The Deutsche Bank Open

The richest event in Europe outside the Majors has attracted a very high quality field again: Woods, Monty, Price, Clarke, Garcia, Parnevik and others make it the premier event of the European season so far. So much so that even a few non-European online sportsbooks have taken an interest in this event. Last year Tiger won on his first visit to Germany; this year the course is a different one and one that hosted this event for much of the 1990s. The course itself is tree-lined, but flat and has been subject to some very low scoring unless the wind blows. Lee Westwood was the last winner here with weekend rounds of 61 & 66.

The top-ranked is not Tiger though; he is rated behind Monty this week. The Scot has been 10th and 2nd in his last two visits here and course experience does count for something, even with Tiger Woods. Another decent performance last week to finish 5th, but it only showed his potential for he is struggling with the putter. Any hint of form with that club and he will look good to beat Tiger who is granted the customary silly price to win. The third-ranked is Nick Price - the harder the course will play, the greater will be his chances.

The 72-hole plays:

Miguel Angel Jimenez to beat Michael Campbell +100 @ SIA
9th last week and 7th here last time looks good against someone who was struggling last week even before his part in Harrington's disqualification was revealed; this week will be a test of his character

Lee Westwood to beat Jose Coceres -120 @ Intertops
Coceres is definitely the European Tour form horse of 2000, but this is field of big names, it will raise Westwood's game and test the Argentinean's

Colin Montgomerie to beat Jesper Parnevik -115 @ the Starnet books
It's hard to follow a win with a decent performance; it's hard to follow a transatlantic flight with one as well. Doesn't look good for Jesper

Gary Orr to beat David Park -111 @ Ladbrokes
The most consistent and accurate player on the European Tour should be too much for the erratic Park; 6th last time out after long layoff following birth of child

Final update: 4-0 and +4.00 units

No 3rd or 4th round matchups available as they played in three-balls, but a nice sweep on the 72-holers. Jimenez won by six and Monty by five. Both Westwood and Orr won their matchups at the halfway cut as their opponents didn't make it to the weekend, but with Westwood winning the tournament and Orr finishing 9th, they looked winners at any early stage.