Madrid Open 300/1 Brand

Gordon Brand junior is bookmaker Victor Chandler's unlikely bogey man for this week's Madrid Open.The 46-year-old has seen a wealth of support at the firm's opening show of 300/1 with liabilities on the Scot now running well into six-figures."You have to go back ten years to find his last European Tour win so we're not exactly quaking," said Chandler's golf compiler Richard Friend."He had a cracking record on this track in the mid 90s but that was then and this is now."Brand finished second at Madrid's Club de Campo in 1996 and came home fourth the year before that.Chandler have cut Brand to 150/1 to stem the each-way support.In form Carlos Rodiles, who finished third at last week's Mallorca event and runner-up at Woburn last month, is the firm's second biggest danger."We were a top priced 28/1 about Carlos and that was enough to attract supporters. I've seen 20/1 around the industry which seems very short indeed for a player who has yet to post his first victory on the European Tour."Rodiles hit form around this time last year finishing runner-up at the Volvo Masters, the renewal of which takes place next week.Chandler are now 25/1 about the Malaga man's chances in the Spanish capital.Friend surprisingly put forward Robert Karlsson as a player who could spring a surprise this week."He's had a poor season by his high standards and he really needs to get his act together if he is to retain his card."That could be the kick up the backside a player of Karlsson's quality needs to get his mind on the job."There's no doubt he is capable of winning on the European Tour as his five previous successes prove."Karlsson is 125/1 in places.