Lawrie can cement Ryder Cup claims with Wales Open showing

A winner of the Welsh Open back in 2002, Paul Lawrie is currently enjoying his loftiest ever world rankings standing, and looks an appealing proposition at 14/1 to claim this year’s tournament.

Lawrie has enjoyed a spectacular return to form over the past two years, and is now focusing his attentions on ending a 13-year exile from Ryder Cup competition this term.

With that in mind, he has opted not to compete in the US Open, and instead attempt to overhaul 12/1 favourite Francesco Molinari in Wales to accumulate maximum cup points.

Since an appearance at the 1999 Ryder Cup, the closest Lawrie has come to a tournament has been when he commentated on the event two years ago.

Therefore, he has a massive incentive to continue his sparkling recent form, and improve on a runner-up finish to Luke Donald in his outing in the BMW PGA Championship last week.

He is not the only player aiming to amass points to improve his chances of Ryder Cup inclusion however, with 2011 Wales Open champion Alex Noren also competing.

Noren is a 14/1 shot to land consecutive titles at the event, though he admits his chances of making September’s showpiece event are slim.

Englishman Ross Fisher could see some each-way support from patriotic punters meanwhile, with the 40/1 chance aiming to replicate the form that saw him make the 2010 Ryder Cup team.

Elsewhere, European captain Colin Montgomerie is a 200/1 hope, with these astronomical odds coming in light of the Scotsman’s worst-ever showing as a professional golfer at the BMW PGA Championship last week.

Montgomerie then missed out on US Open qualification at Walton Heath after this effort, and so appears worth avoiding in his current form, even at that monster price.

Bernd Wiesberger, alternatively, could be worth an each-way punt at 33/1.

Wiesberger jumped 75 places in the world rankings after a maiden European Tour success in his last outing, and has chances of replicating the form that saw him claim that victory at the Ballantine’s Championship.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.