Open de Espana - European Tour

[FC Basher]

Last years winner Charl Schwartzel (different course) is fav here and also holds the record jointly of -9 for the first 18 holes at this course the Real Club de Golf de Sevilla,was his only win last season and has yet to fire this year 7th in Portugal last time out.

Second fav Niclas Fasth did win this event in Spain in 2006 and is a talented golfer highlighted by his best placed 5th last season in the order of merit

Third fav Jothan Edfors won three times in 2006 but 2007 was forgetable for him which saw him slump from 10th in 2006 to 67th in 2007.

Darren Clarke last weeks winner in Asia is avaliable at 28's if he really is back on track could be value,but he did finish last weeks tournie with a 73.

Monty is 40's for this event which he doesnt seem to care to much for as he has generally avoided with only one apperence in 2006 since 2000 were he finished t-28th at Valle Romano.

Course Information
Course
Opened – 1992
Course Designer – Jose Maria Olazabal
Special Features - Good well balanced course providing a good test for players
General Playability -
Undulating/ flat - quite flat
Tree lined/exposed - Palm trees and fir trees in abundance.
Many / few water hazards - Water hazards in play on holes 3,6,9,14,16 & 18
Changes to the course - The Course was toughened for 2004 World Cup but no changes since then.

Greens
Type of grass - POA BENT (Penn cross)
Height of cut - 3 mm
Speed/stimp reading – 11.6 Tuesday morning
Any specific comments –

Fairways
Type of grass – Bermuda 419 over seeded with Rye Grass
Height of cut – 8mm
General width and contouring – 25-30 yards in average
Any specific comments - Not much bounce on fairways due to heavy rain prior to tournament week

Tees
Type of grass – Bermuda 419 over seeded with Rye Grass
Height of cut - 8 mm
Any specific comments - No

Collars
Type of grass - Bermuda 419 over seeded with Rye Grass
Height of cut – 8 mm
Any specific comments - No

Rough
Type of grass – Bermuda 419 over seeded with Rye Grass
Semi-rough - Height of cut – 25mm
Intermediate Height of cut – 64mm
Rough - Height of cut – 100mm
Any specific comments – The rough is very consistent and penal.

Weather
In advance – Heavy rain (up to 150 mm) 2-3 weeks before the event.
Forecast for tournament – Sunny and calm

Other Features
The rough is very thick therefore accuracy off the tee will be very important

[Snodser]

I doubt DC will repeat last weeks performance, probably still has a hangover . Don't believe Derksen will be able to bounce back either.

Looks pretty open to me though I must admit the small, dimpled, round (as opposed to oval) ball limits my expertise .

As he's on home ground I've backed Jimenez at 22/1 ew and will nip in now & again hear to see what the real experts have to say .

[Beanie]

Fantastic shout there Snods - looks like I'm a bit late for the MAJ party but I shall be joining you all the same!

Garrido is a hopeless leader as he showed by sweating up in front today, only shooting level par which around this course is pretty miserable. If he can't hack it in round 3 then in the final group with Jimenez tomorrow I think he'll struggle even more.

His stellar 2nd round will give him every chance regardless of what he shoots tomorrow but I cant see him closing it out.

The problem then is who catches him. There quite a few bunched up behind but none are sticking out as likely to fire the necessary score to take this by the scruff of the neck. Jimenez looks good but is plenty short enough at just under 3/1.

If Garrido isn't going to go out and shoot a solid round then -16 could win this, and given that -8/-9 is possible round here then that potentially brings those on -8 and even -7 into outside contention.

Of those the pick would be Nystrom and Jonzon - huge huge outsiders though.

Into the main pack and Lawrie looks a little overpriced for a guy that is able to shoot low and hold it together.

Up top its a toss up between laying Garrido and taking Jimenez, but at better odds i'll do the latter, maybe just a little value in the near 3/1. He is in the last group with Garrido and given the way he has played the opening 9 this week will heap on the pressure early on. After that its a case of avoiding anyone shooting the lights out from the chasing pack.

3pts Jimenez @ 3.70
0.5pts Lawrie @ 36
0.1pts Nystrom @ 330
0.1pts Jonzon @ 650

[Beanie]

Lawrie wins

[Snodser]

Did'nt he (nearly ) do well................triple bogey on ten for Spain's best known poney-tail..

Nevermind, he did enough to pay the ew so no harm done


Well done Beans , I never have the time (or the coverage) to follow these things in running, good call .

Hope Harry can keep this "rub of the green" going in upcoming events