Jamie Worsley is back with another comprehensive preview of this week’s  DP World Tour event, the Andalucia Masters. He’s also given you his six best bets for the weekend. 

A year on from finishing a distant 2^nd to Jon Rahm in the Open de Espana, Matthieu Pavon produced an impressive wire-to-wire victory in the same event last week. The Frenchman looked composed throughout the final round and sauntered to a four-shot win over South Africa’s Zander Lombard, gaining a first DP World Tour win in the process.

The tour stays in Spain for the Andalucia Masters, though with the iconic Valderrama now part of the LIV schedule, we have a new host course this week, in the shape of Real Club de Golf Sotogrande; another Robert Trent Jones Snr design.

Tournament History

The Andalucia Masters was first staged in 2010 and 2011 before being cancelled due to a lack of funding. The tournament returned in 2017 and has been played every year since, with each renewal prior to this year taking place at Valderrama.

Graeme McDowell won the first edition in 2010 and was succeeded by Sergio Garcia in 2011, who then won the next two versions after the event returned in 2017. Making him the only player to win multiple Andalucia Masters titles.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout produced the most commanding performance in the history of the event, winning by six strokes in 2019 over five players in 2^nd, including the name of Jon Rahm.

John Catlin won the toughest renewal to date in 2020, with a score of +2 enough for victory. Matt Fitzpatrick followed him in 2021 and last year, Adrian Otaegui became the second Spanish winner of the event; matching the dominant display of Bezuidenhout in ’19, shooting a record -19 for a six-shot win.

Otaegui is back to defend his title this week at this new host course, looking to emulate compatriot, Garcia in successfully retaining the Andalucia Masters trophy.

The Course

Real Club de Golf Sotogrande was the first European design of legendary American (via Wigan) architect, Robert Trent Jones Snr. It opened for play in 1964, around ten years prior to Jones’ first work on Valderrama and as a rolling tree-lined course, abound with elevation changes and tough, speedy, raised greens, it bares many similarities with that iconic 1997 Ryder Cup venue.

It is a renowned course in its own right, regularly rated among the best in Spain and two years after its opening it hosted the Open de Espana; an event won by 1967 Open Champion, Roberto De Vicenzo of Argentina.

In addition to that, it annually hosts the Copa Sotogrande – one of the most prestigious amateur events in Europe, that has been won by players such as Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia – and from 1996-2001 it was one of the courses to host the European Tour Q-School.

RCG Sotogrande is very short by modern standards, playing as a 7099-yard par 72 this week. It consists of ten par 4s (337-470 yards), four par 5s (528-594 yards) and four par 3s (179-221 yards).

The undulating fairways are extremely wide and inviting, though are protected by many smartly placed bunkers and whilst the rough isn’t too punishing, if you veer too far into the trees, a chip out sideways may be the only answer.

As mentioned, the largely elevated green complexes are tough and it’s here where the most challenging aspect of RCG Sotogrande lies. There is great variety, with subtle contours on some and others that are severely sloped. Of the century+ of bunkers at the course, two thirds of them lie around the putting surfaces, many of which are deep and well below the level of the green.

Though the greens are around average in size overall, steep false fronts and run-offs around their perimeters make the landing spots smaller and will send approaches hurtling off the green.

Controlling approaches is tricky with the elevation changes at the course and with trees seemingly enclosing on most of the putting surfaces, the loosest iron shots can end up in extreme difficulty.

Water adds a final element of risk at RCG Sotogrande. It is in-play on six holes, each of which threatens your approach shot into the green and four come up over your final seven holes on the course.

There are few holes here that look overly intimidating on paper, with all par 5s reachable, including two below 530 yards and several potentially drivable – or at least close to – par 4s. However, all holes are fraught with challenges and with some strong winds on the way, particularly over the first two rounds, the players will be tested this week.

The Stats

Key Stats:

• SG: Approach
• Greens-in-Regulation
• Scrambling
• Sand Save %
• SG: Putting

We don’t have the benefit of previous events to guide us here in the way of stats. Regardless, I’m pretty clear of what I think will be needed this week and whilst players will require some level of strategy off-the-tee, it’s what you do into the greens and on them that I expect to be of most importance.

Controlling approaches into these tough and resistant greens will be challenging and the conditions will make certain that greens will be missed. Contenders will need to display strong scrambling skills, as well as quality out of the demanding bunkers and with issues no easier when on the greens, I’m keen to have competent putters on side.

Correlating Events

Due RCG Sotogrande hosting the Andalucia Masters for the first time this week, we’re not blessed with the benefit of form-ties. Having said that, there are a number of DPWT courses that I think can help us out this week.

Valderrama feels like a very obvious starting point, as another Trent Jones Snr design that has plenty in common with this week’s venue. In addition to that, both courses that hosted the Trophee Hassan II: Royal Dar Es Salam (Red Course) and Golf Du Palais Royal, were also designed by the same man.

