Outright plays (1.5 units):
Padraig Harrington to win 11/1 e.w. @ Stan James
Justifiably heads the market. He has finished 2nd in this event for the last two years and while this is rather indicative of the Irishman, there are signs that he is finally converting more of his chances. He won twice in the last few months of 2002 and after two further runners-up spots, he won on his last outing in Europe - the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open - with Tiger Woods in the field. He has since had confidence-boosting high finishes in the United States and it is hard to see him outside the top-10 this week. He certainly would be a very popular winner!
Paul Casey to win 20/1 e.w. @ Bet365, Victor Chandler and Stan James
This is a future venue for the Ryder Cup as there is a definite risk/reward factor at the K Club. The last five winners on this course have been noted for their attacking golf and the last two selections definitely fall into this category. A U.S. Open setup was never going to suit Casey and he missed the cut, but it was the first time that he had finished outside the top-20 in any event since his opening event of the year. He is now had a week's rest and will look to improve on his 20th and 9th place finishes on this course.
Thomas Bjorn to win 33/1 e.w. @ Stan James
The downside of attacking golf is lots of bogeys as well as birdies and Bjorn has had his fair share of each of these around the K Club. In his seven previous visits, he can count three top-10 finishes and three missed cuts. But he certainly showed last week that he is in good form and hopefully he can hang on to any midway lead that he may hold. He finished 2nd alongside Harrington in 2001 and lost in a playoff to Harrington for the Deutsche Bank - SAP Open ... I'll be happy if he as close to the Irishman again!
Padraig Harrington to win 11/1 e.w. @ Stan James
Justifiably heads the market. He has finished 2nd in this event for the last two years and while this is rather indicative of the Irishman, there are signs that he is finally converting more of his chances. He won twice in the last few months of 2002 and after two further runners-up spots, he won on his last outing in Europe - the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open - with Tiger Woods in the field. He has since had confidence-boosting high finishes in the United States and it is hard to see him outside the top-10 this week. He certainly would be a very popular winner!
Paul Casey to win 20/1 e.w. @ Bet365, Victor Chandler and Stan James
This is a future venue for the Ryder Cup as there is a definite risk/reward factor at the K Club. The last five winners on this course have been noted for their attacking golf and the last two selections definitely fall into this category. A U.S. Open setup was never going to suit Casey and he missed the cut, but it was the first time that he had finished outside the top-20 in any event since his opening event of the year. He is now had a week's rest and will look to improve on his 20th and 9th place finishes on this course.
Thomas Bjorn to win 33/1 e.w. @ Stan James
The downside of attacking golf is lots of bogeys as well as birdies and Bjorn has had his fair share of each of these around the K Club. In his seven previous visits, he can count three top-10 finishes and three missed cuts. But he certainly showed last week that he is in good form and hopefully he can hang on to any midway lead that he may hold. He finished 2nd alongside Harrington in 2001 and lost in a playoff to Harrington for the Deutsche Bank - SAP Open ... I'll be happy if he as close to the Irishman again!
