Written by @Matt_Cee for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
The Irish Open | Thursday 19 June – Sunday 22 June | Fota Island Resort
After the excitement of last week’s Major, which was dominated by an impressive Martin Kaymer, the European Tour heads to Ireland for the Irish Open. This is always one to look forward to as a host of big names generally make an appearance, making for an exciting four days of golf. This time around the tournament will be hosted at Fota Island Resort in County Cork. The course has not hosted a major tour event in a number of years so is a relatively unknown entity. It plays at just over 7,400 yards and is said to be relatively easy so expect some low scores. After competing at an incredibly tough Pinehurst No. 2 last week, players will relish the opportunity to go low so expect a lot of birdies. There are a lot of bunkers and water hazards scattered around the course though so accuracy with the irons will be important. There are a host of Irish players competing this week so also keep an eye on the local boys.
To Win Outright
Rory McIlroy 9/2
Graeme McDowell 16/1
Paul Casey 22/1
Stephen Gallacher 22/1
Shane Lowry 25/1
VALUE BETS
Rafael Cabrera-Bello (30/1 a win, 66/10 a place)
If there’s one player who enjoys making birdies, it’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello. The talented Spaniard has one of the best all around games on the Tour and despite the fact that he has had an up-and-down season, I feel that this week he will come out guns blazing. Five Top 10s this season show that he has what it takes to compete at the highest level and he was impressive in his last outing at the Nordea Masters. His driving and putting were on point that week but most impressive was his iron play. If he can play like that again this week there’s no reason he won’t be competing on Sunday. At 30/1 Cabrera-Bello looks a great bet so get on early.
Steven Gallacher (22/1 a win, 48/10 a place)
Steven Gallacher has been on fire at the moment and is looking to be a certainty for the European Ryder Cup team, but if he wants to cement his place in that he’s going to need one or two more big performances. This week he will have the perfect opportunity for one of those and he’ll come here relishing the opportunity to impress the European captain. A great striker of the ball, he’s been in a sublime run of form recently and was nothing short of impressive at the Nordea Masters, where he lost narrowly in a play-off. That finish was preceded by a fifth at Wentworth so keep an eye on Gallacher this week. Each way here is the bet for me.
Marcel Siem (33/1 a win, 66/10 a place)
If there was one player whose performance came as a surprise for me last week at Pinehurst it was this talented German’s. Playing on one of the toughest courses imaginable, he kept a cool head under pressure and played some great iron shots, the result being an impressive 12th place finish. I’m sure it will be a huge boost to his confidence before a tournament held at a course that should suit his game to a tee. Incredibly accurate with his irons and great with the putter, I’m sure Siem will be making a lot of birdies this week. Each way here is the bet for me.
TOP BET: Paul Casey (22/1 a win, 48/10 a place)
Paul Casey will be looking to defend his Irish Open title this week and despite the fact that he never threatened at Pinehurst, his game at the moment is such that he can’t be ignored here. Casey is a talented golfer who has struggled with injury problems of late but he has featured in a number of tournaments on the PGA Tour this season and will be looking forward to returning to Europe to compete on a course that he feels comfortable on. In 2002 he managed a decent 12th here and since then he’s blossomed into one of the most talented golfers the English game has produced in recent years. If he plays as well as we know he can this week, there’s no reason he won’t be in the mix come Sunday. Again, each way looks the bet.
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