Away from courses by this week’s designer and I like two more in Spain: current Open de Espana host, Club de Campo Villa de Madrid and host of the 2014 Open de Espana and last year’s Catalunya Championship – as well as many previous ET Q-Schools – PGA Catalunya’s (Camiral) Stadium Course. Both are tree-lined and on undulating land, possessing many generous driving holes and elevation changes throughout.

Finally, I felt Crans-sur-Sierre, host of the Omega European Masters may also be worth checking out. Another heavily tree-lined course with a mix of good scoring opportunities and tougher scoring holes; it has some of the most striking elevation changes on tour.

The Weather

We’re set for some severe conditions this week. Rain is forecast to fall on the Wednesday preceding the event and continues into Thursday.

Persistent winds of around 25mph, along with gusts at upwards of 35mph will hammer the course at the start of the event and though dying down over the weekend, constant speeds of 11mph and gusts of 21mph will still be enough to keep the field on its toes.

The Field

2023 US Open champion and current world #10, Wyndham Clark will tee it up for the first time in Spain this week and in his first event that is solely sanctioned by the DP World Tour. He is the top ranked player in the field and one of just two from inside the world’s top 50, along with #28 Ryan Fox.

Matt Kuchar is another surprise tournament invite in attendance, extended his European trip after player in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship two weeks ago.

Pablo Larrazabal is the highest ranked Spaniard in the field at #74, followed next by defending champion, Adrian Otaegui – the world #99; 2020 winner, John Catlin is the only other former winner teeing it up.

Selections

Wyndham Clark is in here as a 9/1 favourite and followed by the third-ranked player on the Race to Dubai, Ryan Fox at 12s.

Alexander Bjork appealed somewhat at 25/1, as a good statistical fit for the challenge but he’s not in quite the same form as earlier in the year, recording his second missed cut in three starts when we last saw him in the Open de France three weeks ago.

With a new course and the potential for draw biases due to the possibly brutal weather, this feels like a week to speculate and I’m going to steer clear of the top of the betting. Instead I start off at the 50/1 mark with a man who went well when we were on him last week, Alex Fitzpatrick.

1 pt Alex Fitzpatrick each way (1/5 – 8 places) – 50/1 

Fitzpatrick finished 20^th in last week’s Open de Espana, which was his seventh straight made cut on the DP World Tour and his fourth top 20 across those starts; recording two top 5s when 2^nd in the ISPS Handa Invitational and 5^th in the Omega European Masters in August/September.

In a short space of time, Alex has established himself as one of the very best short-game players on the DP World Tour, ranking 2^nd out of the bunkers and 19^th in scrambling, whilst over his last fifty rounds he ranks 11^th in putting in this week’s field. This will have come as no surprise to older brother Matt, who has stated in the past how much he rates his younger brother’s short-game skills. High praise indeed from a player not lacking in these areas himself.

Combine this with his quality iron play, ranking 8^th in approach and 31^st in greens-in-regulation, and we have the ideal candidate for the test that awaits this week.

Fitzpatrick’s 5^th at Crans a few weeks ago is an attractive piece of form, whilst his top 20 last week is nothing other than a positive. With a win to his name already on the Challenge Tour this year – in tough, windy conditions no less – he looks every bit a player who won’t take too long to add to that on this bigger stage, something he can achieve this week.

1 pt Ewen Ferguson each way (1/5 – 6 places) – 50/1 

Ewen Ferguson is another strong wind player and as someone with two top 10s in his last three starts, I felt this two-time DP World Tour winner looked a nice bit of value in this week’s field.

The Scot has followed his hugely impressive two-win season in 2022 with a strong year on the DPWT in 2023. In twenty-four starts, he has amassed six top 10s and turned three of them into top 5s; with a standout performance of 4^th in the British Masters in July.

Ferguson hit a rougher patch of form following his missed cut in the Open Championship but has bounced back over his last three starts, recording top 10s when 10^th in the Open de France and went one better than that last week in Spain, finishing 9^th.

His biggest strength there lay in his approach play, ranking 9^th, which is the strongest area of his game, ranking 17^th for the season as a whole, as well as 11^th in GIR. He’s good out of the bunkers, ranking 17^th and has turned on the putter in recent starts, ranking 10^th last week and has been the sixth-best putter in this field over the last month.

Ferguson’s 9^th last week is a boost to his chances here and with his first tour win coming in extremely windy conditions in last year’s Qatar Masters, we know he has it in his locker to handle the wind should the worst of those forecast conditions arrive this week.

1 pt Julien Brun each way (1/5 – 6 places) – 55/1

Julien Brun made a whole lot of sense to me this week. He’s been in good form of late and ranked top of my statistical model for this week’s event, owing to the strength of his iron play and short game. Add in the fact he won the Copa Sotogrande here in 2011 – then simply known as the European Nations – as a 19-year-old and we have a player with a compelling case to win his first DPWT trophy in Spain.

