Spanish Open preview, picks & analysis

HOT news...stop the press...hold the front page...it is May and the European Tour has finally arrived in EUROPE! Hurrah!

It's been to Australia, South Africa, India, China, Singapore, Mauritius, Abu Dhabi, Dubai but not it has come home, and it is staying here for a few weeks.

Twelve months ago, Miguel Angel Jimenez won the Open de Espana, becoming the first player over the age of 50 to triumph on the European Tour. It meant something extra to him because it was his national open and it was his 27th attempt to win it, beating  Richard Green and Thomas Pieters in a play-off at PGA Catalunya Resort.

The 21-time European Tour winner, who is now 51, hopes to extend his record as the oldest winner in European Tour history by retaining that title at Real Golf Club El Prat, near Barcelona. As he proved at the world matchplay, when he almost came to blows with Keegan Bradley, Jimenez still has plenty of fire in his belly. He faces a strong field, led by Sergio Garcia, who lost the Players Championship in a playoff. Garcia is a proud Spaniard and would love to win again in front of his home fans.

Another former winner is Alvaro Quiros, who took the title in 2010 and was expected to win many, many more tournaments around the world. He has suffered a series of injury problems and a loss of form but there are some encouraging signs that the Spaniard is on the verge of returning to his best form.

Pablo Larrazabal is another home player who will relish the challenge of playing in Spain. Larrazabal is a highly emotional player and if he gets off to a good start he could walk away with the title - and there would be no happier golfer.

Alexander Levy, Tommy Fleetwood and Chris Wood are also in the field and any one of them is capable of winning. Fleetwood reached the quarter-finals of the world matchplay at San Francisco. There have never been any doubts about his ability, but playing so well in such world-class company could be a serious catalyst for Fleetwood to take the next step in his journey.

The last time the tournament was played at Real Golf Club El Prat in 2011 it was a South African, Thomas Aiken, who claimed the title, and he returns to the venue buoyed by a fourth place finish in last week’s AfrAsia Bank Mauritius.

Aiken’s victory four years ago was his maiden win on The European Tour and he dedicated it to the memory of Seve Ballesteros, who lost his long battle with cancer on the weekend of the tournament.

“It was my first European Tour win and it was an extremely emotional week with the passing of Seve and it being in Spain,” said Aiken. “He was an amazing ambassador for the game, not just in Spain but in the whole of Europe and the whole world. It brought a tear to everyone’s eye that week, so there are a lot of good and a lot of bad memories for me going back to El Prat."

Spanish Open Betting Picks:

To Win: Tommy Fleetwood 25/1. He is due another victory

Each way: Pablo Larrazabal 28/1. Should rise to the occasion

Each way: Sergio Garcia 6/1. Certain to be in the mix

Spanish Open Fantasy Picks:

Tommy Fleetwood 25/1. Really gutsy player

Pablo Larrazabal 28/1. Will be cheered to the hilt

Sergio Garcia 6/1. A touch of class

Alexander Levy 25/1. Ready for another win

Alvaro Quiros 80/1. If he drives well, he could win by a street

Chris Wood 50/1. The tall Englishman is a due a good week

Julien Quesne 50/1. Another gifted French golfer

Richie Ramsay 30/1. Playing with a new-found confidence

Thorbjorn Olesen 33/1 Looking to carry last week's form to Spain

Victor Dubuisson 25/1. Needs a BIG week