Irish Open predictions: Wiesberger to thrive on County Down return
- Recommended bets:
- Bernd Wiesberger to win and each-way
- Thomas Detry to win and each-way
- Richie Ramsay to win and each-way
The DP World Tour stops off in Northern Ireland this week for the Irish Open and it promises to be an enthralling contest at Royal County Down, a course which last staged this tournament in 2015.
With thick rough ready to swallow up any wayward shots and fast, dome-shaped greens making it crucial for players to hit the right spot on the putting surface, this links layout will be a huge test for this talented field and one that will become even harder if bad weather arrives.
Austrian to be in the mix
World number 188 Bernd Wiesberger has enjoyed a solid DP World Tour season since returning to the circuit this year after a spell on LIV, with a tied-second finish at the European Open and a T7 at the Czech Masters the highlights.
The 38-year-old Austrian came close to winning here in 2015, losing in a three-man play-off and his accurate, precise play makes him a great fit for this test.
Wiesberger is 37th in driving accuracy, second in greens in regulation, fourth in strokes gained tee-to-green and sixth in SG: approach, while he is fourth in scrambling and third in SG: around the green.
The issue for the eight-time DP World Tour winner has been on the greens, but he has looked more confident since changing to the belly putter and he could be in with a shout this week.
Classy Belgian to make his mark
It is still inconceivable to think that Thomas Detry is yet to win on the DP World Tour or PGA Tour given how classy a player he is, but that is the situation he finds himself in at the age of 31.
But the Belgian has been getting closer to his breakthrough this season, with a runners-up finish at the Houston Open and T4 results at the PGA Championship and Pebble Beach the biggest highlights.
World number 55 Detry is one of the crispest iron players in the world and, armed with his superb approach play, there is every chance he can get in the mix.
Scot to get into contention
Scotland's Richie Ramsay is one of the players in the field to have competed at Royal County Down in 2015 and he impressed with a 10th-place finish that year.
The 41-year-old has always been solid from tee-to-green during his career and he ranks 25th in driving accuracy and sixth in greens in regulation on the DP circuit this season.
Any improvement with the putter could see Ramsay, who also has a second and a fourth on his CV in the 2017 and 2021 Irish Opens, challenge for the win this week.
