Open de Espana First-Round Leader Tips: Quiros can start fast

Dave Tindall
06 October 2021
4:00 min read

Spain's Alvaro Quiros can get off to a flyer

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The European Tour heads to Spain and Dave Tindall has three each-way picks to be First Round Leader at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid...

"As for recent fast starts, he was fourth after day one of the Scottish Open and sixth following the first round of the Hero Open. He shot 66s on both occasions."

Back Alvaro Quiros E/W @ 111.0110/1

Each-way terms: 1/5 odds, 6 places

Weather forecast for Thursday: It should be a sunny day although the temperature gauge takes a while to kick into gear. It's in the 50s for the first few hours of play before peaking in the mid-70s in mid-to-late afternoon. Winds look very light while there's about a 15% chance of rain.

Count on Quiros

Alvaro Quiros is one of the home stars likely to attract a decent gallery on day one and there's a fair chance he could give them plenty to cheer.

The Spaniard was fourth at this course back in 2008 when shooting a 64 and two 66s while he's played some decent golf in recent weeks too.

Quiros was tied 18th at the Scottish Open, tied 16th at the Hero Open and tied 27th in last week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

As for recent fast starts, he was fourth after day one of the Scottish Open and sixth following the first round of the Hero Open. He shot opening 66s on both occasions.

Quiros won this event in 2010 when third after 18 holes and he's the sort of player who can get on hot runs.

There's enough there to prompt a bet at 110/1.

Home in on Hojgaard

Nicolai Hojgaard is rated by most as only the second best twin and yet the Danish youngster has a win at the Italian Open, a tied 20th at Wentworth and a tied 14th in last week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in his last three starts.

In fact, rewind a little further and he's reeled off five straight top 25s on the European Tour.

Hojgaard was the first-round leader in Qatar last year and he was third after day one in August's Czech Masters and seventh following the opening lap in Italy after a 66.

Fourth at the Canary Islands Championship on his last start in Spain, everything seems to fun at the moment and I'll take him to hit the ground running here.

Hojgaard, who closed last week with a 69 at St Andrews, is 50/1 to be first-round leader.

Winther can shine early

I'll add a second Dane as my final pick.

Jeff Winther opened with a 66 in last week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship to sit eighth at the close on Thursday and he was fifth at halfway before finishing tied 14th.

He was also 11th after the first day of action at Wentworth.

Winther brings some notable course form to the table too as he was fourth here at Club de Campo when it last staged this event in 2019.

He closed that week with a 63 so he knows how to go low on the Madrid course.

At the Gran Canaria Lopesan Open in April, he took third after closing 62-64 so he has a habit of shooting the lights out in Spain.

Back him at 75/1 to be FRL:

Tee-times: Quiros 09:20 (10th), Winther 13:20 (10th), Hojgaard 13:50 (1st).

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