Westwood to blow hot at Belfry

Lee Westwood is justifiably the 18/1 favourite with Totesport to clinch the Quinn Direct British Masters this week after finding form in his last two tournaments. The old cliché about class being permanent certainly applies to the Worksop-born 34-year-old, who has stepped up his form with two sixth-place finishes in his last two tournaments. His performance at the Mercedes Benz Championship in Cologne last week was notable for his fulminating first round of 61 and his weekend dip of 71 and 72 can be attributed to a heavy cold. Westwood is playing well enough to return to the winners' circle and he will relish his three-ball with 2005 Masters winner Thomas Bjorn and Nick Dougherty. Bradley Dredge tends to find his touch around this time of year. He won the Omega European masters just over a year ago before coming runner-up in the Alfred Dunhill Links in his subsequent sortie and he turns up at the Belfry buoyed by third and fourth place finishes in his last two tournaments. At 25/1 the Welshman is worth backing. Talking of form, few can match the recent results of Phillip Archer, who has managed three runners-up places this year - two of them in his last two outings. The 35-year-old has been improving year on year and don't be surprised if he shakes off his bridesmaid's tag this weekend. At 40/1 he is well worth trusting.Paul Broadhurst returns to European action after a five-week lay-off and he will not be deterred by the wet and windy conditions in the Midlands. He made light of the rain-swept Open at Carnoustie this year, finishing 12th, and is fond of the Brabazon track, managing seventh here last year. He has had a long rest but that could work in his favour and he is no risk at all at 80/1. On a similar note, spare a thought for Rory McIlroy. It is a huge long shot to even contemplate backing a teenager playing in his first tournament as a professional, especially given what happened to Justin Rose who missed 21 consecutive cuts after turning pro in 1999. But McIlroy is a certain star of the future. The precocious, unflappable 2007 World Amateur No1, who scored the only bogey-free round of the day on Day 1 of The Open, will benefit from having grown up on the windswept shores of Northern Ireland and is surely worth an each-way tickle at a huge 225/1. Verdict: 2pts Westwood e/w @ 18/1 (Totesport); 2pts Dredge e/w @ 25/1 (General); 1pt Archer e/w @ 40/1 (General); 1pt Broadhurst e/w @ 80/1; 1pt McIlroy @ 225/1 (Bet365) (Editor's Note: Can Westwood recover his form of the opening round i Cologne or can Phillip Archer go one better and claim first spot? Follow all the latest golf prices at Totesport and Bet365!)