Whilst it’s always good to see new events on tour, the MyGolfLife Open takes place on a course yet to be seen at even this level.

Host to one Sunshine Tour event and the 2018 South African Amateur, indications are that Pecanwood, a near 7700-yard course, is ripe for the taking by the big hitters who will relish the chance of bombing it down wide fairways and flipping short clubs into the greens.

Home players always elevate themselves at these events, but this looks like an equally great opportunity for a breakthrough winner at this co-sanctioned event.

George Coetzee +3500

As expected, there is a host of solid home players that will make a good run for the title.

Justin Harding has been playing well for a while, Daniel Van Tonder looks to secure his eighth title in 24 months, and Dean Burmester is exactly the type of classy bomber to make mincemeat of the course.

However, 35-year-old Coetzee still has the class to contend in this grade, and after 14 professional wins (all bar one either solely run by or co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour), he has shown enough recently to make him a play this week.

Being a winner and holder of many placings at the Portugal Masters may not seem an obvious place to start, but there is a link with Justin Walters, the first men’s club winner around here. Likewise, wins at Joburg, the Di-Data, and Tshwane Opens all tie in with Walters, whilst a runner-up finish in Qatar gives a touch of validity to the thought that this parkland course may well be open enough to consider Links players may well thrive too.

Recent form hasn’t been off-the-page, but he still has his tee-to-green prowess, and that win at the Dom Pedro from Laurie Canter and Tommy Fleetwood was more comfortable than the two-shot margin, illustrating his ability when given a clear shot at a target.

Solid on the dancefloor, this looks like a golden opportunity to get some more silverware in the cabinet.

Matthieu Pavon +4100 

Whilst the likes of Adri Arnaus and Adrian Meronk continue to give themselves chances of breaking their European duck, Matthieu Pavon seems to always hold similar claims and yet starts at a bigger price.

There is nothing complicated about the selection, and it’s simply that the Frenchman continues to impress at all types of track, with a game that maybe sometimes falls through lack of experience.

That was the only excuse the 29-year-old had in Portugal when leading before a treble-bogey eight at the 66th hole took him out of his stride. However, he shook that off to land his very next tee shot to four feet and a bounce-back birdie, giving the impression that we were not dealing with a ‘soft’ player.

Sure, the ‘2’ could have been one better, but he’s kept the run going with a top-20 in Dubai and a third place in the first of the back-to-back events at Ras al Khaimah.

Last week when sixth at Muthaiga, Pavon again shot four rounds in the 60s, the third time he has been under 70 for all rounds in his last four starts. Indeed, he has recorded just one round over 70 through his last 20 rounds and is surely ready to strike.

Ross Fisher +7500 & Ross Fisher Top 10 +650

Again, not a complicated selection, but one who is playing very well and will enjoy the open nature and (maybe) linksy type approach – think St. Andrews when the wind doesn’t blow – very gettable.

18th and second at the back-to-back UAE events, the 41-year-old has those past wins at the Irish Open and Tshwane Open (oh, hello), whilst it’s my belief that a trio of top placings at the Alfred Dunhill Links will be of some relevance this week.

Of late, the Englishman has ranked in the top-10 for ‘off-the-tee’, including at Joburg, 10th and 11th for approaches, and ninth and 10th for tee-to-green.

Taken with his overall form in South Africa, which, apart from the win, reads six top-10s and four top-25 finishes, and it’s no wonder he is enthusiastic about his play and his chances here this week.

The general 50/1 looks about right, making the one offer of 75/1 look very big.