Flying Fisher to retain Open

Flying Fisher to retain Open


Punting
Michael Duffy

WHEN Englishman Ross Fisher walked away from the first green at Wentworth on day two, he must have known his chances of winning the BMW PGA Championship had finished. A woeful triple-bogey seven had sent Fisher tumbling down the leader-board. But he’s a determined competitor, and a closing 64 on Sunday left him just one behind the eventual winner Paul Casey.
Fisher’s in good form this season. Sunday’s finish was good, and his performances in the Masters at Augusta and earlier at Dubai mean it’s no surprise he’s ranked fourth in the European Tour.
Fisher’s sparkling form at the weekend is especially relevant this week as the Tour heads to Kent for the European Open. An event that was synonymous with Ireland for years now takes place at the London Golf Club, a place well known to Fisher. He grew up a fluffed sand wedge from Wentworth, but has shown a real liking for London too. Last year he sluiced through the course and ran out a facile seven-shot winner over Sergio Garcia.
Garcia and a wealth of other top pros are back for another shot, but Fisher’s course form and his recent performances make him our choice..
Recommended: Ross Fisher (European Open, begins Thursday).

United can frustrate Barca
THOSE Final Furlong loyalists who took our 9-2 recommendation about United winning the Champions League can back Barcelona and sit back content on Wednesday night. But the way in which Alex Ferguson’s team divide opinions and loyalties suggests that there won’t be too many neutrals tuning in to Bill, Eamon, Johnny and Co.
You’d hazard a guess that before the semi-finals were completed United would prefer to be facing Chelsea on Wednesday, while Barcelona would have fancied their chances against Arsenal. For that minority group — the neutrals — this is a final pairing to savour but looking back to when the teams met 12 months ago, they may be disappointed. Only one goal was scored in two legs and a similar shutdown can be expected in Rome.
Barcelona’s attack is the best in the world but United’s defence is particularly mean. Barca struggled to score against Chelsea — their only shot on target was Iniesta’s injury-time winner — and they may not enjoy taking on the Old Trafford men. United are 15-8 to keep a clean sheet, and while under 2.5 goals to be scored looks short at 8-11, it may be one to include in any multiples. Ryan Giggs is likely to be produced from the bench and his knack of scoring big-time goals makes him value at 8-1 to do so again.
Recommended: Under 2.5 goals 8-11 (Champions League final, Wednesday), Manchester United to keep a clean sheet 15/8, Ryan Giggs 8-1 to score at anytime.

The championship finally gets going
THE FIRST real weekend of GAA Championship action. Tipperary and Cork will hurtle into battle in the Munster hurling championship in front of 35,000 people and Tyrone and Armagh resume their sometimes bitter rivalry in Clones.
There have been years when both ties would have been impossible to call, but this summer Tipperary and Tyrone are looking good. Even allowing for the fact that nothing can be taken for granted in games like these, the Tipp’-Tyrone double pays about 11-8 and looks nailed-on.
To help bump up that price, we’re plumping for Leitrim to beat their Connacht rivals Roscommon in Carrick-on-Shannon on Sunday. Roscommon have made progress under big Fergie O’Donnell this year but may need another year to fulfil their potential. It looks a 50/50 match but bookmakers are going 6-4 about Leitrim and they make our 11-8 Tipperary/Tyrone double a 9-2 treble.
Recommended: UTipperary (v Cork, Munster hurling championship) Tyrone (v Armagh, Ulster football championship), Leitrim (v Roscommon, Connacht football championship) pays over 9-2.