Preview
Horizon Irish Open Course Info
Designer: Arnold Palmer
Type of Course: Parkland, Tree Lined.
Used Since: Last used in 2016.
Fairways: Wide, poa annua
Greens: poa annua
Water Hazards: In-play on 15 holes.
Par 5's: 4th,10th, 16th and 18th
Premium on: GIR/proven winners.
Significant Info To Be Aware Of
The course most recently hosted the Irish Open in May 2016, won by Rory McIlroy. It was also used as the venue of the 2006 Ryder Cup.
The K Club also hosted the European Open between 1995 to 2003 and again in 2005 but that was on a different course to this week.
Horizon Irish Open Weather Forecast
A dry week with the possible exception being Friday. Temperatures of 20 degrees and above little wind should help scoring.
Thursday
Sunny and hot. Wind 5-10mph
Friday
Cloudy with chance of showers. Wind 8-12mph.
Saturday
Cloudy. Wind 5-10mph
Sunday
Sunny intervals. Wind 5-10mph
Horizon Irish Open Trends
Winning score
Rory won with a score of -12 in 2016. Only four players finished better than -6 so it was tough for the majority.
Winning Profile
Rory was a multiple major winner and consistently winning each year prior to his Irish Open victory.
Angle In?
Winners of the Irish Open in recent years have been of a high calibre. Since 2016, winners have included Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm (twice), Russell Knox, Lucas Herbert and Adrian Meronk. PGA Tour members have had much success at the event and class normally prevails.
Course form
N/A
Recent form
Rory arrived in fine form with three top 12 finishes in a row.
Stats Analysis
We will assess the retrievable stats of the top four in 2016.
Driving Distance
16-93-65-123. Distance not so important here.
Driving Accuracy
48-72-43-24. Driving Accuracy isn't perceived as essential.
Greens in Regulation
1-5-87-19. This looks to be the key stat from 2016 despite Knox not hitting many greens.
Scrambling
N/A
Putts per GIR
8-15-82-62.
Horizon Irish Open In Play Tips
Fast or Slow Start
Rory McIlroy was 2nd after day one and never looked back. Russell Knox who finished tied 2nd, was 10 behind the leader after day one, showing you can make up decent ground here.
2023 Horizon Irish Open Tips
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In-play
Irish Open In-Play Blog
9th September 2023, 9:25pm (UK time)
| Player | Total |
|---|
| Long |
-13 |
| Smith |
-12 |
| McIlroy |
-11 |
| Six players tied |
-10 |
2023 Irish Open Round 3 Summary
The three players playing in the final group all struggled, Jordan Smith faring the best of that group with a round of 73. A combination of the leaders stalling and those out earlier making up ground means there are twelve players within four shots of the lead going into the final round.
2023 Irish Open Round 4 Weather
Cloudy with the chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon. Wind 5-10mph.
Back or Lay The Favourite?
Rory McIlroy has regained favouritism after a round of 66 brought him within two shots of the lead. Odds of 14/1 were available after he slipped nine shots behind at the halfway stage but the home favourite is now a best price of 15/8. McIlroy now finds himself in a great position to win for a second time at The K Club.
Only two players are above McIlroy and neither player makes any great appeal. Jordan Smith looked out of sorts for much of the third round and will need to hit the ball better to have any chance of holding off a surging McIlroy. Hurly Long needs a big finish to secure his playing privileges for next year and that may well count against him in the end. With doubts over the front two, we aren't minded to take McIlroy on.
In-Play Irish Open Bets We Considered
The biggest threat to McIlroy could well come from the players behind him. It's not inconceivable that a score of fifteen under par could win and we may well see someone post a round from off the pace to win this. Ryan Fox has improved with each round and he looks well capable of some final round fireworks.
Irish Open Round 4 Bets
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8th September 2023, 8:15pm (UK time)
| Player | Total |
|---|
| Sharma |
-13 |
| Smith |
-13 |
| Fisher |
-12 |
| Long |
-11 |
| Hill |
-10 |
| Three players tied |
-9 |
2023 Irish Open Round 2 Summary
Shubhankar Sharma flew out of the blocks, needing only nine putts in his opening nine holes to reach a score of 14 under par with the easier back nine to play. Unfortunately for him, he wasn't able to maintain that start and had to settle for a halfway total of thirteen under par. Jordan Smith joined Sharma at the top later in the afternoon.
2023 Irish Open Round 3 Weather
Rain showers later in the afternoon. Wind 5-10mph.
Back or Lay The Favourite?
Jordan Smith has taken over from Rory McIlroy as the 21/10 favourite with 36 holes to go. Ranking 3rd for SG: Tee to Green so far, his usual quality ball striking has been complimented by a putter that has been hot over the opening two rounds.
We're certainly not underestimating Smith. A winner at the end of last year at the Portugal Masters, he is a two time winner on Tour and certainly worthy of favouritism. That win in Portugal came courtesy of being the leader at halfway and we are expecting him to at least contend on Sunday.
In-Play Irish Open Bets We Considered
Guido Migliozzi was of interest given his ability to shoot low scores. Rounds of 61 and 63 last week at the European Masters were a further reminder of just how low he can go. We were particularly mindful of his final round 62 to win the French Open last year.
Irish Open Round 3 Bets
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7th September 2023, 9:15pm (UK time)
| Player | Total |
|---|
| Sharma |
-7 |
| Fisher |
-6 |
| Bjorn |
-6 |
| Smith |
-6 |
| Schneider |
-6 |
| Johannessen |
-6 |
| Six players tied |
-5 |
2023 Irish Open Round 1 Summary
A warm day with very little wind saw 84 players break par. Shubhankar Sharma made the most of a hot putter to shoot a best of the day round of 65.
2023 Irish Open Round 2 Weather
Sunny. Wind 4-8mph.
Back or Lay The Favourite?
Rory McIlroy remains 7/2 favourite after a couple of closing birdies in his final two holes improved his position. McIlroy conceded after the round that he hadn't been able to practice much coming into this week and was slightly rusty as a result. It's certainly a worry that he will likely improve as the week progresses but he's sufficiently short enough in the betting to ensure that we haven't given much thought to backing him.
In-Play Irish Open Bets We Considered
Looking back to the 2016 Irish Open held at The K Club, Russell Knox found himself ten shots behind after round one but would eventually go on to finish runner up behind Rory McIlroy. With such a bunched leaderboard, there is ample opportunity for those players who got off to a slower start to make up ground.
With 83 players within six shots of the leader, there are plenty of big prices around. Perhaps the most tempting of all though was a player who is making his professional debut after an impressive Walker Cup. Mark Power claimed three wins from his four matches in St Andrews and started with a blemish free round of 68. Had the 300/1 with Spreadex been a price more generally available, then he would have been advised to subscribers.
Irish Open Round 2 Bets
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