BLACKWOOD golfer Bradley Dredge has predicted this could finally be the year a Welshman wins the Wales Open.

The tournament starts at the Celtic Manor tomorrow and with a host of local stars confirmed to play, Dredge feels this could be the year for a Welsh winner.

Dredge has been in fine form over the last few months.

In March, he claimed his first European Tour win in the Madeira Island Open and last month was the runner-up in the Algarve Open in Portugal.

And with Phillip Price, Ian Woosnam and Jamie Donaldson all playing well then Dredge feels a Welshman could finally lift the crown in a tournament worth £1.5 million in prize money.

"There's a fine field this year but I honestly believe this is the best Welsh contingent yet.

"We all seem to be in good form and as it's our home course then the support for us should be huge.

"Philip, Ian and Jamie are all playing well, Philip seems to be hitting some form and you can never write off Ian.

"It would be nice to see a Welsh winner and a massive boost for the game is this country."

Dredge had a disappointing weekend, missing the cut in the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth.

But despite missing the cut in his last two tournaments he's not too down about his own form.

"Fair enough I didn't make the cut at Wentworth but I'm relatively pleased with how I'm playing.

"It's a course I've never done well at but I felt that after Germany my game was starting to come back together in the final round.

"So I'm confident of doing well. I'm also looking forward to having some support behind me.

"Normally, I'm lucky just to get three or four people cheering me on but hopefully if I'm doing well there will be a few hundred."

Following Dredge's disappointing result at Wentworth, the Blackwood golfer has now missed his chance to make the US Open next month.

But he is not too despondent with missing out.

"I don't really think about being in the top 50.

"I just take it week by week, I've not made the top 50 so I won't be going to the US Open and that is just the way it goes.

"I suppose I've paid the price for not playing that consistently over the past few weeks.

"And the end of the day it's just another tournament and I'd certainly prefer to do well at the Celtic Manor in front of my home fans."