Alvaro Quiros looks to defend his title at Open de Espana – European Tour News
The Open de Espana sanctioned by the European Tour will start from tomorrow. The exquisite par-72, Real Club de Golf El Prat will host this four-day championship. Total prize-money sanctioned by the sponsors is €2,000,000.
This prize-money has attracted all the top ranked players from the European circuit. The players will tee off tomorrow to battle for the quest of the title.
Veteran Spaniard, Miguel Angel Jimenez, will once again look to fight on the course to win another European Title. This time, he has a bit advantage as he will be playing on his home soil. The conditions of the course will certainly favour Jimenez
as he loves him home conditions.
The 47-year-old Jimenez is in good form these days. He finished at the second spot recently at the Ballantine’s Championship. Jimenez was just one shot behind the winner, Lee Westwood, who won by just one stroke. He will be leading his home charge
as there will surely be high hopes from him to win on this occasion.
Jimenez already has eighteen victories while playing on the European circuit and is confident of adding another one to his name. He had three victories last year on European Tour. He will also be the top ranked player in this tournament. The veteran
currently holds the 23rd place on the official world golf rankings.
Along with Jimenez, his compatriot Alvaro Quiros will once again be in action. They both will lead their country charge. Quiros will also look forward to defend his title this year. Last year, the 28-year-old Quiros won this championship in a playoff
against James Morrison.
Everyone knows about the Quiros who is a big hitter of the golf ball. It surely is entertaining to watch this player hit the ball long off the tee and the fairway. Quiros also is in good form and won the Dubai Desert Classic this year.
The 28-year-old Quiros took advantage of his long drives during Dubai Desert Classic and won by just a single stroke over Dane Anders Hansen and James Kingston. It was the fifth victory on European Tour for Quiros who also looked in great form at the
Masters this year. He is at the 27th spot on official world golf rankings.
Both these players have experience and will surely unleash their game as they tee off from tomorrow.
Teenager Matteo Manassero will also be among the contenders to win the tournament. The 18-year-old within a year’s time has won two tournaments on European circuit. This young Italian is surely a sensational player and does not wary of the field around
him.
Manassero displayed excellent golf shots as he recently won the Maybank Malaysian Open. It was a field where the top ranked players like Rory McIlroy and Masters Winner Charl Schwartzel was present. The teenager caressed his way to another victory
and also became the youngest player to win the Malaysian Open.
Jimenez about playing on his home soil said, “I've been in good form, and hopefully this week is a little bit better for me and I have a chance to get the Spanish Open title. I've never won the Spanish Open and it would mean so much me to able to win
that one. That’s the one I would love to win the most – and a Major, of course.”
Other notable players featuring are Colin Montgomerie from Scotland and Jose Maria Olazabal of the host country. Olazabal is a two-time Masters champion and will look to show his brilliance on the course.
The course has a total yardage of 7,296-yard and was designed by Greg Norman.
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