Golf Events / Tareq Quiroz / 09 July 2008 /

Tareq Quiroz says we should keep the lid on our pre-Open excitement because this weekend's Scottish Open is a cracker.

As much as all golf fans try to concentrate on this week's tournaments you cannot help but let your mind drift to the big one next week. The Open is the jewel in the crown of world golf and all eyes will be on Royal Birkdale next week as the world's elite try to claim the coveted claret jug.

We must try and put that aside for just a few more days though as this week's European Tour event is a cracker. The Scottish Open is played on one of the most picturesque courses anywhere in the world and there is no doubt that the top quality field assembled will be going all out for victory.

Loch Lomond is the magnificent host course and in what are likely to be testing conditions will pose some serious problems for the field. The week before a major is always a tricky time for players as the build up to such an event is down to individual preferences. The main issue for players this week is the fact that The Open is always played on a links course and this week's event offers no real links style practice. Loch Lomond is a great course in its own right but you can't help but think it may be better off somewhere else in the calendar.

The roll of honour at Loch Lomond has the look of the kind of venue that rewards top class iron play. If you are dialled in then there will be plenty of opportunities out there to get some birdies. If as expected conditions aren't too pleasant then you will also need to factor in course knowledge. As with most venues the benefit of having plenty of experience there is most useful when the going gets tough.

I expect you won't have to look too far down the market to find this week's winner. I am a big fan of horses for courses and this week that accolade would have to go to Ernie Els. The big South African loves it around Loch Lomond and importantly has played well here before, even when his game has appeared to be off prior to the event. Els has just had a three week break from the game and has admitted that his game is a little rusty but also that he feels refreshed and ready to go. I just feel he is ready to take this field apart and at [12.5] in the Winner market he has to be supported.

Whilst I think the likely winner is going to be found in the top echelon of players the one lower down who keeps catching my eye is Francesco Molinari. The talented Italian has had a very consistent season with three top five finishes and a number of other solid showings. He is knocking on the door and I wouldn't be surprised to see him get in the Winners circle this season. He is certainly worth a punt at [330.0] in the Winner market as well as being followed at decent odds in the Top Five Finish market.

Every week I take a look through the To Make The Cut market for any possible value and inevitably there is someone who I feel is a must lay. That man this week is Ross Fisher. I certainly wouldn't deny that he is a top quality player and last week's victory was one of the most impressive of the entire season but you always get the feeling he can throw an atrocious round in at any given time. He will have been euphoric following last week and it may just be the case that he comes into this event a little flat. Loch Lomond can be very unforgiving and I expect plenty of errors from Fisher that may just mean he misses the cut. Certainly at [1.4] in the To Make The Cut market he is a must lay.

Whoever wins and whatever happens at Loch Lomond it is imperative that you don't ready too much into it next week. You can never be sure who has the tournament earmarked for fine-tuning or is just out there for the win. Not everything is quite what it appears at this time of the year. A phrase we may well be coming back to at the end of events at Royal Birkdale.

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