGC-Match Play.

Inconsistency has followed those heroics, which is why the Dane is on offer at big prices in a low grade this week, but there are grounds for optimism this week.

Bjerregaard finished ninth at Crans in 2017 and was a playoff loser to Matt Fitzpatrick in 2018. Last time out, Bjerregaard finished third in the Cazoo Open, so he may have found his A-game just in time for one of his favourite assignments.

Players to note

Rasmus Hojgaard
The defending champion has had a month away from competition, but is clearly capable of retaining his title if he can shed the rust quickly.

Mikko Korhonen
The Nordics have a great record at Crans-sur-Sierre and steady Finnish journeyman Korhonen looks a solid top-20 investment.

Crans-sur-Sierre course guide

Course Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, Crans Montana, Switzerland
Prize money €2m (€340,000 to the winner)
Length 6,824 yards
Par 70 - three par-fives; ten par-fours; five par-threes
Field 156 The cut Top 65 and ties qualify for round three
Highest-ranked players in field (world ranking in brackets) Ryan Fox (48), Adrian Meronk (59), Adri Arnaus (67), Nicolai Hojgaard (99), Victor Perez (102)
Course records - 72 holes 260 Colin Montgomerie (1996) 18 holes 60 Jamie Spence (1992)

Course winners taking part Miguel Angel Jimenez, Richie Ramsay, Danny Willett, Sebastian Soderberg, Rasmus Hojgaard

When to bet By 7.30am on Thursday

When to watch Live on Sky Sports Golf from 12.30pm on Thursday

Time difference Switzerland is one hour ahead of the UK and Ireland

Last week - Czech Masters 1 M Kieffer (55-1), 2 G Green (66-1), T3 L De Jager (110-1), T Pulkkanen (90-1), 5 Z Lombard (90-1), T6 J McLeod (300-1), M Schneider (75-1)

Course type Parkland

Course overview The famous Crans layout, renowned as one of the most beautiful in the world, was opened in 1908. There has been a European Tour event staged there every year since 1972, apart from the 2020 Covid cancellation. A Seve Ballesteros redesign in 1999 made it tougher, creating lots of run-off areas around the greens. This made approach shots difficult to keep on the putting surfaces and made chipping more challenging. The sixth and seventh are driveable par-fours where players are looking to pick up shots. Small, firm, unreceptive greens are the main problem for the competitors, although they are aided by the fact that the ball flies further than normal at the altitude. Most fairways are tree-lined and undulating. Two of the par-fives are fairly straightforward (the 552-yard 14th and the 566-yard 15th), but the 633-yard ninth is less easy to conquer

Story of last year Rasmus Hojgaard reached 13 under par to edge Bernd Wiesberger by a shot

Weather forecast Sunny, pleasant and calm throughout

Type of player suited to the challenge Length is useful for gamblers on the two driveable par-fours, but overall this is a track where accuracy from tee to green and course management are the keys to success. The honours board is full of precise operators like Miguel Angel Jimenez, Thomas Bjorn (twice), Richie Ramsay and Matthew Fitzpatrick (twice)

Key attribute Accuracy

Spotlight insight The last six European Masters have been won by an Englishman or a Scandinavian

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