First off the tee this week is Byeong Hun An. Youngest winner of the US Amateur, beating Ben Martin by a distance, he hasn't quite kicked on as expected. Martin, of course, has since gone on to win twice on the web.com tour and currently stands in the top 70 of the Fedex rankings - it is now time for 'Ben' (ironic huh?) to kick on. After his introductory season, he recorded eleven top-20s including a runner-up in this event to the aforementioned Koepka (since 5th in the recent US Open). An outstanding opening 62 paved the way for a share of the lead into Sunday but a one-birdie, two-bogey round was never going to be enough and he was swept away by the sheer class of the winner. Since then, Ben has had mixed results but has a couple of top-10s already this season, including a one-shot defeat in Austria behind Lampert. Although he does tend to choose his moments to play his best (seemingly behind the golfer of the year each time), his last-time out 41st would have been so much better but for a treble-bogey at the 71st hole. I like the way he fought back after an opening 74 and his attitude has always been to play well and play consistently rather than win and play badly. I reckon it's time he did a bit of both.

Chris Paisley was a member of the 2009 Walker Cup team that played at Merrion and whilst they lost the match, he did manage to halve his singles match with Bud Cauley, still very much a promising young PGA player. Playing against the likes of Rickie Fowler, Peter Uilhein, Cameron Tringale et al will always be an experience to learn from but he still has yet to add to the sole win at the English Challenge despite a further two top-10s and four top-20s. Multiple winner on the Alps Tour, there is plenty of further evidence that he plays 'home' courses with aplomb. The 28-year-old has excellent Scottish form with a top-10 at Spey valley in 2012 from just two starts and including a 65, followed with an eye-catching 12th at the Dunhill Links in 2013, results that must indicate a love of the type of course he faces this week. Recent form is there with four top-20s in his last five starts and it all adds up that he is a better prospect than the 50-1 quote.      

Chilean Mark Tullo clearly takes to Links play. Joint-leader with Lee Westwood after an opening 65, he eventually finished 3rd in the shortened Scottish Open in 2011, and played respectably in that seasons Dunhill Links. Further evidence is shown by his efforts here at Spey Valley, finishing 12/11/9 in three outings between 2009-2012 and although he missed the cut at the Alfred Dunhill last season, he shot 64 for his opening round at St.Andrews and a 67 at Kingsbarns, just a shame that Carnoustie had it's revenge and he missed the cut by one. Tullo has been in-and-out this season, more the latter, but a top-3 at tricky St.Omer suggests his game is back and he will surely enjoy being back here this week.

Final one up owes a nod to a betting colleague. As suggested above, the EPD tour may be the source of a few winners and 23-year-old David Law comes here having his best Challenge Tour season of his short career. Winner of two events on the German third-tier tour, his four top-5s in 2014 include a runner-up to man-of-the-moment Lampert and results on the Challenge Tour are steadily improving with a 12th and 9th in his last two outings. Although he has missed-cuts here in the last two years, he has a recent win in a minor event at Murcar Links, sponsored by his mentor Paul Lawrie. In testing conditions, reports suggest Law managed to keep his head and game, birdieing three holes from the final five to win his second trophy in comfort. Law is unsurprisingly looking forward to this week's challenge and has made various decisions about his career with the advice of the experienced Lawrie, all designed to push forward up the rankings. The hidden form suggests that Law may be a touch better than the 90-1 on offer and he certainly will not shy away should any wind or rain arrive.