Broadhurst looks for Portugal Open triple
IN: News | European PGA | Estoril Open de Portugal (2007) | by Bruce Young | 28 Mar 2007
The European Tour stays in Portugal this week but this time on the mainland as the Estoril Open de Portugal is played at the Arthur Hills designed Oitavos Golfe at Quinta da Marinha near Lisbon on the west coast of Portugal.
The course is being used for the second time for this event with Paul Broadhurst the winner in 2005 when it was first held at the links layout. Broadhurst also won this event when it was played at Penina on the Algarve last year. He finished 45th at last week’s WGC event in Florida.
The leading world ranked played in the field this week is the South African Charles Schwartzel, who had a reasonable week in much stronger company last week when 35th in Florida at the WGC CA event. Schwartzel has mixed his tournament play this year between the European and Sunshine Tour (South Africa) as he attempted to head the Sunshine Tour’s money list which he eventually did. Schwartzel finished 8th in this event at this venue two years ago.
Jean Van de Velde is playing well of late although he did miss the cut here in 2005. However, he is in much better form now.
Nick Dougherty has enjoyed good form in Asia and the Middle East in the past two months to be a factor this week. He has performed well in windy conditions in the past and on this seaside venue he might just be in his element.
Simon Dyson finished third in both the Malaysian Open and the Singapore Masters in recent weeks and did produce the best round of the tournament on this golf course two years ago with his second round 64.
Alejandro Canizares has been playing several events by invite on the USPGA Tour in recent weeks and the brilliant Spaniard who won just his third event as a professional at the Russian Open last year could do well in the weaker company this week. He made the cut in both the FBR Open in Arizona and finished 13th at the Mayakoba event in Mexico. The successful University of Arizona graduate has a bright future in the game.
Paul McGinley, Oliver Wilson, recent winners Daniel Vancsik and Anton Haig, Brian Davis, who has made four of his last five cuts on the USPGA Tour and a resurgent David Frost are others who might have chances.
Of the Australians in the field, Simon Nash gets another chance to shine following his two top tens in China and at last week’s Madeira Islands Open. Nash does not have full status on the European Tour but is doing his best to secure a certain level of security.
Wade Ormsby, Andrew Tampion, Steve Alker and Terry Price make up the balance of players from Australasia.
The tournament has a good purse of âǬ1.25 million.
