Andalucia Masters 2017 - Valderrama GC, Spain

After an absence of 6 years, the Andalucia Masters makes it's way back on to the European Tour this week to be played at the very challenging Valderrama GC. The Tournament was last played here in 2010 & 2011. It disappeared from the tour very abruptly when it was announced just 4 weeks prior to the scheduled 2012 event that it was being pulled. The course famously hosted the Ryder Cup in 1997, the American Express Championship in 1999 and 2000 as well as the Volvo Masters from 1988 to 2008 with a brief 5 year break when it was played at the Montecastillo GC between 1997-2001. From an Irishman's perspective, its been a good part of the world for Irish golfers where Ronan Raftery, Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke, Pádraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell have all won the Andalucia Masters or Volvo Masters. Spanish Open titles have also gone the way of Pádraig Harrington, Peter Lawrie, Eamon D'arcy and Eddie Pollard. Five former US Masters winners have won this event and Tiger Woods & Mike Weir wins at those American Express Championships pushes the number to 7!

Valderrama sorts out the men from the boys, and those who like to spray it off the tee may as well not bother this week. A good accuracy tee to green is required here and the small tricky greens will require a week with a solid approach game and for me, those that possess strong driving accuracy and approach stats, are the ones to get onside this week. This already questions the market leader's ability to win here. Jon Rahm may well contend but at 5/1 he really is too short but we must consider the price against the ability of the field. Course specialist, Sergio Garcia has a tremendous record here and he'll be keen to keep that record going but with new clubs in the bag and extra attention back home as a newly married man and a chisler on the way, I'm expecting too much attention being afforded by the locals to Sergio here this week. They are the men to beat for sure and in a field that is relatively weak for a course of such stature, hosting, it's an event I dont want to get too involved in.

Shane Lowry did not make my shortlist on Monday purely on price but as alluded to in last week's post, I'm at odds to start rejecting players purely based on my ill-perceived "value". Lowry has been in solid form of late and his ball striking is ideal for Valderrma, as his results in the past prove having finished 4th in 2011 and 18th in 2010. He's a best price 16/1 (I made him 20/1) so I'm gonna wait and see does he drift in the morning to the 20.00+ mark given he's out early. I backed Graeme McDowell when he won here in 2010 @ 15/1, with 2010 being a strong year for this blog, so perhaps the Irish affiliation at around the same price may just be what I need to consider.(not reason for backing him of course!)
Martin Kaymer is on record saying he loves Valderrama GC and having backed him a couple of weeks ago I wouldn't be surprised to see his drought end here this week. Like Lowry though, I'll wait for the off and see if his price drifts tomorrow afternoon on the back of high morning scores. He plays alongside Harrington & Rahm. Lowry plays alongside Garcia, so the preference before the off is the Irishman.
(Results page will be updated tomorrow with these selections if made)

England's Chris Hanson has been quite solid this season with 6 TOP20s from his 27 starts. His strong accuracy game will serve him well here, sitting in the TOP10 on tour for both DA & GIR.  At 125.00 he could be worth chancing but I'm keeping away here this week. I'm not enamoured by his TOP10/TOP20 odds @ 8.00 & 4.00 respectively either. I've spent a bit longer than usual this week going through the shortlist and the rest of the field and I have no confidence in any upset here.