European PGA Golf Preview Odds and Tips: Irish Open

Sports Betting

Strong Irish presence to dominate leader-board?

The Irish Open is the golf focus for the week on the European Tour this Bank Holiday weekend, as Europe’s best go toe to toe. There is actually a good strong Irish contingent going for glory at the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club. There is a fair chance that there will be another Irish Winner here when you look down the list of front runners. The sheer presence of Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington will ensure that there is a great atmosphere at the tournament. Last year’s Irish Open was a thriller which went down to the wire in a sudden death play off. Four exciting days of golf are expected and here we cast an eye over the front runners in the golf betting for the big event.

Rory McIlroy: 6/1 at Bet365

He is favourite to win here, and that tag as tournament favourite won’t bother the young lad one iota. A genuine world talent, and should have been in with a chance of winning The Open recently at St Andrews until a horrible second round in the wind and rain destroyed the whole event for him. McIlroy is the top ranked player at the event, and with two Irish winners in the last three years there will plenty of backers for him. Has yet to pick up a title this year on the European Tour, but he has been getting better and better in form over the last month or so. Has bags of talent, and he will have learnt a big lesson about controlling his emotions and focusing on the game at St Andrews. No reason he can’t walk out of this one a winner.

Justin Rose: 14/1 at SkyBet

The Englishman is enjoying something of a great season. He went into The Open with a strong backing from a lot of golf experts thinking that his form would really put him into contention. It didn’t as it happened and he missed the cut, but after Rose had won back to back tournaments in America, he elevated his status once again. He has four European Tour Wins to his name in his career, and doesn’t put in an appearance in Britain too much on the Tour, so he must fancy his chances here. It’s the first time since 2002 he has played at the Irish Open, but with a bundle of World Ranking Points on offer at the tournament, Rose could back up his two US PGA Tour wins by securing an automatic place in this year’s Ryder Cup team with a good tournament here.

Graeme McDowell: 14/1 at SportingBet
Was mightily impressed with the way he handled himself at The Open at St Andrews, after going into the tournament with a lot of unexpected hype surrounding him. The Irishman won the US Open quite unexpectedly and naturally that put a lot of new pressure upon him. Held everything together for a steady -3 under par at the end of the tournament, and like many others, had one sticky round which hampered him. He has six European Tour titles to his name, and with wins at the US Open and the Celtic Manor Wales Open, he has fired up to 11th in the Official World Of Golf Rankings. In good form and should be in the hunt for yet some more accolades. European Player of the Month, and hard to argue with that. Believes that the record round of 59 for a European Tour event could go here. Be something if it was him, but more likely it would come from McIlroy.

Padraig Harrington: 18/1 at Coral
Won the event in 2007 and will be another strong Irish challenger for the honours. One of the favourites to step out onto the golf course wherever he goes, he will be looking to pick up his first win of the year here. His best finish this year on the European Tour was a third place at the WGC – CA Championship, and he is ranked 32 on the Tour. He is probably a bit better than that, and a fan favourite. Probably hasn’t quite got his driving accuracy where he wants it at the moment, but his averages are down a little bit. When it comes to Harrington, you can throw the form book out of the window, as he is a star who can walk his way to titles. Well worth a serious punt here at the Irish Open. He is on a bit of a drought at the moment, not having lifted a title since winning the US PGA Championship in 2008, but he has been hitting the top ten finishes. This is just the type of big event in the right place at the right time which could see him tick all the right boxes.

Ross Fisher: 20/1 at Paddy Power

A little bit up and down in his form, but finished at -1 under at The Open. Has every chance at the Irish Open, but he will just need to find a little more consistency in his top form. His stroke average is a little high, suggesting that he won’t be close to the finish, but is a steady player once he gets into his groove. An outside punt, but worth considering if he has a couple of decent opening rounds. He’ll be reliant on a confidence game.

Francesco Molinari: 20/1 at Stan James
The Italian had a big blip at The Open where he failed to make the cut after a bad second round. That was a little unexpected as going into the tournament, he had secured himself a second place and then a fourth place finish in his previous two tournaments. Has only one European Tour win to his name, but ranked 14th on the Tour. Playing some good averages at the moment, but looking to recreate the kind of driving accuracy which he had last year. Like Fisher, needs some solid rounds to build upon, but capable of threatening the top of the leader board if he gets going.

Shane Lowry: 45/1 at BetFred
The defending champion of the Irish Open, winning the tournament as an amateur and didn’t win any Tour money for it. Never really threatened to back up that win with anything on his first full season of the European Tour, but is finding his feet a little more in 2010. His average stroke play really hasn’t changed much and at 71.02 it suggests that he’ll need something special again to retain his crown.