US Master Tips: Sergio the standout Spaniard in the field

US Masters / Romilly Evans / 03 April 2012 / Leave a Comment

He can be a dodgy putter but the opposition is weak so back Sergio for top Spanish player

"Garcia is on the way back to his best after two wins last year, love this track and has already notched two top-five finishes this term."

There are five Spanish players in the Masters lineup and the favourite is a justifiably short price to finish above his compatriots, says Romily Evans

Taking its competitive cues from the Top Aussie bracket, this market revolves around one imperious talent whose putting is his only weakness. In this case, it's Sergio Garcia and the price is [2.14] to back.

That may seem short but he only has four rivals and is a class apart from them all. Two of them are over the hill (Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jose Maria Olazabal); one is still recovering from injury and is as susceptible with the short putts as Garcia (Gonzo Fernandez-Castano); while the other is a mercurial player who only seems able to play his best stuff in the Middle East (Alvaro Quiros).

It's a process of elimination, then, which leads me to strongly support Garcia. This Spaniard is on the way back to his best after two wins last year, love this track and has already notched two top-five finishes this term. It's uninspired, but I don't mind odds-against for the glaringly obvious.

Recommended Bet
Back Sergio Garcia @ [2.14]

There's some serious quality in the Top US Player market with Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson dominating matters. But with the punters focused on those two, could there be value backing another American at a massive price?...

A small stakes wager on two of the forgotten men of British and Irish golf might just yield a profit in the top UK & Ireland market, suggests Romily Evans...

Adam Scott gets good vibes from Augusta and that's giving Romily Evans good vibes as he studies the Top Australian market for the 2012 Masters...

Amazon Sports Center

Sergio Garcia

Player Profiles / Paul Krishnamurty / 29 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

Player Profiles

Tiger Woods Phil Mickelson Lee Westwood Martin Kaymer Graeme McDowell Nick Watney Paul Casey Luke Donald Rory McIlroy Dustin Johnson Matt Kuchar Bubba Watson Jim Furyk Padraig Harrington Hunter Mahan Steve Stricker Ernie Els Retief Goosen Geoff Ogilvy Vijay Singh Anthony Kim Alvaro Quiros Ian Poulter Justin Rose Sergio Garcia Adam Scott Rickie Fowler KJ Choi Martin Laird Francesco Molinari

Still a 'Big Gun'? The last few years suggest not

Last five Masters results: 45/38/mc/mc/46
Current Masters odds: [80.0]

Despite an increasing lack of supporting evidence, Garcia is still considered to be one of the game's 'big-guns', and will attract support accordingly. In fairness, five top-30 efforts so far this year are an improvement on a disastrous 2010, but he remains one to oppose in contention. Garcia's troubles with the putter have become painful to watch, and go a long way towards explaining a failure to register a top-30 at Augusta since 2004.

Last five Masters results: 30/-/-/-/- Current Masters odds: [80.0] Europe's 'Mr Consistency', with 17 top-ten finishes in the last 18 months, probably remains the better player of the two Molinari brothers, despite an inferior conversion ratio. Francesco's temperament was deservedly...

Last five Masters results: -/-/-/-/- Current Masters odds: [60.0] Scotland's new golfing hero surged into Masters contention with victory at Bay Hill, doubtless to the delight of punters who've backed him at up to [280.0] for Augusta. Perhaps thanks to...

Last five Masters results: 4/mc/41/27/mc Current Masters odds: [70.0] Choi has twice put up a superb final day challenge at the Masters, including when fourth last year. Those memories are bound to make the Korean a popular outside pick, especially...

Last five Masters results: -/-/-/-/- Current Masters odds: [65.0] With his flamboyant style and superb iron play, Fowler is another emerging American with more than a passing resemblance to Mickelson. However, while nobody doubts his enormous potential, the 2010 'Rookie...

Betfair website