British Masters Preview: TV Times, Betting Tips

Tommy Fleetwood plays host this week as the British Masters heads to his home of Southport at Hillside Golf Club for the first time

There’s a new sponsor and a new venue for the Betfred British Masters this week as a group of top English professionals headline the field at the testing venue, which new host Tommy Fleetwood once said boasts “one of the best back nines in world golf” – something Greg Norman has also backed up. 

Neighbouring the 2017 Open venue Birkdale, Hillside is an renowned links track in its own right: It hosted the 1982 PGA Championship (now known as the BMW PGA Championship), and has been a regular Open qualifying venue since 2014.

Last year, Eddie Pepperell claimed his second European Tour victory as he battled through difficult conditions at Walton Heath with a final round 72 to win by two shots over Alexander Bjork, but there were doubts over the future of the event after the sponsorship with Sky Sports ended. 

Betfred picked it up as Tommy Fleetwood confirmed he would be the host for 2019, and it’s no surprise that he’s the betting favourite this week given his home course advantage. And if you think it might be a bad bet given he has to do a lot in the way of hosting duties, last year Justin Rose proved its still possible to challenge and double up as host on his way to a T8 at Walton Health.

Course: Hillside GC, England | Par 72 | 6,953 yards
Defending Champion: Eddie Pepperell
Prize Fund: £3,000,000
Race to Dubai Points: 4,250

Britsh Masters: TV Times

Tuesday:
Hero World Challenge:, Sky Sports Golf (18:30), Sky Sports Mix (18:30)

Wednesday:
Masterclass: Sky Sports Golf (15:00)

Thursday & Friday:
Sky Sports Main Event (10:30), Sky Sports Golf (10:30), Sky Sports Main Event (15:30), Sky Sports Golf (15:30)

Saturday:
Sky Sports Golf (12:30)

Sunday:
Sky Sports Golf (10:00)

British Masters Betting Tips

Tommy Fleetwood: 9/1
Unsurprising that Fleetwood is the favourite given that he definitely has the home advantage, and at World No.16 he’s also the best ranked player in the field. He hasn’t played a European Tour event since finishing T16 in Dubai in January, but his British Masters record speaks for itself: Despite being on different courses, Fleetwood has gone T13-T4-T9 in his last three starts in this compeition. Best of T3 at the APInv and T5 at the Players this year. Ranks 4th on the PGA Tour for SG: Off the tee and SG: Tee to green, and 16th for scoring average. 

Tyrrell Hatton: 16/1
Like Fleetwood, Hatton hasn’t played a European Tour event since January and is teeing up in his first event since a T56 at the Masters (but worth noting he was T9 at the WGC Dell Match Play before that). Missed last year but was T8-T9-T13 in three previous starts in this contest. Ranks 10th on the PGA Tour for SG: Around the green. 

Eddie Pepperell: 18/1
The defending champion finished T3 at the Players Championship and was T16 in his last start at the RBC Heritage. Had a previous best of T22 at the British Masters before his win last year. Hasn’t played enough on either tour to qualify for stats. 

Matt Wallace: 22/1
Much like the rest of the players above, Wallace hasn’t played on the European Tour since the beginning of the year – favouring the U.S instead – and despite a T6 at the APinv and winning the Masters Par-3, Wallace has struggled a little of late: going T30-T40-MC-MC in his last four starts. However, he’s a proven winner and has done so before after a MC, so he’s one not to rule out. Ranks 25th SG: Total on PGA Tour and 18th for birdie average on European Tour. 

Joost Luiten: 22/1
Luiten has only played seven times in 2019 but has three top 10s, a T12, and finished T25 at the Trophee Hassan II two weeks ago, so he’s definitely in form. Hasn’t played in the British Masters since he finished T45 in 2016. Ranks 2nd SG: Tee to green, 3rd SG: Approach, 16th GIR, and 25th for scoring average on the European Tour this season.

Jordan Smith: 25/1
Struggled in the final round last year but still finished T3, and with two top 10s and a T14 in his last three starts, Smith is definitely one of the most in-form players in form heading to Hillside. Ranks 10th for GIR, 25th for Par-4 scoring on the European Tour this season. 

Andy Sullivan: 28/1
Sullivan finished T9 at the British Masters last year and comes to this event on the back of a T21 at the Trophee Hassan II – which followed a T7 at the Maybank Championship and T11 in Qatar. Doesn’t have any stand out stats but does have a fairly decent record on links courses: Multiple top 10s at the Scottish and Irish Opens, and finished T10 at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2018.

Victor Dubuisson: 33/1
The former Ryder Cup player returned after an extended period away with injury at the start of the year and is having something of a resurgance: A T11 last week at the Volvo China Open, a T10 at the Hero Indian Open and back-to-back top-20s at the start of the year. His worst finish in 2019 is T38 in six starts (not including a WD), making him one of the most consistent players there. Ranks 10th par-4 scoring, 14th driving accuracy, 18th SG: Off the tee and inside the top 25 for both GIR and SG: Tee to green.

Ryan Fox: 40/1
Fox claimed the ISPS Handa World Super 6 title earlier in the year for his maiden Tour victory, and could be a real contender here if he can shake off the rust given he hasn’t teed up since a T36 at the Maybank Championship in March. MC last year in this event but clearly a lover of links golf: Fox has two top 10s apiece at both the Scottish and Irish Opens – including a runner-up finish last year. Ranks 3rd GIR, 7th SG: Tee to green, 16th SG: Off the tee and 27th for scoring average.

Ross Fisher: 45/1
Spoiled a good few days at neighbouring Royal Birkdale with a final round 75 to end up T44, and last week was similar after adding a 76 to a first-round 67 to miss the cut. Still, he was T13 at the Maybank Championship before that, and is another player with good links experience that includes three runner-up finishes at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and a win at the 2010 Irish Open. Ranks 2nd SG: Approach, 15th GIR and 31st par-four scoring. 

Tom Lewis: 45/1
Heads to Hillside with back-to-back top 25s in his last two starts on Tour, and posted two top 10s at the start of 2019. Was T5 at the British Masters last year. Ranks 12th SG: Approach, 29th SG: Tee to green, 35th for GIR and 40th for scoring average.