Outright plays (1.5 units):
Ernie Els to win 5/1 @ SkyBet and Victor Chandler
I his own words, "the way I feel at the moment I?m really looking forward to the rest of this season. My game feels in great shape. I need to hole a few more putts, but that will come; the putting stroke is fine." Els finished 17th in the NEC Invitational last week, but ranked 59th in putting so there are no problems with the rest of his game and as long as his putting stroke is good, then he could lap this field. He virtually did that when winning the Scottish Open last month. There are grounds for avoiding such a short-priced player after playing in the U.S. in the previous week, but the last four winners of this event had done just the same. He finished 5th on his last visit in 2000 and that should really be his worst-case finish against this field.
Paul Casey to win 14/1 e.w. @ Bet365, SkyBet, BetInternet, Victor Chandler and Paddy Power
Casey finished alongside Els in 17th place last week and should not be too far behind him this week unless the Big Easy's putter gets hot. Apart from the British Open, his worst finish in Europe this season has been 13th and he has won twice already in 2003. With 7th place finishes in this event in each of the last two years and confidence not something that he lacks, Casey looks the best of the rest.
Bernhard Langer to win 33/1 e.w. @ Stan James
In terms of course form - or even form in Germany as a whole - no-one can match Langer. In the last twelve stagings of this event (all but three on this course), he has finished no lower than 16th on every occasions and while he has not won this title, he finished 2nd on four occasions, including twice in the last three years. This is the only tournament in Germany that Langer has not yet won and there will be no shortage of determination from the European Ryder Cup captain this week. He has returned to form in the last couple of months and was particularly impressive at the weekend when climbing to 11th at the NEC Invitational.
Ernie Els to win 5/1 @ SkyBet and Victor Chandler
I his own words, "the way I feel at the moment I?m really looking forward to the rest of this season. My game feels in great shape. I need to hole a few more putts, but that will come; the putting stroke is fine." Els finished 17th in the NEC Invitational last week, but ranked 59th in putting so there are no problems with the rest of his game and as long as his putting stroke is good, then he could lap this field. He virtually did that when winning the Scottish Open last month. There are grounds for avoiding such a short-priced player after playing in the U.S. in the previous week, but the last four winners of this event had done just the same. He finished 5th on his last visit in 2000 and that should really be his worst-case finish against this field.
Paul Casey to win 14/1 e.w. @ Bet365, SkyBet, BetInternet, Victor Chandler and Paddy Power
Casey finished alongside Els in 17th place last week and should not be too far behind him this week unless the Big Easy's putter gets hot. Apart from the British Open, his worst finish in Europe this season has been 13th and he has won twice already in 2003. With 7th place finishes in this event in each of the last two years and confidence not something that he lacks, Casey looks the best of the rest.
Bernhard Langer to win 33/1 e.w. @ Stan James
In terms of course form - or even form in Germany as a whole - no-one can match Langer. In the last twelve stagings of this event (all but three on this course), he has finished no lower than 16th on every occasions and while he has not won this title, he finished 2nd on four occasions, including twice in the last three years. This is the only tournament in Germany that Langer has not yet won and there will be no shortage of determination from the European Ryder Cup captain this week. He has returned to form in the last couple of months and was particularly impressive at the weekend when climbing to 11th at the NEC Invitational.
