Outright plays (1pt):
Anders Hansen to win 28/1 e.w. @ Sportingbet and Sporting Odds
Avoiding any player who played at Shinnecock Hills last week even if they did miss the cut. That energy-sapping course and the transatlantic flight should make it difficult for one of those players to close out this event. Instead, siding with three in-form players who were must have been glad to have only watched last week's drama. This is a huge price for a player who currently ranks #1 in All-Round Ranking on the European Tour and 2nd only to Els in scoring average. No other players currently average less than 70 per round. Needless to say, he has been very consistent with nine top-15 finishes in eleven starts this year and he has two in three visits to Le Golf National, including 3rd two years ago. Against these credentials, this is a large price.
David Howell to win 28/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler
Howell can almost match Hansen. He pushed Golding all the way, forcing him to birdie the last hole to deny Howell a playoff last year. He also finished 8th in 1998 on this course. And like Hansen, he is in good form this year, ranking 5th in the scoring average stat, and securing three top-5 finishes in his last eight starts. If he continues to average less than 70 strokes in his final round, he may finally win his second Tour title this week.
Nick O'Hern to win 40/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler
O'Hern fits the same bill as the other two selections. He ranks 4th in scoring average on Tour this season, which means that no-one in this week's field has a better scoring average on this Tour in 2004 than any of these selections. As the best indicator of quality, this stat suggests that these three should have a good chance this week, particularly as all three average less than 70 strokes in the final round. They may not have won too many European Tour titles between them, but they keep giving themselves opportunities. O'Hern has had six top-6 finishes in his last ten starts and can count two top-15 in his last three visits to this course. He is never a 40/1 shot this week.
Anders Hansen to win 28/1 e.w. @ Sportingbet and Sporting Odds
Avoiding any player who played at Shinnecock Hills last week even if they did miss the cut. That energy-sapping course and the transatlantic flight should make it difficult for one of those players to close out this event. Instead, siding with three in-form players who were must have been glad to have only watched last week's drama. This is a huge price for a player who currently ranks #1 in All-Round Ranking on the European Tour and 2nd only to Els in scoring average. No other players currently average less than 70 per round. Needless to say, he has been very consistent with nine top-15 finishes in eleven starts this year and he has two in three visits to Le Golf National, including 3rd two years ago. Against these credentials, this is a large price.
David Howell to win 28/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler
Howell can almost match Hansen. He pushed Golding all the way, forcing him to birdie the last hole to deny Howell a playoff last year. He also finished 8th in 1998 on this course. And like Hansen, he is in good form this year, ranking 5th in the scoring average stat, and securing three top-5 finishes in his last eight starts. If he continues to average less than 70 strokes in his final round, he may finally win his second Tour title this week.
Nick O'Hern to win 40/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler
O'Hern fits the same bill as the other two selections. He ranks 4th in scoring average on Tour this season, which means that no-one in this week's field has a better scoring average on this Tour in 2004 than any of these selections. As the best indicator of quality, this stat suggests that these three should have a good chance this week, particularly as all three average less than 70 strokes in the final round. They may not have won too many European Tour titles between them, but they keep giving themselves opportunities. O'Hern has had six top-6 finishes in his last ten starts and can count two top-15 in his last three visits to this course. He is never a 40/1 shot this week.
