Darren Clarke - Irish Open Interest
Bookies VC Bet report a wealth of interest in Darren Clarke to win this week's Irish Open in Kildare. Weight of support, including an individual £2k each-way, has seen the Ulsterman backed down from 9s to 8/1 for success on the Colin Montgomerie-designed course that makes its bow on the European Tour schedule. The inland-links track is expected to be a tough test for the players and that should see class operators like Clarke come to the fore, according to odds man Richard Friend. "All reports suggest that there will be more than the usual share of bogeys flying around with some very difficult approaches to what will be firm greens. "That means there should be a quality leader board on Sunday, I just hope Clarke isn't there because he's our biggest liability by a mile so far." Dutchman Maarten Lafeber is another player who has received significant fiscal support this week. Lafeber has shown solid form of late with a T8th at last week's British Masters his most impressive recent finish. Friend lined up South Africa's Trevor Immelman as a man to keep onside in Kildare. "He's finished fifth in the Masters and fourth in China in recent weeks and looks to be heading to the top of his form," he said. Friend reports that his firm's golf payout limit of £500,000 continues to attract Trans-Atlantic double punters. "It's not unusual to have win-double liabilities of over a million pounds as punters combine the same players in their bets," added Friend. Nissan Irish Open Selected outrights: D.Clarke 8/1 P.Harrington 8/1 G.McDowell 20/1 M-A Jimenez 20/1 D.Howell 25/1 C.Montgomerie 25/1 L.Westwood 25/1 J-M Olazabal 25/1 T.Immelman 25/1 A.Cabrera 28/1 S.Webster 33/1 N.O`Hern 33/1 H.Stenson 33/1 M.Campbell 33/1 P.McGinley 40/1 S.Khan 40/1 R.Green 50/1 S.Dodd 50/1 R.Jacquelin 50/1 S.Hansen 66/1 Others on request ¼ odds 1,2,3,4,5