Golf Events / Editor / 20 March 2007 /

Jean Van de Velde and Paul Lawrie's names have been inextricably linked in recent years after the dramatic events at Carnoustie in 1999 and the spotlight will again be on the pair at this week's Madeira Island Open.

It is nearly eight years now since Van de Velde's amazing collapse on the final hole at The Open Championship allowed Lawrie the chance to claim his first Major title - the last European to win a Grand Slam.

With The Open returning to Carnoustie this year for the first time since that unforgettable day, much of the public and golfing press' attention will be focused on the duo and that is likely to be the case in Madeira, where Van de Velde returns to defend the title he won 12 months ago.

The likeable Frenchman ended a wait of nearly 13 years for his second European Tour title on at the Santo de Serra Golf Club last year and he is trading at 25 to repeat his triumph, with Lawrie available at 50.

Welshman Bradley Dredge, a previous winner of the tournament in 2003, is the early favourite this week and can be backed at 15 with David Lynn next best in the market at 22.

But there looks to be plenty of players in with a chance this week, with in-form Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen available at 27 to win ahead of Oliver Wilson (34), the trio of Oliver Fisher, Maarten Lafeber and Graeme Storm (all trading at 36), and Christian Cevaer and Francesco Molinari (both 38).

At just over 6,800 yards long, the course at Santo de Serra is one of the shortest on the European Tour circuit so look out for some low scores and a low cut mark this week if conditions are benign.

That was exactly what happened four years ago when Dredge set the course alight to card an incredible 12-under-par round of 60 to take control of the tournament in the first round.

Dredge, who can be backed at a generous-looking 5 to place in the first five this week, eventually ended up winning in 2003 by a massive eight strokes and, as his victory at the European Masters last year demonstrated, it is something he is more than capable of repeating.

The Welshman is the highest ranked player in the field at Madeira with a world ranking of 66 and he has already showed good form this season when comprehensively beating Ernie Els in the first round of the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship last month.

Lynn, 5.9 to finish in the top five, comes into the tournament full of confidence after finishing joint fourth at the Singapore Masters two weeks ago while Van de Velde is likely to be a popular choice among backers.

But, with most of Europe's big names away in America playing at the second World Golf Championship event of 2007, the tournament appears wide open and there looks to be value to be had throughout the market.

Wilson was agonisingly close to winning the Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand at the start of the month, only losing in a play-off, and he will be eager to go one better as the tour returns to mainland Europe after globe-trotting its way around Africa and Asia in recent months.

He looks well priced at 8.8 to finish in the first five and 4.4 to come in the top ten, while a strong case can also be made for teenager Oliver Fisher.

Fisher, in his first season on tour, has improved with each tournament he has played and was close to achieving his first top-ten finish in China last week. He is trading at 4.7 to do just that in Madeira.

Argentina Rafael Echenique, 60 to win and 10 to come in the first five, will have his followers after his second place at the TCL Classic and Englishman Storm has been making a name for himself in recent weeks after a series of good rounds.

But it may pay to keep a close eye on the Italian brothers Francesco and Edouardo Molinari. The former, who is trading at 8.2 to come in the top five, has been swinging the club well over the last month while the latter is arguably the form player in the field.

Edouardo has won two tournaments on the Challenge Tour in the last six weeks to top the standings and can be backed at 42 to win, 8.8 to place in the top five and 4.5 to come in the top ten.

James Heath, joint fourth in China last week, looks attractively priced at 65 to win while it would be no surprise to see Terry Pilkadaris (65) and Kenneth Ferrie (80) do well.

It is also worth bearing in mind that a Swedish player has won in Madeira five times in the 15 years the tournament has been running, which could bring players like Patrik Sjoland (65 to win) into the equation.

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