The European Tour returns to the UK for the Wales Open at the Celtic Manor Resort, the venue for this year's Ryder Cup.
Given the course will be used for the shootout against the United States in October, it's disappointing that several star names have decided to give the event a miss with last week's winner Luke Donald, who gets a 12/1 quote from Blue Square for back-to-back wins, the highest-ranked player on show.
While the Englishman is in great form, he will find the course an altogether different test to the one he mastered in Madrid, with the extra yardage (7,378 yards to be exact) expected to favour the longer hitters.
Ross' Three Off The Tee:-
Jamie Donaldson @ 40/1 bet365
The best chance of a home winner looks to lie with Rhys Davies (25/1 Skybet) and last week's runner-up will have his supporters. However, at the odds, I would rather be on his compatriot Donaldson, who has been going along very nicely in recent weeks and is long overdue a first victory. Sunday's sixth place was his fifth top-10 in six starts and this could be the week he finally wins one playing in front of his home fans.
Stephen Gallacher @ 66/1 Totesport
Already long off the tee, the Scotman's accuracy and iron play is so good right now (ranked 2nd on Tour for GIR at 75.2%) that he's bound to create plenty of birdie opportunities, and he arrives here in great form, having finished fourth in the BMW PGA Championship two weeks ago and sixth last week. Snap up the 66/1 while it lasts.
Robert Rock @ 80/1 Betfred
The Englishman has finished in frame several times in the last 12 months, including three times at runner-up, and should have done better than tied-26th here last year after opening with a couple of 68s. Furthermore, he arrives here on the back of a season-best finish of fifth in Madrid, where he topped the putting stats, and is a big price on that basis.
Bubbling Under: Gregory Bourdy (60/1 bet365)
The Frenchman has already put in two good performances on this course with a tied-21st in 2008 and tied-10th last year and another top-10 finish at 13/2 (Victor Chandler) is on the cards.
Punters Beware: Luke Donald
Dangerous to rule out (as I found out to my cost last week) but this is his first look at the course and the suspicion is that he will use the week as a fact-finding mission, especially with Ryder Cup qualification now in the bag.
Recommended Bets:-
Jamie Donaldson 1pt each-way @ 40/1 bet365
Stephen Gallacher 1pt each-way @ 66/1 Totesport
Robert Rock 1pt each-way @ 80/1 Betfred