A small, high quality field gathers this week at Gut Larchenhof. Most of Europe's top players are in town and so too are Vijay Singh and Carlos Franco, both of whom have played in this event before, largely lured by Bernhard Langer who is co-hosting this event. This is the 3rd time this Jack Nicklaus-designed course has been used for this event, but after it was criticized for being too easy in 1998, some three hundred yards were added in length and the course played very differently in 1999. This can be seen from the course compatibility tables, which show that the course has become a rewarding one for the best ball-strikers rather than a venue for a putting contest. With well-protected greens, only the best iron-players will score well on this course.
The top-ranked player this week is Lee Westwood, but depending on tee-times, it looks as if the 6/1 generally available on him will be just too low to offer value. Instead, Vijay Singh looks a much better value proposition with a guarantee of at least 12/1 on him. He has played this tournament in both of the last two years and has finished 2nd and 12th. He has great all-round stats and missed out on the Lancome Trophy two weeks ago by just two shots, having won in Taiwan the week before. With jetlag not an issue this week, he should go close.
This is not an event for long-shots, so the two other players to note at this stage are Colin Montgomerie and Eduardo Romero. Monty's form has been indifferent of late and this has resulted in much higher odds than could normally be expected for someone so talented - Victor Chandler have him currently @ 12/1. Yet he has finished 1st and 9th in the last two years on this course [2nd and 4th the two years before that on a different course] and has the best greens in regulation stats of anyone in the field. To me, his problem seems to be more a lack of motivation that a poor swing and with this being one of the more prestigious events on the Tour, we may well see a reversal of those saggy shoulders.
Romero may not have played this course but with finishes of 1st, 22nd and 2nd in the last three weeks, he is obviously riding a huge wave of confidence. He has not shot over 72 in a single round since the British Open in July! His irons are the best club in the bag and with Victor Chandler offering 28/1 on him, this seems a very skewed market from them this week; they are very long on Westwood and it may pay to take advantage.
As ever though, the final outright plays will not be made until the tee-times are known. These and some early matchup plays will be available late today.
The top-ranked player this week is Lee Westwood, but depending on tee-times, it looks as if the 6/1 generally available on him will be just too low to offer value. Instead, Vijay Singh looks a much better value proposition with a guarantee of at least 12/1 on him. He has played this tournament in both of the last two years and has finished 2nd and 12th. He has great all-round stats and missed out on the Lancome Trophy two weeks ago by just two shots, having won in Taiwan the week before. With jetlag not an issue this week, he should go close.
This is not an event for long-shots, so the two other players to note at this stage are Colin Montgomerie and Eduardo Romero. Monty's form has been indifferent of late and this has resulted in much higher odds than could normally be expected for someone so talented - Victor Chandler have him currently @ 12/1. Yet he has finished 1st and 9th in the last two years on this course [2nd and 4th the two years before that on a different course] and has the best greens in regulation stats of anyone in the field. To me, his problem seems to be more a lack of motivation that a poor swing and with this being one of the more prestigious events on the Tour, we may well see a reversal of those saggy shoulders.
Romero may not have played this course but with finishes of 1st, 22nd and 2nd in the last three weeks, he is obviously riding a huge wave of confidence. He has not shot over 72 in a single round since the British Open in July! His irons are the best club in the bag and with Victor Chandler offering 28/1 on him, this seems a very skewed market from them this week; they are very long on Westwood and it may pay to take advantage.
As ever though, the final outright plays will not be made until the tee-times are known. These and some early matchup plays will be available late today.
