Open De Espana

The course that will be played is the new 7,296-yard par 72 El Prat course, which was designed by Greg Norman and opened in 2004. It was the first course designed by the Australian in continental Europe.
see's the likes of Jimenez and Quiros leading the charge for the home talent plus it see's the return of loveable spanish son Jose Maria Olazabal for the first time in 7 years.

World No1 Lee Westwood is taking time out this week in preparation for the Volvo World matchplay. Colin Montgomerie is returning to play as well in effort to try and raise his game to years past, and the wonderkid of golf who now sits in places 1&2 for youngest ever winner in the ET Matteo Manassero, a young kid who has shown youn don't need to bomb it to be good, he's average length off the tee, but superbly accurate with great iron play and wedge play means this kid can take the world by storm and is already.

The field is mixed and weather should be good and now we begin to see a stretch of great ET staple events begining with this one and leading us into the World Matchplay and PGA at Wentworth in the coming weeks to herald the return to mainland europe and kicks the real major season ahead in the next few weeks we may see which euro players are capable of heading into the US Open and the Open with the form to contend on the world stage, Europe has one Major winner from it's tour this year already can this series of events coming up help groom the next

Nice one Mav. I always feel that this marks the real start of the European Tour, now that we're back in mainland Europe (I know Spain has already hosted a tournament this year, but as you point out this marks the start of a great run of events leading towards the US Open)

Good post Mav. I'd be surprised if MAJ and MM won't be in the mix.

Looks like a tough start out there. Didn't get chance to watch any on Sky Sports before I left for work but as the early starters reach the turn scores are ranging from +4 to -2

MM just dropped a shot on 7 to go +1

Good to see a Scotsman up there, I did not realise that Jamieson had such a good start to the year. Maybe one to give us a bit of hope for the future.

Sky Sports reports players have aproached tour officials at the prospect of wearing black arm bands in tribute to Seve for remainder of the event