Hero Open betting tips: Consistent Kawamura considered
Odds and preview for this week’s European Tour event
The European Tour heads to Fife and the stunning Fairmont St Andrews course as we examine the odds to find some Hero Open betting tips.
Last year, Sam Horsfield won the tournament that was entitled the Hero Open at Forest of Arden, while Adrian Otaegui claimed the Scottish Championship at the Fairmont in October.
The Torrance at Fairmont St Andrews is a cliff-top course that measures 6,835 yards and overlooks the Auld Grey Toun. As ever, the wind could play a major part, although low scores are not uncommon if the elements behave.
Market leaders
Andy Sullivan is the 14/1 favourite and has been largely consistent this year, with top-10 finishes at the BMW International and the British Masters.
He started well at ISPS Handa World Invitational last week, yet could not capitalise and failed to finish. He should do better here if he can maintain his recent good day-one form.
Marcus Armitage won the European Open in June and while missing the cut at the US Open, he had a fair Open Championship with a T52 finish.
One of the most charismatic players on the Tour, he is sometimes too hard on himself, yet when things fall right, he can get a hot putter and his confidence should have been boosted by a four-under finish at Galgorm Castle last week. His Hero Open odds are 20/1.
Masahiro Kawamura, T7 at the Scandinavian Mixed, fifth at Celtic Manor two weeks ago and T3 at the Galgorm Castle last week, may still be looking for his first European Tour win, yet his consistency means he cannot be overlooked easily. After another near miss, he is five points shorter this week at 20/1.
At larger odds
Spain’s Adrian Otaegul was in supreme form when winning here in October, claiming a four-stroke win over Matt Wallace.
He was at his best when the weather was at its worst – on the first and final days – to gain his third European Tour win.
Though he has missed the last two cuts, his form prior to that was solid, with nine sub-par rounds in three events, including a 65 in the third round of the Scottish Open.
Otaegul is a 22/1 shot and is worth considering for Hero Open betting tips.
Kiwi Ryan Fox is making the trek back from Tokyo in a bid to try and improve his Race to Dubai standing, yet while his game is suited to the wind-affected Torrance Course, this will be a massive transition from the heat and humidity of Tokyo. He is a 25/1 shot.
Three-time Challenger Tour winner Oliver Farr (above) is playing consistently well.
Good finishes at the Irish Open, Cazoo Welsh Open and a T11 last week has instilled plenty of confidence and his ability to craft shots with strong iron play means he is in with a chance at this course. He is a 55/1 shot in Hero Open betting tips.
Elsewhere
Renato Patatore is another who is flying back from Tokyo. The Italian produced a solid effort with a nine-under finish at Kasumigaseki CC and while he was no match for last week’s headline winner Xander Schauffele, his game is coming together, as he showed with three under-par rounds in his Olympics prep at the Scottish Open.
Patatore is 66/1 on the Hero Open golf betting tips list.
After three consecutive missed cuts, Ashley Chesters is back in early-season form with T18 and T15 finishes at the Cazoo and ISPS Handa respectively.
While still seeking a first European Tour win, the Shropshire man knows where the winning line is, as he won back-to-back European Amateur Championships before turning professional. Chesters could be in contention at 60/1.
If taking away his disappointing Scottish Open performance, Marc Warren has eight under-par rounds in his last 11 and there is no doubt he has the ability to handle windy conditions.
Warren was eight-under at the Irish Open last month and the Scot would like nothing better than to win on home soil.
He has not been in brilliant form, as his 100/1 odds would suggest, but he isn’t far away from putting it all together.
All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication
