European Open Best Bets
Spaniard Nacho Elvira, at a pre-tournament price of 80/1, won last weekend’s Soudal Open in Belgium by one stroke over three players including this column’s top of Belgian Thomas Pieters, Niklas Norgaard, and Romain Langasque.
This week, the DP World Tour heads to Germany for the European Open.
Defending event champion Tom McKibbin heads the betting market at 20/1 with Jordan Smith, won this event in 2017 and has been Top 10 here in each of the last two years, just behind at 22/1.
Rasmus Højgaard (22/1), Bernd Wiesberger (28/1), Richard Mansell (28/1), who was 3rd here two years ago, Laurie Canter (30/1), and Keita Nakajima (33/1) follow in the market.
The Event
The European Open began as the European Open Championship in 1978. It was played at several different courses in both England and Scotland before finding a home for 12 years at The K Club in Ireland. After a five-year hiatus from 2010-2014, the event moved to Germany with sponsorship backing from German auto manufacturer Porsche, which officially ended as the title sponsor of the event. However, Porsche still remains as the official automotive partner of the event. In March, the auto manufacturer announced that they will “provide an emotional brand experience for customers and golf fans at the 41st staging of the tournament scheduled for the Green Eagle Golf Courses venue near Hamburg from 30 May to 2 June 2024.” Translation: we are still involved but spending less money.
Nine major champions have victories under this event’s long lineage including Sandy Lyle, Tom Kite, Bernhard Langer, Greg Norman, Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Darren Clarke, Michael Campbell, and Retief Goosen to go along with other accomplished players like Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie, and Isao Aoki.
The Course
The Green Eagle Golf Courses (more specifically the North Course) in Winsen has played host to this event since 2017. Green Eagle Golf Courses is a collection of 42 holes spread across 3 courses in the ‘Lüneburger Heide,’ a picturesque part of Germany on the outskirts of Hamburg.
The event is now in its eighth year in Germany after a five-year hiatus from the schedule and before that was played at several different historic venues in the UK including British Open rotation venues like Turnberry and Royal Liverpool as well as former Ryder Cup venue The K Club, Walton Heath and Sunningdale amongst others.
The North Course is being used for this week’s event and the Michael Blesch design is super long at 7,603 yards for its scorecard par of 73; however, with 4 teeing areas on each of the holes there’s considerable flexibility as to how the course can be set up as the official yardage listing is 7,882, but should not play that long.
The fairways are generous, and the greens are large and undulating. The primary course defenses are the large bunkers and having water on 17 of the 18 holes.
Only 4 holes played under par 12 months ago, led by the 4th of 6 (six) par 5s on the course at the 15th which gave up 8 eagles and 146 birdies over the 4 rounds.
The par-5 11th and 18th both played marginally under par, as did the short par 4 7th; however they were undoubtedly the exceptions to the rule.
Recent History
2023: Tom McKibbin (-9/283); 125/1
2022: Kalle Samooja (-6/282); 200/1
2021: Marcus Armitage (-8/208); 80/1*
2020: Tournament cancelled due to COVID-19
2019: Paul Casey (-14/274); 7/1
2018: Richard McEvoy (-11/277); 125/1
2017: Jordan Smith (-13/275); 40/1
54-hole event – *
European Open Best Bets
Bernd Wiesberger 28/1 BetMGM
Wiesberger finished 24th last week in Belgium where he ranked dead last for putting, but also produced his best ball striking of the 2024 season. The Austrian leads the DP World Tour for Strokes Gained: Tee-To-Green and Greens In Regulation.
Richard Mansell 28/1 Bet Rivers
Mansell was one of nine players to earn U.S. Open qualifying spots two weeks ago at Walton Heath and followed it up with a 13th last week in Belgium. The Englishman was 3rd here two years ago. He ranks 3rd for Strokes Gained: Tee-To-Green and 6th for Strokes Gained: Off-The-Tee this season on the DP World Tour.
Guido Migliozzi 50/1 DraftKings
Migliozzi finished just 24th last week in Belgium but was 2nd in the field for Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. The Italian was 7th here in 2019 and was 2nd at the Volvo China Open before the DPWT took a break before the PGA Championship.
Matthew Jordan 55/1 BetMGM
Jordan finished 5th in Belgium last week but led the field for Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. Five of the last six winners of the European Open earned their first victory here at Green Eagle and Jordan can follow that pattern.
Julien Guerrier 80/1 Bet Rivers
Guerrier is perhaps a horse for the course here as he finished runner-up to McKibbin last year and finished 10th the year prior.
Placement markets, matchups, props, and any other futures, including for the U.S. Women’s Open, will be available Wednesday at VSiN.com/picks.
