Preview & outright plays:
A small, high quality field gathers this week at Gut Larchenhof. Almost all of Europe's top players are in town and so too is John Daly, who won on his last trip to Germany only a month ago. He makes his debut in this event, but Bernhard Langer, who co-hosts this event, has been unsuccessful in luring other internationals to this event, even Vijay Singh who had played at this venue in every year. A legacy of September 11th and the postponement of the Ryder Cup, no doubt.
This is the 4th time that 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 has played very differently since. This can be seen from the course compatibility tables, which show that players with good greens in regulation stats have dominated this event since. With well-protected greens, only the best iron-players score well on this course. There may be a slight change this year as there has been a lot of rain in the last few weeks and there is very little run on the fairways. With the course measuring 7,289 yards, power off the tee may be an asset this week.
The three winners on this course have been Monty, Garcia and Campbell and there this week's winner is certain to be of the same pedigree. The three selections for this task are Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and John Daly. Harrington has a great record in this event, having finished 8th, 2nd and 3rd on this course in the last three years and in the last ten years of this event, he has the lowest scoring average, lower than Langer who has won this title three times and finished 2nd on a further three occasions in the last twelve years. He is well-rested having not played since finishing 2nd to Daly in the BMW International and has been in great form all season. If there is one worry at the projected odds, it is that he fails to win often enough. He has yet to win this season, but has finished 2nd on six occasions!
Clarke can also boast an excellent record in Germany and good overall form. His last two outings were in the NEC Invitational in Akron and the Suntory Open in Japan, both times he finished in the top-3. He is a former winner of this event (1996), albeit on a different course, and has the ideal game for this course, particularly if it is wet. In less than ideal conditions, these two Irishmen usually come to the fore.
The weather conditions will certainly benefit Daly and he can draw renewed confidence from his victory in Munich. He followed that with 4th place in the Canadian Open and would secured another high finish in the Pennsylvania Classic had the ghosts of ages past not reappeared in his 3rd round 82. Barring such lapses, he should again show that he can compete with the best in the game.
Outright plays:
Padraig Harrington to win 14/1 e.w. @ BetInternet or NetBetSports
Darren Clarke to win 14/1 e.w. available generally
John Daly to win 33/1 e.w. @?NetBetSports
A small, high quality field gathers this week at Gut Larchenhof. Almost all of Europe's top players are in town and so too is John Daly, who won on his last trip to Germany only a month ago. He makes his debut in this event, but Bernhard Langer, who co-hosts this event, has been unsuccessful in luring other internationals to this event, even Vijay Singh who had played at this venue in every year. A legacy of September 11th and the postponement of the Ryder Cup, no doubt.
This is the 4th time that 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 has played very differently since. This can be seen from the course compatibility tables, which show that players with good greens in regulation stats have dominated this event since. With well-protected greens, only the best iron-players score well on this course. There may be a slight change this year as there has been a lot of rain in the last few weeks and there is very little run on the fairways. With the course measuring 7,289 yards, power off the tee may be an asset this week.
The three winners on this course have been Monty, Garcia and Campbell and there this week's winner is certain to be of the same pedigree. The three selections for this task are Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and John Daly. Harrington has a great record in this event, having finished 8th, 2nd and 3rd on this course in the last three years and in the last ten years of this event, he has the lowest scoring average, lower than Langer who has won this title three times and finished 2nd on a further three occasions in the last twelve years. He is well-rested having not played since finishing 2nd to Daly in the BMW International and has been in great form all season. If there is one worry at the projected odds, it is that he fails to win often enough. He has yet to win this season, but has finished 2nd on six occasions!
Clarke can also boast an excellent record in Germany and good overall form. His last two outings were in the NEC Invitational in Akron and the Suntory Open in Japan, both times he finished in the top-3. He is a former winner of this event (1996), albeit on a different course, and has the ideal game for this course, particularly if it is wet. In less than ideal conditions, these two Irishmen usually come to the fore.
The weather conditions will certainly benefit Daly and he can draw renewed confidence from his victory in Munich. He followed that with 4th place in the Canadian Open and would secured another high finish in the Pennsylvania Classic had the ghosts of ages past not reappeared in his 3rd round 82. Barring such lapses, he should again show that he can compete with the best in the game.
Outright plays:
Padraig Harrington to win 14/1 e.w. @ BetInternet or NetBetSports
Darren Clarke to win 14/1 e.w. available generally
John Daly to win 33/1 e.w. @?NetBetSports
