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Swiss Alps await tour's finest

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 02/09/2009
Golf betting

The race to be included in Europe's Ryder Cup team officially starts here at this week's Omega European Masters.

In precisely 12 months' time, Celtic Manor in Wales hosts the biennial Europe versus America match and thoughts are now seriously beginning to turn towards the make-up of Colin Montgomerie's side.

"Everyone starts from scratch this week in Switzerland and there is a great opportunity for every European-born member of our tour to make the side," said Montgomerie, who will take a break from playing this week.

"I wish everybody every success in their attempts to make it."

The backdrop for this event could hardly be more spectacular as the Swiss Alps plays host to a tournament which has become of the most eagerly-anticipated on the late season European Tour calendar.

Crans-sur-Sierre is one of the most picturesque courses in the world and the tournament usually does justice to this idyllic setting.

Therefore it's no surprise that a high-quality field will assemble this week.

Four of the 2008 Ryder Cup side - Miguel Angel Jimenez, Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood and Oliver Wilson - will tee it up in Switzerland and headline the field.

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The quartet will also be joined by a number of 2010 hopefuls, including Rory McIlroy, Anders Hansen, Niclas Fasth, Gregory Havret and Darren Clarke.

Rising star McIlroy was denied a first career victory in this event last year after losing in a play-off to Jean-Francois Lucquin.

The Frenchman likes Switzerland so much that he has taken up residence in the nearby town of Crassier and is considered one of the favourites this time around in the online betting markets.

His form this season hasn't been spectacular, but a string of high finishes over the years certainly suggests that he is able to raise his game at Crans-sur-Sierre.

Elsewhere on a course which measures less than 6,900 yards, there is no real advantage for the longest hitters.

Narrow and undulating fairways and targets greens place more of a premium on accuracy as the presence of recent past winners Brett Rumford and Bradley Dredge on the honours' board suggests.

The likes of Sergio Garcia and Ernie Els have also prospered here in the past to strike a blow for the longer hitters.

However, these two stellar names are as equally highly regarded for their accuracy as well as their length.

The winner is therefore hard to predict, but we'll certainly have fun watching.

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