Loch Lomond Tournament Preview

The European Tour retains it Celtic theme this week, moving over the Irish Sea from Druids Glen to the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond for the Standard Life Loch Lomond Invitational.

A fairly new fixture on the Tour – its inaugural year was 1996 – the Loch Lomond offers invites to the top 60 ranked players in the world, amongst others.

After attracting a world class field in its opening year the event moved to the week prior to The Open Championship in 1997, where it has since remained.

And with high profile sponsors leading to increased prize money of Euro 1.4 million this time round the tournament looks set to become an established event on the golfing calendar.

Situated in the grounds of the Clan Colquhoun estate the Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish-designed course clocks in at a shade over 7,000 yards.

Rossdhu House, the club's beautiful Georgian clubhouse, provides a spectacular backdrop to the par three eighth hole, while the remaining 17 holes should pose a challenge to a slightly under-strength field.

After last week's excitement at the Irish Open 19-year-old Spanish prodigy Sergio Garcia will be the centre of attention.

Garcia came from two shots behind to beat Argentina's Angel Cabrera place at the Open and guarantee his place at Carnoustie on the 17th.

Double US Open champion Ernie Els is the most notable withdrawal from the list of El Nino's challengers, but those who do tee off in Luss will no doubt earn their crust.

And if any further incentive were needed ahead of Carnoustie then Standard Life will again pay a $1 million bonus to the winner should he go on to win the Open the following week.

Denmark's Thomas Bjorn fired a seven-under 277 to win his very first European Tour event here twelve months ago and will be more than eager to retain that historic crown.

Leading contenders

Colin Mongomerie: Monty's seventh place at the Irish Open took him back to what he may think is his rightful position at the top of the European Order of Merit which should put him in a confident frame of mind after his rumblings of discontent at the US Open. His record here can only be matched by Lee Westwood and Robert Allenby, comprising a tied seventh last year, tied 10th in 1997 and tied fourth in '96. Understandably the Scot is the bookies' clear favourite on “home” turf.

Lee Westwood: Last year's winner has yet to recapture the kind of form which brought him three other victories wins in Europe - plus the Freeport McDermott Classic in the States - in 1998. But, following a poor US Open performance, finishes of fifth and tied seventh in the Compaq European Grand Prix and Irish Open in his last two outings provided his best 72-hole displays since a second in February's Dubai Desert Classic. And with tied 16th and tied 22nd placings behind him in '96 and '97 to merit the `course specialist' tag Worksop's finest will gain strong support.

Darren Clarke: After a hectic 1998 which brought the birth of his first child, victories in the Volvo Masters and B&H International Open and saw him help organise a special pro-am at in aid of Omagh bomb victims, Clarke has settled nicely into his stride this season. A decent effort at defending his Benson and Hedges crown proved the catalyst for a turn in fortunes – a run which included victory at the English Open - following a mediocre opening few months. Since that tied 20th the Ulsterman has carded T7- T13-1-T10-T11 – impressive in anyone's books, and he should be there or thereabouts.

Retief Goosen: Recovered from a broken arm received in a skiing accident over the New Year to notch his third career win with a second play-off victory over New Zealander Greg Turner in the French Open at the start of May. And the South African's subsequent displays mark him down as one to watch here. Broke the Loch Lomond course record with a final round 62 to finish third behind Tom Lehman and Els in 1997 which must make him a major contender.

Sergio Garcia: Who? Only joking – what can you say about the young Spaniard that hasn't been said in the days following his tremendous win in Ireland? Tiger Woods may have reclaimed the world number one spot but last year's British amateur champion may lay claim to that title before too long if he carries on improving at his present rate. In six starts now he has already earned nearly £330,000 and he seems certain to win millions more in the years to come. His first appearance in Dumbartonshire should be very interesting.

Miguel Angel Jimenez: Fourth place on last year's Order of Merit Jimenez is half-way to matching 1998's pair of Tour victories, courtesy of a successful defence of his Turespana Masters title in March. His accuracy has rarely been called into question, so the Loch's fishermen should rest easy, though suspicions remain that the Spaniard is more content in warmer climes. A glance at the final clubhouse scores here in '96 and '98 – bringing finishes of tied 16th and tied 24th – should allay some fears.

