Previews

Austria awaits Europe's best

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 18/09/2009
Golf betting

The hills are alive with the sound of golf for the second time in three weeks when the Austrian Open follows Switzerland's Omega European Masters on the European Tour schedule.

High in the picturesque mountains of Crans-sur-Sierre two weeks ago, Alexander Noren took the honours at the European Masters following a two-shot victory over Bradley Dredge.

This week's event doesn't carry a comparable prize fund or indeed boast the same breathtaking views from the fairways, but it is still an important step in the Race to Dubai and indeed the burgeoning battle for Ryder Cup points.

It's six years since the Austrian Open featured on the schedule and that was on the Challenge Tour - the European Tour's feeder series.

The last winner of the event was home player Markus Brier and he is again in the field this week.

The Austrian lives just 45 minutes away from the tournament-hosting Fontana Golf Club near Vienna and is again much-fancied by the sportsbooks.

Brier went on to become the first Austrian to win on the European Tour when he triumphed at the BA-CA Golf Open in 2006 - ironically at Fontana.

However, he expects different conditions this year with the tournament being played at a much later date in the season.

"It's a bit harder and the rough will be up so it will be a different challenge," he explained. "The course isn't so long but the greens are tougher."

In the absence of a number of the tour's leading lights, this event will give several players on the fringes of qualifying for the season-ending Dubai World Championship the chance to confirm their places.

The top 60 in the Race to Dubai standings will earn the right to play for the 10million US dollar prize fund in the Middle East.

Therefore this week is vital for the likes of former Open champion Paul Lawrie (77th), ex-Ryder Cup star David Howell (162nd) and Australian Brett Rumford (100th).

Further up the rankings and Soren Hansen is the online betting favourite following the Dane's consistent form during the second half of the season.

Hansen tied for eighth at July's Open Championship and was a close third behind James Kingston in last week's Mercedes-Benz Championship in Germany.

Can anybody stop Soren Hansen in Austria? - Latest Golf Betting

The presence of Frenchman Thomas Levet, Englishman Nick Dougherty and Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain will also lead to a flurry of betting activity on some high-profile names.

Of the trio, Levet looks the best bet as the former Ryder Cup player is in line for his highest Order of Merit finish for six seasons.

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