Dunlop British Masters Bettingchoice Preview

With May comes the supposed turning of the weather in the UK, and as such it is considered as a reliable home for the European Tour for the first time this year this week. In fact, the next four events will all be staged on British soil, the highlight being the newly named BMW Championship at Wentworth in a fortnight.This week however we are interested in the Daily Telegraph Dunlop British Masters held at one of the finest venues in the land, the Marriott Forest of Arden. It is an event which many of the higher ranked players have chosen to make their first Euro start of the campaign, or at least since the Far Eastern tournaments that took place in December. Seven of the men who helped win the Ryder Cup for the continent will line up.It is not surprising to see them clustered at the top of the betting lists, and this is a course of which many of the players have a high level of familiarity. Although this will only be the third time that this particular event has been staged here in succession, it has held the English Open on many occasions and it will be the 12th PGA tournament staged at the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Forest of Arden.Many more Europeans seem to be attempting to principally ply their trade on the US Tour these days and Darren Clarke is no exception. The Ulsterman has played in just one solely European sanctioned tournament this term, the South African Open, but has found time for 8 outings in America. His form has been good, with 5 top tens on the biggest Tour in the world and earnings of $1.3 Million.His last two entries since coming 17th at the US Masters have seen finishes of 2nd at the MCI Heritage, and 4th at the Shell Houston Open recorded and the 37 year old heads the betting at a best of 8/1. He has enjoyed great success at this course in the past, and rates it as one of his favourite venues in the world.Out of action for the past fortnight, Clarke should arrive in the Midlands well refreshed and ready for his assault on the European Order of Merit. This specific title has not made it onto his mantle piece in the past, but two English Opens at Forest of Arden have, in 2000 and 2002. There is a great deal in his favour this week, and at this price we find it impossible to neglect the 36 year old.Alongside Clarke in the betting verdict, we are going to start with Nick O'Hern. His case is more sedate, but he has a solid record at this course that suggests that a high finish is well within reach. The cut has successfully been made for the last five seasons here, with only one result outside the top 30.The left-hander's best effort came 12 months ago, when 5th place was taken, and there has been enough in his game of late to indicate that another good week is in the offing. No golf since negotiating the weekend at the US Masters last month could well work in his favour, and a 5th position at the WGC- Accenture World Matchplay proved an ability to mix profitably with the very best players in the world.Eleven top tens went his way during 2004, and it is a source of ongoing surprise that no European victories have been claimed as yet. However, with 25/1 available, we believe an each way selection is advisable.With two wins to his name, and some excellent recent form, Henrik Stenson takes our third slot. Both of the Swede's titles have come in England also, and success here would complete a Midland Trinity of sorts, after the 2004 Heritage at Woburn and the 2001 B&H Invitational at the Belfry.33/1 looks especially good when viewed with his results column from this season. Last time out he came 3rd at the Johnnie Walker Classic and this followed 2nd in Qatar, 22nd in Dubai and 3rd at the Malaysian Open. Another top ten was claimed at the Heineken Classic earlier in the year and we feel it could be a highly fruitful summer for the 29 year old. 29th at this last year came after an opening 75, and 11th the year prior is further evidence of an ability to perform well on the 7213 yard set-up.This price allows for an each way finish, which would pay out for a top five finish, and Stenson certainly has the game to achieve this in our opinion. Whatever else happens this week, it should provide a valuable insight into player's form for the next few weeks, and it is being covered Live on BBC television from Thursday.