Volvo World Match Play Championship Preview

This week, the Finca Cortesin Golf Club in Spain welcomes a field of twenty four, including six of the world top ten golfers, for the Volvo World Match Play Championship. The players have been split into eight groups of three for a round robin format over Thursday and Friday to decide the top sixteen who will then go on to contest the title over the weekend. Considering this new format, these are the men I expect to reach the later stages.

Luke Donald

A regular on my tip list over the past few months, Donald has been a certainty to bring value for money on a weekly basis. Though event wins have not reflected his 2011 form, consistent places and top 10 finishes have provided profit for his followers. This week is no different. Donald heads into the World Match Play knowing that a win would make him the world’s number one golfer. Having played eight events on this year’s PGA Tour, he has had seven Top 10 finishes and his soul win at came at the beginning of the year happened to be in Match Play format. In February, the Englishman overcame Martin Kaymer in the final of the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship with an impressive display and I have full confidence that Donald will be among at least the top four come Sunday evening. It is a very open competition and at 7/1 (Paddy Power) it would nearly be more sensible to avoid Donald but I believe he lives up to the favourites tag. He is solid shot at 6/5 (Victor Chandler) to win his group over Thursday and Friday, the Mark McCormack group, where he faces Ross Fisher and Ryan Moore.

Alvaro Quiros

The world number 27 golfer would relish a victory on home soil. In his last match play event he tied thirty-third at the Accenture Championship and since then has looked impressive at the Masters last month and last week at the Players Championship where he tied for sixth. This week he will hope to add to his single win this year at the Dubai Desert Classic and if he does it will be his first in his native Spain since claiming the Open de Espana in May 2010. Quiros can be backed for the win at a best price of 16/1 (Paddy Power). Good each way punt.

Miguel Angel Jimenez

Miguel Angel Jimenez is another of the Spanish contingent that I feel will be in with a shout. At the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship in February he tied for fifth and now, back on home turf, he will fancy his chances to claim his first event win of the season. He performed will at the Masters last month where he tied twenty-seventh and also displayed recent form when he finished runner up at the Ballantine’s Championship two weeks ago. Jimenez is in a tough group, the Assar Gabrielsson group, with Charl Schwartzel and Johan Edfors, but if he reaches the weekend he is great value at 35/1 (Bet Fred) and is worth each way consideration.

My Tips

1pt EW Luke Donald Win

2pt Luke Donald Win Mark McCormack Group

0.5pt EW Alvaro Quiros Win

0.5pt EW Miguel Angel Jimenez Win

Thursday Match Tips

2pts Rory McIlroy to beat Retief Goosen (4/7)

2pts Martin Kaymer to beat YE Yang (1/2)

2pts Luke Donald to beat Ryan Moore (1/2)

2pts Lee Westwood to beat Anders Hansen (4/9)

1pt on Accumulation of above four selections

Golf Stats 2011

Staked = 87.5pts

Returned = 80.6 pts

Profit/Loss = -6.9pts

• This article was published on www.fightingtips.co.uk
• Follow all Golf Tips on twitter @CianMcCrohan.