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80/1 Alejandro Canizares can round off a successful few months
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A seven-shot winner last week, Thomas Bjorn takes the eye at 100/1
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Adilson Da Silva could shine early at a three-figure price
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Weather forecast for Thursday: It's not exactly the best day, with morning conditions showing a very cloudy sky and a chance of rain. The sun should start to appear in the afternoon as temperatures hit the mid-80s. It's a windy day too with a constant easterly of about 15-17mph throughout the day. I'll go with two picks in the afternoon and one in the morning.
Count on Canizares
It's been quite a few months for Alejandro Canizares.
He did well enough/not quite well enough to emerge with conditional status after finishing T62 in the final stage of Q-School in Spain.
The Spaniard then finished tied 12th in the Aussie PGA, squeezed past the cut at the Australian Open and then closed with a 64 to not only finish fourth but book one of three spots at next summer's Open Championship.
He started with a pair of 69s in the Alfred Dunhill Championship last week but then limped home in 81 on Sunday. Was something up?
No. True, he had a shocker of a front nine but Canizares actually played the final six holes in bogey-free 3-under, a springboard perhaps for this week.
Canizares has performed well in windy conditions and he was sixth in the 2020 Oman Open at Al Mouj, a course that correlates well with this week's track, Mont Choisy Le Golf.
He's worth a play at 80/1 from his 12.40 tee-time.
No doubting Thomas
Thomas Bjorn finds it hard to keep with the young bucks these days but he could still make a mark over 18 holes on this relatively friendly course.
Add in some wind and maybe his veteran smarts will count for more than usual.
And then of course there was last week. Those that follow the Legends Tour will know that Bjorn arrived on the island to contest the MCB Tour Championship Mauritius. He won. By seven shots!
The Dane's round scores included a 61 and Bjorn's enjoyment was enhanced by having his son Oliver on the bag for the first time.
Maybe from his 12.20 tee-time he can hit the heights once more. I'm prepared to find out given the price of 100/1.
Da Silva can strike gold
Again playing on the idea that some of the older pros may have more of a chance on a course that plays just over 7,000 yards and is subject to wind, I'll try Adilson Da Silva.
The Brazilian has been in fine form on the Legends Tour, finishing fourth in Mauritius last Sunday and runner-up in the Seychelles a week earlier.
Da Silva won the PGA Seniors Championship in England back in the summer and also made the top 20 in this event in 2018.
It's a bit of a punt but hopefully one of golf's straighest hitters can set up, and hopefully take, a bunch of birdie chances from his early tee-time of 07.50 on day one.