Betting tips: Banking on Willett for the Open D’Italia
The European Tour returns to Italy this weekend, but at a new – but familiar – venue for the 2015 rendition.
GC Torino is no longer the backdrop for the 72nd edition, which sees the European Tour bandwagon return to Golf Club Milano for the first time since 1990 – which saw Richard Boxall take the title.
Defending champion Hennie Otto – one of only a handful of multiple winners – is available at an enticing 225/1 if you’re feeling brave.
The field includes a number of former winners of this event, including home-grown hero Francesco Molinari who is the outright favourites to take the title.
The Italian is available at 11/1 – worthy of a steady each-way bet.
But as for our ’expert’ tips, we’ve gone for Yorkshireman Danny Willett as our first pick. Willett, available at bet365 at 12/1 has had an excellent year.
Performing admirably on the Major stage – the Sheffielder has won on Tour as recently as July, shortly after his best finish at an Open.
We’re banking on Willett to take a fourth European Tour title this weekend.
Our second pick is more measured in David Howell, after his second place finish to South African Otto last year, he will be looking to go one better this time around.
“Last year I made that strong start and then just got on a roll. Every putt I looked at seemed to roll in and it was just one of those days when everything went right,” Howell told the European Tour ahead of this weeks tournament.
“Unfortunately I’d left myself just a bit too much to do, but I was very happy with the finish given where I’d started that day.
“I don’t know the course in Milan but I’ve been told it’s quite tight and fiddly.”
You can get the 40-year old at 28/1 before a single shot has been played.
The third and final pick ahead of the Italian Open is Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti.
After a fourth place finish at the KLM Open, the 32-year old will have plenty of confidence after recording a final round seven-under 63 in the Netherlands.
Zanotti has pedigree having won the 2014 BMW International Open via playoff, besting Henrik Stenson, Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Gregory Havret. Something similar this weekend would set a very nice return, with the Paraguayan being offered at 80/1 on bet365.
