Weekly previews
Simon Dyson defends the KLM Open on the European Tour while the Fedex Cup play-offs get underway on the PGA Tour and valuable points are available at The Barclays where Vijay Singh looks to win for a fourth time.
Tournament: The Barclays (23 August ?26 August 2007)
Course: Westchester CC, Harrison, New York
Prize fund: $7,000,000 Winner: $1,260,000
Course details: Par 71, 6,839 yards. Westchester CC was designed by Walter Travis in 1922 and offers a stern test to those who challenge it. It has the look of a classic U.S. Open venue with tough greens that prove hard to keep the ball on, and fairways that are as equally hard to hit from the tee.
Key holes: The par 5 5th has a narrow fairway that is hard to hit. If players are willing to take the risk and reward approach to the hole, then they can shape their tee shot right to left and cut off some yardage to give them an approach into the long three tiered green.
The par 3 16th is only a small hole at 214 yards, but if any tee shots are wide of the narrow green which is surrounded by bunkers, then this hole will put a bogey or higher on the players scorecards.
The low-down: Vijay Singh won this event last year beating Adam Scott into first place by two shots, in this lucrative event which is sure to encourage some attacking golf as players vie to get into the playoffs of the FedEx Cup. This event is packed to the rafters with world class talent, and the only downside is that Tiger Woods is not playing. Ernie Els has been on top form recently, so expect to see him or recent Open winner Padraig Harrington challenging Singh in this exciting contest.
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The contenders: Vijay Singh, Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington
Betting Guide: For betting tips from our expert Paul Krishnamurty click here.
Tournament: The KLM Open (23 August-26 August 2007)
Course: Kennemer Golf and Country Club
Prize fund: ?1,600,000
Course details: Par 70, 6,626 yards. This Dutch links course is located in the northern town of Zandvoort and was founded in 1910, although the Dutch Open never made it on tour until 1972. The youngest winner here is Seve Ballesteros at the age of 19 years and 121 days in 1976, although the KLM Open boasts another teenage winner in Paul Way who was 28 days older than Seve when he won in 1983.
Kennemer G&CC offers links golf, and inhibits wide undulating fairways with deep bunkers that are dotted around the course. Add to this the tricky greens and the North Sea winds that swirl around the course and it is sure to offer a tricky 72 holes for this weeks European Tour players.
Keyhole: The par 5 7th could prove to be the downfall of many players scorecard this week. Although the fairway is wide and should be hittable, the rough that is on this course is treacherous. With the strong winds coming in from the sea, it is all too easy to hit the ball off the fairway into the thick stuff, which will encourage bogies and double bogies.
The low-down: Now that the drama of the major?s is over for another year expect to see some players more relaxed now and possibly playing better because of it. Simon Dyson will be looking to retain his crown at this event, but the field is awash with some top European Tour players, expect to see the likes of Nick Dougherty and Markus Brier challenging.
The contenders: Simon Dyson, Nick Dougherty, Markus Brier
Betting Guide: For betting tips from our expert Paul Krishnamurty click here.