Golf Bets / Mike Norman / 21 July 2010 /

Over a lengthy course, Mike Norman believes that the presence of two long-hitting Americans is highly significant this week, especially when their countrymen have all gone home.

Given that newly crowned Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen probably hasn't had a wink of sleep in the last few days, I find it absolutely amazing that he is teeing it up in Sweden this week in the Nordea Scandinavian Masters.

The last person to play an event immediately after winning the Open was John Daly, who in 1995 - after winning at St Andrews just like Oosthuizen - finished in a tie for 50th at the Dutch Open. That result wasn't surprising at all, and it won't be surprising if Oosthuizen has a similar result given how tired he must be feeling. The South African was available to back at [990.0] before the Open Championship commenced; this week he's available to back at just [29.0]. He's not for me.

A couple of men who are for me this week are big-hitting Americans Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler - available to back at [19.0] and [20.0] respectively to triumph at the stunning Bro Hof Slott Golf Club in Stockholm.

This magnificent looking golf course measures 7,551 yards in length, making it one of the longest courses ever used for a European Tour event. The very fact that Johnson and Fowler have elected to stay in Europe rather than head back to America to collect more FedEx Cup points is eye-catching enough, but the fact that they've stayed to play this lengthy course suggests to me that they're both licking their lips in anticipation of the week ahead.

Johnson has been in fine form all season, finishing third at the Nissan Open in February before winning at Pebble Beach in the AT&T Pro-am a week later. Since then he's been largely consistent, with his best results being a seventh place finish at the prestigious Byron Nelson Championship and a eighth place finish in the US Open where he led by three shots going into the final round.

Fowler has been in similar form, recording four top-six finishes on the PGA Tour already this year. Both he and Johnson finished in the top 15 at the Open Championship last week, and although I don't like tipping 'short ones', I can't help but feel that this big drop in class will see one of them record their maiden victory on the European Tour this week.

There's no getting away from the fact; this is a weak looking field, even by European Tour standards, and both Robert Karlsson ([14.0]) and Peter Hanson ([19.0]) deserve their place at the head of the market. But a couple of players I like at bigger odds are Kenneth Ferrie ([150.0]) and Pablo Larrazabal ([160.0]).

Ferrie has been disappointing for the best part of three seasons now, but a couple of recent performances perhaps indicate that a return to his best is not far away. He finished third at the BMW International Open at the end of June and followed that up with a top-20 finish at the Alstom Open de France a week later. Both were played over demanding golf courses where a decent class field was assembled. A reproduction of any of those performances should see him go well this week.

Larrazabal on the other hand is much more consistent but is struggling to get into contention on a weekly basis. He also finished third at the BMW International Open suggesting his best form is not too far away either, and I'm backing both he and Ferrie in the Top 5 Finish market this week - Larrazabal is available to back at [24.0], Ferrie is at [26.0].

Garrido Watch - Fast becoming my favourite player of this season is Ignacio Garrido, simply because after backing him he never gives me a reason to avoid him. He was available to back at [800.0] prior to last week's Open but yet again put in a magnificent effort, eventually finishing in a tie for 14th. He has taken a well earned rest this week but as soon as he is back in the line-up he will be on my radar.

Recommended Bets

Back Dustin Johnson @ [19.0] in Winner market
Back Rickie Fowler @ [20.0] in Winner market
Back Kenneth Ferrie @ [26.0] in Top 5 Finish market
Back Pablo Larrazabal @ [24.0] in Top 5 Finish market

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