Steve Palmer's Portugal Masters second-round preview, best bets, free golf tips

When to watch

Sky Sports Main Event and Golf, 1pm Friday

Best bets

Ross Fisher to win 1.10pm threeball
1pt 7-4 bet365

Preview

Joost Luiten fired a morning 63 to set the tone for a day of low scoring at Dom Pedro Victoria GC, Vilamoura, as soft conditions turned the Portugal Masters into a birdiefest.

Luiten, an ante-post 80-1 chance, carded eight birdies and ten pars. The Dutchman is outside the top 117 on the Race to Dubai - the players who will automatically retain their DP World Tour playing rights for next season at the conclusion of this event.

Jordan Smith did even better in the afternoon, carding a 62, the Bath man chasing his first victory in more than five years. Smith became clear favourite, having been 16-1 pre-tournament.

More breeze is expected for round two, so scoring might not be quite so spectacular. Following up Thursday's heroics with another low round should be extremely difficult for Luiten, who can be opposed in the 1.10pm threeball with Ross Fisher.

Luiten is not the only member of his group who is languishing in the Race to Dubai. Lucas Bjerregaard also needs a fantastic week to get inside the top 117. The Dane is a former Dom Pedro champion, but he is teeing up with huge tension in his shoulders after a Thursday 70.

Fisher, 70th in the Race to Dubai, can play carefree golf in comparison to his playing partners. The experienced Englishman was runner-up in the 2012 Portugal Masters and third in 2008, and he showed his liking for the venue again by starting this week with a 66.

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