Scandinavian Masters

Outright plays (1.5 units):

Jesper Parnevik to win 14/1 e.w. @ Sporting Odds, Sportingbet, BetInternet and BetDirect
This event draws the largest and vociferous crowds of any golf event in continental Europe and withstanding or drawing from that support is paramount. Experience is necessary and the roll-call of winners testifies to that. In that vein, I'm backing Parnevik to build on his solid display at Muirfield and display the form that has been largely absent from his game this year on the PGA Tour. He won this event on this course in 1998 and having been born in Stockholm, he can expect the lion's share of support in his home town.

Michael Campbell to win 16/1 e.w. @ Sportingbet
Campbell has an impressive record in this event. In three starts at Barseback he has finished in the top-15 every time and two years ago on this course he finished a close 2nd to Lee Westwood. He did miss the cut in the British Open by a stroke, but in his previous five European Tour starts he had finished 3rd, 16th, 4th, 1st and 6th. In good form and with good memories of this track, he should be a contender this week.

Carl Pettersson to win 40/1 e.w. @ Stan James
Pettersson did not play here in 2000 - he only joined the Tour in 2001 - but he finished a creditable 29th last year at Barseback and will be gaining a great deal more attention from the crowds twelve months on. In that time he has finished in the top-5 of a European Tour event six times and won the Portuguese Open in April. Looked to have lost his form in May/June but had high finishes in the Irish and European Opens and would have had another one in the British Open had he not been teeing off with the leaders in the worst on the weather on the Saturday. Has been a profitable selections over the past year and a win this week is a distinct possibility.

Matchup plays (1.5 units):

Gary Evans to beat Jamie Spence -110 @ Sportingbet or BetInternet
Opposing Spence who had been struggling this season until his final round 65 meant he finished 2nd last week. This will be his sixth straight week of tournament golf and only Paul Eales has played more consecutive weeks in this field. Four weeks ago he withdrew after an opening 80, two weeks ago he missed the cut after an opening 77, this week should also see a similar letdown after his season-saving golf last week. Evans had been in good form before the British Open - 5th in the British Masters - and was impressive in gaining another top-10 last week.

Barry Lane to beat Jamie Spence -110 @ Bet365
Lane took a well-deserved rest last week after a five-week stretch. He has been in excellent form since finishing 2nd - though he should have won - in the Benson & Hedges International and looks set for a repeat of his 11th place finish here two years ago.

Carl Pettersson to beat Jamie Spence -130 @ Intertops
Definitely worth laying the extra for this matchup against Spence. Pettersson is a genuine contender for the title.

Thomas Levet to beat Ian Poulter -110 @ BetInternet
Poulter continued to be unpredictable. He missed two cuts just before finishing 2nd in the British Masters, then missed two cuts and withdrew after the opening round once in the next five starts before finishing 6th last week. A useful player to side with for outright plays, but worth opposing for matchups. Levet has a good record on this course and is the type of player to have taken the positives out of his playoff loss to Els. Could contend this week as well.

Final update:

Matchups: 4-0; +6.00 units

Evans/Spence WON by 18
Lane/Spence WON by 12
Pettersson/Spence WON by 19
Levet/Poulter WON by 3

Outrights: 1-2; +2.25 units

Parnevik 17th
Campbell 43rd
Pettersson 5th

Profitable event opposing Spence who closed with an 80 to widen the winning margins. The outrights had been in contention all week long, so a top-5 place is the least that was expected. Would never have picked McDowell to win at the start of the week!