Rory McIlroy rarely skips a chance to compete in his country’s national open so he’s back on the European Tour headlining a strong field as a massive favorite to win this week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. McIlroy is joined by fellow countryman Shane Lowry at the top of the odds board. Each has won this tournament previously with McIlroy capturing the title in 2016 and Lowry winning as an amateur back in 2009. The nomadic existence of the event has the field in County Kilkenny at Mount Juliet Estate, which last hosted this event in 1995. While the Irishmen get the headlines this week guys like Tommy Fleetwood, Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Martin Kaymer will look to excel adding some excitement to the tournament matchups. Visit BookMaker.eu for updated matchup odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Matchup Odds
Jazz Janewattananond -104 vs. Daniel van Tonder -126
Joost Luiten -110 vs. Rasmus Hojgaard -120
Jason Scrivener -127 vs. Justin Harding -103
Shaun Norris -122 vs. Adri Arnaus -108
Ryan Fox -135 vs. Laurie Canter +105
Sami Valimaki +107 vs. Jamie Donaldson -137
Thorbjorn Olesen -136 vs. Wilco Nienaber +106
Masahiro Kawamura -135 vs. Darren Fichardt +105
Mikko Korhonen +118 vs. Andrew Johnston -148
Joachim B. Hansen -104 vs. John Catlin -126
Marcus Armitage -110 vs. Kurt Kitayama -120
Andy Sullivan -138 vs. Laurie Canter +108
Adrian Otaegui -149 vs. Padraig Harrington +119
Kalle Samooja -124 vs. Pablo Larrazabal -106
Christiaan Bezuidenhout -182 vs. Lucas Herbert +144
Aaron Rai -139 vs. Jorge Campillo +109
Eddie Pepperell +121 vs. Calum Hill -152
Tommy Fleetwood -140 vs. Martin Kaymer +110
Richard Bland -123 vs. Adrian Meronk -107
Sam Horsfield -130 vs. Lucas Herbert +100
Antoine Rozner -110 vs. Thomas Pieters -120
Rory McIlroy -245 vs. Tommy Fleetwood +190
Takumi Kanaya -124 vs. Victor Dubuisson -106
Edoardo Molinari -131 vs. Alexander Bjork +101
Shane Lowry -127 vs. Tommy Fleetwood -103
Ryan Fox -112 vs. Andy Sullivan -118
Dean Burmester -106 vs. Jordan Smith -124
Thomas Detry -102 vs. Thomas Pieters -128
Shane Lowry -154 vs. Martin Kaymer +123
Sean Crocker -155 vs. Brandon Stone +124
Rory McIlroy -195 vs. Shane Lowry +154
Christiaan Bezuidenhout -160 vs. Sam Horsfield +127
Rory McIlroy -305 vs. Martin Kaymer +231
Antoine Rozner -131 vs. Thomas Detry +101
Need to Know
Mount Juliet returns to the rotation to celebrate its 30th anniversary. It last hosted a Tour event in 2004 when the WGC American Express Championship was contested. It also welcomed the Irish Open for a trio of playings from 1993-1995. The Jack Nicklaus-designed parkland course is straightforward in its layout and will be something different from the usual links courses that have hosted. At 7,250 yards with generous fairways, big hitters should thrive. There are obstacles with plenty of sand and water in play on seven holes. Overall, though, it shouldn’t be tough for the pros. Tiger Woods finished 24-under to win the 2002 WGC on this lot and Els was 18-under two years later. There have been no major changes since then. Weather could always play role, but as of now conditions are expected to be optimal only increasing the chances of going low.
Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Matchup Picks
Sami Valimaki +107 vs. Jamie Donaldson
I’m always looking for value in my picks which is how I came up with this list. There is no value backing McIlroy at -200 in his matchups so there won’t be any favorites. You might wonder why I’m backing Valimaki this week, and I asked myself the same question. He’s been a wreck recently that started with a MC at the PGA Championship. He does hit the ball a long way and he’s accurate so the course should fit him. And he’s not as bad as what we’ve seen.
Laurie Canter +108 vs. Andy Sullivan
Going with Canter is based more on recent results than gut feelings, and catching him at plus-odds is a bonus. He hasn’t missed a cut in two months but he has only one top-20 in that span. I guess it’s a good thing I’m not backing him for the outright. He’s been consistent over his last five starts avoiding big numbers and he was T8 a few weeks back at HimmerLand. Canter is another player whose game fits the layout and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in contention over the weekend.
Martin Kaymer +110 vs. Tommy Fleetwood
Kaymer is a streaky player and if last week is any indication he’s about to get on a roll. You could say he’s already on it after rattling off 10 birdies to close the BMW Open with a runner-up finish. The week prior he had solid middle rounds to finish T26 in the U.S. Open, so things are looking up for him. He’s a two-time major champion and former world No. 1 so it’s hard not to back him after his recent play. And another plus-odds pick will only add to my bankroll.
Thomas Detry -102 vs. Thomas Pieters
If Detry uses his MC at the U.S. Open as a learning experience he should be in good shape this week. He may have been a little overconfident at Torrey Pines heading in following a runner-up showing in his previous start. And his T2 at the European Open was a sight since he struggled prior to that. He does have three top-10s in his last nine ET starts and had a little extra time to prepare. Detry is a talented player who should contend more than he has.
Marcus Armitage -110 vs. Kurt Kitayama
The thrill of his first ET victory may have still been fresh when Armitage missed the cut at Torrey Pines. Before his excursion to the States he’d been solid with a T8 at HimmerLand preceding his European Open triumph. He’s also secured four top-10s in his last seven ET starts with a return being something he’s looking forward to.
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