Outright plays (total stake per play: 1pt)
Jose Maria Olazabal to win 20/1 e.w. available generally
David Howell is a very strong contender this week, particularly with Monty withdrawing and the delays at the Booz Allen Classic affecting Padraig Harrington, but 11/1 is rather too short given other prices around. Of these, 20/1 on Olazabal looks more than fair. He has had another extremely good PGA Tour season, ranking in the top-10 in scoring average, and comes into this event fresh from a week's break after finishing 16th in the U.S. Open and looking forward to continuing his fine record on this course. He has played here from 1991 to 1995 as well as in the last four years and has finished in the top-15 every time. He is even a former winner of this event (1991) when it was contested at Lyon Golf Club. Howell may be the player to beat this week, but Olazabal shouldn't be too far behind.
Graeme McDowell to win 40/1 e.w. @ BetInternet, SkyBet, Ladbrokes, BetDirect and Coral
It has been a disappointing PGA Tour season for McDowell so far, but there have been plenty of signs that his game is returning. He was the first round leader in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans two months ago before finishing 15th, he finished in the top-10 in the British Masters in his first event back in Europe last month, he finished 12th in the Barclays Classic back on the PGA Tour the week before the U.S. Open and he ended the 1st and 2nd round in 7th place at Winged Foot before shooting 75-79 over the weekend to fall down the leaderboard. That is a significant improvement on his previous form and back in Europe and on a course on which he has finished 18th and 4th, he should record his best finish of the year.
Richard Green to win 50/1 e.w. @ BetInternet
Green has been a regular in this event since 1996, but recorded his best finish in his last attempt in 2004 when he finished 2nd to Jean-Francois Remesy. The home player did win the event comfortably, but playing partner, Green, was only one shot behind at the start of the back nine before the pressure of playing against Remesy and home support took its toll. And now he is playing well enough to finish even higher. Ignoring the weather-affected Irish Open, he has finished 24th, 14th, 14th and 4th on the European Tour and also finished 3rd in qualifying for the U.S. Open. His missed cut in that event can easily be discounted as he qualified and finished 4th in the European Tour event the week before Winged Foot, but his impressive form still remains. However, note that he had been marked down for 10/1 for a top-5 finish before BetInternet's 50/1 was found. If that is not available, 10/1 place-only odds are better value.
Jose Maria Olazabal to win 20/1 e.w. available generally
David Howell is a very strong contender this week, particularly with Monty withdrawing and the delays at the Booz Allen Classic affecting Padraig Harrington, but 11/1 is rather too short given other prices around. Of these, 20/1 on Olazabal looks more than fair. He has had another extremely good PGA Tour season, ranking in the top-10 in scoring average, and comes into this event fresh from a week's break after finishing 16th in the U.S. Open and looking forward to continuing his fine record on this course. He has played here from 1991 to 1995 as well as in the last four years and has finished in the top-15 every time. He is even a former winner of this event (1991) when it was contested at Lyon Golf Club. Howell may be the player to beat this week, but Olazabal shouldn't be too far behind.
Graeme McDowell to win 40/1 e.w. @ BetInternet, SkyBet, Ladbrokes, BetDirect and Coral
It has been a disappointing PGA Tour season for McDowell so far, but there have been plenty of signs that his game is returning. He was the first round leader in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans two months ago before finishing 15th, he finished in the top-10 in the British Masters in his first event back in Europe last month, he finished 12th in the Barclays Classic back on the PGA Tour the week before the U.S. Open and he ended the 1st and 2nd round in 7th place at Winged Foot before shooting 75-79 over the weekend to fall down the leaderboard. That is a significant improvement on his previous form and back in Europe and on a course on which he has finished 18th and 4th, he should record his best finish of the year.
Richard Green to win 50/1 e.w. @ BetInternet
Green has been a regular in this event since 1996, but recorded his best finish in his last attempt in 2004 when he finished 2nd to Jean-Francois Remesy. The home player did win the event comfortably, but playing partner, Green, was only one shot behind at the start of the back nine before the pressure of playing against Remesy and home support took its toll. And now he is playing well enough to finish even higher. Ignoring the weather-affected Irish Open, he has finished 24th, 14th, 14th and 4th on the European Tour and also finished 3rd in qualifying for the U.S. Open. His missed cut in that event can easily be discounted as he qualified and finished 4th in the European Tour event the week before Winged Foot, but his impressive form still remains. However, note that he had been marked down for 10/1 for a top-5 finish before BetInternet's 50/1 was found. If that is not available, 10/1 place-only odds are better value.
