Irish Open weather forecast for Thursday
There's often a chance to try and cash in on a weather bias in links events but, at the time of writing (Wednesday evening), the wind looks fairly balanced throughout the day
It make spike here and there but generally winds are around 14-18mph with gusts perhaps 10 mph more.
There's a chance of rain early in the morning and possibly 30mph gusts at 7am but, overall, no-one will have it easy.
First Round Leader Bet 1: Jacob Skov Olesen @ 45/146.00
Jacob Skov Olesen was the first-round leader in the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush which brings him to mind here.
But the Dane's appeal goes way beyond that even though it's relevant.
Skov Olesen is on a great run after following sixth place at the PGA Tour's Corales Puntacana in July with a trio of strong finishes on the DP World Tour in August.
It started with ninth at the Danish Golf Championship and continued with 16th on the Scottish links of the Nexo Championship before he finished runner-up at the British Masters.
Across those above four events he had 18-hole positions of 9-34-6-4.
Adding to the appeal is Skov Olesen's eighth place in last year's Irish Open when he was 12th after the first lap.
He's an afternoon starter at 14:10 (everyone tees off from the 1st).
Back Jacob Skov Olesen each-way for FRL
First Round Leader Bet 2: Oliver Lindell @ 40/141.00
Oliver Lindell has opened with a round in the 60s in each of his last eight starts which is some going.
In the last five he's had first-round positions of 4th, 6th and 8th and that's helped fuel a great run of results which show two second places among five top 15s in his latest six events.
The Finn has also made an impression on Irish soil.
He was eighth after 18 holes when seventh in this event last year while in 2024 an opening 68 helped him to 11th at the Irish Challenge.
The Finn hits his first tee shot at 12:35.
Back Oliver Lindell each-way for FRL
First Round Leader Bet 3: Todd Clements @ 80/181.00
Good starts tend to come in bunches and that's why Todd Clements gets the final place in the staking plan at around double the odds of the first two picks.
The Englishman was the FRL in the Corales Puntacana - another coastal event of course - thanks to a 65 while in last week's Omega European Masters in Switzerland an opening 64 put him sixth after round one.
Clements went on to finish runner-up at the Corales Puntanca while he was seventh after 54 holes last week before finishing 18th.
A return to these shores should flood him with happy memories as in 2022 he won the Challenge Tour's Irish Challenge at the K Club by six shots no less.
More recently he was 26th at last year's Irish Open.
Clements is the morning starter pick at 08:05.
Back Todd Clements each-way for FRL