Niall Lyons has five tips for the Andalucía Masters in Sotogrande, Spain.
Andalucia Masters
Valderrama now hosts a LIV Tour event so is banished to the sidelines for the time being on the DPWT as the Andalucia Masters heads to all but a new layout at the Real Club De Golf Sotogrande.
The vast majority will be playing this course for the first time and despite it holding the odd low-tier event down the years we have nothing to go on in terms of stats. Therefore, it is slightly blind this week. We could see a continuation of form from Madrid last week with the course having some similar characteristics but there looks to be a fair bit more water in play at this track.
Andalucia Masters Tips | Niall Lyons Golf Betting Tips
It's a par 72 at around 7100 yards so isn't long on the scorecard in the slightest. It's nearer the coast than most of these courses they play in Spain and with some poor enough weather forecast the first couple of days we could see those who play better on coastal tracks coming to the fore here.
One track that comes to mind that could be very similar to this is Meloneras Golf that held the Gran Canaria Open back in 2021 won by Garrick Higgo. That too is beside the coast, subject to winds and looks very similar to Sotogrande.
Rasmus Hojgaard at 28/1 (Eight Places)
Thorbjorn Olesen has a great record by the coast but a sorry effort in the Dunhill Links, an event in which he has a great record is enough to cool any enthusiasm about him around the 30/1. Instead my top selection goes the way of Rasmus Hojgaard.
Rasmus was granted full access to the European team room in Rome with an eye to him joining his brother next time out in New York. We have already seen the benefit Nicolas Colsaerts has received from that week in Italy with his 6th place in the Dunhill being his best result on tour for over three years.
After a blistering return at the weekend @BetGolfWorld is back with FIVE selections for the Andalucia Masters.
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Edoardo Molinari didn't disgrace himself last week either and now should be the perfect time for Rasmus to strike and get back in the winner's enclosure. The week before the Ryder Cup Hojgaard had an unbelievable week on the greens resulting in a 4th placed finish in Paris.
A top 25 in Scotland was a fair effort but he could do much more damage on a track such as this. His first win on tour came in Mauritius, another coastal track with many similar traits as this one. Rasmus will have gotten plenty of advice that week in Italy and he'll be expected to kick on from the experience.
Matthieu Pavon at 40/1 (Eight Places)
I wouldn't rule out a bounce from Francesco Molinari following what Colsaerts achieved a few weeks ago but having watched an absolute clinic from Mathieu Pavon last weekend I can't help but feel his run could continue and I'm happy to re-invest some of last weeks winnings around the 40/1 mark.
Pavon was overcome with emotion having landed his maiden tour victory on Sunday but the manner in which he did so kicking clear and not giving an ounce on Sunday was hugely impressive.
The couple of times that he missed the green on Sunday he got up and down with ease and his holing out during the final 18 was impeccable. He looked a different animal and we can't underestimate how much confidence he could take from that. 8th in Gran Canaria and 2nd in Mauritius suggest this course could be perfect for the follow up and he could be dangerous having been so comfortable over last weekend.
Marcus Helligkilde at 40/1 (Eight Places)
Nathan Kimsey could kick on following last weeks effort and with a Challenge Tour victory in this country is a danger. The bookies have a firm hold on his price though and instead I'll opt for another maiden who has a Challenge Tour Grand Final win in these parts in the shape of Marcus Helligkilde. The Dane has been in fine form lately making his last six cuts on the trot, the latest a top-ten finish last week in Madrid finishing with 64-68 over the weekend.
That was only two shots worse than the winner Pavon over the final two days who barely put a foot wrong. Helligkilde's finest hour came in this country when winning the Challenge Tour Final and it's worth noting he won on the Nordic League in this country also. Together with his fine performance last week this represents a fair opportunity to get off the mark. He may take inspiration from Pavon last week who landed his maiden win after seven years on the tour.
1.5pts each-way M.Helligkilde 40/1(1/5 8) Bet365 8 place market
Connor Syme at 66/1 (Six Places)
Connor Syme missed the cut last week and perhaps doesn't look in the same form than what he was a month or so ago but it's worth noting that Otaegui missed the cut at the Dunhill Links prior to winning this last year. Syme had a fair finish in Scotland but didn't hit the ground running last week in Madrid. However, this is much more up his alley with a short yardage on the scorecard and his accuracy with the driver should be a help if the wind blows the first couple of days.
The Scot was really unlucky throughout August and September playing some of the best golf of them all only for his putter to let him down. 3rd in the Omega, 7th at the Irish and 10th at Wentworth was a very impressive run of results and only one club stopped him from getting his maiden tour victory.
Clark looks somewhat of an uneasy favourite in unchartered territory so to speak so I'm happy to take him on with some who have shown recent form in stronger events. With little to go on in terms of stats for this course a lot depends upon what similar courses you believe could play a part here. Syme has form on both I consider relevant finishing 9th in Mauritius and 5th in Meloneras.
Santiago Tarrio Ben at 250/1 (Five Places)
Spanish players have a great record on home soil and it'd be foolish not to include one. Santiago Tarrio Ben suffers from a lack of distance and a trip to one of the shortest par 72's you'll see on tour must be a very welcome sight. Frankly he doesn't hit the ball long or straight off the tee so he's at a major disadvantage most weeks. He was one of the poorest off the tee last week but ranked 8th on approach, and 16th on the greens.
This track should give him a little relief off the tee, certainly length wise, and if he can continue that form with the irons that he showed last week on route to a top 30 finish then he could improve on that. 93rd in the Race to Dubai rankings he is far from secured his card yet so has plenty to play for in his home country this week. He handled the pressure when winning in his home country back in 2021, just down the road at the Real Golf Novo resort and anything between 150/1 and 200/1 looks worth chancing.
