THE European Tour moves to Spain this week for the Open de Espana at the Real Club de Golf El Prat, half an hour to the north of Barcelona and the Greg Norman-designed course is one of Sergio Garcia’s favourites courses in the world.
I tipped Emiliano Grillo for the Volvo China Open and finished a credible tied third after a 73 first round.
Since turning pro in late 2011 he has improved his rankings every year on the Tour and so far this year is 22nd.
With stats of driving accuracy 69.59%, GIR of 75% and putting average of 29.4 he seems to have the all-round game to win and win soon. The 23-year-old is second favourite for the title but with Garcia just 5-1 you can have 25s on Grillo.
Francesco Molinari is back on the European Tour for the first time since December. He’s been plying his trade on the PGA Tour where he’s not had a great time but his stats are good – in driving accuracy he is first (76.75%), 14th in GIR (69.92%).
Playing again in Europe could be the start of the season for Francesco and think he could get a place this weekend.
Over on the PGA Tour we have the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow, NC. If you are a horses for courses man Ryan Moore looks a good selection.
In the last three Championships he has finished T5, T6 and T18. He is ranked 16th in driving accuracy with a GIR of 66% and although he missed the cut at The Players last week maybe playing on a course he regularly performs well on could be just what the doctor ordered.
I’m finding if difficult to pick between two of my favourites this year, Henrik Stenson and Hideki Matsuyama. If it was just down to stats the Swede is the better but Matsuyama has seven top-10 finishes to Stenson’s three, although the Japanese player has played more tournaments.
Finally if you take the man in form that doesn’t help as they both T17 in The Players. After all that I’ve decided to take them both as I would hate to pick one and the other goes and wins.
For a change this week I’ve decided to have a small bet on the ladies. I’ve always liked watching the women's game when I can and this week the LPGA are in Virginia for the Kingsmill Championship.
World No.1, New Zealander Lydia Ko, has two wins and an additional five top-10 finishes this season and is my pick here.
Recommended Bets
Emiliano Grillo 2pts ew (25-1, Betfred)
Francesco Molinari 0.5pt ew (35-1, bet365)
Ryan Moore 1.5pts ew (40-1, William Hill)
Henrik Stenson 1pt ew (20-1, 888sport, BetVictor)
Hideki Matsuyama 1pt ew (25-1, BetVictor)
Lydia Ko 2pts win (6-1, BetVictor, Ladbrokes)
Ace Venturer
In December 2020 we sadly 
Morning ace
Was on matsuyama last week and sneaked a top20 place☺
Raal
Any thoughts would be appreciated for this week thanks?
mint, don’t know about raaljaca but I’m on Grillo and Aiken each way.
Daft ew double
Quiros – risky I know
Kisner – playing well
GL all
What about McIlroy? He is playin pretty well apart from his putting? He seems to like the venue having won here before and lost in a play off last time out i believe, a lot of the top players not present either, 10-3 best price might be great value
Shortish enough price i know but if he has a good opening day he could go in as far as evens.
Just back from Espana from a well earned break..paid for by my golf winnings..anyway heres the winners this week guys.
Espana open..howell uhlein quesne fraser
Pga..martin oosty m.hoffman sabbatini kisner
Lpga w/o big 3..stanford hy.kim i.lee
Web.com. .landry long s.love
Had fowler last week and martin..so nice profit…also neymar to score 2 plus last night…KACCHING..
TOP 20 DOUBLE: Wells Fargo – Adam Scott 6/5 Spanish Open – Pablo Larrazabal 6/5 DOUBLE PAYS 3.84/1(skybet) gl
hello
My pga tips are without ROARY..guys
my pga picks are
p. mickelson
k. kisner
j. thomas
d. berger
european tour
p. llarazabal
Great pick with grillo ace was on him that day too it won’t be long before he wins looks a good young player good luck mate .
Just waiting for lees pick for the Fargo now
Gone with Grillo and Moore each way double. Ace’s golf tips are as good as ive seen online. Keep up the top tipping Ace.
Bill haas 25/1 good course and current form, price is a touch lower than I expected but I’ll still take it
Day 1 3 ball tip
KISNER 19/10- a scott – stenson
Kisners on fire with 2 second place finishes out of 3. Scott is tinkering with his putter and stensons has a terrible record here. No way should he be the outsider here
I think Stenson is one to avoid this week.He’s missed the cut on his last three visits to Quail Hollow.Ryan Moore and Bill Haas for me this week.
3 guys for me as per
Bill haas 30/1 played well in final round last week and has been in decent form all year and has played well here in past with couple of top 5 finishes
Jb homes 35/1 again he is in good form this year and won here last year
Kevin kisner 35/1 this guy played so well last week and must have thought he had won but the pressure of a playoff against 2 big names went against him Kevin finished 6th last year so knows how to compete here
Willie McGuire thanks for the compliment. Hope your double comes up this weekend
20 e/w on S Cink 35/1 here’s hoping the veteran can keep it up
Open de Espana
V.Duibosson 30/1
P.Uihlein 40/1
C.Pigem 200/1
Wells Fargo
R.Moore 33/1
R.Knox 66/1
Good work Get it , cheers
KISNER 19/10 3 ball winner***
Today’s 3 ball tip – HAAS 7/4- w simpson- oosthaizen. I expect haas to better the Even par round of yesterday. It’ll be hard for Simpson to follow up that great round and I’m not fancying oosthaizen to do anything great. 6.10 pm