Golf Bets / Mike Norman / 28 July 2010 /

There'll be a lot of support for Ireland's golfers this week, none more so than for Rory McIlroy perhaps, and our man Mike Norman believes the 21-year-old will be lifting the trophy come Sunday afternoon.

Having gone more than four weeks without backing a golfer who knows what a fairway looks like, you might be a bit surprised to learn that I'm feeling pretty confident about finding the winner of this week's Irish Open.

The cream of Ireland's golfers will be in attendance at the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club, a venue that hasn't been used for this event since 1992. It's fair to say then that I won't be making any selections based on previous course form, but I will be backing someone who, without any shadow of a doubt, will be bang there come Sunday afternoon. And that man (in truth more of a kid) is Irish sensationRory McIlroy.

When it comes to up-and-coming talent 21-year-old McIlroy is the undisputed king of potential. In fact, it's probably a bit disrespectful to still label him 'up-and-coming' given the giant strides he's made since he burst onto the scenes at the 2007 Open Championship. He's probably even surpassed the 'rising star' status that he still gets associated with, which is why he's just [7.8] to win this week in a field that contains (between them) winners of four of the last 13 Major championships - Graeme McDowell ([16.0]) and Padraig Harrington ([18.0]).

What McIlroy did at the Open Championship a few weeks ago was nothing short of remarkable. True, he had conditions in his favour when shooting a first round 63 but so did another 60 or so golfers yet he simply blew them away. But to record an 80 in his second round, and still go on to finish in a tie for third at the end of the week defies logic really. It was a stunning performance.

McIlroy is clearly a player in great heart at the moment, and he doesn't strike me as someone who will buckle under the pressure of being the favourite in front of a patriotic home crowd - quite the opposite in fact. So the only negative about young Rory this week is his odds - at just [7.8] I'd normally be looking to oppose such a price in a 150-runner field, but this time I'm all over it like a rash and I suggest you should be too.

McIlroy is also available to back at [2.8] in the Top Five Finish market and I believe that's a great price to ensure we don't lose money on this event. Whatever my combined outlay is this week I'll be putting the same amount on this selection, thus meaning that if none of my selections triumph and McIlory finishes in the top 5 then I'll get all my money back plus a small profit.

US Open Champion McDowell should go well if he's still close to the form he demonstrated at Celtic Manor and Pebble Beach so he is another selection for me this week, but one man who I simply can't have is Harrington.

After winning three Majors in such a short space of time I fully expected Harrington to be one of the world's leading golfers for the next five or six years at least. But although official world rankings suggest he has been exactly that (though he is now beginning to slip), the fact is Harrington has been a big disappointment of late, this season especially. His best finish this year was a third place at the WGC-CA Championship in March, but missed cuts at The Masters, The Players and The Open tell me that he is really struggling in big-pressure tournaments.

I'd love Harrington to return to his best but on current form I don't think it will be this week hence why I'm laying him in the Top 10 Finish market at around [2.6].

My selections this week go completely against what betting.betfair golf expert Paul Krishnamurty thinks, but punting is all about opinions - you pay your money and you take your chance. I don't think weather conditions will enhance or hinder my backs/lays though I have been known to be wrong before you know! Good luck Paul.

Garrido Watch - After a week off, workaholic Ignacio Garrido is back this week and definitely deserves a mention at [130.0] to win the tournament. More realistically though, given his consistency for finishing in and around the top 10, a punt at [11.0] in the Top 10 Finish market is the call.

Recommended Bets

Back Rory McIlroy at [7.8] in Winner market
Back Rory McIlroy @ [2.8] in Top 5 Finish market
Back Graeme McDowell @ [16.0] in Winner market
Lay Padraig Harrington @ [2.6] in Top 10 Finish market
Back Ignacio Garrido @ [11.0] in Top 10 Finish market

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