European Tour - Golf Betting the Tournament Matchup Bets at the Irish Open

Some of the best that Ireland and the European Tour has to offer will show up in Killarney this week for the Irish Open. Rory McIlroy is a big favorite in golf betting in the sportsbook to win the Irish Open this week.

When it comes to the tournament matchups, the Irish Open presents an intriguing challenge. Do fans go for the Irish youngster with potential, McIlroy, or the Irish golfing master Graeme McDowell who won the U.S. Open?

European Tour: Irish Open

Where: Killarney Golf & Fishing Club, Killarney, Co Kerry, Republic of Ireland

When: July 29th thru August 1st, 2010

Par/Yardage: Par 71, Yards 7161

TV: The Golf Channel

Tournament Matchups

1. Rory McIlroy -150 vs. Graeme McDowell +120 - - I was very impressed with how Rory came back from that 80 he shot on Friday at the British Open to score two sub-par 70 rounds on both Saturday and Sunday. With that being written, Graeme won the U.S. Open and hasn’t finished worse than 25th in any tournament in a while. I do believe McIlroy will be tough this week, but I have to take the better golf odds on McDowell.

Pick: Graeme McDowwell

2. Justin Rose -130 vs. Padraig Harrington Ev - - Rose was tearing it up on the PGA Tour. Then, he went to the hills of St. Andrews and those hills, and the weather, destroyed him at the British Open. Harrington didn’t have an even okay British Open, but he’s playing on a course he should have some familiarity with and Paddy can turn his game around in 2010. The golfing odds difference is just too much for me. I have to side with Paddy.

Pick: Padraig Harrington Ev

3. Francesco Molinari -130 vs. Ross Fisher Ev - - Molinari failed miserably at St. Andrews when finishing in 116th place, but before that he scored two good finishes at the Alstom Open de France and the Barclays Scottish Open. Fisher didn’t play as badly as Molinari at the British Open causing me to ponder why he’s going off at better odds in this matchup than Francesco. I mean, Fisher has definitely been more consistent than Francesco overall on the European Tour. I’m siding with Fisher.

Pick: Ross Fisher Ev

4. Darren Clarke -105 vs. Rhys Davies -125 - - Clarke has been surprisingly decent in his last two tournaments. After finishing no better than 82nd in three straight tournaments, Clarke rebounded with a 2nd at the Barclays Scottish Open and a better than it looks 44th at the British Open. Davis is coming off of an 86th at the British Open, but before that he had two better than 30th place finishes going for him. I’ll side with Davies to turn it around this week and play slightly better because of the flatter course than St. Andrews and that should help Davis’ game.

Pick: Rhys Davies

5. Damien McGrane -145 vs. Alejandro Canizares +115 - - Man, I was all ready to jump all over Canizares in this matchup, but even with the much better golf odds on Alejandro than McGrane in the sportsbook, I can’t side with Alejandro. I just can’t. McGrane has finished 11th, 16th and 8th in his last three tournaments. I can’t bet against a guy tearing it up like that on the course even if I absolutely love the odds on the other guy.