Outright Picks - European Tour
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Canarias Open de Espana (1pt):
Bradley Dredge to win 25/1 e.w. @
Victor
Chandler
Very capable player, particularly with respect to the rest of the field,
and while he has not rediscovered the form of 2002-03, he is still a
player who tends to feature if not directly contend. In four of his last
five events, he has finished in the top-15 so he is not far from being a
potential winner. He has a good record around the Iberian Peninsula and
should be at lower odds.
Stephen Gallacher to win 33/1 e.w. @
Victor
Chandler
Gallacher looked very impressive on Sunday and while he finished behind
Gonzalez, I have no hesitation in backing him at this price this week.
He had finished in the top-10 in Qatar and returned to the Tour last
week after the birth of his daughter and showed no rustiness at all. His
record in this event is not impressive, but this is a new course and it
was only some incredible luck with Gonzalez's errant drives that denied
him victory on the Spanish mainland at the weekend.
Greg Owen to win 50/1 e.w. @
Coral
Rodiles at 100/1 is tempting for a player returning from a rib injury
but who still commands one of the Ryder Cup places, but Owen gets the
third berth instead. He finished 5th in his last event in Spain - the
2003 Volvo Masters - and was 3rd in this event on the Canary Islands two
years ago. He needed to play well in the wind that week, just as he did
in the two Middle East events last month when he finished in the top-10
both times. The wind should blow this week and that should suit Owen.
Final update: 1-1; +0.06pts
Dredge 5th
Gallacher 16th
Owen dns
Small profit as Dredge tied for Sandelin for 5th place. Pity he
didn't birdie the easy par-five 17th hole to finish in the tie for 2nd
place and that neither selection started playing until the 2nd round.
But no regrets that they didn't win as Shaker did pick Cavaer at 299/1!!
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