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Valhalla on the mind as Ryder race begins

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Betfair golf man Tareq Quiroz on The European Masters, the tournament that heralds the beginning of the Ryder Cup 2008 quest

Valhalla isn't the destination of a tour event this week, but it'll certainly be the place on the European players' minds when they tee it up in the picturesque setting of Crans-sur-Sierre on Thursday. The European Masters event sparks off the scramble for a coveted place in the 2008 Ryder Cup team that will go to Kentucky looking for a fourth consecutive victory for the European side.

Five of last year's victorious team will be competing in the first qualifying event for Ryder Cup 2008, and no doubt Nick Faldo will be keeping a close eye on developments in Switzerland this week. Crans is one of the shortest courses on the European Tour schedule at just over 6,800 yards. In reality, it plays even shorter, as the ball will travel 10% further in the altitude the players have to account for in the mountains. Course experience is a bigger advantage here than at most events, and as such, the first point of reference should be all course form since 2000. This is the year Seve made some sweeping changes to a previously unheralded course.

To find some real value it will pay to leave the top players alone and look a little lower down the list. A player that really stands out is the big Argentinean Ricardo Gonzalez. He secured his first European Tour win at this course in 2001, and at a venue that will bring back good memories, he's certainly the pick this week at anything over 50's. A course that has suited Argentineans in the past, with Gonzalez's win coming the year after countryman Eduardo Romero's incredible ten stroke victory, it will be worth a saving bet on Ariel Canete. Currently available at around 130, he's good value on a course where he came seventh last year on his first visit. A first time winner on tour this season, he can now play without the pressure of trying to secure his card, and you may well see the benefits of that this week.

One player to oppose is last season's winner Bradley Dredge. His game was in terrible shape at Gleneagles last week and I can see no reason for a quick turnaround in form. He should be taken on in his matchbet with Simon Dyson, and also heavily opposed in his early round three balls, as he will no doubt be paired with some top players as defending champion.

On the other side of the Atlantic we are into week three of the FedEx playoffs, and the venue is Lemont, Illinois. The BMW Championships is the scene where the 70 remaining contenders will attempt to secure enough points to make the final week of the inaugural money spinning series. The one notable absentee is last week's winner, Phil Mickelson, who has cited every reason known to man for his withdrawal. With the way some of the game's top players are performing at the moment, it seems even his competitors are conspiring to make sure Tiger walks away with the FedEx Cup. I can see little value in a pre-tournament bet on this event, but it's certainly hard to get away from Stricker again, at what seems like too big a price at 34. If that's not your idea of value then hold tight and see how the first couple of rounds pan out before making your move.

There's plenty of golf for you to get your teeth into this week, but the mind cant help but drift forward to this time next year when the teams will have been finalised and the battle lines drawn for the 2008 Ryder Cup in Valhalla. The gladiators from Europe will go head to head with their American counterparts and you can rest assured there will be endless references to battles, warriors and Norse mythology. With the Ryder Cup and Scandinavian references the talk of the golfing week I can't help but suggest a small punt on the giant Swede Robert Karlsson at 40s for the European Masters in what would be a topical and quite possibly profitable bet this week.