In-form Goosen is favourite to retain title

Betting/Scottish Open: Defending Scottish Open champion Retief Goosen is hitting form at the right time following his second-place finish in the Smurfit European Open at the K Club. This week he heads to Loch Lomond and a tournament he won from pillar to post last year. He is joint favourite (10 to 1) along with countryman Ernie Els.

Angel Cabrera was another to finish strongly in Ireland and he will be suited to the course, while our perennial favourite in this column, Thomas Bjorn (20 to 1) has an excellent record in the Scottish tournament. Whether he can get over his problems at the K Club in the space of a week is another matter.

Several Americans use this event as a tune-up for the British Open and the best value in this category could be Stewart Cink (50 to1).

Paul Lawrie, at the same price, is another who offers excellent each way value.

Odds (Courtesy of Paddy Power) 10/1 E Els, R Goosen; 14/1 C Montgomerie; 16/1 D Clarke; 20/1 A Cabrera, T Bjorn; 22/1 M Campbell; 25/1 N Fasth; 28/1 T Lehman; 33/1 A Scott; 40/1 L Westwood, N Faldo, E Romero, P Lonard, JM Olazabal; 50/1 P Lawrie, J Rose, I Woosnam, A Hansen, P Casey, B Faxon, S Hansen, B Langer, S Cink.

Paddy Power will refund all single losing bets if an American wins at Loch Lomond.