The Race to Dubai makes its way to Club de Campo Villa de Madrid for the 2021 ACCIONA Open de Espana. World Number One Jon Rahm is here to defend the title he won in back to back years in 2018 and 2019, but he'll be up against an impressive list of European Tour winners. So who will be crowned champion? Read on below to find out who our experts think.
Sign up now & submit your team by this week's deadline: https://fantasyrace.europeantour.com
HOW IT WORKS:
— Fantasy Race To Dubai (@ETFantasy) January 20, 2021
📲 SIGN UP at https://t.co/T9ZTWyjevM
6⃣ SELECT six players
🥇Make one your captain (they'll score double)
🏆WIN weekly, big event & end of season prizes
It's that simple. #FantasyR2D pic.twitter.com/T9yxf7Z3Zx
Expert Picks
Our expert picks will be brought to you every week by Sky Sports Presenter Kit Alexander and former Ladies European Tour player, coach and presenter Sophie Walker. The duo also co-host their own weekly Fantasy Golf Youtube Channel.
Kit's picks
You can follow Kit on social media here: @KitOnTheCourse (Twitter), @KitOnTheCourse (Instagram)
Jon Rahm
The world number one is the defending champion from the last time the Acciona Open de Espana presented by Madrid was played in 2019 – at the same venue as this week’s renewal. He was Europe’s best player in the Ryder Cup and he’s barely finished outside the top 10 in a strokeplay event in more than a year, including picking up a first major at the US Open. He will be the overwhelming favourite this week for very good reason.
Nicolai Hojgaard
The 20-year-old joined his twin Rasmus as a European Tour winner at the DS Automobiles Italian Open and he’s finished inside the top-21 in the other four of his most recent five starts, including T14 last week at the Dunhill Links Championship. He missed the cut at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid two years ago, but I’m taking the positive that he’s seen the course before, and he’s a much better player now.
Masahiro Kawamura
The Japanese player was in good form before a MC at the Dunhill Links Championship, with three top-5s and another three top-21s in his eight tournaments prior to that. I expect him to return to that kind of form on a course where he finished T7 in 2019. He’s inside the top 20 in a range of stats, including ‘strokes gained - tee to green’, stroke average, birdies per round and par-3 scoring.
Sophie's picks
You can follow Sophie on social media here: @SophWalks (Twitter), @SophWalksGolf (Instagram)
Richard Bland
The English man is having the season of his life. After capturing his first win on tour he has really pushed on. Currently 8th in the Race to Dubai thanks to the British Masters win and five other top 5’s.
Bland is top 20 in fairways in regulation which is needed around Club de Campo Villa de Madrid (I have played there in the women’s Spanish open). He also sits inside the top 20 in strokes gained approach which makes his stroke average 69.58. I saw him last week at the Wisley GC where he shot -9 in a friendly match so was not surprised at all that we played well at the Dunhill. Richards playing good golf where and whenever he tee’s it up.
Adri Arnaus
Spanish players do well in the Spanish Open. Which is why I am picking Adri, he has played well her in the past and comes off a good 24th place last week. The 26 year old is currently 77th in the Race to Dubai and will be looking to capitalise on the two Spanish events we have coming up.
He ranks 6th in putting which will come in handy as the greens are small in Madrid.
Justin Harding
A favourite of mine, the South African is solid. He flights the ball great which will help on the undulating course of Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, he finished top ten at this venue in 2019.
Harding’s stroke average is 69.63 for the season which ranks him 10th in the standings. The 35 year old has already won once this season and will be looking for another victory around a course which will suit his eye.
