With the European Tour season winding down the remaining tournaments take on extra meaning. The field heads to Rome for this week’s Italian Open, the fifth of eight Rolex Series events on the schedule. Three of the past four winners from those big-money events – Danny Willett, Shane Lowry, Bernd Wiesberger – are all scheduled to peg it up at Olgiata Golf Club, with Lowry having a chance to usurp Jon Rahm as the Race to Dubai points leader. The classy field offers up numerous matchup wagers with tantalizing odds at offshore sportsbooks. Visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of betting odds and to place your wager.
Italian Open Matchup Odds at BookMaker.eu
Andrew Johnston -140 vs. Guido Migliozzi +120
Shane Lowry -135 vs. Matthew Fitzpatrick +115
Paul Casey -115 vs. Justin Rose -105
Joakim Lagergren +120 vs. Thomas Detry -140
Mikko Korhonen -105 vs. Marcus Kinhult -115
Graeme McDowell -105 vs. Ross Fisher -115
Justin Harding +110 vs. Lee Westwood -130
Erik Van Rooyen -130 vs. Haotong Li +110
Thomas Pieters -120 vs. Ian Poulter +100
Matt Wallace -105 vs. Andrea Pavan -115
Joost Luiten -120 vs. Matthias Schwab +100
Martin Kaymer -115 vs. Rory Sabbatini -105
Richie Ramsay -105 vs. Benjamin Hebert -115
Kiradech Aphibarnrat -115 vs. Matthew Southgate -105
Shane Lowry -130 vs. Danny Willett +110
Adri Arnaus +105 vs. Jordan Smith -125
Danny Willett +105 vs. Matthew Fitzpatrick -125
Eddie Pepperell -105 vs. Victor Perez -115
Paul Waring -125 vs. Sam Horsfield +105
Justin Rose -140 vs. Francesco Molinari +120
Paul Casey -145 vs. Francesco Molinari +125
Tyrrell Hatton -105 vs. Andrea Pavan -115
Alex Noren +100 vs. Bernd Wiesberger -120
Matt Wallace -115 vs. Tyrrell Hatton -105
Robert Macintyre -130 vs. Christiaan Bezuidenhout +110
Alexander Bjork -130 vs. Alexander Levy +100
Andy Sullivan +105 vs. Gavin Green -135
Jamie Donaldson +105 vs. Jeff Winther -135
Victor Dubuisson -130 vs. Aaron Rai +100
Jason Scrivener -135 vs. Jorge Campillo +105
Padraig Harrington -120 vs. Edoardo Molinari -110
Fabrizio Zanotti -110 vs. Julian Suri -120
Kurt Kitayama -130 vs. Lucas Herbert +100
Luke Donald -110 vs. Richard Sterne -120
Scott Jamieson -150 vs. Andres Romero +120
Need to Know
If you went opposite of what I picked in the matchups last week you’d be swimming in dough right now. That’s not what I planned but, unfortunately, that’s how it worked out. Two of my matchup losers finished in the top-20 and one – Sergio Garcia – finished T7, so I can’t complain about the picks, just the outcome. This week offers a change since most of the field hasn’t seen Olgiata Golf Club, which last hosted a Euro Tour event in 2002. For those that were around back then, the layout will be much different. A remodel several years ago added plenty of length to now play at over 7,500 yards at par-71. There are several challenging par-4s sprinkled throughout the track, including a 468-yard closer. Distance will get players in position but working the irons on approach will be a key. Another score helper is the weather, which is expected to cooperate through the weekend with light wind.
Italian Matchup Picks
Francesco Molinari +120 vs. Justin Rose
Seeing the odds for Molinari made me immediately go with him in this matchup. We saw just what playing in your national open means with Jon Rahm’s convincing win last week, and Franceso has played brilliantly on home soil with a pair of titles at this event. His second victory was in 2016 and he’s been sixth and runner-up the last two years. There are no home course jitters for this Molinari.
Edoardo Molinari -110 vs. Padraig Harrington
Not to be upstaged by his younger brother we can expect a heightened performance from Edoardo this week, and that’s why I’m siding with him in this matchup. He’s also been a fine performer in the homeland and has a victory at Olgiata on the Challenge Tour back in 2009. He also finished among the top-10 in last year’s Sicilian Open. Recent form hasn’t been too shabby with a pair of top-25s in his last four Euro Tour starts.
Andrea Pavan -115 vs. Tyrrell Hatton
Sticking with the home course advantage theme, is there anyone who knows the Olgiata layout better than Pavan? Sure the track has undergone major changes over the years, but Pavan earned his stripes on this layout and it’s like playing in his backyard. He’s coming off a T12 at the Spanish Open where three of his rounds were 67 or lower. And form hasn’t been an issue with a T16 or better in five of his last six starts. It’s hard not to like Pavan in this matchup.
Ian Poulter +100 vs. Thomas Pieters
Playing in Italy sparks happy memories for Poulter and I’m banking on him not having a case of dementia this week. The first of his 12 Euro Tour titles came at the Italian Open, and two years later he hoisted the trophy again winning at Olgiata. He also has four other top-8 finishes in seven starts in this country.
Bernd Wiesberger -120 vs. Alex Noren
Wiesberger took a well-deserved and much-needed week off and should come back raring to go in search of his second Rolex Series victory of the year. Remember, he won the Scottish Open in July and has played a lot of golf to make up for lost time following a lengthy injury absence. He’s back in form and he’s won me some coin in matchups, that’s why I’m backing him in this one.
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