One of the vagaries of life as a professional golfer, especially for those working their way up the ladder, is there are weeks when there is no other choice than to spend your time out on the practice range or, alternatively, twiddling your fingers while the so-called "fat cats" are living it up.
The past two weeks provided a classic example: the top European players were involved in both the US PGA and the NEC Invitational - both played in America but counting towards the European Tour Order of Merit - while those a few rungs down were given enforced leisure time. Among them were Peter Lawrie and Gary Murphy, two players who have made making the Volvo Masters at Valderrama in November one of their goals for the year.
Currently 45th and 49th respectively on the Volvo Order of Merit, Lawrie and Murphy must remain in the top-60 after the Madrid Open in October if they are to make their debuts in the limited-field championship in Valderrama . . . and, after the enforced break of the past fortnight, they are among a five-strong contingent of Irish players who are competing in this week's BMW International in Munich.
Lawrie, Murphy, Graeme McDowell - who has room to make up if he is also to secure a place in that Volvo Masters field - Paul McGinley and Damien McGrane are all involved in the BMW, which is the last tournament before the Ryder Cup campaign for the 2004 match in Detroit commences with next week's European Masters.
World number two Ernie Els - seeking to extend his lead over Darren Clarke in the European money race - heads the challenge in the BMW where Thomas Bjorn is attempting to become the first player in the 15-year history of the event to successfully defend his title and also to win the event for a third time.
Meanwhile, Padraig Harrington, whose wife Caroline gave birth to the couple's first child, a boy, on Sunday night, misses out on Munich but will play in next week's Irish PGA in Adare Manor. The Dubliner's next European Tour appearance will be when he defends the Dunhill Links on September 25th-28th.
ORDER OF MERIT - Irish positions: 2nd, Darren Clarke €1,822,743; 4th, Padraig Harrington €1,204,489; 42nd Paul McGinley €354,421; 45th, Peter Lawrie €335,917; 49th, Gary Murphy €317,828; 74th, Graeme McDowell €214,859; 145th, Damien McGrane €87,792; 173rd, Ronan Rafferty €43,231.
BMWInternational
Betting
This week's it's the BMW International Open at Munchen Nord-Eicheried with Denmark's Thomas Bjorn (10/1) defending the title he won last year. He cantered away from the field last year and given his recent on course trials and tribulations would be a popular winner.
Ernie Els' (9/2) putting touch seems to have deserted him temporarily. Paul Casey (14/1), Ian Poulter (16/1) and Trevor Immelman (25/1) all played well here last year and are in reasonably good form.
The course offers big wide fairways and favours those who are good in and around the greens. John Daly has done well here before but his recent marital disharmony might be a distraction.
Instead we'll look at some each way value in Lee Westwood (50/1) and Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin (66/1). Westwood's game seems to have pretty much returned after a two-year sabbatical and all he now requires is a little bit of good fortune. He may not win but could go close.
Jacquelin is another whose form suggests a victory is not far away and his touch around the greens marks him as a decent each way punt. Jose Maria Olazabal (40/1) would be a serious contender, driving woes aside, with his touch on the greens returned.
Odds
9/2 - Ernie Els; 10/1 - T Bjorn; 14/1 - P Casey; 16/1 - I Poulter; 25/1 - T Immelman; 28/1 - B Langer; 33/1 - MA Jimenez, A Cejka; 40/1 - JM Olazabal, B Davis; 50/1 - L Westwood, A Forsythe, S Hansen, Paul Lawrie, A Coltart, S Kjeldsen; 66/1 - P McGinley, J Daly, G Owen, M Lefeber, R Karlsson, P Hedblom, G Evans, R Jacquelin. ... odds courtesy of Paddy Power
