2019 European Tour Italian Open Odds & Picks
- The Italian Open tees off Thursday, October 10th
- Some solid names make for a decent field at Olgiata Golf Club
- The golfers with the best value to emerge victorious
Since the conclusion of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs in August, the European Tour has played six events with four of them being won by world class golfers in Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Danny Willett and Jon Rahm. This week’s Italian Open sees Casey and Willett teeing it up alongside Justin Rose and local hero Francesco Molinari.
This year the venue is Olgiata Golf Club which hasn’t hosted this tournament since way back in 2002 when Ian Poulter lifted the trophy. Last year Thorbjorn Olesen outlasted Molinari by a single stroke to claim his fifth European Tour title.
2019 Italian Open Odds
| Golfer | Odds at Sportsbook 1 | Odds at Sportsbook 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Casey | +900 | +900 |
| Justin Rose | +1000 | +1100 |
| Francesco Molinari | +1400 | +1400 |
| Shane Lowry | +2000 | +1800 |
| Danny Willett | +2500 | +2200 |
| Matthew Fitzpatrick | +2500 | +2500 |
| Matt Wallace | +2800 | +2800 |
| Tyrrell Hatton | +3300 | +2800 |
| Thomas Pieters | +3300 | +3300 |
| Alex Noren | +3300 | +3300 |
*Odds as of 10/07/19.
Francesco Molinari the Man to Beat
Francesco Molinari is the golfer you should be locked in on to raise the Italian Open Trophy for the third time in his career.
He arrives at this tournament following two solid but unspectacular tournaments and was the runner-up last year, albeit at a different course. The Italian magician also posted a respectable T-23rd when this event was hosted on this course in 2002 and also was tied for sixth at the tournament in 2017.
Francesco Molinari What's in the bag? pic.twitter.com/0f7WvBUqfg
— Golf Monthly (@GolfMonthly) March 6, 2019
Francesco Molinari’s Best Results at Italian Open
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 2016 | WIN |
| 2006 | WIN |
| 2018 | 2nd |
| 2007 | T-3rd |
Suffice to say, Molinari is without question almost assuredly going to contend on home soil and having completed the job twice in his career, he’s shown that he has the mettle to get the job done in crunch time. At +1400, you’re getting pretty decent value considering his success and recent form.
Past Five Italian Open Winners
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Thorbjorn Olesen |
| 2017 | Tyrrell Hatton |
| 2016 | Francesco Molinari |
| 2015 | Rikard Karlberg |
| 2014 | Hennie Otto |
2019 Italian Open Best Value Picks
- Bernd Wiesberger (+3300): He’s won twice this season in May and July to go with a second place finish in between and a fifth place result just last month.
- Adri Arnaus (+5000): Done everything but win this year, racking up three runner-up finishes. Has been boom or bust in last six events, with three missed cuts but also a second, sixth, and last week fourth place showing.
- Andrew “Beef” Johnston (+8000): Don’t let the sweet nickname, amazing beard and hilarious demeanor fool you – Johnston can flat out play. Like Arnaus, has been up and down in last six tournaments, with two missed cuts but also 4th-9th-10th-23rd place results.
- Padraig Harrington (+10000): Blast from the past name that has quietly been playing some solid golf in the last month on the European Tour- 12th-15th-26th-46th. Tied for sixth on this course way back in 2002.
Michael "Hound Dog" Harrison is well known in the sports industry as the resident statistician for the SC with Jay Onrait Show. He has worked at TSN for over 16 years, where he's been featured on Sportscentre, That's Hockey, That's Hockey 2Nite, The Masters preview shows, and several more.
