The European Tour returns to Portimao, Portugal for the first edition of the Portugal Open since 2011. The first staging of this event was way back in 1953. While it was a popular stop on the European Tour up until 2010, financial problems led to the tournament disappearing from the Tour schedule since Thomas Bjorn won here in 2011. This tournament is now a duel ranking Challenge and European Tour event. In addition to the prize money, there will be a two-year European Tour exemption up for grabs. That means there is plenty on the line for players participating in Portugal this week. Here is a look at what to expect at this week’s EPGA Tour event.
Event Details
Event: Portugal Open
Category: European
Date: May 11-14
Location: Morgado Golf & Country Club, Portimao, Portugal
This will be the first European Tour event that actually takes place on European Soil this year. With so much time having elapsed between editions of this tournament we are somewhat in the dark about what it will take to win here. Experience should count for something though and it’s no surprise that Ricardo Gouveia is listed as the sports betting favorite to win outright.
Past Five Winners
2011: Thomas Bjorn -23
2009: Michael Hoey -7
2008: Gregory Bourdy -18
2007: Pablo Martin -7
2006: Paul Broadhurst -17
What To Know About The Course
One of the things that does stand out about this course is that it is quite exposed. That should mean wind is a substantial factor this week and should be taken in to account. Experience should also count for something both in terms of knowledge of the course and in terms of being able to handle the pressure in this event. The young professionals chasing that tournament exemption will be playing for a lot more than some of the veterans that don’t have to worry about their European Tour status. Length and accuracy off the tee will be a factor. However, Scrambling numbers might be the most important statistic to consider this week.
The Field
Gouveia is the sports betting favorite this week at +1400 odds to win the Portugal Open outright. It’s no surprise that Trevor Fisher Jr., Paul Lawrie and Ricardo Santos are in the mix as well among the sports betting favorites. There aren’t many golfers with extensive histories at this course so the home contingent should have a slight advantage this week. It will be very interesting to see if one of the young players in this tournament can find a way to win here and earn that exemption on the European Tour.
A Good Matchup To Bet: Paul Lawrie over Aaron Rai
This pick isn’t necessarily about fading Rai as much as it is finding a solid value option to bet Lawire against at this week’s Portugal Open. Lawrie won his last time out at the Dimension Data Pro-Am on the Sunshine Tour and he has a decent record overall in Portugal. Lawrie probably should have won this event in 2005 and he finished second in the Portugal Masters in 2008. Lawrie might now tin this year but he should be able to finish ahead of Rai as a strong pick for a head-to-head sports betting matchup this week.
Top-Five Pick: Ricardo Gouveia
There isn’t much value betting Gouveia in any of the head-to-head matchups. However, he is definitely worth taking a chance on to finsh in the top-five. Gouveia has lost a ton of weight and it seems to have had a positive impact on his game. Gouveia has won three times on the Challenge Tour and easily won the Challenge Tour’s money list in 2015. After a strong performance at last week’s GolfSixes, he should be an excellent option to finish in the top-five at the Portugal Open this week.
Odds To Win The 2017 Portugal Open
Trevor Fisher Jnr +1815
Ricardo Gouveia +1415
Paul Lawrie +2250
Max Orrin +2550
Aaron Rai +2550
Ricardo Santos +2850
Marcus Kinhult +2550
Pep Angles +2550
Jaco Ahlers +3550
Florian Fritsch +4050
Christiaan Bezuidenhout +4050
David Drysdale +3550
Justin Walters +3250
Ryan Evans +3550
Matt Wallace +4050
Anton Karlsson +4050
Jens Fahrbring +4050
Oliver Fisher +5500
Mark Foster +4550
Clement Sordet +4550
Robert Rock +4550
Jeff Winther +5050
Laurie Canter +5050
Robert Coles +6550
Mikael Lundberg +6550
Erik van Rooyen +6550
Duncan Stewart +6550
Tom Lewis +6550
Sebastian Heisele +6550
Richard Green +6550
Click here to get all of the latest golf betting lines at BetDSI including head-to-head matchups, props and odds to win each tournament!
