Find Me A 100 Winner: Rafa Echenique

Find Me A 100 Winner / Paul Krishnamurty / 14 October 2008 / Leave a Comment

Long-hitting Argentinian is the pick of the long shots from the Portugal Masters odds for Paul Krishnamurty.

The result of last year's Portugal Masters at Oceanico Victoria offers us a massive formbook clue. No event on either side of the Atlantic placed a greater emphasis on long-driving. Generous fairways allow the most powerful to let it rip on what is an easy test for these players. The winning score in 2007 was -25, and its unlikely to be below -20 this time.

My selection is an up-and-coming Argentinian who has shown a strong liking for these type of target golf conditions. He has regularly ranked amongst the longest hitters on recent starts, and also scores very highly in terms of birdie conversion; an essential attribute this week.

Echenique had been moving up the betting ladder and started last week started at around [50.0], but a moderate effort in Madrid has sent his price spiralling upwards to [110.0]. This looks very reasonable when rated against finishes of 20th, 7th and 10th in three consecutive high-standard European events prior to the last disappointing fortnight.

He's won several times before at lower levels, and I certainly feel Echinique is capable of breaking his European Tour duck somewhere at big odds. When it does come it's likely to be on a low-scoring course that rewards his attacking style like this one.