Outright plays (1.5 units):
Fredrik Jacobson to win 14/1 e.w. @ BetInternet and Victor Chandler
Without doubt the most in-form European player at the moment and justifiably heads the market. He has finished in the top-10 in four of his last five events which include two majors. His earnings in that time have been enough to earn him temporary membership of the PGA Tour. But this is more than passing form; he won the last event of 2002, the Hong Kong Open and after missing ten weeks of golf after injuring his wrist, he his won first event back in action, the Algarve Open de Portugal in April. He has course experience and will be able to count on a very large crowd to cheer him on. Wouldn't go much lower, but 14/1 seems a fair price.
Brian Davis to win 22/1 e.w. @ BetInternet, Victor Chandler and Paddy Power
He may have only won once on Tour (2000 Open de Espana), but he has become an extremely consistent contender over the past couple of years. Since the Tour came to Europe, he has secured six top-10 finishes, including 6th at the British Open two weeks ago and two 2nd place finishes in the Portuguese events. He was also 9th on this course in 1999, so there seems every reason to expect him to be in the frame yet again this week.
Bradley Dredge to win 33/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler, Paddy Power and UKBetting
Dredge has become another single Tour event winner who contends on a very regular basis. He had eight top-10 finishes in the last five months of the 2002 season and finally made the breakthrough in the Madeira Island Open when he finished eight shots ahead of Brian Davis in 2nd place. He was rather guilty of being over-golfed thereafter, but has had two top-10 finishes in his last four starts after finally taking a two-week break. He can certainly win against this unusually weak field for this event.
Fredrik Jacobson to win 14/1 e.w. @ BetInternet and Victor Chandler
Without doubt the most in-form European player at the moment and justifiably heads the market. He has finished in the top-10 in four of his last five events which include two majors. His earnings in that time have been enough to earn him temporary membership of the PGA Tour. But this is more than passing form; he won the last event of 2002, the Hong Kong Open and after missing ten weeks of golf after injuring his wrist, he his won first event back in action, the Algarve Open de Portugal in April. He has course experience and will be able to count on a very large crowd to cheer him on. Wouldn't go much lower, but 14/1 seems a fair price.
Brian Davis to win 22/1 e.w. @ BetInternet, Victor Chandler and Paddy Power
He may have only won once on Tour (2000 Open de Espana), but he has become an extremely consistent contender over the past couple of years. Since the Tour came to Europe, he has secured six top-10 finishes, including 6th at the British Open two weeks ago and two 2nd place finishes in the Portuguese events. He was also 9th on this course in 1999, so there seems every reason to expect him to be in the frame yet again this week.
Bradley Dredge to win 33/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler, Paddy Power and UKBetting
Dredge has become another single Tour event winner who contends on a very regular basis. He had eight top-10 finishes in the last five months of the 2002 season and finally made the breakthrough in the Madeira Island Open when he finished eight shots ahead of Brian Davis in 2nd place. He was rather guilty of being over-golfed thereafter, but has had two top-10 finishes in his last four starts after finally taking a two-week break. He can certainly win against this unusually weak field for this event.
