Home boys are poor value for money

Some of the European Tour's heavyweights have answered the call of home and returned for this week's Spanish Open, which takes place at the PGA Golf de Catalunya in Girona, starting on Thursday.

Sergio Garcia, Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez - all based on the lucrative US Tour, with mixed success, for the early part of the year - are back in a quest to become the first Spaniard to win his native championship since one Seve Ballesteros accomplished the feat in 1995.

Indeed, Ballesteros, who also won in 1981 and 1985, is the only Spanish player in the relatively recent past to have put his hands on the trophy: the previous Spanish winner was Antonio Garrido in 1972. All of which would suggest that it is probably wiser to steer clear of a pressure-laden Spaniard when it comes to parting with a few pounds.

Better value could come further down the odds. Ian Poulter, at 25 to 1, is obviously a form player having won the Moroccan Open and is a player who is not afraid to go for the jugular when a title is at stake, while Phillip Price's consistency makes him an attractive price at 40 to 1.

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However, the best bet could be Dean Robertson (above), a vastly under-rated Scottish player who has shown some good early-season form. Robertson is on offer at 40 to 1, which makes him a good each-way bet.

7/1 - Sergio Garcia (Spain), Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain).

8/1 - Darren Clarke (Ireland).

16/1 - Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain).

20/1 - Robert Karlsson (Sweden).

25/1 - Ian Poulter (England).

33-1 - Ian Woosnam (Wales).

40/1 - Dean Robertson (Scotland), Gary Orr (Scotland), Trevor Immelman (South Africa), Phillip Price (Wales), David Lynn (England), Peter Lonard (Australia).

50/1 - Matt Kuehne (USA), Jarrod Moseley (Australia), Andrew Coltart (Scotland), Tony Johnstone (Zimbabwe), Greg Owen (England), Andrew Coltart (Scotland), Elliot Boult (New Zealand), Nic Henning (South Africa).

Prices supplied by Ladbrokes Ireland.


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