Vic Open golf tips, betting preview, lowdown & TV details

TV: Sky Sports golf, 4am Thursday

After the prestigious desert swing, the European Tour moves to Australia this week and there is a noticeable absence of the stars who were attracted to the Saudi International by some hefty appearance money last week.

The Vic Open has become a part of the European Tour for the first time and - even without the biggest names - that means it has been able to attract golfers of greater stature than those who usually compete at Geelong's 13th Beach Links.

The big question for punters to consider this week is whether the tour stalwarts will be able to successfully adapt to playing in Australian conditions or whether the home contingent will raise their game with the benefit of local knowledge.

Ian Wilkerson's top tip

Lucas Herbert 18-1
The dream scenario is having the opportunity to back a player who falls into both those categories and Lucas Herbert should be primed for a bold challenge.

Herbert, who plays in his home state of Victoria this week, gave Saudi Arabia a miss but he should have been delighted with the seventh spot he claimed at the Dubai Desert Classic in the preceding tournament.

There he was ranked 12th in greens in regulation and no one in the field bettered the 63 which he shot in the second round.

He turned 23 in December but he finished 2018 in excellent fettle by tying for second at the Portugal Masters, placing seventh at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and third in the British Masters, all in the space of four weeks.

Herbert's only missed cut in his last ten efforts came the last time he played in his homeland at the Australian PGA Championship.

He never gave himself an opportunity to claim the prize after he shot an opening round of 80, but he improved on that by firing a Friday 69 after his chance had gone, so it would be harsh to class that week as a complete disaster.

Herbert tied for sixth at the Vic Open two years ago, when he would have been disappointed with a closing round of 74, but only four players managed to break 70 on that Sunday so he can be cut a bit of slack for that effort as well.

There are plenty of positives for the man from Bendigo this week and he should be right in the mix.

Next best bet

Jazz Janewattananond 20-1
Thailand's Jazz Janewattananond has limited experience of playing in Australia but he is in such great form that it would be foolish to discount his chances this week.

He has shot up 48 places in the world rankings since the turn of the year and heads to Geelong having won his previous tournament at the Singapore Open.

There he held off Paul Casey's challenge to record a two-shot success over a field that also included Matthew Fitzpatrick and Sergio Garcia, having posted two weekend rounds of 65.

Another eye-catching effort came a week before Christmas at the Indonesian Masters when a closing 65 helped him finish second ahead of Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose.

Posting strong finishes in such illustrious company should have done wonders for the Thai's confidence and he should go into this week feeling he can challenge players of the calibre he is set to face in this tournament.

Sound 2018 European Tour finishes of sixth at the Nordea Masters and 20th at the Made in Denmark should enhance his optimism as well.

Other selections

Matthew Millar 50-1
Jake Higginbottom 100-1
While Herbert should lead the domestic charge for glory,a couple of other Australians could make big impressions and are worthy of each-way support.

Matthew Millar missed the cut on his last outing at the Singapore Open but his form on the Australasian Tour has been excellent.

He failed to make the weekend in this tournament last year but he was runner-up in 2016 and sixth the year before, so it's not as if he doesn't have any good course form in the book.

However, since last year's tournament his results in Australia and New Zealand read 2-5-4-3-5-14-5 and with ten top-ten finishes in his last 13 tournaments in that part of the world, it would be foolish to dismiss him.

Jake Higginbottom could also go well at a three-figure price.

The 25-year-old from Charlestown, North South Wales had creditable performances in Indonesia and Singapore where he finished 28th and 18th and he has co-sanctioned form in the book as well, having finished tied for ninth in November's Hong Kong Open.

He tied for sixth in the Vic Open two years ago, four shots off the pace.

Players to note

Jason Scrivener
His tied-for-seventh spot last time out in Dubai and 16th at Abu Dhabi looks good form in this company and he has claimed a top-20 spot in each of his last five tournaments, including sixth in the Australian PGA.

Justin Harding
The South African has started 2019 in excellent nick. Another to finish seventh in Dubai, he followed that with 11th in Saudi Arabia last week, so he should make a big impression.

Adrian Otaegui
It has not been a great start to the campaign for the straight-hitting Spaniard, but he played well to finish 24th in Saudi. With a ranking of 69th, he is on paper the best player in the field.

Dimi Papadatos
The 2017 champion has two other top-15 finishes in this tournament but apart from second in November's Australian Open, his play over the last few months has been mixed.

Jake McLeod
The 24-year-old Aussie claimed 34th spot in Saudi Arabia and won the NSW Open in November. He was second in this tournament in 2017, having shot a second-round 61 on the Creek course.

Staking plan

L Herbert
2pts each-way 18-1 Betfair
J Janewattananond
2pts each-way 20-1 BoyleSports, Coral, Paddy Power
M Millar
1pt each-way 50-1 BoyleSports, Coral, Paddy Power
J Higginbottom
1pt each-way 100-1 Betfred

Vic Open lowdown

Course 13th Beach Golf Links, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Prize money €951,000 (€140,000 to winner)
Length -Beach Course 6,796 yards Creek Course 6,940 yards
Par Both 72
Field 156

Course winners taking part Simon Hawkes, Dimitrios Papadatos, Michael Long, Richard Green, Matthew Griffin, Matthew Giles

When to bet By 8pm Wednesday

When to watch Live on Sky Sports Golf from 4am Thursday

Time difference Victoria is 11 hours ahead of the UK & Ireland

Last week - Saudi International 1 D Johnson (8-1), 2 H Li (28-1), 3 T Lewis (55-1), 4 M W Lee 500-1, 5 A Levy 150-1

Course overview The Vic Open has been upgraded to a European Tour event this year and will be novel in the fact the LPGA will also be hosting a women's tournament at the same location - Minjee Lee is the 9-2 favourite with British stars Charley Hull and Georgia Hall among those taking her on.

Tee times will alternate between men's and women's groups with female players playing from advanced tees. They will not play against each other but organisers are proud of the fact that equal prize money will be at stake.

Each player will play one round at both the Beach and Creek Courses before the weekend, with the top 65 players going through to play the Beach on Saturday and the top 35 advancing to the final round, also on the Beach course on Sunday.

The venue has hosted the tournament, which has been played since 1957, for the last six years. The Beach course is of a links style although the rough will not be of the sort of length often associated with British courses of the same ilk. The putting surfaces are undulating and likely to be firm and fast.

The Creek course is more inland and was designed by Sir Nick Faldo. Fescue grass can catch errant drives and the creek itself could also punish the wayward on the eighth and will have to be negotiated on two par-threes (12th and 17th).

The story of last year Simon Hawkes beat Harrison Endycott with a birdie at the first extra hole of the playoff as the tournament, then a PGA Tour of Australasia event, went past regulation play for the fourth time in five years.

Weather forecast There is a decent chance that thunderstorms will disrupt play during the opening two rounds but the weekend should be dry. Winds will be strong for most of the tournament with temperatures ranging from the mid to high-20s.

Type of player suited to the challenge As the name of the complex suggests, experience of links play should be an advantage but the move to the European Tour means the standard of play should be much higher than in previous years. Successfully tackling the windy conditions will be crucial and the undulating greens will also have to be navigated.

Key attribute Touch/putting

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