European Open

FINAL RESULT: 1-2; -0.75pts

Clarke 4th
Cabrera 43rd
Westwood 13th

What a wild finish! Clarke had looked the favourite to win this heading into the weekend, but, like many others, the 30mph winds wrecked his chances over the weekend until one-by-one the leaders self-destructed over the last few holes and Clarke finished in 4th place. Quite incredible.

Outright plays (total stake per play: 1.5pts)

Darren Clarke to win 16/1 e.w. available generally
His wife, Heather, is back out of hospital and making good progress and this was the event that they targetted for his return to the Tour if she was well enough. "It will be good to get back, and particularly in Ireland at a course and tournament I have always enjoyed playing." That in 2001 he became the first Irishman to win on home soil since 1982 and that he shot 60 in 1999 only add to his enjoyment of playing this course. He has been playing well this year despite the concerns over his wife's health and he should do so this week, particularly in front of a home crowd.

Angel Cabrera to win 16/1 e.w. available generally
A shorter price than usual as he won his last European Tour event, the BMW Championship around Wentworth, and he had a solid week at the U.S. Open. But no-one has achieved as many top-10 finishes in this event as the Argentinean – six in the last seven years – and that is a mark he has achieved in his last two Irish Opens. He is a player who can play well in the wind and will benefit from the generous fairways around the Palmer Course. A relatively short price, but a strong challenger for the title.

Lee Westwood to win 18/1 e.w. @ BetInternet
Clarke may have shot 60 around this course in 1999, but it was Westwood who took the title and he repeated the feat the following year as well. So with Westwood showing a return to some of his old form - 2nd in the Booz Allen Classic after 54 holes and 7th in the U.S. Open after 54 holes in his last two starts and three top-6 finishes in his last five European Tour starts - he is another player who justifies his low price.