Golf Events / Paul Krishnamurty / 01 September 2009 /

TPC Boston and Crans Sur Sierre are likely to favour the top players and that means Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy, according to Paul Krishnamurty...

If ever there was a perfect illustration of this year's relentlessly frustrating stream of golf results, Sunday's finish to the Barclays Classic was it. Had Heath Slocum missed his 20 foot par putt on the final hole, he would have entered the most exciting play-off line-up in living memory, involving Tiger Woods. Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington and Steve Stricker. Alas, pre-tournament [500.0] chance Slocum holed the putt and legions of punters were left scratching their heads about another unfathomable winner.

The 2009 rollcall of tournament winners really does make for some shocking reading. By my reckoning, Slocum was the tenth winner on either European or PGA Tour in 2009 to have started at over [300.0], and that total doubles to 20 if including all winners starting at over [100.0]. However, a glance at the previous winners of this week's two events, the Omega European Masters and Deutsche Bank Championship, offers some hope of a change in fortune for formbook students.

The last three Deutsche Bank renewals have produced three very high-class champions in the form of Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods. All won comfortably, (Vijay and Tiger both finished eight shots ahead of the third when winning their title), and each was complimented by a leaderboard packed with other high-class performers.

Tiger's results since returning from injury display a clear pattern. On the courses that favour him best, he's won. All five of his 2009 titles came on courses where he'd won previously, but he has repeatedly come up just short on the narrower layouts. I never expected last week's venue, Liberty National, to particular favour Woods, so finishing just one shot off the lead hardly represents failure.

TPC Boston is much more to his liking, with wide fairways and a marked advantage towards big-hitters. For me, the only question is whether to back him pre-tournament at [2.8], or to wait for the almost inevitable drift in-running.

These shock results have been even more prevalent in Europe, with only one favourite delivering so far in 2009, (Paul Casey at Wentworth). To some extent, this is understandable because the fields have tended to be extremely wide open and lacking in truly world-class names. Take last week's market for instance, where the only two players trading below [21.0] could boast just one title between them this century.

However, this week might represent a change from this frustrating norm. The Omega European Masters has proved one of the more predictable tournaments over the years. Granted, the last two champions were very hard to find, but of the last 10 champions at Crans Sur Sierre, seven were amongst the market leaders.

Moreover, for a change there is a clear gulf between the top-two and the rest. Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy are both trading around [12.0], and rate a very solid combined trade in my view. The last time we saw this pair was when they were tying for third in the USPGA; a level of form that stands out in European Tour company. As both players have taken a fortnight off since those Hazeltine heroics, we can expect them to be fit, fresh and raring to go.

Both have already shown a strong liking for this course. McIlroy has only played Crans once in his short career; losing in a play-off on last year's debut. Clearly, Rory is improving all the time and looks a much more complete player than he did 12 months ago. It's about time the world's best young prospect won his second title, and this looks the perfect opportunity.

Westwood has won at Crans already, during the most prolific spell of his career back in 1999. His overall Crans record is very solid, making the top-16 five times out of seven, and his recent form is quite outstanding. He's been no worse than ninth on his last five starts, including very near misses at the French and British Opens, before that best ever USPGA result. It is now two years since Westwood last won a title, and while that inevitably creates concerns over his ability to 'finish the job', if he continues in this vein of form a 30th worldwide title will surely arrive soon.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: