Russian Open Tips: Edouard Espana

The Russian Open heralds the start of the race to the 2016 Ryder Cup but in truth that is perhaps the only positive in a very ordinary looking event.

Nevertheless it gives a lesser light the chance to shine and/or retain their playing rights.

In the last two editions the winner has come from inside the top-300 in the world, a ranking that places them amongst the ‘elite’ players in the field.

Ranked world number 299, Edouard Espana just sneaks in but is a generous price in a weak field.

The Russian Open is tantamount to a Challenge Tour event and Espana thrived at a lower grade last season. He only missed one cut in 23 starts and bagged seven top-10s on the way to finishing eleventh on the money list.

The young Frenchman has found life harder on the European Tour but we saw his ability when he finished runner-up at the Open de Espana.

There have been too many missed cuts since then but he did finish T56 at the Czech Masters last week despite struggling on the greens.

In a weak event the 225/1 (Bet365) must be snapped up.