The European Tour lands on European soil for the first time this season to take in the Open de Andalucia at Parador de Malaga Golf on the Costa del Sol.
There’s no real course form to go on this week as Parador last staged a Tour event in 1999 although it’s a fair bet most of the Spanish contingent will have played it several times. Miguel Angel Jimenez won that '99 event, albeit on a much-different layout, and more recently the Dubai Desert Classic early last month. He’s not favourite, though, as that honour goes to the big-hitting Alvaro Quiros.
At 6,817 yards, the course is not that long my modern standards but will play a little longer due to recent torrential rain. The weather over the four days is forecast to be good, though, with temperatures around 15C. Sky's coverage gets under way at 11am (UK time) on Thursday.
Ross’ Three Off The Tee:-
Louis Oosthuizen @ 20/1 Paddy Power
It’s been a good year for South African golf with Ernie Els and Charl Schwartzel winning three times on Tour between them and Oosthuizen, a winner five times already in his home country, could be about to join them. If someone told him at the start of last week that he would shoot 23 under, he’d be excused for thinking that would be good enough to ensure victory. In the end, it was only enough for second place to Rhys Davies but there were five shots back to the third and this week’s competition is no stronger.
Danny Willett @ 25/1 Blue Square
Has been threatening to break through for a while now with a string of high finishes (five top-sevens in his last starts) and that maiden win is surely just around the corner. Worryingly for backers, he has seemingly developed a habit of finding disaster when in contention but he will have learnt a little more each time and last week’s break through win for Davies, another youngster who has been knocking on the door of late, might just be the inspiration he needs to get the job done.
Pablo Martin @ 66/1 Coral
It's worth throwing in one of the locals and Martin looks the best-priced of all of them. He's already a winner on Tour this season - the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa - and he will know the course like the back of his hand having grown up in the area. This is his first run back since the death of his father in January but with his family and friends watching and his own bed to sleep in (he owns a house nearby), he could easily outrun his odds.
Bubbling Under: Christian Nilsson (66/1Skybet)
Seventh last week (closed with a 65) and 15th in much better company in Dubai previously, the Swede is playing well enough to be in the mix come Sunday, and was runner-up on his last visit to Spain in last October's Castello Masters.
Punters Beware: Miguel Angel Jimenez
It's his local course and he won the last event staged here (albeit 11 years ago) but his management company is co-promoting this week's event and that is bound to provide distractions for the cigar-smoking, pot-bellied Spaniard.
Recommended Bets:
Louis Oosthuizen 1.5pts each-way Paddy Power
Danny Willett 1pt each-way @ 25/1 Blue Square
Pablo Martin 0.75pts each-way @ 66/1 Coral