Andalucia Masters tips: Alex Fitzpatrick ready to step out of the shadows in Spain

The Real Club de Sotogrande is a new venue on the main tour, and offers an exposed course of wide tree-lined fairways and elevated greens that are protected by man-made lakes and plentiful bunkers.

Accuracy off the tee and into the green will be pivotal for those looking to take on this 7,099-yard par-72 course and make the cut, especially with rain and wind expected during the first couple of days

Wyndham Clark comes over to Spain for the first time and has been installed as the early 10/1 favourite. Clark’s form tailed off in recent months and he was poor in the Ryder Cup, so there appears to be little value based upon that.

Recent winner on tour Ryan Fox is a merited low price after finishing third at the Irish Open and then landing the BMW Championship at Wentworth. A rare dip in form saw him miss the cut at the Open De France, but he quickly bounced back to finish runner-up in the rain affected Alfred Dunhill links tournament two weeks ago.

He will tee off at around 11/1, but much more enticing is the 18/1 price carried by Adrian Meronk, who has a great opportunity in this field this week. This course looks set to suit his game suit and he must be keen to finish 2023 well on this tour.

Suggested bet: Adrian Meronk each-way in the Andalucia Masters

Others to consider

Alexander Bjork returns to action here, still looking for his first win in 2023 after a number of near misses. If back on form the 22/1 that is available seems fair, and that value applies to Rasmus Hojgaard, whose form is good without doing quite enough to make a serious charge.

Adrian Otaegui has enjoyed success on his home country courses in the past and might be ready to enter the fray at 35/1 this week, while the reliable Matt Kuchar is another American journeying over to play in Spain. Kuch now looks past his best these days and 40/1 seems way too firm a price to me.

Much more eye-catching is the same price carried by in-form Nathan Kimsey, who has contended on both tours in 2023 and looks a sure-fire future winner. The young Aussie played well to finish third at the Open de Espagne last week and if he can continue that form, he can go even closer here.

Suggested bet: Nathan Kimsey each-way in the Andalucia Masters

One player surely destined to step up soon is Alex Fitzpatrick, whose recent form suggests he is ready to step out of the shadows of his illustrious brother, Matt.

Fitzy junior continues to trend towards the top of the leaderboard on the DP World Tour and has shown up well in the U.S.  He has made the cut in each of his last nine outings, notably finishing runner-up at the ISPS Handa World Invitational and third at the European Masters. 

He also seemed in decent form last week to earn another top-20 finish and he looks primed to put up a good show in Sotogrande, so at 50/1 he looks a tidy each-way punt.

Suggested bet: Alex Fitzpatrick each-way in the Andalucia Masters

Two outsiders to give some thought to:  Marcus Armytage, aka The Bullet, has missed more than his fair share of cuts recently, but was in good shape to share second spot in the Alfred Dunhill links, and perhaps deserved more love from the bookies than his 150/1 price indicates. 

And last but not least, an out-of-form Spaniard, who has won on the DP World Tour. Adri Arnaus has lost his form of late, and finished down the field last week, but this second attempt on home soil suggests that 10/1 seems big for such a talented golfer.

• All prices provided by Planet Sport Bet were correct at the time of writing but could be subject to change.

 

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