Our golf expert brings you his preview and predictions for this week's golf, the Italian Open.
Italian Open - Winner
The Marco Simone golf course near to Rome is the venue for this years renewal of the Italian Open and it'll be an insight into what is ahead of us with the 2023 staging of the Ryder Cup on the horizon for this newly renovated track. It's a reasonably long par 71 at nearly 7300 yards and should provide a stern enough test from tee to green. For a select handful this and next week are the final chances to impress Harrington before he finalises his team when the circus comes to town at the end of September.
Martin Kaymer at 40/1
Someone who would enter the Ryder conversation with a win and who would warrant more respect than most, is Martin Kaymer. The German has threatened over the past year or so in Europe to land a win finishing a disappointing 2nd at Valderrama last year, 5th here in Italy then 3rd in Austria this term and a runner up in his home country at the BMW. He is knocking on the door loudly and a long tough layout may just bring out the best in him once again. His 18th spot last week in Crans is worthy of a second glance given it was after a six week break. This is last chance saloon time for a man who could really offer something to a Ryder Cup team and with Wentworth on the horizon where he has seven top 20s posted he must stand a fair chance of entering the argument over the coming two weeks. He will be extremely focused on this task and quite frankly with a few out of form in the current European line up, Harrington could do with someone storming into the race with two good efforts. He'll need a better game off the tee than recently, but last week in Crans was a great warm up for what could be a memorable run.
1pt each-way M.Kaymer 40/1 (1/5 7)
Italian Open - Winner
Thomas Pieters at 50/1
We forever have to listen to commentators wax lyrical that Thomas Pieters is one of the best in the world when he gets it together. He simply isn't, even when he has hit the top. A handful of low grade European tour events and a few good positions in Majors are far from the CV that many think the Belgian should have. That's the negatives out of the way for the most part as most weeks I think he is underpriced. The 50/1 on offer out there is fair enough for someone who really should be setting his sights on events like this and should he want to pop his head into the Ryder argument, a win here is essential. He is another who fits the bill of a long game in very decent nick this past while and who needs a good week on the greens maybe to turn his career in a different direction. His name wouldn't look out of place on a championship like this and should the long game be the pre requisite for a decent position here at the weekend then Pieters is more than capable.
1pt each-way T.Pieters 50/1 (1/5 6)
Italian Open - Winner
Marcus Armitage at 55/1
Marcus Armitage tasted success earlier in the season and although this is a step up in class he will have the belief should he manage to get into the contention at the weekend. The Englishman has had a career year winning the Porsche European Open and since backing it up with made cuts at the Irish, Scottish and Open Championships. Last week he closed with a 66 to finish 7th in Crans and hopefully he can continue in that manner in Italy this week. Over the last three events he has ranked 2nd in Approach play with a lukewarm short game costing him if anything. If he can manage to hit a few more fairways than he has been doing and improve slightly with the putter he could easily be a feature here.
1pt each-way M.Armitage 55/1 (1/5 7)
Italian Open - Winner
Laurie Carter at 100/1
Laurie Canter hasn't been going so well lately but any sort of upturn on or around the greens and he'll improve his position significantly. Canter has threatened to break through a number of times in the past 18 months most notably finishing 2nd in this event last year and finishing 4th in the Dubai Desert in a very strong field. The last few months have been quiet but that is all down to a horror show on and around the greens. In fact there are only 12 players in the field who register stats that have a worse record on the greens in the past 3 months. The long game is in super nick and I'm taking a gamble that this will be the most important aspect at this track outside Rome.
1pt each-way L.Canter 100/1 (1/5 6)
