DEFENDING CHAMPION: Sweden’s Jarmo Sandelin won the last staging of this event then known as Turespaña Open De Canaria in 1995. Sandelin defeating Seve Ballesteros and Paul Eales by a solitary stroke.

COURSE: Designed by famed local Spanish architect Jose Gancedo, Golf Costa Adeje welcomes the Tenerife Open for the first time this week.

Uniquely featuring six each of par-3s, par-4s and par-5s, one the three shotters has been converted into a par-4 for this week, with the course to measure 6,270 metres. A number of fairways incorporate stone wall terracing from the land’s farming history are sloped towards the water surrounding the course, while some of the waste areas feature black volcanic sand.

PRIZEMONEY: EUR 1,500,000.

PLAYERS TO WATCH …

Garrick Higgo, last week’s winner in the first event of the Canary Islands swing, is in top form having finished T4 in the Austrian Open before claiming the Gran Canaria Lopesan Open.

The left handed 21-year-old averages over 300 yards off the tee and has improved his putting so far in 2021 that has led to his recent good play.

It will be a lot to ask of Higgo to back up immediately following a victory, but Higgo is now a two-time European Tour winner and closed the weekend at Gran Canaria with matching 63s.

Queenslander Maverick Antcliff will be ruing a third round 71 that meant he was out of the running on Sunday at the Gran Canaria Lopesan Open. However, Antcliff will have taken plenty of confidence from his share of 21st and closing 66.

RIGHT: The uniquely terraced fairways at Golf Costa Adeje. PHOTO: Warren Little/Getty Images.

Antcliff is a quality ball striker and accurate driver of the golf ball, but needs to be more consistent with the putter to contend over the weekend here.

72-HOLE RECORD: Spanish legend Jose Maria Olazabal set the tournament scoring record of 15-under (273) in 1992. The win, which was Olazabal’s second in the event, was by a margin of five shots over compatriot Miguel Angel Martin.

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: No previous Australian winner.

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Maverick Antcliff, Scott Hend and Jake McLeod.

TV TIMES*

Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 11pm – 4am)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 11pm – 4am)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 10:30pm – 3am)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 511 LIVE 10pm – 2:30am)

*AEST, check local guides