The Betting

Darren Clarke begins the defence of the English Open he won last year at the Forest of Arden course hoping to emerge from what has been a frustrating time for the Dungannon man.

His game is in reasonable shape but he has struggled to put two successive rounds together, never mind four. If he can just find consistency the winner's enclosure will beckon again.

Colin Montgomerie has been offering signs he may have cast aside the demons which afflicted his early season, while Lee Westwood is another who should present a strong challenge this week. Take the Englishman of the shorter priced players, which include the in-form Philip Price.

Scotland's Andrew Coltart is attractively priced at 33 to 1 and if Westwood doesn't win I'm sure he wouldn't mind his brother-in-law doing so. David Howell, beaten in a play-off at the weekend, is decent each way value at 40 to 1, as is Justin Rose at 50 to 1. How appropriate, a Rose to win the English Open in the Forest.

6/1 C Montgomerie, L Westwood

10/1 D Clarke

14/1 P Price

25/1 P McGinley, a Scott

33/1 A Wall, R Goosen, A Coltart, N O'Hern, P O'Malley

40/1 G Orr, S Leaney, H Stenson, D Howell, P Lawrie, G Turner

50/1 A Oldcorn, M McNulty, D Robertson, W Bennett, J Bickerton, J Rose

66/1 R Wessels, G Owen, M Lundberg, O Karlsson

80/1 bar

Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes Ireland.