Sean is going 15-8 that Woods will not make it a six-hit and that is bound to attract the Tiger fans and others who feel that he has made this course his personal fiefdom.

Australia's Adam Scott, the number three in the world, has hit form at the right time and put in an impressive show in winning last week's Houston Open. He is currently 33-1 and 18-1 with Paddy Power without the Tiger.

There are a number of specials on offer with Star Racing going 7-4 'the field' against Woods, Els, Singh, Michelson, Furyk and Scott. Alternatively, you can bet the winner to come from that sextet at 4-9.

The chances of a hole-in-one are not as great as one might think and hence the odds of 6-5 with 4-6 for none.

Back to Paddy Power, they will pay back on all losing bets if your selection finishes ahead of Woods but does not win.

Also, Boylesports will return all losing stakes if Ernie Els is wearing the jacket come Sunday night.

My personal fancy is for Scott to be the top Australian at 12-5 (Star Racing) while Padraig Harrington at 4-1 is worth a shout to be the top British and Ireland player.

(Paddy Power): Tiger to win by exactly 1 shot 7-1; Tiger to win by exactly 2 shots 9-1; Tiger to win by exactly 3 shots 12-1; Tiger to win by 4 shots or more 13-2; Tiger to win in a play-off 8-1; Tiger not to win 8-15.

Which hole will produce first hole-in-one: hole 4 18-1; hole 6 9-1; hole 12 8-1; hole 16 7-2.

Brown concern

Gordon Brown, regarded in many quarters as a certainty to succeed Tony Blair as Prime Minister, is suddenly on shaky ground.

Not of the earthquake kind may be, but certainly of concern to his supporters.

And it's all to do with his pension policy of the past which has seen the bottom fall out of many a pensioner's world and the hopes of a decent retirement for millions of workers.

The Chancellor's policy over the last few years has seen funds trained to the tune of £5billion since 1997. And the government did their best to stop it becoming public.

Now the Labour Party must be wondering if electing him PM, would have a payback time come the next election.

The Blairites don't want Brown in power and have been working furiously to undermine him.

They prefer Tony's protégé David Miliband if he can be persuaded to stand.

If he does, then there will be a dramatic slashing of Brown's price to be top dog.

He is currently 1-20, but that will fall to 1-5 while Milliband, currently 10-1, will be around 3s.

As for the next Chancellor, Jack Straw has been the subject of support and is now 5-2 favourite to occupy No 11.

Ed Balls, Brown's adviser and right hand man, is on offer at 4-1.

Next Chancellor (Hill's): 5-2 J Straw; 4-1 E Balls; A Darling; 8-1 D Browne; 10-1 D Milliband.

Point to a favourite

Who will start favourite for the Grand National on Saturday week?

That's the question being asked by betdirect, who have gone against the ante-post favourite Dun Doire to sustain that position come race day.

Instead, they make another Irish hope Point Barrow firm favour and quote him at 13-8 to be the 'jolly.'

Charlie McCann head of PR says: "For most of the winter, Dun Doire has headed the market, but with the weather forecast, supposedly, set fair, we make Tony Martin's charge a 5-1 shot to go off market leader for the great race.

"Point Barrow is the 13-8 fav with any other horse (all 36 of them) an 11-4 shot with the last two winners, Hedgehunter and Numbersixvalverde both 9-2 chances.

"We have also seen support in recent days for Billyvoddan owned by Trevor Hemmings and cut the horse from 25s into 20s. With other leading National fancies Hedgehunter and Idle Talk also in the ownership of Mr Hemmings, we bet 11-2 that the famous green and yellow quartered silks are the winning colours of the National winner."