European golf returns to the scene of last year's Ryder Cup, with the Wales Open from Celtic Manor.
Graeme McDowell, who holed the winning putt in the Ryder Cup, is the biggest name in attendance and is a general 12/1 favourite to defend a title he won by three shots last year. Miguel Angel Jimenez, Ross Fisher and Peter Hanson are the only other members of the triumphant European Team playing this week. The in-form Simon Dyson is clear second best in most lists with no bigger than 20/1 (Blue Square) on offer, while the home challenge is headed by last year's runner-up Rhys Davies (25/1 Coral).
The par-71 course is situated in the Usk Valley and runs alongside the Usk River, meaning water is a hazard on 10 of the holes. There are four par-5s, including the monster 610-yard second hole (the others being the 9th, 11th and 18th), and five par-3s. Total yardage is 7,378 yards. There are plenty of birdie chances and both last year's winner and runner-up cut the course down to size by shooting 63 and 62 respectively on the final day.
My Three Against The Field:-
Shane Lowry @ 33/1 Coral
McDowell will have some happy memories of this place and, as the highest-ranked player in the field, he thoroughly deserves to be favourite. He might have been a shade shorter but for a missed cut last week, which can be forgiven as he had the worst of the draw, and he did play some sublime golf at Sawgrass for the first three days, before bombing out with a closing 79. He could easily defend this week but the 12/1 on offer is not for me and better value can be had by backing another Irishman at a tasty 33/1.
Lowry was only 39th on his course debut here last year but is playing much better this time round with form figures of 13th (Ballantine's Championship), 11th (Spanish Open), fifth (Iberdrola Open) and fourth at last week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. A winner of the 2009 Irish Open while still an amateur, he's clearly a special talent and with his confidence sky high after qualifying for the US Open on Monday, I fancy he can notch his first victory as a pro. The 33s is standout so grab it while it lasts.
David Horsey @ 40/1 bet365
The Englishman was also in fine form last week when finishing seventh and that was hardly out of the blue as he finished fifth in the Open de Espana the previous week and had won the Trophee Hassan II back in early April. That was his second Tour victory - the other coming in the prestigious BMW International Open last June - so he knows how to win and his expert putting (ranked 5th on Tour for Putts Per Round) will ensure he converts plenty of those birdie opportunities.
Peter Whiteford @ 100/1 Paddy Power
In an open event, it's worth delving even further down the betting list for some value and the three-figure price for Whiteford makes plenty of appeal. Like my other two selections, he's been playing really well of late with seventh place at Wentworth following on from fifth in the Sicilian Open and a decent showing in Mallorca. At the age of 31, he's playing the best golf of his professional career and the three-time Challenge Tour winner certainly looks up to notching a maiden win on the main Tour before long. I'll settle for a place this week at 25/1.
Recommended Bets:-
Shane Lowry 1pt each-way @ 33/1 Coral
David Horsey 1pt each-way @ 40/1 bet365
Peter Whiteford 0.5pt each-way @ 100/1 Paddy Power
