Garrido provides a safer option in Spanish group;GOLF

IGNACIO GARRIDO has been a frustrating player for fixedodds outright backers to follow in recent years - he has not won since the 2003 PGA Championship at Wentworth and seems to freeze when presented with chances to do so - but the Spaniard's increasingly well-rounded game means he is usually a sound proposition on the spreads, writes Steve Palmer.

That is especially the case when he is playing in his homeland - the closest he has come to ending his losing run was when runner-up in the 2006 Madrid Masters and then again in the 2008 Spanish Open - and the 38-year-old can be expected to feature on the Castello Masters leaderboard at some stage.

The most sensible way of supporting Garrido, who finished ninth in the Portugal Masters on Sunday, is to buy him on the top Spaniard index at 15, which will provide profit for a topthree finish, as well as selling his finishing position at 35.

The Spanish contingent is strong in quantity but not in quality. Sergio Garcia obviously has two months of competition rust to shake from his system and the pressure of being in the spotlight throughout the week, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano wastes countless birdie opportunities with the putting technique of a 28-handicapper, Alejandro Canizares has gone completely off the boil since losing a play-off for the French Open at the end of a golden summer, while Pablo Larrazabal and Jose Manuel Lara have become two of the world's most inconsistent golfers.

Then you get to Pablo Martin, who must be down in the dumps after his dismal surrender of a winning position in Portugal last week, and second-rate players like Alvaro Velasco and Rafael Cabrera-Bello. Making the cut would be an achievement for Jose Maria Olazabal on his return to action, so Garrido looks the Spaniard most likely to produce his best.

The former Ryder Cup star has recorded ten top-20 finishes this season and his previous Castello Masters efforts have been solid (15th and 33rd).

The finishing-position sell appeals because there are only 114 runners in the event - a lack of daylight hours at this time of the year means a fullfield tournament is not possible - so Garrido has an excellent chance of playing a prominent role.

Recommendations Buy I Garrido on Spanish index 1pt at 15 Sporting Index Sell I Garrido finishing position 1pt at 35 Sporting Index