Austrian Open form guide

Here's a quick look at the player form guide..

MIGUEL-ANGEL JIMENEZ

With three titles already this season, including one of the best performances of his career last time out in Switzerland, Jimenez rates a worthy favourite. Nevertheless, betting is all about finding value. Admirable as he is, I've never taken just 7/1 about Jimenez winning a 150-man event before, and am not going to start now.

GRAEME MCDOWELL

The sponsors must be delighted to have a US Open champion here, but McDowell is ignored on the same value grounds as Jimenez. Only very special players tend to make any appeal at single figures. In any case, G-Mac says he is here to 'fine-tune' his game ahead of the Ryder Cup, so may lack the necessary form and focus.

GONZALO FERNANDEZ-CASTANO

Though Sunday's fourth was Gonzo's third top 15 in three starts, he makes even less appeal than the front pair at short odds. Once a player to be feared when in contention, his putting troubles increasingly seem to worsen when it really matters. That doesn't bode well for this expected birdie-fest.

NICOLAS COLSAERTS

Colsaerts is enjoying by far his best season, and is well capable of winning a maiden title before the year is out. He is short enough for a non-winner though, and stated that he was very tired after Sunday.

DAMIEN MCGRANE

McGrane makes less appeal after reference to his win ratio, rather than his bare results. He certainly has been consistent recently, missing only one of his last 14 cuts and registering ten top 25s this year. However, he rarely seems to challenge and is ultimately best in bad weather conditions.

ROBERT ROCK   

Rock is another non-winner, who must see this weak event as a golden opportunity to break his duck. His best form is certainly classy enough, but three missed cuts out of his last four must be a concern.

PELLE EDBERG

Yet another non-winner with solid claims, Edberg has made the top 15 in the last three Austrian Open renewals, albeit on a different course. He was also second in the low-grade St Omer Open in June.

MARKUS BRIER

Austria's greatest ever player is always worth considering in his homeland. Sunday's 22nd was only his second top 25 during a poor season, though.

MIKO ILONEN

Ilonen made the shortlist, as 60/1 represents decent odds about a talented, if inconsistent player. Five top 15s this year, including ninth at Crans a fortnight ago, reads well in this grade.

ALEXANDER NOREN

Odds of 66/1 about Noren in this grade would have been unthinkable at the start of year, but he remains unbackable until showing signs of turning a miserable run around.

MARTIN WIEGELE

Wiegele is the second plausible home candidate after Brier, and his case is strengthened by two wins earlier in the year; once in Austria on the Challenge Tour, followed by the St Omer Open.

TANO GOYA

Top 11s from two of his last three starts warrants plenty of respect, and Goya has prospered in second division Euro events before, winning the 2009 Madeira Island Open.

ROBERT COLES

Again, Coles' recent form reads well in this grade, finishing 17th at Hilversumsche and fifth at Crans. He's yet to win on the main tour, but did land two titles on last year's Challenge Tour.

ADILSON DA SILVA

Though lacking any sort of European Tour pedigree, there are few hotter players right now than this Sunshine Tour regular. Da Silva's last three results have been second, first and third, so there are worse 100/1 bets.

DAVID DIXON

In my search for outsiders, 175/1 chance Dixon made the shortlist. He made the top-ten in this event last year, was 15th on his penultimate start and ranked fourth for gir at Hilversumsche.

2010 STATS: -58pts

LONG-TERM ALREADY ADVISED

5pts MARTIN KAYMER TO WIN THE RACE TO DUBAI @ 9/1

Where next?

Preview: Fergus Bisset tournament preview New equipment: New gear releases Competitions: Prizes to be won