The oracle is happy as Lowry to stick with Shane to come good with the Clara man topping his Valderrama selections.
Favourite Watch
There’s only one man in this category and he’s the unbackable 4/1 favourite across the board, Sergio Garcia. This week’s tournament host Garcia won here last year in a thrilling battle with Joost Luiten. T7 last time out in Portugal.
Doc’s Top-5 Best Each Way Bets
Shane Lowry 12/1
Another chance for Shane to end a tough Atlantic hopping season on a high here in Valderrama. It’s a course unlike any other on Tour and plays to all Shane’s strengths as evidenced by his T12, 4th, T19 record in his three visits to date. Didn’t happen over the last fortnight but that solo 6th in Portugal is still fresh and proves that he habitually contends on tracks he likes.
Soren Kjeldsen 20/1
Remains solid if unspectacular on Tour and had a good spell of three top-12’s through Denmark, Switzerland and Holland in September. Short and accurate Soren has the perfect game to negotiate the ball gobbling umbrella pines around Sotogrande. Second in 2010 here, 4th at the 2016 Open de Espana on the course in 2016 and T18 last year.
Joost Luiten 33/1
In the field and back on Tour after wrist surgery which has greatly curtailed his season. It might be crazy to back him on his first event back but then you look at his 2nd to Sergio in 2017, his 2nd to Beef at the Open de Espana in 2016 and his solo 5th here in 2010 and you wonder!
Nacho Elvira 50/1
Coming off a missed cut at Walton Heath but I have a feeling Nacho will go well in front of a home crowd this week. He impressed me at The Dunhill Links leading driving accuracy and posting T7 in Greens in Reg on his way to a T10 finish. Also, solo 4th at Crans (which I feel is the closest type test in Europe to Valderrama) and solo 3rd at the 2018 Open de Espana.
Jeunghun Wang 70/1
Played well in Switzerland this year and won two of three Tour events on tight tricky layouts. T29 at Walton Heath last week, I think he could spring a surprise here.
Long Odds Glory Shot
Edoardo Molinari 80/1
Great to see Dodo returning to form and a T24 at the Dunhill Links followed by a T16 last week will have done wonders for his confidence. Brilliant here last year for 36 holes before imploding at the weekend. I think he’s in the form to keep it together for 72 holes this time around.
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