Weather forecast for Thursday:
Scoring can be low at Mount Juliet and that looks likely on day one. Reports from the course say it's playing soft and winds are light at around 6-8mph for virtually the whole of the golfing day. Temperatures peak in the mid-60s from midday onwards.
Make it Marcus
Marcus Armitage seems to enjoy this time of year.
Last June he won the European Open in Germany a week after a top eight.
And on Tuesday he shot a pair of 68s at St Annes Old Links to finish tied 1st in local qualifying there and book his place in the Open Championship at St Andrews in two weeks' time.
While we're at it, let's add in that back in his EuroPro days, two of his three wins came in June/July.
With scoring set to be low, Armitage's 30th spot in Birdie Average this season bodes well, as does the fact he opened 68-68 on this course last year to sit tied ninth at halfway.
Add up all the elements and hopefully he can add to his excellent week so far by going low on day one.
Armitage has an 8.40am start.
Jump in for Jordan
Jordan Smith is one of the DP World Tour's in-form players after piecing together a run of five top top 25s.
The latest two were tied 10th in the European Open and tied eighth at last week's BMW International Open.
Fast starts have helped him on his way and in his last four events the Englishman hasn't ended round one outside the top 11.
Smith was the first-round leader in the 2020 Irish Open and his 13th place in the Birdie Average stats and hot current form point to a fast start here.
The 40/1 shot tees it up at 12.50pm.
Farr can star
I'll play the 'just qualified for The Open' angle again by picking Oliver Farr at huge odds.
Farr came through in testing conditions at Hollinwell so perhaps a calm day at Mount Juliet might seem a bit of a doddle.
He finished a useful tied 23rd here last year but I'm particularly interested by his round scores: 72-66-76-65.
In other words, he threw in two low ones to show that this course is one on which he can make a bunch of birdies.
As well as making it to St Andrews, Farr has made three of his last four cuts on the DP World Tour so let's chance the 1.50pm starter at 150/1.