Jesper Parnevik: The Swede's game is either a model of consistency or simply uninspired, though it's fair to say that the good days continue to outnumber the bad. Has only finished outside the top 30 in stroke-play once this season, in the Memorial Tournament at the start of last month, but that disappointment was soon followed up by a decent showing (tied 17th) at the US Open. However, a missed cut in the US Masters and disqualification at the MCI Classic serve to warn against building his chances up too much.

Thomas Bjorn: A tied fourth in Ireland should be a bigger pointer to Bjorn's hopes here than a missed cut at Pinehurst, given that the Dane tends to be something of a streak player. In 1998 he came back from successive missed cuts in the Dubai Desert Classic and Qatar Masters to finish T35-1-4-T3-T5-T13 in his next six outings. Last week's tournament may well provide a similar kick-start for the 1996 champion this year.

Robert Allenby: Out of sorts, five missed cuts and only two top 20 finishes on the US Tour offer little indication of better times ahead for the Aussie, who has been some way from threatening to break his Tour duck. But then he'd hardly set the world alight in previous years yet still boasts a 3-T13-T2 record in Luss.

Eduardo Romero: Has followed a good second half to last season with a number of steady performances this year. Fifth in the World Match Play Championship and tied seventh in the Benson and Hedges Invitational have been the pick of a season in which he has not failed to make a cut. Retired in Ireland after shooting a six-over 77 in the first round but 'El Gato' - the cat – could be on the prowl again after missing out on last year's title to Westwood.

Best of the rest: Gary Orr and Phil Price finished together in tied 11th last Sunday and could improve on that showing here. Orr has had three top ten placings already and will feel comfortable in familiar surroundings, while Price illustrated with a second in Qatar and third in Italy that he has the ability to thrive in slightly weaker fields. The same can be said of David Howell who tied for second in the same competition last July. With a big win finally under his belt (this year's Dubai Classic) he returns to happy hunting grounds with renewed vigour. Meanwhile, our old friend Jeev Singh who started the season in such fine form could be ready to charge again after a string of consistent efforts. If he can lose his habit of under-performing on the second 36 holes then the son of a former Olympic sprinter could spring a surprise.

Summary

Twelve months ago Lee Westwood had the golfing world in the palm of his hands. Westwood's seventh win in seven different countries in the space of nine months came by a commanding four-stroke margin in the 1998 Standard Life Tournament.

And though the world has not exactly ended for the amiable Yorkshireman nor have things gone one hundred per cent as planned.

He won just one more tournament in the remaining three and a half months of the season and has yet to add to a career haul of six victories.

We'll leave the prophecies of doom for Nostradamus, however, for the signs are that Westwood is about to hug the limelight once more.

Fifth in the European Grand Prix and seventh in Ireland, it can only be a matter of time before he breaks the winless streak which stretches back to last October's Belgacom Open.

A price of 16-1 isn't exactly a licence to print money but is well worth a look.

It's probably wise to stick with a win-only bet though, as you get the impression Westwood would rather finish 10 shots back that just get pipped for second like in Dubai.

At Druids Glen he started the final round seven adrift and got to one behind only to three-putt the 16th for par, dump his tee shot in the water at the island-green 17th for a double bogey and three-putt the last to drop another shot.

`Better to give it a go' is his philosophy and we'll go with him here.

On paper, it may be asking a bit much for a 19-year-old in his third month as a professional to trot up back to back wins.

But Sergio Garcia is no normal teenager and few in this field are in better form than the Spaniard.

The bookies offer 20-1 which certainly merits further attention.

Garcia's seven-under-par closing round 64 to claim first prize by three shots from Argentina's Angel Cabrera was so nerveless it almost defied belief.

"They always say the first win is the most difficult,” said Garcia after his Irish triumph “so let's see if I can continue now."

With confidence sky-high who's to say we're not on for a repeat performance?

Our third choice is Retief Goosen, who can be backed at 18s.

That terrific effort here in 1997 means the Loch Lomond course will have little to frighten him and seven top10 finishes more than compensate for a hugely forgettable US Open.

Thomas Bjorn is another who can shine on a course that suits him.

And at a big price of 40-1, he looks a good bet for a top four finish.

A fair price can also be found on England's David Howell.

Take Stan James' offer of 66-1 and expect the Swindon Town supporter to improve on a steady recent run.

Finishes of tied 42nd, tied-13th, tied-31st and tied-15th in his four previous 72 holes show he's got those two missed cuts in Italy and at the B&H well out of his system – and course form gives him the nod at a good price.

SL