After tasting success at last week's Andalucia Masters, European Tour tipster Joe Hughes is looking to go back-to-back in Ireland
We’ll get to my Irish Open betting tips in a moment, but first…
The details
Date: July 4-7, 2019
Course stats: Par 7o, 7,036 yards
Course summary: Links golf is back on the European Tour this week at Lahinch and its here to stay until the Open later this month. Expect the usual testing conditions and blustery winds, the winner this week will have good control of his game and be at least a decent scrambler.
Purse: €6,215,965 million
Defending champion: Russell Knox (-14)
TV coverage
Wednesday: Sky Sports Golf, 3pm (On the Range)
Thursday: Sky Sports Golf, 10.30am
Friday: Sky Sports Golf, 10.30am
Saturday: Sky Sports Golf, 12pm
Sunday: Sky Sports Golf, 12pm
We headed into last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic on the PGA Tour without knowing exactly what the course was about, and we find ourselves in the same spot again this week, in Europe.
The tour has not played over this track before and so while we know it will be a stiff links challenge, there is an element of anticipation to see just how it plays.
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Irish Open betting: Joe’s outside tips
To begin with, I really like the chances of Belgian big-hitter, Thomas Detry (60/1) who is yet to win a solo European Tour event, and as he says in his recent player blog, he’s fed up of people talking about it.
At that price he really does offer some good value and has a solid chance of a place.
Last week, he secured a top-10 finish at Valderrama and has been playing some nice stuff this year.
Relevantly, he performed well at this season’s British Masters, which was played at Hillside, a links-style track.
6 Birdies.
1 Eagle.Just one back at Hillside @tomdetry. 👌🏼 pic.twitter.com/cQYxZPrnnM
— National Club Golfer (@NCG_com) May 9, 2019
He spoke at the event of how he likes the challenge of links golf and his play reflected that, so there’s no reason why he can’t go well this week.
Another intriguing player that caught my eye this week is Thorbjorn Olesen (50/1).
The Dane has endured a tough season to this point and it has to be said, he’s missed his fair share of cuts.
However, I’m hoping his performance in Spain last week is a sign that he is finding some form and returning to the level that saw him become a big part of the Ryder Cup team in France.
Olesen tied for 10th at the Andalucia Masters and this isn’t the only positive. He has shown that he knows his way a links track in the past with some good outings in the Open.
A tied 9th in 2012 and a tied 12th at Carnoustie both suggest that the 29-year-old has what it takes to compete around this sort of course.
I’ll be backing Olesen at 50s to grab at least a place.
If you’re after an each-way chance with a bigger price, then Gavin Green (125/1) could be a wise choice.
I’ll be having a small each-way stake on the Malaysian who is enjoying a very steady season on tour and secured his first top-10 finish of the season last week.
At 125/1 it’s feasible that he could well provide a decent return.
Those are Joe’s each-way shouts, but who does he think is going to win? His Irish Open betting tips continue on the next page…
