Tipster: Stanley

Algarve Open de Portugal

Outright plays (1pt):

Raphael Jacquelin to win 18/1 e.w. @ UKBetting
Take out his two events in Australia and the one in Singapore - none of which bear a close resemblance to the conditions on view this week - and Jacquelin's finishes this year read: 5th, 2nd, 4th, 20th and 3rd. That form is not to be sniffed at in this weak field. Having already played on this course in 1998 and 1999 - 12th and 24th - he should have a very good week.

Greg Owen to win 20/1 e.w. @ Stan James
Owen also has course experience, playing in this event from 1998 to 2000, finishing in 6th position in the last year. He has been similarly impressive over the past couple of months, finishing in the top-10 in three of his last four starts. Not a proven closer of events, but he did win the British Masters last year by three shots so there is hope that he will do more than just contend.

Rob Rashell to win 80/1 e.w. @ Bet365, Stan James, Paddy Power and Victor Chandler
There is a similar hope with Rashell, a player who had struggled to move up the professional Tours since 1999 when he had been one of the leading collegiate players in the States. He failed to progress beyond the first stage of the PGA Tour Q-School, but finished in the top-3 in stages 1 & 2 at the European Tour Q-School and secured his card at the final in Spain in November. Since then he has played in two events on the European International Tour, finishing 10th in the Hong Kong Open in December and 2nd in the Madeira Island Open last week. That's rather impressive for a rookie and so is backed this week, particularly as very few of this week's weak field have prior course experience.

Final update: 0-3; -3.00pts

Jacquelin mc
Owen mc
Rashell mc

Well, that was certainly the kiss of death for those three players! Rashell had been going well and had been in the top-20 for most of the 2nd round until he dropped five shots in three shots on his back nine.