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Dutch Open
Outright plays (1.5 units):
Peter Lonard to win 20/1 e.w. @
Surrey,
Victor Chandler,
BetInternet
and Blue Square
No great surprises here. Side-stepping Harrington and Goosen who came so close
to making the play-off last week and so should find it a little more difficult
to life themselves for this event. Lonard has been in terrific form on the PGA
Tour this season and brought that form to Europe last week without getting too
involved in the bid for the title. He will be glad the event is at the
Hilversumsche course this year. He has two top-30 finishes on this course,
whereas at Noordwijkse he has missed the cut on all four occasions.
Peter O'Malley to win 28/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler
Back to his consistent self. He has had four top-20 finishes in his last six
European Tour events, including 8th last week after a closing 65. His record in
this event is just as dependable: top-25 in seven of eight starts. The most
accurate player in the field this week, he is well-suited to this course and so
long as he doesn't gain the lead too early, he could win this title.
Bernhard Langer to win 40/1 e.w. @ Paddy Power
Langer currently holds the title, though he won on the Noordwijkse course where
he has an unbelievable record. In his last six starts at Noordwijk he has won
the title twice and finished 2nd three times! On the Hilversumsche course, he is
less impressive, but reliably consistent as ever. Showed much better form last
week at Muirfield after two missed cuts and 40/1 looks a big price for a player
of his ability and motivation.
Final update: 1-2; +0.00 units
Lonard 3rd
O'Malley 23rd
Langer 53rd
Break-even week with Langer not in contention throughout and O'Malley taking himself out of contention after the 3rd round. Lonard finished two shots behind wire-to-wire winner Tobias Dier, but didn't have the best of weeks on the greens.
