Clarke on form for The Belfry

No disrespect to the intervening tournaments but the European Tour enjoys its first high quality field since Dubai this week as the top players converge on The Belfry for the last ever International Open.

Several of Europe's big names such as Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke have spent the majority of the season in the US to date but both are included in this week's field. Montgomerie is coming off his tied second place at last week's Italian Open, an upturn in form that is in marked contrast to six missed cuts in the States.

His form in last year's Ryder Cup at The Belfry was inspirational and he obviously loves the course. He is also a former winner, albeit when it was played at the Oxfordshire, and at 14 to 1 represents serious value. Clarke (16 to 1) has shown some excellent form in the US and although he hasn't played since the Heritage, he does well over this course.

So too the market leader Padraig Harrington (10 to 1), who always plays well at The Belfry - he's shot a course record 64 here - and likes the tournament. Fellow Dubliner Paul McGinley (33 to 1) also has fond memories and a good tournament record, not least his Ryder Cup exploits at the 18th hole.

Harrington hasn't played since the US Masters but there shouldn't be too many signs of rustiness. It's difficult to argue against the Irishman and Montgomerie with defending champion Angel Cabrera having to defy the bogey of no defending champion managing to win a second successive title.

For an outside flutter two-time champion Jose Maria Olazabal (40 to 1) and Philip Price (66 to 1) could be worth each way value.

ODDS: (courtesy of Paddy Powers) 10/1 P Harrington; 14/1 C Montgomerie, R Goosen; 16/1 D Clarke; 20/1 A Cabrera; 33/1 P McGinley, T Bjorn, B Dredge; 40/1 P Casey, B Davis, R Gonzalez, JM Olazabal, N Faldo; 50/1 G Owen, C Schwartzel, N Fasth, Paul Lawrie, S Leaney.

Selected others: 100/1 Peter Lawrie; 125/1 G McDowell, G Murphy; 150/1 D McGrane; 500/1 R Rafferty.