Big Easy Match Play start for Els

Ernie Els has been drawn against Colin Montgomerie in the pick of the first round matches at the HSBC World Matchplay and it should be a Big Easy home win for the 4/1 tournament favourite against his Scottish rival. Els, whose house backs onto the West golf course at Wentworth, has played a significant role in redesigning what is effectively his back garden over the last two years. Mind you, he might have been better off keeping his ideas to himself as, after winning this prestigious tournament three times in a row for the second time in 2004, he has since come up short. Nonetheless, the World no 5's form is on an upward curve with his 13 under-par sixth-place finish at the Dunhill Links championship last weekend suggesting he has more than enough to outshine an out-of-sorts Montgomerie. The Scot is a solid golf Matchplay competitor, as his Ryder Cup record bears out, but only Britney Spears is enduring a worse 2007. Monty will not be best pleased at having been drawn against the man who twice pipped him to the US Open and beat him in the 1994 Final to win the first of six HSBC World Matchplay titles. Take Els to pour more golfing misery on Mrs Doubtfire at 4/9 on Betfair. Another intriguing first round pairing pits Anders Hansen against Padraig Harrington. The Irishman put in a decent showing in Scotland last weekend to finish eighth but by his own admission has struggled for form since his epic Carnoustie win. Harrington is not a fan of Wentworth while Hansen, who is enjoying his best year since 2002, won the BMW PGA Championship here in the spring and can shoot down the Open winner on this happy golf hunting ground at odds of 6/4. Angel Cabrera is another player with a liking for Wentworth. Fifth behind Hansen in May, the Argentinian came fifth in the HSBC World Match Play last year and won the inaugural BMW Championship two years ago. While his form since winning the US Open has dipped, he will relish the prospect of taking on struggling Retief Goosen and is nicely priced at 5/6. Verdict: 3pts Els to bt Montgomerie @ 1.52 (Betfair); 2pts Anders Hansen to bt Padraig Harrington @ 6/4 (Ladbrokes, Paddy Power); 2pts Angel Cabrera to bt Retief Goosen @ 5/6 (Bet365). 1pt Treble on Els, Hansen and Cabrera @ 4.82 (Bet365)