This week’s action on the European Tour is the 2012 Portugal Masters. The tournament was played for the first time in 2007 and has quickly been established as one of the more prestigious events on the Tour. A strong field head to Portugal this week including Francesco Molinari, Branden Grace, Martin Kaymer and Padraig Harrington. Tom Lewis arrives here as the defending champion looking to improve on recent form and land his second European Tour victory. The tournament begins on Thursday 11^th October with the fourth and final round taking place on Sunday October 14^th.

The Oceânico Victoria Golf Course in Vilamoura plays host to the Portugal Masters. It has a par score of 72 and stands at 7,231 yards in length. Some big under par score have been posted since the competition’s inception in 2007 but it is a beautiful course situated in Portugal’s stunning Algarve. Young Englishman Tom Lewis won here in 2011 with an impressive final total of 267 and a -21 score. He has struggled to build on that success this season but could be a threat back on the course where he previously tasted success. Betfred make the defending champion a 125/1 chance to make it back to back wins in the Portugal Masters.

Four other players have won the Portugal Masters since 2007 – Steve Webster, Alvaro Quiros, Lee Westwood and Richard Green. Both Green and Webster take part in the 2012 renewal and can be backed at 80/1 and 60/1 respectively with Betfred.

My first pick this week was a man that was unlucky not to be part of Europe’s recent Ryder Cup success, Padraig Harrington. He is long overdue a European Tour success and finished in a very respectable 29^th place at last week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Harrington has been consistent for the bulk of this season and looks a value each way bet at odds of 22/1 with Betfred.

Another player that is hard to ignore this week is Italian Francesco Molinari. He was an important part of the winning Ryder Cup team and this is first appearance since that success. Molinari has a great record in this event, having finished runner up in both 2010 and 2009. He is bound to be full of confidence following his great performance against Tiger Woods and can make his presence felt once again in Portugal.

Back Padraig Harrington each way @ 22/1 with Betfred

Back Francesco Molinari @ 16/1 with Betfred

Portugal Masters Odds (Prices from Betfred)

Molinari, Francesco 16/1
Kaymer, Martin 20/1
Olesen, Thorbjorn 20/1
Coetzee, George 22/1
Noren, Alexander 22/1
Harrington, Padraig 22/1
Cabrera-Bello, Rafa 25/1
Willett, Danny 28/1
Fernandez-Castano, Gonzalo 30/1
Donaldson, Jamie 33/1
Stenson, Henrik 33/1
Larrazabal, Pablo 33/1
Dyson, Simon 35/1
Fisher, Ross 35/1
Hansen, Anders 35/1
40/1 Bar

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