Open de France

FINAL RESULT: 0-3; -4.50pts

Olazabal 8th
Woosnam mc
McGrane mc

Olazabal was never really on the pace to win this event, but always threatened to earn a place return, but always followed any run with at least a bogey. He finished one shot out of the places.

Further outright play (total stake: 1.5pts)

Damien McGrane to finish in the top-five 31.25/1 @ Centrebet / SuperOdds
Here is a player who is better equipped for the top-10 market, but there is no comparison between these odds and the 7/1 on offer for Stan James and ten places. He misses a lot of cuts, but also has a lot of respectable finishes too. In the last two months, he has three missed cuts, four top-25 finishes and nothing in-between. While he has had a number of top-5 finishes on the Challenge Tour, his sole top-5 finish on the main Tour since becoming a full-time member was in France - the 2003 Aa St Omer Open. Apart from the France angle that doesn't augur too well, but he has played in France three times since and has finished 10th in the 2003 Trophee Lancome, 5th in the 2003 Challenge Tour Grand Final and 18th in the 2004 Open de France. Last year's finish on this course was despite an opening 76 - his final 54 holes were the 4th lowest of the week and that was on his course debut. So while I would be much happier betting at pro-rate odds in a top-10 market, he does have a very good record in this country and on this course, he did finish 9th in the KLM Open two weeks ago and was rested last week, and it should only be a matter of time before he records another top-5 finish.

Outright plays (total stake per play: 1.5pts)

Jose Maria Olazabal to win 16/1 e.w. @ SkyBet, William Hill, Victor Chandler and Easybets
Siding with two experienced players who have great records around this course and will have benefited greatly this week by not taking part in the U.S. Open. Olazabal's win in this event came at Lyon G.C. in 2001, but in seven visits, he has never finished outside the top-15, including the last three years. With a very encouraging first half of the year on the PGA Tour where he really should have won the BellSouth Classic, this should be another vintage performance from Olazabal.

Ian Woosnam to win 80/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler
Woosie has played on this course just three times, finishing 21st in 1996 (courtesy of a 78 in the 3rd round), 3rd in 2002 and 6th last year. He also finished 5th in 1999 at Golf du Medoc. So coming off a top-5 finish at Celtic Manor Resort, he is clearly in the form that he needs to continue his excellent record on this course and in France in general (he also had a very good record in the Trophee Lancome). A win may be too much to hope for, but these odds would ensure a very healthy return if continued to play as well.