Well reading between the lines this looks like it could be a tough test this week.Apparently the rough is very thick so accuracy from the tee should be very benificial this week.According to the weather people on The European Tour website strong winds of upto 25kmh are predicted on the afternoon of the first 2 days as well which will also add to the challenge.Rain is also predicted later in the week.The four winners around this course when it has been used for various European Tour tournaments were Alvaro Quiros,Peter Lawrie,Soren Kjeldsen and Ricardo Gonzalez.That would suggest long and medium hitters can function round here but i personally would be looking more towards the straight hitting brigade.If you look at the top 20 on the leaderboards the four times this course has been used on tour,straighter hitters are more prevalent.So my picks are as follows...


Matteo Manassero-Played well in Andalucia a few weeks back,has won in Spain before at Sergio's event and this course sounds like it should be up his street.Also well rested as he didn't play in any of the last 3 events in Asia.

Joost Luiten-Played well here the last time this course was used in 2010 for The Spanish Open and generally plays well in this part of the world.Has been slightly disappointing for me this year after getting his first tour win last year but has shown signs of a return to form the last couple of events.

Damien McGrane-Another who played well here in the 2010 Spanish Open and has also performed well various times in this part of the world.If it does get wet and windy as predicted he won't mind it one bit.Has been in decent form this season and for me is well worth a punt at a big price.I was trying to avoid players coming back from the Asian events this week but McGrane is one of the iron men of the tour and seems to tee it up most weeks.

Fabrizio Zanotti-The fact that he's coming back from three straight weeks in Asia is definitely off putting for me but i'm willing to take a punt at a big price.Had a good week in China on a course that wouldn't play to his strength and missed the cut last week due to a horror first round 81.So at least he had last weekend off.Has had a poor season so far but hopefully he's starting to pick up now.Has played some good golf in Spain the last few years,is generally one of the straighter players and i'm sure he'll enjoy being back in a country where he can speak his native tongue.

Matthew Baldwin-Has had a steady first season on tour so far and looks a promising player to me.From his stats,looks a fairways and greens type of player and as befits someone from Southport with an attachment to Royal Birkdale,should flourish if the weather turns nasty.Putting seems to have been holding him back so far but according to his Twitter page has been working with top putting coach Harold Swash.Throw in the fact his one Challenge Tour victory came on Spanish soil(granted it was in The Canaries) and i think he adds up to a bet at big prices.

Good luck to all...

Westwood, Tringale, Duke, Huh and Bill Haas.
GL everyone.

Duh not playing in either as far as I can see

Speculative Ricaro Santos first round leader each way at 225/1.
Nobody shot lower under par than him in his last tournament in China.... before you take away drop shots
Hope he can keep the dropshots away for one round and keep up his scoring...

Good luck.

Yes mate, took some at 40's earlier in the week.

I don't back much pre tourny I am generally laying, but the odd one that stands out gets a bit, and for whatever reason I was silly enough to see this as a stand out price. The pain will soon hit!

Scorers just boosted the old Christmas fund.

Hi Frames Hi Denno, hope you are both having a nice day.

Just switched on and wondering what issues with the scoring there were, either of you enlighten me?

thanks

greelo

Pablo being shown as -4 after 4 prob.....

Fleetwood off to a shocker. Thought the 8 must be wrong but now followed with a double.

You can't bogey them all unless you bogey the first 4 Ross.

Ross Fisher!...WTF

Fookin hell.

Try telling Paul Lawrie that denno!

Rough must be shocking plus very wet.

Yep.

First spanish open i have missed in 4 years...not regreting it at the moment..looks very bleak..

Added Larrazabal @ 25,right in this.
Let's see what Miguel does in the afternoon.

Scoring suggests conditions have improved from this morning...

Very good shout on Micheel there ericthecat.Don't know if you're just on him outright or played him in the first round leader market but a good shout either way.

what's the weather today?
hope it evens out for my bet on Morrison.