Niall Lyons has three tips for the 2023 Solheim Cup held in Malaga, Spain.
2023 Solheim Cup
Let it be known that the last two renewals of the Solheim Cup have surpassed the drama of the Ryder Cup and if you're not tuning in this week then you're missing out.
2023 Solheim Cup Tips | Niall Lyons Golf Betting Tips
Andalucia has a long history in golf and now the Finca Cortesin layout is the first in Spain to host the Solheim Cup. Home soil is a big advantage as we know from these team events and if Team Europe are successful this time it'll be the first time the yellow and blue team colours have won the event three times on the trot.
Europe stands on the edge of history and Suzann Pettersen is a Solheim stalwart who can be trusted to get the best out of her team. Europe were always in the shadow of their rivals during the early years of this event which began in 1990 winning only one of the first five.
Since then they have shared the last 12 stagings 6-6. The betting hasn't always reflected the shift in improvement on the European side and once again I believe they are slightly underestimated.
In Celine Boutier they have someone who won the Evian Championship and the Scottish Open back to back in July and August. She was joint top points scorer in Scotland in 2019 alongside Georgia Hall and looks as dangerous as anyone on the opposite side.
In Linn Grant they have one of the most exciting prospects in European Golf. She has already won a co sanctioned event between the DP World Tour and LET when trouncing her male and female colleagues by nine shots.
Maja Stark is another highly successful Swede who as a rookie looks like someone who could relish these conditions. Her and Grant may benefit from the waves that Ludvig Aberg has made recently as they both went to the same school. The Swedish spine to this squad will be crucial to winning another Solheim Cup but they look more than capable of doing so.
The inclusion of Emily Pedersen was a surprise to many but there is every chance that Charley Hull was part of this decision, similar to what happened when Zach Johnson picked Sam Burns for the benefit of Scottie Scheffler a few weeks ago.
Carlota Ciganda could be argued a slight weakness but it's a home game and Spaniards tend to raise their game in these events. She'll have an abundance of home support and that may be enough to scrape a point or two which would be a great result.
Europe to Win @ 21/20
Lexi Thompson really hasn't put her best foot forward this year and looks a real weakness in the American side. The favourite in the top overall points market, and the American side, is Nelly Korda who has missed a lot of this year with a back injury.
Since returning she has only managed one top 10 finish in seven appearances and looks an uneasy favourite. For this and other reasons mentioned I really do think Europe are underestimated in the outright market.
3pts Europe to win Solheim Cup 21/20 Unibet, Bet UK
Charley Hill Top Overall Points Scorer at 12/1 (Four Places)
My thought on the outright deems my two points bets to be in the top overall market. Emily Pedersen won twice with Charley Hull in the last Solheim Cup in 2021 and I can only assume Hull had a big part in the decision to select her as a wildcard this time.
It's a bold play but I like Hull's confidence and I'm keen to get on her on side and whilst the 11/2 looks ok to be the Top European I believe the 12/1 top overall points scorer is a shade more value given the chunk that Nelly Korda takes up.
Korda will do very well to play all the matches this week given her history this year and it'd be no surprise to me if she sits out at least one. Hull is young, fit and raring and to go again having only lost one match on European soil in nine games.
1pt each-way C.Hull Top Overall Points Scorer 12/1 (1/4 4) Sky Bet, BetVictor
Linn Grant Top Overall Points Scorer at 14/1 (Four Places)
Rookie Leona Maguire was the top European and Overall points scorer back in 2021 whilst another rookie Celine Boutier did the same back in 2019. European debutants are flying in this event and I'll take a chance that Linn Grant can do similar to Maguire and Boutier.
Being healthy and fit always helps to play all the matches available across the week and Grant may just do so if they get off to a flyer.
Her credentials are second to none having won a mixed DP World Tour event and this year she also broke her duck on the LPGA Tour winning the Dana Open. 3rd in the Match Play this year looks perfect on the CV and this talented Swede can continue to make history by becoming the top points scorer on debut.
1pt each-way L.Grant Top Overall Points Scorer 14/1 (1/4 4) General
