PREVIEW: 2023 DP World Tour – Italian Open

2022/2023 DP World Tour
Italian Open
Marco Simone GC, Rome, Italy
4th-7th May

This should make for a fascinating week, as the DP World Tour converges on the host course for this year’s Ryder Cup: Marco Simone GC.

None of the likely American Ryder Cup contingent have found it necessary to make the trek across the pond. But there are a number of European hopefuls who will be looking to make a real impression on Luke Donald this week.

There are six captain’s picks in the mix and I think Donald would be insane not to pay attention to form on this layout.

The Italian Open

The Italian Open dates all the way back to 1925 and this will be the 80th edition. This largely nomadic event returns to Marco Simone GC for the third successive year. This was quite a clever move by the European golfing elite who are obviously hoping for an improved Ryder Cup showing later this year.

Marco Simone GC

Co-designed by Jim Fazio and David Mezzacane, Eduardo Romero won this event back in 1994. The course underwent a couple of controversial revamps in 2018 and 2020 (obviously with the knowledge of the impending Ryder Cup).

They felt like the undulating parkland course needed something a bit more pizazz. Some players were apparently disgusted with the redesign of the green complexes. Almost half of the holes featured blind approaches and the greens themselves were said to be overly contoured.

This is certainly not a typical Italian, tree-lined track. With plenty of water in pay and long fescue in action, perhaps accuracy off the tee will be useful this week. Seven of the top 12 last year ranked inside the top 10 in GIR.

And that makes sense when you consider the blind approaches and awkward green complexes. I would look for accurate types who are surgical from the fairways this week.

The Contenders

This is hardly a stellar lineup with the Italian Open being moved forward in this year’s schedule. It’s easy to see why defending champion Robert Macintyre did so well here last year. He fits the profile of a Marco Simone champ and he knows a strong showing this week will go a long way to booking his place in that Ryder Cup side.

Nicolai Hojgaard has been in decent form in the States, really making the most of his Special Temporary Membership. The 2021 winner knows that another strong showing here will go a long way to fortifying his Ryder Cup place.

Twin brother Rasmus hasn’t been himself since returning from a shoulder injury and will be looking for a solid outing this week. Adrian Meronk has been one of the more consistent players on tour and will look to go one better after finishing in a tie for 2nd here in 2021.

Past Winners

2022: Robert Macintyre (-14) *playoff
2021: Nicolai Hojgaard (-13)
2020: Ross McGowan (-20)
2019: Bernd Wiesberger (-16)
2018: Thorbjorn Olesen (-22)
2017: Tyrell Hatton (-21)

To Win Outright:

Rasmus Hojgaard 20/1 | Nicolai Hojgaard 18/1 | Robert Macintyre 18/1 | Victor Perez 20/1 | Jordan Smith 22/1

Value Bets

Jorge Campillo- To Win 28/1

This one is just the perfect confluence of current form and course form. The 36-year-old Spaniard is arguably enjoying the hottest form of his career. He comes into this event with form figures of T3-T9-1-T4. His win at the Kenya Open was the third victory of his DP World Tour career. Campillo also has 7th and 9th place finishes in this event (with the latter result coming on this course last year). He has ranked inside the top 12 for SG: Tee-to-Green in his last four starts.

Romain Langasque- To Win 50/1

Langasque is best suited to courses that require him to use the driver and Marco Simone should play into that. He has been playing far more consistently this season, making nine of eleven cuts this far. And his approach play has been exceptional of late. He has ranked inside the top dozen in five of his last seven starts in terms of approach play. That- along with his solid driver- should make him ideally suited to this difficult test.

The Man to Beat- Thorbjorn Olesen- To Win 25/1

Dane Thorbjorn Olesen makes a very appealing candidate at 30/1. He obviously has Ryder Cup experience, being part of the brilliant side that claimed victory at Le Golf National in 2018. His inclusion in that team was aided hugely by victory in the 2018 Italian Open. He obviously had his issues following his well-publicized airplane antics. But he seems to have returned to some solid form over the last year. He won the British Masters last May and won in Thailand earlier this season. He has just broken into the world’s top 100 and he knows a strong showing this weekend should guarantee him a place at the upcoming US PGA Championship.