This week's Austrian Open at the Diamond Country Club at Atzenbrugg will not take much winning.

With a prize fund of a mere £1m, it's no surprise that many of the top names in European golf have decided to take the week off and this might be a good opportunity for headline act Padraig Harrington to improve his current Race to Dubai standing of 87th - only the top-60 make it into the Dubai World Championship in December. He's joined by fellow Ryder Cup star Miguel Angel Jimenez and, unsurprisingly, Ladbrokes make the pair 12/1 joint favourites for an event which lacks strength in depth.

The event does see the pro-debut of 20-year-old Tom Lewis (40/1 Paddy Power), who played so well in our Open, and further spice is added by the presence of big-hitting John Daly (125/1 Ladbrokes), who ought to make mincemeat of the 7,242 yard track. However, this is not a course that can be overpowered and finding the greens is key - last year's winner Jose Manuel Lara led the field for fairways hit and ranked 7th in greens in regulation on his way to a winning total of 17-under. To compound that, water comes into play on half the holes.

My Three Against The Field:-

Joost Luiten @ 14/1 Ladbrokes
Harrington is undoubtedly the class act this week but I still can't myself to back him in his current form, although his recent 13th place at the Barclays was better than what we've become accustomed too. Jimenez finished 15th here last year but has not looked that sharp of late either, so this could be a good chance for the Dutchman to break through and record his first Tour win. Odds of 14/1 might not look that inviting, but this week's field is just about as weak as it gets and he's been threatening to breakthrough all year, going closest in the BMW International Open (third). His two most recent efforts - 15th in Switzerland and 6th in Holland, where he was eighth for driving accuracy and 28th for GIR - suggest he's still at the top of his game and this course is tailormade for him, so I'd expect him to place at least.

Victor Dubuisson @ 28/1 Skybet
The Frenchman finished sixth places behind Luiten in Hilversum and has what it takes to become a regular winner on Tour. Having come through Q-School last December, the 21-year-old rookie first came to prominence when ninth in February's Qatar Masters - a much better contested event than this - and his other top-10 came in the recent Johnnie Walker Championship. A powerful hitter who can hot with the putter, he's going to be a player to keep on your side in 2012 with a little more experience under his belt, but don't be surprised to see him take high rank this week.

Bernd Wiesberger @ 66/1 bet365
There's always more pressure when playing in your national open but that didn't stop Austrian Markus Brier winning here in 2004 and 2006 and his 25-year-old compatriot Wiesberger could give the locals plenty to cheer about this week. Consistency is not his strongest point - hence his 66/1 price tag - but when he's on song he's capable of challenging with the best, as evidenced by his runner up spot at Gleneagles and fourth in the Irish Open. As a dual winner on the Challenge Tour in 2010, he will be able to handle the pressure better than some and his odds simply don't reflect his chances.

Recommended Bets:-

Joost Luiten 2pts each-way @ 14/1 Ladbrokes
Victor Dubuisson 1pt each-way @ 28/1 Skybet
Bernd Wiesberger 0.5pt each-way @ 66/1 bet365