The Irish open

[MIG]

Starts this week doesnt it?

Difficult looking at it, Harrington will start off Fav, but i may be willing to lay, depending on the early price.

Robert Karlsson and peter Hanson, may be worth a punt.

[FC Basher]

Adare Manor Course
Opened – 1995
Course Designer – Robert Trent Jones
Special Features - The river is a key factor on the 15th and 18th which requires a long second over the river if going for the green.
General Playability - At over 7400 yards this will be a stern test especially with any wind
Undulating/ flat - Mixed
Tree lined/exposed - Tree lined.
Many / few water hazards - Water is in play on 4, 6,7,11, 15, 16 and 18
Changes to the course - None from 2007 but some of the tees that were unused last year due to the strong winds maybe introduced for the first time this year. Eg Holes 2,3,8,9,11,17.

[Snodser]

At the mo' I'm looking at

Harrington 7 & Westwood 12 3pts ew

Mc Dowell 28, Wilson 28 & 1pts ew

Mc Ginley 45, Mc Ilroy 45 & McGrane 55 0.5 pts ew

& a dark horse, Strange 100 0.25pts ew.

But I'm doing nothing 'till I've heard from the in form man

Beanie, come on down

[Beanie]

I think Harrington looks a little difficult to back at that price - all the jetting about between the US and UK, the fact he looked a bit out of sorts at the Players and concerns over his tendonitis means 7s is maybe a bit short snods. At the very least I wouldnt expect him to fly out the traps here and so maybe keeping the poweder dry on Harry for 1 or 2 rounds would be my choice.

Westwood I could say similar but he is a class player - when his putter works(or more accurately, when it is atleast average) then he's always in contention. This course looks suited for him and I think he'll enjoy himself round here. There's still a worry about him when he leads but that aside I'd rather be on him at 13.00s or so than Harry.

Other than that I like the picks - a mix of in form players and the best of the Irish - the course is tricky and so class should tell this week, so its the inspired locals and recent form players that should be backed, as you have.

I try to steer clear of pre-tourney picks though - always tricky to get inside a players head and guess whether they are up for it or not, regardless of form, and I haven't mastered it yet!

[Beanie]

PS - avoid Forsyth and Warren(i think) this week - they are borrowing Darren Clarke's private jet to fly to the UEFA cup final and back, and then play in the morning!

[Snodser]

Originally Posted by Beanie

keeping the poweder dry on Harry for 1 or 2 rounds would be my choice.

Cheers Beanie, I'll leave Harry be for the time being & halve the stakes on the rest, keep some in reserve, particuarly like Mc Grane at that price.

[Snodser]

Originally Posted by Beanie

PS - avoid Forsyth and Warren(i think) this week - they are borrowing Darren Clarke's private jet to fly to the UEFA cup final and back, and then play in the morning!

So it could be a case of "Half - cut" instead of, "making the cut" .

[Snodser]

Not over yet but happy enough with my picks at the 'mo.
Only thing I don't like is McIlroy, he gets enough media attention as is without being leading Irishman on the board .

[Snodser]

Keep your eyes open lads, it'll be up on youtube within the hour!

Richard Finch, the winner of this years Irish Open, managed to fall into the river on his approach shot to 18 .

He's just made himself a marketing mans dream & won a cheque of about 400k.

Good luck to him .

[Snodser]

Westwood (12-1 ew) birdies the last and pushes McIroy(45-1 ew) back to 7th & out of the ew stakes.

Pretty poor all round.