Paul Lawrie Match Play: Host a match for anyone

Ben Coley previews the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play and fancies the host to make good progress...

Never mind the round-robin nonsense used to eke out as much as possible from the top names in equivalent tournaments both in Europe and America, this head-to-head, win or go home system is the one which creates the most excitement and for that reason Thursday should be thoroughly entertaining.

Unfortunately, such is the timing of the tournament that the field is no better than solid. It's not a slight on this event or its organiser – Tiger Woods has failed to draw a world-class field for the Quicken Loans National in Virginia – and on one hand it's nice to see some of the European Tour's lesser lights afforded a rare chance to indulge in this format.

What it creates, though, is something of a punting minefield and I'm compelled to advise you to stake small and hopeful, rather than large and confident.

My approach is to take one from each quarter in the hope we might get one or two through to the semi-finals and perhaps even beyond, and I'll start with the obvious in Richie Ramsay.

A born-and-bred Aberdonian, this is a home game for the 32-year-old who looks not only one of the standout form candidates, but also to my mind has the best of the draw.

Up first for Ramsay is world No 378 Shiv Kapur, who had missed seven cuts in a row prior to finishing 41st in the Scottish Open and 24th last week in Switzerland.

The Indian has nothing in the way of notable match play form and hasn't fared too well in links conditions previously, so while we have to acknowledge that over 18 holes anything can happen it should be a nice easy starter for Ramsay.

Our man would then face either Edoardo Molinari of Magnus A Carlsson, both of whom hit a lot of greens when on-song. The former is without a top-50 finish in his last eight starts while Carlsson is nowhere near as tough a competitor as Ramsay.

Beyond that, making projections isn't easy, and whoever Ramsay faces will clearly have built up some form and confidence whatever their starting point.

So instead, let's focus on what we know: that Ramsay is a former Walker Cup player and US Amateur champion who played well last week, has won on a links-style course this season, holds the course record here at Murcar and is nothing if not tough. He's the obvious call in a trappy event.

David Howell and Chris Wood are seeded as Ramsay's most likely semi-final opponents and the former in particular looks dangerous on the back of another strong finish last time.

Howell, who putts beautifully and loves links golf, probably should be among the winners already this season but his last title came in Scotland and he has a nice enough draw early on.

However, it's tournament host Paul Lawrie who catches the eye at a bigger price and he could give the home fans something to shout about.

Like Ramsay, Lawrie is an Aberdonian and will be desperately keen to put on a show and it's not like his recent form has been poor. After all, with two rounds of the Open to go he was right there in the mix having once again demonstrated his fondness for links golf over the opening two rounds.

And in terms of match play pedigree, I'm not sure there's a better one among these 64 players. Not only did Lawrie see off Brandt Snedeker on that famous Ryder Cup Sunday three years ago, but he won three and a half points from a possible five at the following year's Seve Trophy, beating subsequent Volvo World Match Play champion Mikko Ilonen in the singles.

Lawrie has also shown an aptitude for raising his game at home, winning at Gleneagles, Carnoustie and in the Dunhill Links, so on an old links layout which should suit he can progress past his opening two opponents and put himself in contention for the title.

On the other side of the draw, Marc Warren is the standout candidate and his credentials are hard to crab but with two of the top six in the betting on-side, I'm willing to take a couple of chances here.

In Warren's quarter, Peter Uihlein could show that his power-packed game remains suited to this sort of challenge on the back of an encouraging return to form in Switzerland last week.

Uihlein's sole European Tour victory came by the sea in Madeira while he almost added to it in the Dunhill Links at St Andrews, losing to Howell in a play-off.

Another former US Amateur winner, Uihlein has plenty of match play form in the locker and while he could face in-form Matt Fitzpatrick in round two, at 40/1 he looks a decent bet.

Finally, Andrew Johnston can build on some encouraging recent play, including in the Scottish Open, by making progress from his section.

The 26-year-old is nothing if not aggressive and has won north of the border in the Scottish Challenge, while in 2007 he won all four of his matches in the Jacques Léglise Trophy at Notts Golf Club.

If Johnston can see off Graeme Storm in round one would face an out of form player in either Wade Ormsby or Kiradech Aphibarnrat. From there, things get tougher with links-lover Thomas Aiken a potential stumbling block and hand on heart the man most likely in this quarter is Max Kieffer, if he can avoid a banana skin opener in the shape of Michael Hoey.

However, my strongest fancies are Ramsay and Lawrie so at around the 80/1 mark let's back Johnston each-way in the hope that he might make a run to the final four.