With the final round underway in Seville we thought we would take a look at what will be needed to take the Reale Seguros Open de España title.
Heavy rain and persistent breeze throughout the first three rounds has posed severe difficulties for the players at the Real Clube de Golf de Sevilla, but with sun forecast it should make for an exciting Sunday shoot out.
Simon Dyson tops the scoring after three rounds thanks in part to some strong form from the tee that has seen him rank tenth in Driving Accuracy this week hitting 61.9 per cent of his fairways. With all the rain adding to the already dense rough, accuracy has been paramount, a fact proven further by Soren Kjeldsen who ranks second in this Genworth statistical category as well as on the leader board.
In fact five of the top 11 on the leader board are ranked no worse than 15thin fairways found, and none of them are outside 54th, confirming the need for accuracy from the tee during the final round.
Putting has also been a key factor for Dyson who ranks second in Putts per Round averaging 28, while he also sits fourth in Putts per GIR with 1.715 strokes. Once again the chasing Kjeldsen’s numbers follow suit, matching Dyson’s second place in Putts per Round and bettering him in Putts per GIR with an average of 1.665, proving the need for a confident putting display on Sunday.
With the pressure of the final round, and a European Tour title on the line, it will be key for those in contention to play to these important strengths but there will also be a number of important holes for them to bear in mind.
The hardest hole so far has been the 18th, and while the 432 yard par four might not be the longest, its green is guarded by an imposing mix of sand and water making for an incredibly daunting final test. As such there have only been 22 birdies all week, amounting to an average of 4.49 amongst the field, and ensuring that no lead is enough heading up this imposing last hole.
The 15thwill also pose a threat to the players coming home, it ranks second hardest this week and is sure to have the players on their toes on a hole that has offered up more doubles than birdies in the first three rounds. But some respite will come at 16, a 522 yard par five that has played the easiest thanks to 12 eagles and almost as many birdies as pars, for an average of 4.63, allowing a chance to increase a lead as well as catch the leader.
The keys in this final round will therefore be accuracy from the tee, a sure touch with the putter, and a strong mind entering a daunting final stretch that ensures no victory will be sure until that final putt drops.
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