Super Sergio Garcia looking unstoppable at beloved Valderrama

Sky Sports Golf, 11am Sunday

Story so far
Sergio Garcia has taken a firm grip of the Andalucia Valderrama Masters, the defending champion four shots clear going into the final round.

Garcia, who started the week a best-price 5-1, is no bigger than 1-7 with 18 holes to play at his favourite course. Thunderstorms over each of the first three days mean the event has been reduced to 54 holes.

Garcia, seeking to win this title for a third consecutive time, followed up a steady opening round of 68 with a flawless 64 which he closed by making birdie at each of the final three holes.

European Tour maiden Ashley Chesters is alone in second place and there is a further two-shot gap to the trio of players sharing third spot.

Leaderboard
-10 Sergio Garcia
-6 Ashley Chesters
-4 Alvaro Quiros, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Marc Warren
-3 Shane Lowry, Lee Westwood

Best prices
1-7 S Garcia, 14 A Chesters, 40 G Fernandez-Castano, 50 L Westwood, S Lowry, M Warren, 66 A Quiros, 200 bar

Final-day advice
Sergio Garcia is the king of Valderrama and it appears that his reign in command of the iconic Sotogrande venue is set to extend further.

Garcia, who has had a twinkle in his eye ever since playing a significant role in Europe's latest Ryder Cup victory, loves pitting his wits against Valderrama in front of adoring galleries, and this week has been no different.

Even with only three rounds to assert his superiority over a weak field, Garcia has forged clear, and it is difficult to imagine any other result than a triumph for super Sergio.

Golf is a queer sport – and memories of Dustin Johnson squandering a six-shot final-round lead in the HSBC Champions almost exactly a year ago mean nothing can ever be taken for granted – but punters who invested heavily in Garcia this week should be on good terms with themselves.

An unsettled weather forecast means the competitors are out in threeballs again for round three, with Garcia scheduled on the tee at 10am UK and Ireland time. The forecast is excellent for Monday and tournament organisers have said they will use that option if necessary, so a 54-hole event seems certain to be completed.

Garcia was a strong ante-post recommendation for Racing Post Sport followers and there is no urge to play any further in the outright market.

Another Spaniard – Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano – looks good value to win the 9.50am threeball against Lee Westwood and Alvaro Quiros.

And it is worth chancing Gonzo, a seven-time European Tour champion who has been hitting his ball well this week, in the outright betting with Garcia. Ashley Chesters is a deserved favourite from two ahead, but Fernandez-Castano is well capable of landing runner-up honours.

Without Garcia recommendation
G Fernandez-Castano
1pt each-way 8-1 Betfair, BoyleSports, Power

Threeballs recommendation
G Fernandez-Castano
1pt 11-5 Sky Bet

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