2023 Andalucia Masters Preview, Picks & Analysis

THE DP World Tour completes a two-week stopover in Spain this week with the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters moving to a new venue at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande for the ninth edition of the event.

Adrian Otaegui will be looking for a repeat of the sensational form he displayed last year in winning this tournament by six strokes.

Otaegui was delighted to earn his first win at Valderrama, a course he holds in high regard. He said: "I'm very, very proud. I feel so happy to have my first win in Spain, in front of these crowds, on my favourite golf course in Spain. It's just unbelievable. I'm very, very happy with everything, the week went perfect.”

We are now entering the final straight, with just the Qatar Masters and Nedbank Challenge to come before we reach the DP World Tour Championship. 

US Open champion Wyndham Clark and fellow American Matt Kuchar will be hoping to spoil the party for Europe’s finest. Clark is a hugely impressive ball striker who has taken huge strides forward in 2023 and is likely to feature in the final shake-up come Sunday afternoon.

Time is running out for a number of players who are at risk of losing their Tour cards.

The likes of Ryan Fox, Victor Perez, Rasmus Hojgaard, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Thorbjorn Olesen, Robert MacIntyre, Jordan Smith, Adri Arnaus and Ewen Ferguson have no such concerns.

Fox is third in the Race to Dubai, closely followed by Meronk, with Perez in sixth place and MacIntyre in 10th place. Rory McIlroy, who is not playing this week, has a huge lead at the top of the standings, but a big finish to the season for Fox could still see him catch the Northern Irishman.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

The New Zealander won the BMW PGA Championship and was in contention at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and will be looking for another big week as he looks towards Dubai.

The top 116 will be safe for another season.

And that means that the likes of Oliver Bekker, Wilco Nienaber, Freddy Schott, Nicolas Colsaerts, George Coetzee, Alexander Levy, David Horsey and Andrew Johnston need to find something - and fast.

Schott has missed 17 cuts this season but the 22-year-old German has also shown some encouraging recent form. He hits the ball a long way and has a terrific short game. Many pundits believe he could be a star of the future - and it only takes one good week.

Levy is a five-time winner on the DP World Tour. He seems to have been around forever but is still only 33 years old. He has struggled with form and injury in recent years and finds himself in 121st place in the standings. 

Tournament Winners:

It was won in 2017 and 2018 by Sergio Garcia, in 2019 by Christiaan Bezuidenhout, in 2020 by John Catlin, in 2021 by Matt Fitzpatrick and last year by Adrian Otaegui.

The Course:

Real Club de Golf Sotogrande is par 72 measuring just 7,099 yards. It was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr in 1964 and was his first course in Europe. It was also one of his favourites. It features 100 bunkers, undulating greens and wide, tree-lined fairways.

Form Guide:

Ryan Fox is in sensational form once again. He is renowned as being a big hitter but he is underrated on the greens. You don’t achieve the success he has without holing more than your fair share of putts.

To Win:

Ryan Fox. Would love to put on a show for the Spanish gallery

Each Way:

Wyndham Clark. He hasn’t come all this way just to make up the numbers

Each Way:

Adrian Meronk. Hugely impressive 

Five to Follow:

Ryan Fox. Will go for everything, as usual

Wyndham Clark. World class

Adrian Meronk. Due another big week

Robert MacIntyre. Looking for a big finish to the season

Thorbjorn Olesen. Has enjoyed a consistent year