Always an event to look forward to on account of surely the most stunning backdrop in professional sport, the Omega European Masters goes up a gear this year thanks to the return of Rory McIlroy, who is 4/1 to make it four titles in 2019.

The professional journey of golf's $15million man now spans over a decade, and one of the earliest signs of what was to come actually came here as he missed a short putt for what would've been his first win. It was a setback from which McIlroy recovered quickly, with Sunday's victory at East Lake the 26th of an already remarkable career.

In two subsequent visits to the Swiss Alps, McIlroy has finished seventh and third and there is absolutely no doubt that he can pull this place to pieces if he really wants to. Those driveable par-fours midway through the front-nine at Crans-sur-Sierre yielded a couple of eagles last time he played here and while most champions are a little steadier, a little less aggressive, McIlroy could well blast his way to glory.

I don't imagine there will be many who are all that interested in backing him, though. It's a long journey from Georgia to Switzerland, one McIlroy will surely have spent celebrating an important success, and there must be every chance his focus slips sufficiently for seventh or eighth to represent a decent week. He just might not be as engaged as you'd like at the prices.