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Johnnie Walker Championship Betting

JOHNNIE WALKER CHAMPIONSHIP BETTING - 28th AUGUST

The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles, itself the venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup, provides an appropriate setting for the climax to the race to be part of The 2008 European Ryder Cup Team bound for Kentucky in three weeks time. The Johnnie Walker Championship celebrates its tenth anniversary on the European Tour as the conclusion to the contest to be part of Nick Faldo’s side. Englishman Lee Westwood, world-ranked no.13 and second in the European Order of Merit, is favourite at 10/1 with Paddy Power.

Ryder Cup qualification adds an exciting extra facet to the battle for the winner’s cheque, which approaches ?300,000. While the players who currently occupy positions one to seven on the Ryder Cup list, namely Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Graeme McDowell are have guaranteed places, there are still three automatic spots available. Examination of the entry list sees six of the seven men who can mathematically claim an automatic place scheduled to tee up. Places eight to ten are currently occupied by Justin Rose (18/1 with William Hill), Soren Hansen (22/1 with William Hill) and Oliver Wilson (50/1 with Paddy Power), but they will be keeping a careful eye on the chasing pack of Martin Kaymer (35/1 with Bet365), Ross Fisher (35/1 with Paddy Power) and Nick Dougherty (50/1 with totesport). Ian Poulter is the surprise absentee, having chosen to play in the US, when a top-five finish at Gleneagles would probably have secured him a trip to Kentucky.

Nick Faldo will make his two Ryder Cup “wildcard” picks after the conclusion of the tournament. Ulsterman Darren Clarke (22/1 with William Hill) did no harm in promoting his cause when storming to a spectacular four-stroke victory over Paul McGinley in last week’s KLM Open in the Netherlands, his second win of the 2008 season following his success in the BMW Asian Open in April. A veteran of five Ryder Cups and the man whose emotion-packed performance inspired the European Team to victory over the United States at Ireland’s K Club two years ago, Clarke admitted he was taking nothing for granted. He is hoping for a good tournament at Gleneagles to underline his claims for a Captain’s pick, but is of the opinion that if there are more-deserving players (in Faldo’s opinion) they will be forming part of a very strong European team. Paul Casey, a dual previous winner of the Johnnie Walker Championship, does not play this year, but has been in decent form of late, finishing tied 15th in the USPGA, tied 8th at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational and tied 7th at the Open. He must surely rank highly in Nick Faldo’s shortlist of possible “wildcard” picks. Ian Poulter may have “shot himself in the foot” by withdrawing from Gleneagles. He has denied himself the opportunity of qualifying automatically and is by no means guaranteed a “wildcard” place in the side.

Scotland’s Marc Warren was a Nick Faldo “wildcard” choice for the Great Britain & Ireland team in last year’s Seve Trophy. The 27 year-old was selected largely on the back of his superb performance at Gleneagles where he birdied the final hole and repeated the feat at the second play-off hole to beat England’s Simon Wakefield and win the 2007 Johnnie Walker Championship. Warren is particularly looking forward to defending his Scottish title, living in close proximity to Gleneagles. He said, “Obviously defending any tournament on The European Tour is massive, but to be going back to Scotland, to somewhere that is just 45 minutes from where I live and grew up, to defend a title is very special.” He played excellently to finish a tied fourth in Holland’s KLM Open, some seven shots behind Clarke and arrives in good form. He is a 50/1 chance with Stan James to repeat his 2007 success.

All odds correct at time of writing. Please click here for the latest odds