Trophee Lancome

Outright plays (1.5 units):

Retief Goosen to win 12/1 e.w. @ Ladbrokes
Will certainly take these odds on Goosen in France. He won this title in 2000 and looked set to defend his title until Garcia stole ahead in the final few holes. He didn't play in 2002 with the event moved to October. It is a similar story in the Open de France, which he won in 1997 and 1999, though he hasn't played in that event for a few years because of his concentration on the PGA Tour. He is simply a deserved favourite.

Justin Rose to win 18/1 e.w. @ Sportingbet, Sporting Odds and Victor Chandler
Rose's record around this course is not good, but here the play is on the streakiness in his game. He is certainly capable of beating the best in the world on his day and he showed that with four wins in the first half of 2002 before the death of his father. Since then his game has been more patchy, but he followed a 5th place finish in the U.S. Open with 3rd place in the Open de France in his next start in June. His last finish was 3rd place in the Deutsche Bank U.S. Championship, so looking for history to repeat itself in France again!

Thomas Levet to win 50/1 e.w. @ Coral
Levet is another who has spent more time on the PGA Tour than in previous years. Certainly a product of his runners-up finish in the British Open last year and the results have been much improved in recent weeks after a difficult start to the year: two top-20 finishes in his last three events. He finished 5th in this event last year and became the first Frenchman to win on home soil when he won the 1998 Cannes Open. Not lacking in self-assurance, he could go close on his return to his Parisian birthplace.

2nd round plays (1.5 units unless stated):

Padraig Harrington to beat Retief Goosen -105 @ Five Dimes [4.5 units]
Colin Montgomerie to beat Ian Poulter -126 @ Five Dimes
Ben Curtis to beat David Lynn -118 @ Five Dimes [3 units]

2nd round update: 0-3-0; -10.16 units

Harrington/Goosen LOST by 3
Montgomerie/Poulter LOST by 3
Curtis/Lynn LOST by 3

Mid-point update:

Goosen 1st
Rose mc
Levet mc

Well, those plays killed a promising event! Losing the Harrington/Goosen play did mean that Goosen extended his lead in the event to four shots, but will now need him to win just to cover the losses on the 2nd round. Rose and Levet missed the cut, though at least Levet did play his last five holes in five-under-par to finish just one shot too many.

Unsurprisingly, no 3rd round plays.

Final update:

18-holes: 0-3-0; -10.16 units

Outrights: 1-2; +7.80 units

Goosen 1st

Goosen did hold on to win the event and eradicate most of the losses from Friday's plays. Two years ago he was caught and overtaken at the end of the tournament by Garcia; he should have slept far easier this time around knowing it was McGinley who was giving chase!