The Portugal Masters gets underway on Thursday with victorious European captain Jose Maria Olazabal and two of the playing heroes of Medinah – Martin Kaymer and Francesco Molinari in action.
Olazabal, who led Europe to a sensational 14.5 – 13.5 triumph over the United States at Medinah Country Club, is joined in the field for the sixth edition of the Portugal Masters by Kaymer, the man who ensured the Ryder Cup stays in European hands, and Molinari, who claimed the deciding half point on that epic final Sunday in Illinois on September 23.
The Ryder Cup captain is 250/1 for the Portugal Masters outright with Molinari installed as the 14/1 favourite with
Ladbrokes followed by Kaymer at 20/1 alongside three-times Major champion Padraig Harrington and recent Sicilian Open winner, Danish star Thorbjorn Olesen.
Also competing in the £2,250,000 tournament at the Arnold Palmer designed course are the four experienced European Team vice-captains who gave Olazabal the benefit of their accumulated wisdom – Dane Thomas Bjorn (40/1), Northern Irishman Darren Clarke (150/1), Spain’s mercurial star Miguel Angel Jimenez (66/1) and Irishman Paul McGinley (200/1).
With the excitement of Europe’s ‘Miracle in Medinah’ victory over the Americans, the Portugal Masters, from Thursday to Sunday, is likely to be caught up in the joyous celebrations as Olazabal helped to inspire the greatest comeback in European history as his team overturned a 10-6 deficit on Saturday to secure victory in Chicago on that memorable Sunday in the singles at Medinah.
Kaymer defeated Steve Stricker on the final green just over a week ago to guarantee Europe at least a halved match, before Italian ace Molinari extracted a measure of revenge for his 2010 singles loss to Tiger Woods by securing the vital half point needed for overall victory against the 14-times Major champion.
The 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie (150/1) and two of his side, Ross Fisher (40/1) and Edoardo Molinari (50/1) are aiming to reign supreme at Vilamoura come Sunday evening.
Last year’s champion Tom Lewis is 100/1 with
Ladbrokes to defend the title the Englishman won in only his third tournament as a professional last year with Ireland ‘s Peter Lawrie also at the same odds for glory.
Other notables for the Tour victory is Henrik Stenson at 40/1, while Jamie Donaldson, Rafael Cabrera-Bello and the recent BMW Italian Open champion Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano of Spain are priced at 25/1 with Irishman Michael Hoey available at 125/1 to win the event outright.
Ladbrokes offer 3/1 for Molinari to finish in the top five in Portugal with Harrington, Kaymer, and Olesen priced at 5/1 and Carbrera-Bello leads a host of players at 6/1 for this finish.
The leading bookmaker offers a comprehensive market on the Portugal Masters including 16/1 for Molinari to be the first round leader with Harrington, Kaymer and Olesen priced at 25/1 for the feat.
