If you want to back the man who could have won the British Open, then Jean Van de Velde is 66 to 1 for the Smurfit European Open at The K Club. If you want a flutter on the man who did win, then Paul Lawrie is available at 50 to 1.

It is as if the bookmakers have ignored everything that happened in the world's top major, clearly seeing it as an aberration. For instance, Sergio Garcia, officially last in Carnoustie, is actually 16 to 1 fourth favourite to win in Straffan.

So, surprise, surprise, Colin Montgomerie is back as 6 to 1 favourite to land the title while last week's winner Lee Westwood is available at 8 to 1. Given the Swedish monopoly of the event for the past three years, it is interesting to note that Patrik Sjoland is the top Swede in the betting (at 40 to 1) rather than two-time winner Per Ulrik Johansson or last year's champion Mathias Gronberg.

Our tip is to get on Darren Clarke, playing the fourth event of a fourweek stretch, at 14 to 1, with the each-way saver going on Welshman David Park at 66 to 1.

6-1 - Colin Montgomerie (Scotland).

8-1 - Lee Westwood (England).

14-1 - Darren Clarke (Ireland), Retief Goosen (South Africa).

16-1 - Sergio Garcia (Spain).

25-1 - Bernhard Langer (Germany), Angel Cabrera (Argentina), Eduardo Romero (Argentina).

33-1 - Stephen Leaney (Australia), Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain).

40-1 - Costantino Rocca (Italy), Thomas Bjorn (Denmark), Andrew Coltart (Scotland), Patrik Sjoland (Sweden), Miguel Angel Martin (Spain).

50-1 - Paul Lawrie (Scotland), Ian Woosnam (Wales), Per-Ulrik Johansson (Sweden), David Carter (England), Phillip Price (Wales), Gary Orr (Scotland), Peter O'Malley (Australia).

66-1 - Paul McGinley (Ireland), Dean Robertson (Scotland), David Park (Wales), Jean Van de Velde (France), Ian Garbutt (England).