Back To Royal County Down
It’s the first time the event has been played there since 2015, after being played at courses like The K Club and Portstewart, so it’s nice to see a change of venue.
Players Will Need To Handle Conditions
Royal County Down is a links course that has been described as one of the hardest courses in the world. The last time the event was played there the winning was only -2. Therefore don’t expect to see too many low scores. My strategy for this week will be looking at players who can handle link conditions. I just think that experience and knowledge will come to the fore over the next few days.
Rory Way Too Short
One player who a lot of people will be looking at this week is Rory McIlroy, who is the favourite to win at 6/1. It’s fair to say that the 35-year-old has had a frustrating year. He nearly won his first major since 2014, when he finished runner-up at the US Open, and has gone close with several top-ten finishes. It’s just been his failure to put tournaments to bed that has cost him.
Coming back to this event should be a positive for him, as he likes to play at the Irish Open. He won it in 2017 at The K Club, but he didn’t play well at Royal County Down in 2015. That year he carded an opening round of 80 and failed to make the cut. We all know he’s talented and has the ability to win this event. It’s just that the price at 6/1 is way too short.
Wiesberger Ready To Peak
My main selection for this week is going to be Bernt Wiesberger at 25/1. If you go back to when this event was held here in 2015, then you’ll see lost in a three-way playoff to Soren Kjeldsen. That experience will count for a lot this week. It’s not just at Royal County Down; he’s played well at. In 2019, he won the Scottish Open at the Renaissance Golf Club, so he knows his way around a links course.
The Austrian had been in the wilderness for a while. However, there have been signs that started to come back into a bit of form in recent weeks. He recorded a respectable 22nd last week at the European Masters and a solid 19th at the Made In Denmark before that. If he can build on those promising efforts, then I can see him being towards the top of the leaderboard.
Langasque Loves A Links
Next on my list is Romain Langasque at 55/1. The Frenchman has had a good season overall, with several top-10 finishes. The reason he’s on my radar this week is his ability to play links golf. Though he’s never won at a links course, he’s gone close several times. This year he finished third at the Scottish Open at the Renaissance Golf Club, and in 2022 he tied the course record on the Old Course at St. Andrews. I just think he’s due to win on a links course soon, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was this week.
Amgen Irish Open 2024 Shortlist
Bernd Wiesberger EW (25/1)
Romain Langasque EW (55/1)
