Preview

2023 ISPS Handa World Invitational Tips

2023 ISPS Handa World Invitational Event Info

Starts: 17th August 2023
Course: Galgorm Castle & Castlerock, Northern Ireland
Par: Par 70
Length: Galgorm 7,151 yards
2022 Champion: Ewen Ferguson

2023 ISPS Handa Invitational Course Info (Galgorm)

Designer: Simon Gidman
Type of Course: Parkland, Short
Used Since: 2013
Fairways: Narrow
Rough: Thick in places
Greens: Bentgrass
Water Hazard: The course is bordered by the rivers Maine and Braid which come into play on numerous holes, as well as five lakes and the magnificent oxbow lake adjacent to the 14th hole.
Par 5's: 10th and 18th
Premium on: Accuracy

Significant Info To Be Aware Of 

The field is made up of men and women but the leaderboards will be split up.

Due to this, two courses will be used on Thursday and Friday - Castelrock and Galgorm.  Galgorm will host both weekend days and this is the first time Casterock has co-hosted.

The cut will be 60 and ties after Friday and a further cut of 35 and ties after Saturday.

Galgorm hosted the Irish Open in 2020 and previously hosted Challenge Tour events between 2013-2020.

Weather Forecast 

Dry and warm throughout the week.

Thursday
Sunny intervals. Wind 6-11mph 

Friday
Light rain. Wind 12-16mph 

Saturday
Possible thunderstorm. Wind 10-13mph 

Sunday 
Sunny with possible rain showers. Wind 8-10mph 

2023 ISPS Handa Invitational Trends

Winning score
Ewen Ferguson won last year with a score of -12 and Daniel Gavins won with a score of -13 in 2021.  In the eight years Galgorm hosted events on the Challenge Tour, the winning score was between -10 and -19. We don't know how Castlerock will test the players but we should expect a score around -15.

Winning Profile
Ewen Ferguson was world number 211 when winning last year.  Daniel Gavins was world number 453 when he claimed the trophy in 2021.  When Galgorm was used for the 2020 Irish Open, John Catlin ranked 137th in the world.  

Correlating Courses  
Valderrama is a similar tight tree lined course which demands accuracy, where Catlin has also won, as is Diamond Country Club which hosts the Austrian Open. 

Course form
7 of the last 11 course winners were debutants.  Ewen Ferguson had strong finishes at Galgorm but the other three had no course form to speak of.

Recent form
The past three winners at this venue have been in fantastic form prior to winning.  Last year's winner, Ewen Ferguson, Daniel Gavins, had posted back to back top 30 finishes.  Daniel Gavins, who won before Ferguson, had posted consecutive top 10 finishes on the Challenge Tour.  The 2020 winner, John Catlin, had placed 8th and 1st in his two previous events. Interestingly, the previous 3 course winners on the Challenge Tour had shown no sign of incoming form.

2023 ISPS Handa Invitational Stats Analysis

We will analyse the stats of the top two last year and top four in 2020 as there are no stats for the previous Challenge Tour events.

SG: Off The Tee
Ewen Ferguson ranked 32nd when winning convincingly last year. In 2021, Gavins and Horsey ranked 29-116.  In 2020, the top four ranked 34-31-42-32. It's important to be a solid driver but not exceptional.

Driving Accuracy 
Ewen Ferguson ranked 104th when winning last year. In 2021, Gavins and Horsey ranked 15-103.  In 2020, the top four ranked 10-23-27-51. Driving Accuracy is preferred over distance this week.  

SG: Approach
Ewen Ferguson ranked 20th when winning last year. In 2021, Gavins and Horsey ranked 53-18.  In 2020, the top four ranked 10-22-7-28.  Strong iron play is important. 

Greens in Regulation
Ewen Ferguson ranked 20th when winning last year. In 2021, Gavins and Horsey ranked 37-35.  In 2020, the top four ranked 7-33-6-28. Confirms the importance of strong iron play.

SG: Around The Green
Ewen Ferguson ranked 10th when winning last year. In 2021, Gavins and Horsey ranked 6-13.  In 2020, the top four ranked 23-49-20-14.  A strong short game is definitely preferred but not essential.

SG: Putting
Ewen Ferguson ranked 21st when winning last year. In 2021, Gavins and Horsey ranked 17-33.  In 2020, the top four ranked 25-4-39-8.  Strong putting helps around here.

2023 ISPS Handa Invitational In-Play Advice

Tough Holes
The 6th, 15th, 3rd and 11th played as the hardest holes at Galgorm in 2022.

Birdie Holes
The 2nd at Galgorm is a short par 4 which played as the easiest hole last year. The short par 3 7th and par 5 18th played as the next two easiest.

Fast or Slow Start

Last year, Ewen Ferguson shot 61 at Galgorm to lead by four shots and win wire to wire.

In 2021, Daniel Gavins opened up at Massereene last year with a one over par round of 71.

In 2020, Aaron Rai finished 2nd after leading on day one with a 65 but five of the top 10 started with a 70 or 71. Catlin came from four back in the final round to win by two.

In previous events, Tyler Koivisto was 4 behind after 36 holes on the Challenge Tour in 2020. Jack Senior in 2019 was 3 behind after 36. Callum Hill was 2 behind after 36 in 2018. It is important to be not too far off the pace but within touching distance.

2023 ISPS Handa World Invitational Tips