Tuesday 12 May 2015 18:21, UK
Ben Coley reveals his top tips ahead of the Open de Espana, where Spaniard Sergio Garcia is the favourite on home soil.
Given the insults he received from certain sections of the crowd at Sawgrass, I can’t help but snigger now that Sergio Garcia heads to El Prat for the Open de Espana, where he’s the clear and deserved favourite.
Joking aside, the stick Garcia had to endure on Sunday has no place in golf and you’ll see none of it in Spain, where El Nino is considered the natural successor to Seve. He may never fulfil expectations, or exceed them in the way that Ballesteros did, but Sergio has already built a top-class career and could win this title at a canter.
I actually think that he’ll be all the more focused to produce having lost a play-off last week and being able to soak in the adoration of the crowds will be a massive boost – the type Sergio thrives on. If it weren’t for the fact that he was so poor on the greens at Sawgrass, I’d be willing to back the class act in an otherwise wide-open renewal but on balance he is best opposed.
In that spirit let’s focus on sneaking some each-way value with Max Kieffer the pick of the lot.
This German hails from the same city as Martin Kaymer and while some way behind his compatriot, he is steadily building a consistent profile which includes 10 cuts made from 10 tournaments played so far in 2015.
Kieffer was involved in that record-breaking play-off for this title two years ago at El Saler and was fifth at PGA Catalunya last season, so another switch in venue to a course he doesn’t know isn’t too much of an issue.
Certainly, the prospect of wind sweeping across the layout as it did when Thomas Aiken won the title here in 2011 is a positive where Kieffer is concerned and he can sneak inside the top 10 or so, thus giving us a good run at a massive winner.
At 66/1, Matteo Manassero looks worth chancing as he continues to edge back into the sort of form which saw him win four European Tour titles before turning 20.
Manassero endured a difficult 2014 both on and off the course but finishes of 59-29-18 across his last three events represent progressive form and something to build on.
The Italian was inside the top 30 here in 2011 and only made two fewer birdies than the eventual champion, so the course looks a decent enough fit.
I was surprised to see David Horsey in at 80/1 given the fact we know he can win and that he’s played nicely over the last two months.
Horsey has hit the frame in two of his last four starts in the event, including here, and his neat-and-tidy game is really well suited to the test at hand.
Finally, Gregory Bourdy should go well at 40/1. A proven winner who plays his best golf when the emphasis is on keeping it in play, Bourdy has been seventh and 15th in two starts at the course and already has three top-10 finishes to his name this season.
Last time out in China he ranked second in greens hit while he was fourth before that in the Shenzhen International, so the ball-striking he depends upon is there and if the putter behaves he won’t be far away.
