Those prepared to ignore the irresistible attraction, in a betting context, of the USA team in this week's Alfred Dunhill Cup (and that shouldn't be many if the formbook prevails), may care to invest in a little Antipodean flutter.
The presence of US Masters and British Open champion Mark O'Meara alongside Tiger Woods and John Daly correctly ensures that the USA are five points shorter than the best of the rest at 2 to 1. On the wide open fairways of St Andrews, the big-hitting Woods and Daly should not encounter too many problems, and the latter is sure to enjoy the venue that played host to his British Open triumph in 1995.
Ignoring the favourites, the best value appears to come from Down Under. Australia look a decent wager at 10 to 1 given the presence of Sunday's Buick Classic winner Steve Elkington alongside Robert Allenby and Craig Parry. But if longer odds are cherished then New Zealand at 25 to 1 with an inform Greg Turner, Michael Long and Frank Nobilo, who boasts a serious record in this event, are worthy of consideration.
Defending champions South Africa (8 to 1) cannot be ignored, nor can Ireland (10/1) with Paul McGinley, Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke all playing well.
2/1 - USA. 7/1 - Sweden. 8/1 - South Africa. 10/1 - Australia, Ireland. 12/1 - Spain, Scotland, Zimbabwe. 14/1 - Argentina, England, Germany. 25/1 - New Zealand. 50/1 - France. 80/1 - Japan. 150/1 - China, Korea.
From the 16 countries which competed in the inaugural Dunhill Cup at St Andrews in 1985, Ireland have been among only six to have played every year since then. And their record of 70 matches won out of 120, holds up very well against the world's most powerful golfing nations.
Almost predictably, the US have been the most successful challengers, with 91 wins out of 144 matches. In the process, they have won the title on three occasions, compared with Ireland's two successes - in 1988 and 1990.
England, who have also won the title on two occasions, are second in the table of matches won, with 80 out of 133, followed by Scotland (79 from 129). But from those countries who have been ever-present in the Dunhill, Ireland have been more successful than Australia (65 from 114) and Spain (45 from 96).
As can be seen from the accompanying table, Smyth has easily the best record of any Irish representative. His only defeat in nine matches was against Sam Torrance (70-72), when Ireland lost by 3-0 to Scotland in the second round in 1986. Smyth's halved match was against Chip Beck in the famous victory over the US in 1988, when they went on to capture the trophy.
The individual scoring honours go to Nick Faldo, who has a average of 69.61 for the 18 rounds he played in six Dunhill appearances. Next comes Mark O'Meara (US) with 69.81, followed by Greg Norman on 69.87. The best scoring average by an Irishman comes from Rafferty on 70.90, followed by Walton (72.42) and Feherty (72.57).
Over the years, the Dunhill Cup has provided some remarkable exploits. Most notable of these was a course record 62 by Curtis Strange in 1987. The lowest outward nine was a 27 from Sweden's Joakim Haeggman in last year's final against South Africa, while O'Meara had a 28 for the same journey in 1996. Best inward nines were 31s from Strange, Barry Lane and Ian Woosnam. The most successive birdies was eight, from the second to the ninth, by O'Meara in 1996.
Meanwhile, it is clear that the sequence of six holes from the seventh to the 12th is the most vulnerable on the Old Course. On the way to his record 62, Strange covered them in 3,2,3,3,2,3. Torrance (1986), Faldo (1988), Phillip Price (1991), Miguel-Angel Jimenez (1992) and Jean Van de Velde (1994) have each played them in six successive threes.
Faldo recorded the lowest four-round total in 1988 when rounds of 65,67,70,66 left him 20-under-par. Two players have had holes in one during the Dunhill Cup and both were at the eighth. Costantino Rocca did it in 1987 and Coltart did it when Scotland triumphed in 1995.
