The first round of the Italian Open, the latest in the season of Rolex Series events, takes place out in Rome on Thursday as the field takes to the course under competition conditions for the opening time this week.
These Rolex Series events have been around for long enough now that the players know the riches and benefits that they can bring, so everyone will tee off with the same intention – to position themselves nicely in the early stages.
First Round Leader
As always in a Rolex Series event, the first market we look at for when play begins is the first round leader one. This week we have a traditional European Tour start with the field split into a morning and afternoon wave off both the first and tenth tees. That means it is worth looking at the weather forecast which suggests that the wind is due to get a little stronger throughout the day. With courses cutting up at this time of year too we should look to the morning wave for a bet.
I’ll chance a couple at decent prices here. Matthias Schwab has been used to coming out fast this season and he has the driving ability to give himself plenty of chances around here. He has carded under par openings to his last six tournaments including a 63 in Switzerland and 67 in Germany. 60/1 will do me. Dean Burmester got off to a good start last week and in cooler conditions his length could be a big thing here. He’s obviously hitting the ball well enough at the minute and is worth a chance at 125/1 with a plum tee off time.
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Thursday 3 Balls
The other markets to look at is the first round three ball ones where near enough all the groups out onto the golf course have been priced up to give us a decent number to get stuck into. The pick of the groups onto the golf course in the morning is the one featuring Francesco Molinari, Shane Lowry and Matt Wallace which tees off at 07.30 BST while in the afternoon the Justin Rose, Andrea Pavan and Danny Willett group out at 12.00 BST is the headline attraction.
There are plenty of other really good groups for both the crowds on the course and those of us watching on TV to keep our eye on, such is the quality in the field this week, I’ve had a look at the entire card on Thursday and I’ve come up with two bets away from the major spotlight through the course of the day.
Alexander Levy/Paul Dunne/Aaron Rai
Match tees off at 08.00 BST
One of the morning groups out onto the golf course is the one which features established European Tour stars Alexander Levy, Aaron Rai and Paul Dunne, all of whom have won tournaments at this level in the past.
Levy will hope his improved showing in Spain last week sparks some upturn in form but you would think he is too wayward off the tee round here and if anything Dunne’s form is even worse. He’s only broken 70 in the opening round once since February so this looks to be a good chance for Rai to come through. He is relentlessly straight from tee to green and won’t need a huge amount on the greens to come out on top here. The Englishman has rounded himself into much better form in the last couple of months and has posted opening rounds in the 60s in two of his last three tournaments. That’s enough for me to take him.
Miko Korhonen/Matteo Manassero/Adri Arnaus
Match tees off at 11.20 BST
One of the earlier groups out onto the golf course in the afternoon session is the one which features the impressive Finnish player Mikko Korhonen, the equally as eye-catching Spanish star in the making in Adri Arnaus and the home player Matteo Manassero.
He might be at home this week but I’m prepared to not think of Manassero as a factor. He’s only made one cut all season and looks an absolute shadow of the man who surprised everyone to win at Wentworth back in 2013. I’m prepared to have this between Korhonen and Arnaus and while I respect Korhonen, his form has not been that crash hot since he won the China Open. Arnaus is getting off to good starts at the minute. His last four opening rounds have been 66, 79, 68 and 65. His driving and long game is in excellent order and so he looks a decent enough favourite.
Tips
Back M.Schwab First Round Leader (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 61.00 with Betfair (1/5 1-6)
DEAD HEAT – Back A.Rai to beat A.Levy & P.Dunne for a 3/10 stake at 2.70 with Betfair
Back them here:
Back D.Burmester First Round Leader (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 126.00 with Coral (1/4 1-5)
Back him here:
Back A.Arnaus to beat M.Korhonen & M.Manassero for a 3/10 stake at 2.15 with Boylesports
Back him here:
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