Round 1 plays (1pt):
Sergio Garcia to beat Soren Hansen -110 SkyBet @ [tie loses] [available generally]
Worth taking the 'tie loses' option here (as opposed to the -180 with Five Dimes). Garcia is the defending champion, has a fantastic record in his home country with a 1st round scoring average of 68.71 in Spain this decade, and has shot a higher 1st round score than Hansen just twice in twelve common events over the last year. The forecast points to strong winds, but this is an environment in which he still tends to excel.
Robert Karlsson to beat Darren Clarke -111 @ Bet365 [also available @ Five Dimes]
Always risky to back a player who is coming back from injury (and had missed the cut in both his comback events), but the nature in which Karlsson played his final 9 holes on Friday - six birdies and home in 31 - should give him plenty of optimism for this week. Karlsson had finished ahead of Clarke in each of their previous seven common events (and shot the lower 1st round score every time) before his eye problem, so if he is returning to form, he should resume his dominance in this matchup.
Shiv Kapur to beat Inder Van Weerelt -125 @ Five Dimes
Big difference in quality between these two players: Kapur has finished ahead of his opponent in each of their last six common events. Kapur also made the cut when this course was first used last year; Van Weerelt is making his debut.
Sergio Garcia to beat Soren Hansen -110 SkyBet @ [tie loses] [available generally]
Worth taking the 'tie loses' option here (as opposed to the -180 with Five Dimes). Garcia is the defending champion, has a fantastic record in his home country with a 1st round scoring average of 68.71 in Spain this decade, and has shot a higher 1st round score than Hansen just twice in twelve common events over the last year. The forecast points to strong winds, but this is an environment in which he still tends to excel.
Robert Karlsson to beat Darren Clarke -111 @ Bet365 [also available @ Five Dimes]
Always risky to back a player who is coming back from injury (and had missed the cut in both his comback events), but the nature in which Karlsson played his final 9 holes on Friday - six birdies and home in 31 - should give him plenty of optimism for this week. Karlsson had finished ahead of Clarke in each of their previous seven common events (and shot the lower 1st round score every time) before his eye problem, so if he is returning to form, he should resume his dominance in this matchup.
Shiv Kapur to beat Inder Van Weerelt -125 @ Five Dimes
Big difference in quality between these two players: Kapur has finished ahead of his opponent in each of their last six common events. Kapur also made the cut when this course was first used last year; Van Weerelt is making his debut.
