Our golf pundit picks out his best bets for this week's European Tour event in Sicily.
A poor punting week at Sawgrass has been forgotten and we move to Sicily for the Rocco Forte Open. A weak event truth be told and the continuing decline of the European Tour from in the Winter / Spring and into Summer months is worrying. Keith Pelley has ripped up the rule book regarding some events and some positives can be taken from that. Finding a big sponsor and big players for events all year round must be a goal though and unfortunately during his tenure thus far I've only seen a decline in participation and events.
Anyhow, the Verdura GC was last used five years ago when Thorbjorn Olesen claimed his maiden European title. Personally I enjoyed that renewal and the move back here is a positive for both the event and punters alike. The Top ten that week featured a gaggle of golfers who have all fared well on links courses. Olesen, Wood, Kjeldsen and Lowry have all tasted success at Links venues, even 1995 Open Champions John Daly figured finishing just outside the top 10. We may not get the same conditions as last time but seaside resorts rarely play out calm conditions over four days. An element of wind always plays its part and I'll be looking to those who like to breathe in that coastal air when it comes to having a bet this week.
Jordan Smith heads the betting and this bright young talent will be favourable among the betting public this week. After a steady start to the year he hasn't quite picked up the bridle again and for me he in an uneasy jolly. He will probably get off the mark when you least expect it at a big price but I feel this week is a shade early in his development and with tricky elements to this course I feel he is best left alone.
I looked long and hard to stray from the top of the market for the most solid bet of the week, but I can't get past JAMES MORRISON. 31st when it was last played here in 2012 he has course experience. He also has form posted at other Kyle Philips designs, most notably at Valderrama (tied 4th) where Phillips had a hand in the re-design. He has played well on Kingsbarns another Phillips layout. Indeed he has posted three top 25 finishes in the Alfred Dunhill Links down the last number of years. That coupled with some recent steady form that hasn't seen him out of the top 31 in his last seven events make him a shade of value this week. I believe given his experience he should be value. It often doesn't work out that way in weak fields, but of the more experienced heads I think Morrison holds the best chance having knocked on the door a few times this year already.
Having produced some solid golf earlier in the year LASSE JENSEN may well be worth a few pounds this week. A tied 3rd in Dubai was a massive result for the Dane and he followed it up a few weeks later with a top 5 finish in the Trophee Hassan. That is of particular note as you need to keep the ball in play there, and here at Verdura there is no doubt that an element of a safe long game will prove dividends. As I said I'm looking for golfers who play well on links and Jensen may fit that bill even though under the radar a shade. A top ten at the linksy Himmerland in Denmark in 2014 was followed by an 11th placed finish on debut at the Alfred Dunhill links. His best round that week of 66 was shot around Kingsbarns. In a weak event with some decent form this season this may prove to be the winners recipe.
