With the third Major of the season done and dusted, the DP World Tour action returns with this week's Open d'Italia, which is the penultimate event of the 'European Swing'.
Circolo Golf Torino returns to the schedule for the first time since 2014 and two of the players who learned to play golf at the club, brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari, will be in attendance.
Frenchman Adrien Saddier claimed the spoils at Argentario last year, holding off compatriot Martin Couvra by two strokes, and the defending champion is 50/1 to become the first player to retain the title since Flory Van Donck in 1947.
Chilean Joaquin Niemann is the 9/1 favourite, ahead of fellow LIV Golf member David Puig and Patrick Reed, who are both priced at 14/1.
Open d'Italia First-Round Leader Tips Summary
Best Bet - Bernd Wiesberger each-way @ 50/1
Alternative Bet - Ricardo Gouveia each-way @ 80/1
Alternative Bet - Francesco Molinari each-way @ 55/1
Open d'Italia First-Round Leader Prediction
Best Bet: Bernd Wiesberger each-way @ 50/1
Bernd Wiesberger played at Circolo Golf Torino in the 2013 and 2014 editions of this tournament and he put in two solid showings, finishing 23rd and sixth.
The Austrian was four shots off the pace in the opening round 13 years ago before then sitting top of the pile alongside Francesco Molinari after day one in 2014.
Wiesberger ended a near five-year wait for a ninth DP World Tour win when landing the China Open in April this year and his results since that victory have been impressive, with one top five, two top 15s and a tied-21st effort from five starts.
Ranking ninth in strokes gained for both tee-to-green and approach, Wiesberger's long game is in great shape and he knows how to get the job done around this part of the world, having lifted the Open d'Italia title in 2019.
Alternative Bet: Ricardo Gouveia each-way @ 80/1
Another player to watch out for this week is Ricardo Gouveia, who won the Italian Challenge for the second time in 2021 and heads into the tournament in strong form.
The Portuguese was tied-second at the Austrian Alpine Open two starts ago and he has also recorded a further three top-10 results this year, in Turkey, Kenya and Dubai.
Gouveia was second after the opening 18 holes in Austria and he was also sitting tied-eighth after day one of the Catalunya Championship, evidence of how quickly he can come out of the blocks.
Sharp irons and a hot putter is required this week and it bodes well that Gouveia is 18th in greens in regulation and 10th for strokes gained putting.
Alternative Bet: Francesco Molinari each-way @ 55/1
Francesco Molinari is one of several home favourites in the field this week but he is expected to get more support than most, given he is still attached to Circolo Golf Torino.
The 43-year-old Italian has struggled with his game for the past few years, but he has shown signs of revival this season, evidenced by his tied-fourth effort at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
Molinari also shared sixth position at the Indian Open and he will be feeling refreshed and ready to go having not played since the KLM Open in the first week of June.
The 2018 Open champion opened up with a round of 66 at Circolo Golf Torino in 2014 to share the lead with Wiesberger and there have been enough positives of late to suggest he could get off to a fast start again.
Key Tournament Stats
This is the 83rd edition of the Open d'Italia
Circolo Golf Torino hosts for the fourth time, having done so in 1999, 2013 and 2014
A par 71 measuring 7,214, this course has 11 par-fours, three par-fives and four par-threes
Nicolas Colsaerts shot a round of 65 to sit in a three-way tie for the first-round lead in 2013
Bernd Wiesberger and Francesco Molinari shared the first-round lead in 2014 after signing for scores of 66
Francesco learned to play golf at this course and is still attached to the club
Read more golf betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
