2021 Irish Open Betting Guide: Rory McIlroy Leads Strong Field at Mount Juliet Estate

2021 Irish Open Betting Guide: Rory McIlroy Leads Strong Field at Mount Juliet Estate article feature image
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Warren Little/Getty Images. Pictured: Rory McIlroy

With The Open Championship just a few short weeks away, it's seems like a good time to keep tabs on what's going on over in Europe.

This week, Rory McIlroy headlines the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open played at Mount Juliet Estate.

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The Course

Mount Juliet is a Jack Nicklaus design measuring at 7,264 yards for a par 72.

It's been a while since the course has hosted a notable event. This is the first time it's held the Irish Open since a three-year stretch from 1993-95. Bernhard Langer and Nick Faldo were among the winners during that run.

It was also used for the WGC American Express in 2002 and 2004, won by Tiger Woods and Ernie Els.

So in a limited run, the course has produced victories from four major champions, including three Green Jacket recipients.

Unless weather gets involved, we can probably expect some low scoring this week. Tiger won at 25-under par, while Els was at 18-under. There's a little rain and wind in the forecast, but overall it doesn't look like enough to really keep this from becoming a birdie-fest.

The Favorites

McIlroy stands alone at the top here, hovering around +500 depending on where you look. His game is in great shape and it would be no surprise if ran away with this event. But he's struggled at times in Ireland, winning just once in his career back in 2016, which provides hope to those of us looking to back some longer shots down the board.

Irishman Shane Lowry comes in a clear No. 2 at +1200. Lowry made his Euro Tour breakthrough at this event as an amateur back in 2009, and that served as a major sign that bigger things were on the way for his career. He comes in to this on the back of some strong results, placing fourth in the PGA and sixth at Memorial. So the form is where it needs to be for Lowry to pick up the slack for the Irish contingent if McIlroy falters.

Tommy Fleetwood (+1600) and Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+1800) make up the next tier. While we wait for each to find that first win in the United States, this circuit has provided no such speed bump. They've combined for eight wins on this tour and both can pose a threat at this event.

The Midtier

We see a dip in the odds for some guys who normally make up the favorites group when the stars are away, so that's where I'll focus my attention this week.

I'll start with Joost Luiten at +6600 on BetMGM. Luiten has been posting solid results week after week, finishing inside the top 20 in five of his last seven starts. It's been a few years since he's lifted a trophy over here, but five wins on his resume since 2013 shows he has the game to do it. He's third in GIR so far and has been an above-average putter. With this course not being overly long, it could play to his precision game.

We'll also go to Calum Hill at +6600 on DK. Hill has a solid all-around game for this Tour. He's gaining strokes in all four categories and is in a decent run of form. He's made eight of his last nine cuts with five top 20s thrown in there.

We're take a chance on Japanese up-and-comer Takumi Kanaya as well at +7000 on PointsBet. Kanaya has hit some bumps in the road as he acclimates to life away from Japan. But he's got a good short game and iron game and is very accurate off the tee, which should all suit this course. He was 17th last week as well, so the game may be starting to turn the corner.

The Longshots

I'll close out here with a flyer on Ashley Chesters at 250/1 on BetMGM. Chesters is an accurate driver who is strong with the irons and putter. On a course where the only real trouble is the trouble is the water, having the accuracy to avoid that should be useful. Chesters missed the cut last week in Germany, but prior to that he had back-to-back top 20s.

The Irish Open Card

  • Joost Luiten +6600 (.5 units)
  • Calum Hill +6600 (.5 units)
  • Takumi Kanaya +7000 (.47 units)
  • Ashley Chesters +25000 (.13 units)

Total Stake: 1.6 units

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