Outright plays (total stake per play: 1pt)
Ian Poulter to win 20/1 e.w. @ Sunderlands [6 places]
Westwood may have won the British Masters two weeks ago, but Poulter pushed him all the way in finishing 2nd and was even ranked 1st in driving accuracy and greens in regulation that week. It was merely the continuation of the form that had netted him two top-10 finishes in three Playoff events on the PGA Tour and he will be looking to at least match the 3rd place finish that he achieved in the 2004 event. He has a very record in Scotland, whether it is the Scottish Open, the British Open or this event so he really should be in contention once again this week.
Richard Sterne to win 50/1 e.w. @ Coral
Britain and Ireland have provided all five previous winners of this event, but Sterne, in particualar, and Kjeldsen could provide a new winning nationality this week. Sterne has already won this season (the Celtic Manor Wales Open) and always seems to feature at some stage when playing in Europe - he has ended the first round in 5th and 2nd place in the last two European Tour events, for example. He has had some high finishes in this event and shouldn't warrant odds as high as this.
Soren Kjeldsen to win 50/1 e.w. @ Sunderlands [6 places]
Kjeldsen is more steady player, but it should be recalled that his sole European Tour victory came in Scotland at the Diageo Championship in 2003 so he may surprise again. And he has been showing some very solid form recently with finishes of 6th and 4th in his last two events, plus 13th and 8th in the last two years here. It should point to another solid performance this week and a challenge for a top-6 place finish.
Ian Poulter to win 20/1 e.w. @ Sunderlands [6 places]
Westwood may have won the British Masters two weeks ago, but Poulter pushed him all the way in finishing 2nd and was even ranked 1st in driving accuracy and greens in regulation that week. It was merely the continuation of the form that had netted him two top-10 finishes in three Playoff events on the PGA Tour and he will be looking to at least match the 3rd place finish that he achieved in the 2004 event. He has a very record in Scotland, whether it is the Scottish Open, the British Open or this event so he really should be in contention once again this week.
Richard Sterne to win 50/1 e.w. @ Coral
Britain and Ireland have provided all five previous winners of this event, but Sterne, in particualar, and Kjeldsen could provide a new winning nationality this week. Sterne has already won this season (the Celtic Manor Wales Open) and always seems to feature at some stage when playing in Europe - he has ended the first round in 5th and 2nd place in the last two European Tour events, for example. He has had some high finishes in this event and shouldn't warrant odds as high as this.
Soren Kjeldsen to win 50/1 e.w. @ Sunderlands [6 places]
Kjeldsen is more steady player, but it should be recalled that his sole European Tour victory came in Scotland at the Diageo Championship in 2003 so he may surprise again. And he has been showing some very solid form recently with finishes of 6th and 4th in his last two events, plus 13th and 8th in the last two years here. It should point to another solid performance this week and a challenge for a top-6 place finish.