Brun has missed just the four cuts in twenty-one starts this year and made a strong start to 2023, recording six top 25s in his opening nine starts. Including a best-of-the-year 5^th in the Dubai Desert Classic.

Recent form has been a positive too, with zero missed cuts in his last six starts and three top 25s, particularly impressing at home in France when finishing 6^th. He arrives here off the back of a 28^th in the Open de Espana last week, where he once again showed his qualities in those aforementioned key areas.

There, Brun was 4^th in scrambling and top 25 in approach; mirroring his overall stats for the season, as he ranks 7^th in scrambling and 11^th in approach. When we counter in him being 10^th on the greens, 29^th in GIR and top 40 in sand saves, there was nobody on the DPWT who had a better collection of stats for this week.

Whilst it may have been twelve years since his imposing three-stroke amateur success here, that result will undoubtedly elicit positivity for the Frenchman. I’m hoping Brun can take encouragement from not only that, but compatriot, Matthieu Pavon’s breakthrough victory last week to earn his own breakthrough at this previous happy hunting ground this week.

1 pt Sami Valimaki each way (1/5 – 6 places) – 70/1

Sami Valimaki has been a constant threat atop leaderboards all season. With his game firing on all cylinders currently and possessing a proven ability in the wind, he can finally turn one of those contending performances into a victory this week.

Valimaki finished 2^nd in the first event of the new season in the Joburg Open in South Africa at the end of last year. He’s carried that form over into this year, recording nine top 25s in twenty one starts; once again going close when finishing 2^nd in the Singapore Classic and has recorded three further top 10s.

Two of those have come recently, with him finishing 4^th in the Czech Masters and 6^th in the shortened Alfred Dunhill Links Championship over his last six starts. This has formed part of a sequence of results where he’s missed just one cut in ten events.

The Finn is rock-solid across the board but has been at his best on the greens, ranking 24^th for the season. Rankings around the top 50 in scrambling, sand saves and GIR give him a strong base from which to build a positive performance in Spain.

Valimaki has a good record at Valderrama, with a 10^th and 25^th-place finish in three visits, whilst he also finished top 20 in last year’s Catalunya Championship. His solo DPWT win in Oman in 2020 represents a player who can perform in the wind and with the strength of recent results I’m expecting him to once again be a feature this week.

1 pt Pablo Larrazabal each way (1/5 – 8 places) – 70/1

Pablo Larrazabal has been a winning machine on the DPWT over the last two years, picking up four titles. Two of them came in the space of a month earlier this year, when winning the Korea Championship and then the KLM Open four weeks later. His form suffered following that second win but he’s started to come back into some form over recent weeks and as a player with bags of creativity, he should relish the challenge at RCG Sotogrande this week.

Larrazabal has missed just one cut in his last five starts and has begun to rediscover quality in his approach play and putting. This was on show last week in the Open de Espana, as he ranked 3^rd on the greens and top 25 in approach, leading him to a 20^th-place finish – his best result since winning in the Netherlands at the end of May.

The upturn in form has seen him return to the standard of play which engineered his early-season results; a replication of which should see him go close this week. The Spaniard has always had an excellent short game and ranks 11^th in scrambling, 23^rd in sand saves and 28^th on the greens this season, whilst his irons have also been strong, ranking 31^st.

Pablo has some excellent form on Trent Jones designs, with two top 4s in the Trophee Hassan II and countless strong performances in other correlating events, including a top 10 at Crans and several top 20s across PGA Catalunya and Valderrama. All which gives me confidence that he can perform here and as the top ranked home golfer in the field, he looked great value to do so.

1 pt Santiago Tarrio each way (1/5 – 8 places) – 150/1

Santiago Tarrio completes my selections for the Andalucia Masters. The Spaniard has been showing encouraging signs in recent weeks and with his iron play starting to compliment the asset of his short game, he’s a tempting price to enjoy a big week at home.

Tarrio had some positive results earlier in the year, with a 3^rd in the Kenya Open in March a particular standout. He was largely in-and-out of form since then, gaining just a further two top 20s but he’s started to find consistency in the last two months, making six of seven cuts and recording two top 30s in his last three starts; the latest of which came in the Open de Espana last week, where he finished 28^th.

The key there was his approach play, ranking 8^th in the field and this has been the story of recent performances, as he ranks 9^th in this area over the last month. He’s also a strong bunker player, ranking 28^th for the season and though the putter has mainly been a weakness, he did produce his best putting performance of the year last week, ranking 16^th. Something he’ll need to prolong this week.

Though Tarrio doesn’t have much in the way of comp form for this week, I am confident he has the game for the test and looks worth chancing at a big price at RCG Sotogrande with his game now displaying a greater level of consistency.