The European Tour moves to the Swiss mountains for the European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre, with quite possibly one of the best fields ever assembled.
The sponsors Omega must be delighted to see both Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood teeing up this week and the pair are 9/1 joint favourites with bet365, who then go 18/1 on last year's USPGA champion Martin Kaymer. Other notables include the Molinari brothers, defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez, teen sensation Matteo Manassero and, fresh from his second victory of the season at Gleneagles, Thomas Bjorn. All be looking to get some early Ryder Cup points on the board with this being the first qualifying event in the race for places.
This week's track at Crans is one of the shortest at Tour, measuring just over 6,800 yards, and it plays even shorter due to the crisp mountain air. Unsurprisingly, scores in the low 60s are quite common and if we are ever going to see a player shoot 59, it will be here - Jimenez managed a second round 61 on his way to a 21 under winning tally 12 months ago.
My Three Against The Tee:-
George Coetzee @ 40/1 Ladbrokes
This is one of McIlroy's favourite events and he should have won it three years ago but for missing a short putt in a play-off against Jean-Francois Lucquin. He also finished seventh two years ago and it's hard to imagine him not contending this week, with at least a saver advised. The headline pick, however, goes to the South African after his superb performance at Gleneagles, where he lost to Bjorn in a play-off. Considering he was well off the pace after an opening 77, that was some effort - he followed with rounds of 66, 67 and 67 - and there was a lot to like about the way he battled all the way down the stretch. That was no flash in the pan either as he placed third at both the BMW International and Scottish Opens and a breakthrough win is surely just around the corner. Don't bet against it coming this week and the '10/1 a place' is a nice piece of insurance.
Alexander Noren @ 30/1 Skybet
The classy Swede is twice a winner in the last two months - the most recent when running away with the Nordea Masters by seven shots - and will have positive mental associations with Crans having bagged his first title here two years ago. Recent performances at the Bridgestone Invitational (53rd) and USPGA (34th) were from shabby either and he will appreciate this ease in grade. Considering all that, he still looks reasonably priced at 30s.
Joel Sjoholm @ 100/1 Totesport
Fellow Swede Sjoholm makes plenty of each-way appeal at the current three-figure odds based on some decent efforts of late: followed up his 12th place finish in the Czech Open with a share of sixth at Gleneagles. He's one of the shortest hitters on Tour (201st for driving distance) but that's no handicap this week and what he lacks in length he makes up for with some exquisite iron play (been hitting 75% of GIR of late) and some solid putting. Another high finish looks very much on the cards this week.
Recommended Bets:-
Rory McIlroy 1pt @ 9/1 bet365
George Coetzee 1.5pts each-way @ 40/1 Ladbrokes
Alexander Noren 1.5pts each-way @ 30/1 Skybet
Joel Sjoholm 0.5pt each-way @ 100/1 Totesport
