Finca Cortesin offers spectacular views and a stunning challenge
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European golf is riding high, with Lee Westwood and Luke Donald at No. 1 and 2 in the world respectively, and the pair are among the favourites as Finca Cortesín Golf Club in Andalucia takes centre stage for the Volvo World Match Play Championship.
Tiger Woods is absent nursing an injury, while Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker have opted to take the week off. A number of other big names from the PGA Tour have opted to remain Stateside for the Crowne Plaza Invitational, but it should not detract from a tournament that offers a prize fund of €3.4m, has six of the top nine in the world participating and boasts all four current major champions.
Donald is the form man in world golf at present and it is no surprise that he heads the betting with bet365 at 13/2. The man from High Wycombe's claims are obvious as he secured victory in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona in February - a result that sparked his run to No. 2 in the world. He is ice cool under pressure, hits the ball straight which will always put his rivals under pressure, and his short game is the envy of the majority on tour.
Bunker bullets
- Paul Casey E/W for the World Match Play Championship - 16/1 at bet365
- Ian Poulter E/W for the World Match Play Championship - 16/1 at bet365
- Sergio Garcia E/W for the Crowne Plaza Invitational - 35/1 at bet365
But it is fair to say the value seekers have missed the boat. The format of the competition sees the 24-man field divided into eight groups of three, with the top two from each group progressing to the last 16. You would expect that to be a fairly straightforward task for Donald, but he does not have the easiest group as he is placed in a pool with defending champion Ross Fisher and Ryan Moore. As defending champion, Fisher will not give up his title without a fight while Moore is not in bad form - having made nine of ten cuts this season with two top-ten finishes.
Donald will in all probability make it to the weekend and two more wins would take him into the semi-finals, which would cover the cost of an each-way punt. But the bunker is of the opinion that value lies further afield than the big four of Donald, Westwood (7/1), Martin Kaymer (7/1) and Rory McIlroy (15/2).
Something which may count against Donald is that Finca Cortesín is a fearsome beast - measuring 7380 from the back tees and the feeling is that someone with a bit of added boot off the tee could flourish. Step forward Paul Casey. The Brit is fourth in the European Tour driving statistics at 301 yards off the tee and he has a fine matchplay record, having won the World Match Play in 2006 and finished runner-up in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in 2009 and 2010. He is highly likely to make it through from a group consisting of Alvaro Quiros and Soren Kjeldsen. And once into the last 16, odds of 16/1 will look excellent value.
Another player in the same odds bracket is confirmed matchplay star Ian Poulter. His form has been steady rather than spectacular this season, making all 10 cuts, but it could be he has been marking time ahead of a tilt at a format he knows and loves. Any player who guarantees a point in his Ryder Cup singles ahead of his match has the utmost faith in his ability and it is exactly what Poulter did before demolishing Matt Kuchar at Celtic Manor.
He is virtually certain to reach the knockout stages, being in a group containing Paul Lawrie and Francesco Molinari, and a couple of wins under his belt could fill Poulter with confidence for the weekend and a tilt at the title.
Over at the Crowne Plaza, it could be worth throwing a few quid each way on Sergio Garcia at 35/1. The Spaniard has shown signs of life in recent weeks and with time running out for him to get back into world's top 50 to guarantee his place in the US Open field, this could be the time for him to strike.
Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.
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Alex Livie
Alex Livie was editor of ESPN.co.uk
