Volvo World Match Play Championship Preview & Picks

Weekly feature from David Jenkins @ Fettes Managementlooking at the top players and picks for this week's Volvo World Match Play Championship event.

Race to Dubai:   Volvo World Match Play Championship

Here we are again in Southern Spain as the circus comes to Andalucia but forget tournament golf as we know it and stick this in your mental microwave and see how it defrosts. (If you have any questions there will be time after).

It’s a more complex format than it needs to be; a field of 24 will contest 18 holes of traditional match play drawn into eight groups of three with the group matches being played on Thursday and Friday.

The top two players in each group will progress to the knock-out stages for the last 16 and quarter-finals, played on the Saturday and semi-finals and final, played on Sunday. All matches will be contested over 18 holes of traditional match play. You still with me?

Date:                        17^th – 20^th May 2012

Venue:                   Finca Cortesín, Casares, Andalucía, Spain

Designed by award-winning American golf course architect Cabell Robinson, Finca Cortesín opened to great acclaim in 2007, a challenging golf course with world-class facilities and a luxury boutique hotel immediately setting a new gold standard for Spain in general and Andalucía in particular.

Yards:                      7,290 yards

Par:                           Par 72

Field:                      

The Volvo World Match Play Championship returned to Finca Cortesín in May 2011, when loud mouth Poulter took the title in a field that was of the highest calibre where all four ‘Major’ champions took part and six of the top-10 players in the world. It’s not quite so topical this year but it will see 2011 Open Champion and bounce gamer, Darren Clarke (106/1), 2010 US PGA Champion Martin Kaymer (39/5), two-time US Open Champion Retief Goosen (46/1) and 1999 Open Champion, Paul Lawrie (27/1) all lining up. Justin Rose, who will be playing in Europe for the first time since winning his first World Golf Championship title earlier this year, also stars. Casey has withdrawn with Robert Karlsson (28/1 – all BetDaq) stepping in.

Consider…:

This is essentially a flat course on a very undulating piece of land. It will be hot and windy, especially on the weekend and that’s when it can play a very different course. Three of the par fours could be reachable with a drive depending upon wind direction and some of the holes have been shortened for the spectators benefit and some low scoring.

Ones to watch:

Biting my tongue as I write this, it’s last year’s winner Ian Poulter (10/1 with BetFred) and his incredible match play record that stands out for me (for the same reasons I predicted his victory last year) but desperate to automatically make the Ryder Cup this year, I don’t think he will make the last step required to recapture the trophy come Sunday.

The battle of Spain kick starts Sergio Garcia’s (21/2 with BetFair) tournament on Thursday at 1250 when he takes on Alvaro Quiros (25/1 with BetFair). For my money, it’s Sergio all the way following his form everywhere but on the PGA Tour with four tops tens in six starts and a home crowd to inspire and ignite the passion he has when he plays in Spain.

Ones to win:

Another player with 4 top tens in 6 starts in Europe is Justin Rose (109/10 with BetFair) although his includes a win at the WGC Cadillac and an 8^th at the Masters not counting his 6 top 25’s including 4 top tens on the US PGA Tour. If form follows him across the water, and as second highest World Ranker in the field, it’s his tournament for the taking.

Its private pilot’s license holder and general golfing high flier, Charl Schwartzel (who took no time to take advantage of Rory McIlroy’s collapse in 2011) who stands out for me this week. With 7 European Tour wins its the permanently smiling South African who ranks 15^th in the World list and currently 11^th in the Race to Dubai that has the edge this week – especially with two wins on Spanish soil in 2007 and 2008.

Trick Shot

Retief Goosen is 8/1 (bWin) to make the semi final! The best putter on tour available at these odds? It’s practically stealing from the bookies….

Ian Poulter is 5/1 (bWin) to just make the final. A spirited and experienced match play professional – this bet is as close to a sure thing as you will get this week.

Any questions?

Jenks Out!