Preview & outright plays:
The clear favorite to host the 2009 Ryder Cup, the Wentwood Hills course at the Celtic Manor Resort will surely get a more prominent place on the schedule next year. In its two years of hosting this event, it has been placed the week before the US Open and now the week before the US PGA Championship. Were it not for a good turnout from the home players and the prospect of Ryder Cup points to be won, this would be a seriously weak field.
The Robert Trent Jones jnr-designed course has been lengthened to 7,344 yards, with two of the four par fives being over 600 yards. Rain and high winds ruined last year's event - but as it is likely to do so this year - but the evidence was that this was an excellent course that favored shot-makers and would be a fine course for 2009. The course played long last year, but it did seem to particularly favor the long-hitters. It is expected to be the same this year.
The three selections are home boys Ian Woosnam and Phillip Price, plus Anders Hansen. Woosie retains his position as an outright selection and he should do much better than last week. He has dismissed his caddie, so maybe that can bring closure to his British Open debacle. Instead, he has a close friend on the bag this week and he can focus his fervent patriotism on the game. He was very disappointed to have finished 3rd last year, having lead the tournament going into the final round, and in his current form can certainly put that wrong to right.
Phillip Price is another automatic selection. He lives just a stone's throw away from the course and was made a honorary member at its inauguration. His form is not as strong as Woosie's, but he did finish 8th in the European Open last month and has already won the Algarve Portuguese Open this year. He can be expected to raise his game in front of local support and more than match last year's 5th place finish.
Anders Hansen is the final selection on the basis of his current form. He finished 4th two weeks ago at the TNT Dutch Open and has been very consistent all season. So much so that victory this week would propel him into the top-15 in the Ryder Cup standings. He finished 29th last year and with excellent all-round stats, he is likely to feature on this challenging course this time around.
Outright plays:
Ian Woosnam to win 14/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler
Phillip Price to win 20/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler
Anders Hansen to win 50/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler
The clear favorite to host the 2009 Ryder Cup, the Wentwood Hills course at the Celtic Manor Resort will surely get a more prominent place on the schedule next year. In its two years of hosting this event, it has been placed the week before the US Open and now the week before the US PGA Championship. Were it not for a good turnout from the home players and the prospect of Ryder Cup points to be won, this would be a seriously weak field.
The Robert Trent Jones jnr-designed course has been lengthened to 7,344 yards, with two of the four par fives being over 600 yards. Rain and high winds ruined last year's event - but as it is likely to do so this year - but the evidence was that this was an excellent course that favored shot-makers and would be a fine course for 2009. The course played long last year, but it did seem to particularly favor the long-hitters. It is expected to be the same this year.
The three selections are home boys Ian Woosnam and Phillip Price, plus Anders Hansen. Woosie retains his position as an outright selection and he should do much better than last week. He has dismissed his caddie, so maybe that can bring closure to his British Open debacle. Instead, he has a close friend on the bag this week and he can focus his fervent patriotism on the game. He was very disappointed to have finished 3rd last year, having lead the tournament going into the final round, and in his current form can certainly put that wrong to right.
Phillip Price is another automatic selection. He lives just a stone's throw away from the course and was made a honorary member at its inauguration. His form is not as strong as Woosie's, but he did finish 8th in the European Open last month and has already won the Algarve Portuguese Open this year. He can be expected to raise his game in front of local support and more than match last year's 5th place finish.
Anders Hansen is the final selection on the basis of his current form. He finished 4th two weeks ago at the TNT Dutch Open and has been very consistent all season. So much so that victory this week would propel him into the top-15 in the Ryder Cup standings. He finished 29th last year and with excellent all-round stats, he is likely to feature on this challenging course this time around.
Outright plays:
Ian Woosnam to win 14/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler
Phillip Price to win 20/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler
Anders Hansen to win 50/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler
