Omega European Masters: Tough to look beyond Bjorn again
Published:Ryder Cup points may no longer be on offer, but a €2m-plus prize pot sees many of European golf’s stars out in force for the Omega European Masters in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
We can’t look beyond the three below, who are not only in cracking form this year, but have also dominated the event over the past half-decade.
Thomas Bjorn @ 14/1
The two-time major runner-up has been the man to be on over the past few years at the Crans-sur-Sierre course, winning by four strokes in 2011 and taking this again last September courtesy of a play-off victory over Scot Craig Lee.
Bjorn booked his place at a third Ryder Cup with some ease over the summer and tied for 15th at last month’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, adding to his top-ten finish at the Masters in April.
A third European Masters in four years beckons for the 43-year-old.
Miguel Angel Jimenez @ 20/1
Should Bjorn slip up in Switzerland, Jimenez looks the best alternative to be on, having taken this by four strokes from Edoardo Molinari in 2010.
Spain’s unlucky miss-out for a fifth Ryder Cup berth at Gleneagles was the 13th placed European on the points list prior to captain Paul McGinley making his wild card picks, so Jimenez will no doubt be out to prove the Irishman wrong.
The 50-year-old has also finished either second or tied for second twice in this event.
Richie Ramsay @ 33/1
Much was made of Ramsay potentially blocking good friend Stephen Gallacher’s Ryder Cup route by running him out of the runners-up spot at the Italian Open, after the 31-year-old held second place going into the final round.
Neither managed to overhaul winner Hennie Otto and next best David Howell, with Gallacher finishing third and Ramsay one back in fourth.
All’s well that ends well after Gallacher picked up the wild card he deserved from McGinley, and Ramsay should be set for a fine end to the summer too in a tournament he won by four strokes in 2012.
At 33/1, this Aberdeen native looks too big to miss.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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