Preview & outright plays:
Maybe it's because Victor Chandler are an official sponsor of the European Tour that capping these events is made so difficult! After four months of hopping from one continent to another, the European Tour finally arrives on European soil and at two courses than have not used for at least a decade! The last Portuguese event staged at Quinto da Lago was in 1990. And it doesn't end there ... next week's Open de France is held at Lyon which hasn't been used on Tour since 1994!
This week's event attracts a weak field as the major starting point for the European Tour - the Benson & Hedges International Open - is only two weeks away and then it is six weeks of quality events & fields leading up to the US Open. Of this week's field, only Monty and Harrington are in the top-50 of the World Rankings, so there are some very short prices. But that does mean some good value for other players.
The course is one of the best in Europe with many doglegs that require accuracy over length off the tee. With the list of previous winners on this course including Tony Johnstone, Warren Humphreys, Mark McNulty, Mike Harwood and Michael McLean, the importance of short, but accurate ball-hitting is apparent.
In contrast to this week's PGA Tour event, the European Tour outright plays are all available at decent odds and they all have a 'if only' story to tell about last week's event in Spain as well! They are Miguel Angel Martin, Andrew Coltart and Domingo Hospital. Martin provided two straightforward 72-hole matchup wins last week and opened his 2001 season in great form, featuring in the top-5 of the leaderboard for much of Sunday. It was only four bogeys in his last five holes that dropped him out of a warranted high finish. On the back of that performance and with his lack of length not disadvantaged on this course, he should once again feature.
The second pick is Andrew Coltart. It has been a frustrating time for Coltart; he had been plagued by poor putting since last year and had failed to break into the top-20 of any event this year, though his worst position had been 46th. But last week he appeared to have the putter working properly again and shot three rounds of four under 70. No-one else in the field matched that feat. It was only a horror 79 in the 3rd round that took him out of contention for the title. But he came back with a 69 on a windy final day and should come into this event both encouraged and determined following his showing last week. A chance for him to pick up some overdue Ryder Cup points.
Finally, the rank outsider is Domingo Hospital. Like Martin, he opened his 2001 account at the Open de Espana and like Martin he figured on the Sunday leaderboard as well. He eventually finished 9th with the only blot on an otherwise excellent week being the quadruple-bogey he had at the 348-yard 13th in the 2nd round. Eliminate the four shots dropped on that hole and he would have finished 2nd! Like Martin, he is not long off the tee, but has a good short game and will be encouraged by his showing last week. Might even sneak a top-5 this week!
Outright plays:
Miguel Angel Martin to win 40/1 e.w. @
Surrey or
Victor Chandler
Andrew Coltart to win 40/1 e.w. @
Surrey
Domingo Hospital to win 125/1 e.w. @
William Hill [5 places option]
DTB, seeing as your asking ... IMO, Lawrie may well figure this week and particularly if the wind blows. But he is not particularly accurate off the tee and comes off two missed cuts on the PGA Tour. Rather like O'Meara and his golden year, I think all that globe-trotting on the back of a Major win can seriously impair your golf.
