Holder Garcia favourite to defend his crown

Golf: The European tour stays in the Iberian peninsula with the Canarias Open de Espana moving to a new venue, the Golf Costa…

Golf: The European tour stays in the Iberian peninsula with the Canarias Open de Espana moving to a new venue, the Golf Costa Adeje. Sergio Garcia is back to defend the title he won last year and deservedly heads the betting.

His form hasn't been great this season but there were flashes in the US Masters to suggest his game is improving but his 8 to 1 chances seem a little short.

The field also includes another recent winner in Brian Davis, one of the runners-up in Portugal last week.

He won the title in 2000, albeit over a different course but form-wise is playing well and at 16 to 1 may have a few supporters. The same can be said of Welsh duo Jamie Donaldson (40/1) and Bradley Dredge (10/1) who along with Davis finished in second place last week.

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The value bet though could be Greg Owen (33/1), fifth last week, and with a decent record in this event.

Ireland's Paul McGinley heads the Irish challenge at 22/1 and will be hoping he can join a list of Irish winners of this tournament that includes Eddie Polland (2), Eamonn Darcy and in more recent times, Padraig Harrington.

Betting: 8/1 S Garcia, 10/1 B Dredge, 16/1 B Davis, 18/1 JM Olazabal, 20/1 P Casey, 22/1 P McGinley, 25/1 P Price, 33/1 G Owen, S Hansen, 40/1 A Hansen, J Kinston, J Donaldson.

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan is an Irish Times sports writer