FINAL RESULT: 1-2; +1.63pts

Lonard 4th
O'Hern 8th
Donald 22nd

When Lonard and O'Hern were the sole leaders after round 1 there was only one way this event would go. O'Hern slipped back in the 2nd round, but was still on course for a place win when he had back-to-back bogeys when in sight of the finishing line. It cost a win in the matchups and it meant he finished one shot outside the places. Lonard had been far more encouraging and even though he took three chips to get onto the green on the 7th hole on Saturday - he took a triple-bogey - he still held the lead going into the final round. But an opening burst of birdies from his playing partner and he never looked like responding. Had hoped for better.

Irish Open

Outright plays (1pt):

Peter Lonard to win 33/1 e.w. @ Paddy Power, BetInternet, Coral and Tote
A good links and wind player who will benefit from not playing at the weekend. He had finished 5th at Loch Lomond two weeks ago on his first start on the European Tour for two months and with an excellent record in this event - 8th in 1998; 5th in 2000 and 7th last year, all around links courses - he looks like another top-5 finisher.

Nick O'Hern to win 33/1 e.w. available generally
Securing top-5 finishes have been strangely easy for O'Hern this year - he has six in his last twelve starts and that makes these odds look generous. He has had some decent results in Ireland, but he has never been in this form. He keeps contending, so maybe this is the week he earns his first Tour victory outside Australia.

Luke Donald to win 40/1 e.w. @ Coral
Donald has already won on the PGA Tour and lost out in a playoff to John Daly earlier this year, so in terms of class of player, these odds look very large. He is in good form with finishes of 7th and 3rd in two of his last three PGA Tour starts and is another who will benefit from being outside the main action last week. On a new course, so his concentration on the PGA Tour will not be a handicap this week, and focussed on gaining a Ryder Cup place, Donald should be much closer to half these odds.