He also has a bit of previous here having finished eighth here in 2005, so the omens for another good week are encouraging.
The European Tour heads to Scotland for the Johnnie Walker Championship, played at one of the most famous venues in golf, Gleneagles Hotel.
The Course: Gleneagles (Centenary Course), Perthshire, Scotland (par-73, 7,316 yards)
This Jack Nicklaus-designed track is being gradually toughened in preparation for the Ryder Cup, which is being played here in 2014. That said, the fairways are still quite generous, giving players the chance to set up birdie / eagle chances with accurate iron play, while two of the par-4's - the 9th and 14th - are driveable. There are just three par-5's - the 3rd, 6th (the longest at 625 yards) and 13th. Wind and mist are the courses biggest defences.
Ross' Top Tip: Soren Hansen @ 13/1 Stan James
Considering the money on offer, there is a dearth of top talent on display this week and the Dane, who has been a model of consistency in 2009, stands out in this field. He has yet to get his head in front this year but four top-10 finishes in his last six starts - including in the USPGA and US Open - tells us his game is in rude health and he has gone close here before - runner-up in 2006 and third in 2007. He should at least cover the place part of the bet and I'm confident we'll be able to trade out at some stage.
Next Best: Steve Webster @ 33/1 bet365
The Englishman is another who has been knocking on the door without winning and he makes most appeal of the others at 33/1 or under. We can forgive him his missed cut at the USPGA last time as prior to that he had finished runner-up in the Moravia Silesia Open, while he also finished second at the London Golf Club back in May in a much better field than this. He also has a bit of previous here having finished eighth here in 2005, so the omens for another good week are encouraging.
Outsider: Marc Warren @ 80/1 Stan James
Even more forgiveness is required in the case of Warren. He should have done much better than tied-133rd last week on a course he tied for fourth in 2008, while you have to go back to the Irish Open back in May to find his last top-five finish. However, he did post his second Tour victory here in September 2007, to go with top-20 finishes in 2006 and 2002, and won the Scandinavian Masters in 2006 at this time of year, so he's worth a small each-way interest.
Save your biggest bet, though, for Blue Square's 'Top Scotsman' market in which he can be backed at 12/1 (1/4 odds, 1.2.3)
Tournament Lay: Niclas Fasth & Simon Dyson (in match and group bets)
I wouldn't be confident about laying anyone in the outright market, but Niclas Fasth is plenty short enough considering he hasn't played here before, while it's surely asking too much of last week's winner Simon Dyson to go back-to-back.
Ross' 72-Hole Match Bet: Steve Webster to beat Niclas Fasth @ Evens Expekt
Recommended Bets:
Soren Hansen 2pts each-way @ 13/1 Stan James
Steve Webster 1pt each-way @ 33/1 bet365
Marc Warren 1/2pt each-way @ 80/1 Stan James
Marc Warren (Top Scotsman) 1pt each-way @ 12/1 Blue Square (1/4 odds, 1.2.3)
