Steve Palmer's Mallorca Open predictions and free golf betting tips

Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the Mallorca Open at Son Muntaner on the DP World Tour.

Where to watch

Live on Sky Sports Golf & Main Event from 1pm on Thursday

Best bets

Tom Lewis
2pts each-way 80-1 Hills

Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez
1.5pts each-way 66-1 general

Hurly Long
1.5pts each-way 60-1 bet365

Lucas Bjerregaard
1pt each-way 110-1 bet365

Marc Warren
0.5pt each-way 160-1 bet365

Adrian Otaegui is gunning for back-to-back DP World Tour victories in his homeland this week and the Spaniard will be a popular choice for the Mallorca Open after his six-shot Andalucia Masters triumph on Sunday.

Punters, though, should probably resist the temptation to back Otaegui for an immediate follow-up. The 29-year-old's career has been built around driving accuracy - the key to success at last week's venue - while his putting has always been a weakness. The king of Valderrama may not be so threatening at the more open, more straightforward Son Muntaner.

Steve Palmer's top tip

Tom Lewis 80-1

There are two events left this season for players trying to secure their DP World Tour playing rights for next year - and Tom Lewis can rise to the challenge and enjoy a fabulous fortnight.

Lewis is 154th in the Race to Dubai standings and needs to get inside the top 117 by the end of next week's Portugal Masters. The fact that he has two such suitable assignments between now and judgement day means the Hertfordshire lad can have high hopes of pocketing a Tour card for 2023.

Lewis has proved himself on low-scoring resort courses in this region, having twice won the Portugal Masters (2011, 2018). He was 21 under par for the first victory and 22 under for the second. His Challenge Tour win came with a 23-under-par total, while his Korn Ferry Tour triumph also came courtesy of a 23-under-par effort.

With scoring set to be seriously low in Palma this week, birdie machine Lewis can make merry. He possesses the power off the tee to overwhelm Son Muntaner and his iron-play has been a source of encouragement in recent months.

A 13th-place finish in the Czech Masters at the end of August was followed by 12th in the Made In HimmerLand and 16th in the Italian Open. Lewis will be fancying his chances of threatening a Portugal Masters hat-trick in Vilamoura next week, but he could take all the pressure out of that mission by winning the Mallorca Open on Sunday.

Next best bet

Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez 66-1

The last four DP World Tour events staged in Spain have been won by a Spaniard - and that streak could be continued by Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez. Like Lewis, this naturally aggressive player has a penchant for going extremely low.

Garcia Rodriguez is a superb putter and an easy course in his homeland is the perfect assignment. He won an event in Spain in 2017 on the Alps Tour - a circuit on which he has triumphed three times - beating Adri Arnaus in a playoff.

Garcia Rodriguez has finished second in a Challenge Tour event in Spain, second in a Challenge Tour event in Portugal, sixth in the 2020 Portugal Masters and fifth in last year's Mallorca Open. his record competing close to home is fantastic.

Having made five cuts in a row, culminating in 14th place in the Andalucia Masters on Sunday at a far less suitable track than Son Muntaner, Garcia Rodriguez can threaten a DP World Tour breakthrough at the age of 33.

Other selections

Hurly Long 60-1

Lucas Bjerregaard 110-1

Marc Warren 160-1

Hurly Long has won on the Challenge Tour and appears ready to make his DP World Tour breakthrough soon enough. The German is 27th on the DP World Tour putting rankings for this season, having posted six top-ten finishes, including second spot in the Kenya Open.

Long, who was runner-up in a Challenge Tour event in Spain last year, is well equipped to attack and conquer Son Muntaner, while the same can be said of Lucas Bjerregaard, who, like Lewis, has two tournaments left to save his DP World Tour skin.

Bjerregaard, like Lewis, knows that next week's Portugal Masters is a great opportunity for last-gasp glory. The giant Dane won the Portugal Masters in 2017 and finished second last year to salvage his playing rights.

History could repeat itself this year, with Bjerregaard banking some late Race to Dubai points. He has shown glimpses of his A-game recently, with third place in the Cazoo Open, 20th in the French Open and 23rd in the Spanish Open.

Marc Warren is also worth supporting at eyecatching odds. This great talent seems to up his focus and his game when his DP World Tour playing rights come under threat. Eighth place in the Spanish Open a couple of weeks ago pretty much secured his card for next year - and he was thrilled with his ball-striking performance.

Warren has always been one of the best putters on the circuit and the four-time Tour champion is well equipped to go low at Son Muntaner.

Players to note

Rasmus Hojgaard
The youngster deserves his place at the head of the betting. His maiden DP World Tour title came in Mauritius and more island success could be coming on Sunday for the in-form Dane.

Ryan Fox
The New Zealander is chasing his third victory of a fantastic DP World Tour campaign and is by far the highest-ranked player in the field. Putting has never been a strength, though, so he could get outgunned on the greens.

Wilco Nienaber
The South African powerhouse is desperate for a big week to secure a DP World Tour card, but his form has suffered as his career has struggled to take off.

Alfredo Garcia-Heredia
A share of sixth place in the Spanish Open the week before last shows that the Spaniard is capable of raising his game in his homeland. He could threaten the places at a fancy price.

Son Muntaner course guide

Course Son Muntaner Golf Club, Palma, Mallorca, Spain
Prize money €2m (€340,000 to the winner)
Length 6,952 yards
Par 71 - three par-fives, 11 par-fours, four par-threes
Field 120 The cut Top 65 and ties qualify for round three
Highest-ranked players in field (world ranking in brackets) Ryan Fox (25), Erik van Rooyen (90), Adrian Otaegui (95), Rasmus Hojgaard (109), Nicolai Hojgaard (123)

When to bet By 7.30am on Thursday

When to watch Live on Sky Sports Golf & Main Event from 1pm on Thursday

Time difference Mallorca is one hour ahead of the UK and Ireland

Last week - Andalucia Masters 1 A Otaegui (50-1), 2 J Lagergren (200-1), 3 M W Lee (22-1), 4 A Hidalgo (200-1), 5 R Hojgaard (25-1), T6 M Kinhult (200-1), T Lawrence (70-1), J Smith (28-1)

Course type Parkland

Course overview The DP World Tour moves to uncharted terrain this week, with Son Muntaner taking centre stage for the first time. German architect Kurt Rossknecht designed the layout and it hosted a Mallorca Skins contest between Jose Maria Olazabal, Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer and Robert Karlsson in 2009. It is routed over rolling terrain, with many ponds coming into play on the front nine. The resort course should be a doddle for the DP World Tour arrivals, with fine weather forecast for all four days

Story of last year Jeff Winther battled to a level-par final round, which was enough for a one-shot success at Golf Santa Ponsa and a maiden DP World Tour title

Weather forecast Sunshine and light breezes are set to greet the players, so this short course is lacking an obvious defence

Type of player suited to the challenge The rough is not overly penal at Son Muntaner, so if players avoid the numerous water hazards they should card plenty of birdies. A hot putter seems almost essential for success

Key attribute Touch/putting

Spotlight insight The last four DP World Tour events staged in Spain were won by a Spaniard

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