A small number of spectators are being allowed into a European Tour event for the first time since the worldwide pandemic started – the Irish Open will have approximately 5,000 fans per day following the action – so the two headline acts will enjoy some enthusiastic support.
Rory McIlroy, the 5/1 favourite, has jetted over in a bid to claim a second Irish Open title. McIlroy won the tournament at the K Club in 2016 and seems sure to be popular with punters this week given he lifted silverware on the PGA Tour a few weeks ago in the Wells Fargo Championship. A poor final round in the US Open last time out, though, may have dented the Northern Irishman’s confidence.
"Good to be back"
Great to catch up with @McIlroyRory today ahead of the @DDFIrishOpen at @mountjuliet.
Watch him in action on our nightly highlights show starting this Thursday. Available @BBCnireland & @BBCiPlayer
— Stephen Watson (@winkerwatson1) June 29, 2021
And the same can be said of Shane Lowry, the Open champion, who can be backed at 12/1 for a second Irish Open success. Lowry was victorious in 2009 when he was still an amateur – an incredible performance in terrible weather at County Louth – and he went on to lift the Claret Jug at Portrush in 2019. A closing 79 in the US Open last time out, though, was unsettling for his fans.
English raider could upset the local men
If the spotlight, added pressure and distractions impact negatively on McIlroy, Lowry and the rest of the more local contingent, then Englishman Sam Horsfield may take advantage. Horsfield can be backed at 20/1, which seems a fair price given how well he has started in his last two events.
Opening rounds of 64 in the Scandinavian Mixed and the BMW International Open have showcased the class of the Florida-based 24-year-old. He has failed to build on those foundations, finishing 19th and fifth, but a 72-hole challenge may be sustained at Mount Juliet this week given how well suited he is to the course.
The generous fairways and well protected greens seem a perfect combination for Horsfield to make merry. He possesses bundles of power and lies fifth for strokes-gained-on-approach on the European Tour this season.
Hojgaard capable of entering equation
Rasmus Hojgaard has paid the price for jetsetting across the Atlantic Ocean in recent months, attempting to compete on the PGA Tour as well as the European Tour, and the 20-year-old Dane has produced some tired, inconsistent golf. Since the US PGA Championship, though, Hojgaard has been teeing up exclusively in Europe and has arrived at the Irish Open fresh and in form.
Four solid rounds for 17th place in the BMW International Open has set Hojgaard up perfectly for a Mount Juliet title tilt. He closed with a 68 in Germany and may have rediscovered his A-game in time for a magical summer. Two European Tour victories have come quickly for this prodigy – perhaps the 50/1 about a third coming on Sunday is worth taking. If the market leaders flop this week, 2020 UK Championship victor Hojgaard is good enough to top the leaderboard.
*All odds correct at time of writing