Steve Palmer's Nedbank Challenge first-round preview, best bets, free golf tips

Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the first round of the Nedbank Challenge at Gary Player Country Club on the DP World Tour

When to watch

Sky Sports Golf, 9am Thursday

Best bets

Jordan Smith to win 8.39am threeball
3pts 20-21 bet365, BoyleSports

Preview

Nedbank Challenge favourite Tommy Fleetwood tees off at 8.50am UK and Ireland time in round one at Gary Player Country Club in South Africa.

Fleetwood will be joined by Ryan Fox and Adrian Meronk in the marquee match on a day when the forecast for intense heat will test the players. Fleetwood, who won the last Nedbank Challenge in 2019, seems a fair price at 13-10 to beat Fox and Meronk.

A better value option, though, is arguably Jordan Smith at a shade of odds-on to defeat Luke Donald and Ewen Ferguson. Smith carded a magnificent 30-under-par total to win the Portugal Masters last time out, finally finding some putting form to marry to his ever-reliable ball-striking.

Gary Player Country Club is a stiff ball-striking test, where churning out greens in regulation is the key to success, and Smith looks likely to make a positive start. European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald is over on a watching brief, with Smith and Ferguson potential team members.

Given Ferguson is making his course debut - and he lacks the punch off the tee of Smith - it is reasonable to expect the Portugal Masters champion to boss the group.

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