The Mallorca Classic Preview

Golf's European Tour takes over the beautiful Pula Golf Club in Mallorca this week for the Mallorca Classic. This is the penultimate event in what has been a fantastic season for European golf. Whoever takes the individual crown and becomes the latest winner of the order of merit will be remembered as much for their individual prowess as their contribution to the team that was so spectacularly victorious over their American rivals in this season's Ryder Cup. There are five members of that outstanding team playing here this week and all have a great chance of taking first prize.

Defending champion Jose Maria Olazabal is back again this year to try and make it four Spanish victories in a row in this event. 'Ollie' emerged victorious here last year, which followed up on the 2004 victory of Miguel Angel Jimenez and the 2005 win of Sergio Garcia. Garcia joins his reigning champion countryman alongside fellow Ryder Cuppers Paul McGinley, Robert Karlsson and Padraig Harrington in a star studded field. Garcia is the narrow favourite for victory at 6/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral; he is closely followed by Padraig Harrington who is a best available 8/1 also with Ladbrokes. There is then quite a gap in the betting before you get to 3rd favourite Jose Maria Olazabal, who is an attractively priced 14/1 again with Ladbrokes – not bad for a previous winner with a proven pedigree.

Aside from the betting for the event here this week, there is the small matter of available prices for the outcome of the chase for the order of merit. There are four main contenders for the European top spot with two events to go, however only two of those four are competing this week. Paul Casey has opted to remain in his adopted home of Arizona, whilst David Howell is nursing a shoulder injury, which really opens the door for Robert Karlsson and Padraig Harrington to make a charge for the title. Harrington who finished 2nd in the 2001 & 2002 Order of Merit races and 3rd in both 2003 & 2004 hadn't scheduled himself to play in this event but he won the Dunhill Links Championship earlier this month, which surged him up this year's Order of Merit and has put him in contention for the title that he has never actually won. Therefore, he has decided to have one final push for glory before taking a well deserved winter break.

Despite being absent from this weeks proceedings, it is Casey that is the big odds on favourite to take the 2006 European crown. He is priced at 3/10 with bet365, whilst Harrington is best available at 10/3 with UK Betting. Howell, who has led the race for much of the season, is now one of the outsiders at 16/1 with bluesq and Karlsson is even longer at 66/1 with Bet365. Casey is in pole position at the moment having amassed a huge €2,409,242 in season's earnings. He is well ahead of Padraig Harrington in second place on €2,191,057, David Howell in third on €2,166,366 and Robert Karlsson in fourth on €1,964,043. However the first prize here this week is a huge €291,660, therefore if Harrington or Karlsson hit a good late run of form then it will be all to play for in the final week at Valderama.

There is also much to play for at the bottom end of the rankings this week too as this will be the last ranking tournament of the season for many of the European pros. The final event of the season – The Volvo Masters next week is an invitation only event for Europe's top 60, so those that are fighting for survival and playing rights for another season will have to get enough of the cake this week to finish in the top 115 and avoid a visit to qualifying school or a season on the Challenge Tour.

Good Luck with your selections.

Ed note: Make your Mallorca Classic bets at Bet365 for a £100 bonus

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