Golf is a very unforgiving game so it makes betting on golf somewhat difficult, and very frustrating. However, if you can land a winner, then the odds are often quite good. The golfers coming out of Ireland in recent years have played to high standards with Harrington, Clarke, McIlroy and McDowell all winning majors. The one factor missing from their play is consistency as evidenced by Clarke’s efforts in the Irish Open. Two weeks after winning golf’s biggest prize at The Open, he fails to make the halfway cut in the Irish Open. He’s not alone, however, with Padraig Harrington, himself a three times major winner also failing to make the cut.

McIlroy and McDowell are both on 138 at the halfway mark, six shots off the lead. McDowell at least produced a decent 66 on day two and if he can continue along those lines he could be in the fight for victory tomorrow afternoon. McIlroy is consistent with scores of 70 and 68, but he’ll need to do much better to figure in the finish. The surprise leader at the halfway mark is Germany’s Marcel Siem – you can’t be any more consistent than a pair of 66s. Jeev Milkha Singh and Soren Hansen are a stroke back on 133 with Ignacio Garrido on 164. From there the pack bunches with six players on 135 and nine on 136.

It’s been seven years since Siem last won a tournament, however, if he can maintain his form, that could well come to an end this weekend. Singh and Hansen are well placed to challenge as is Ross Fisher, Oliver Wilson and Richard Green, all in the pack at 135. The betting is wide open at this stage so you’re in for some good odds. Ross Fisher is the current favourite at 15/2 ahead of Soren Hansen at 9/1. Marcel Siem and Jeev Milkha Singh are at 10/1 ahead of McIlroy and Green at 11/1. The big surprise is McDowell who, despite two reasonably good rounds, is out to 25/1.

At the odds, McDowell is a standout each way bet. Green is also good value and worth an each way ticket as well. Siem’s putter is working really well so he’ll be hard to catch, especially with a little regained confidence. Of the rest, McIlroy is a big risk, he generally wins by leading from the front and rarely has a barnstorming finish. Singh is a good plodder who could sneak under everyone’s guard and Hansen, if it comes to a playoff, is probably the coolest head. We’re tipping McDowell, Green, and Siem to fight out the finish and lean towards Siem for outright victory. Of course, this is golf, and anything can happen over two days. It also makes betting on winners that much harder.