European Masters: Steve Palmer's first-round threeball advice, free tip

TV: Sky Sports Golf, 10.30am Thursday

Sergio Garcia, Tommy Fleetwood and Matthew Fitzpatrick comprise the marquee threeball on the opening afternoon of the European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre, and defending champion Fitzpatrick will fancy his chances of bossing the group.

The Englishman, who is gunning for three consecutive Crans triumphs, finished runner-up in the Scandinavian Invitation last week and has been in formidable form over the last two months. The Sheffield lad will expect to make a fast start in the 12.30pm (UK and Ireland time) contest.

Fitzpatrick is tempting but the pick of the afternoon threeball prices is the 7-5 about Alexander Bjork for the 11.50am match. Bjork opened with rounds of 68 and 65 on his debut at Crans in 2017, finishing the event in 16th place, then carded a solid 69 last year before withdrawing due to food poisoning.

Crans is an ideal track for Bjork, tidy from tee to green and a great scrambler, to show off his skills. And on the evidence of his final-round 64 in the Scandinavian Invitation on Sunday, he is bringing his A-game to the tournament.

His playing partners Guido Migliozzi and Joakim Lagergren are much more erratic tee-to-green operators who are far less certain to avoid serious strife at this tight, fiddly, tree-lined layout.

Tournament favourite Rory McIlroy is a morning starter, teeing off alongside Lee Westwood and Matt Wallace at 7.30am.

Recommendation
A Bjork
2pts 7-5 Betfair

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