As we continue the countdown to the 2014 Irish Open, europeantour.com's stats man Steve Doughty reveals his five players to watch at Fota Island Resort..
Rafa Cabrera-Bello
Although he is yet to win the Irish Open, he has played very well on his last two visits to the country, having tied for fifth in 2013 and finished runner-up to Jamie Donaldson in 2012. Has found a wonderful level of consistency this season, with five top nine finishes and a best performance of tied third in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. A win is surely not far away, and he would become the first Spanish player to win the coveted title since Sergio Garcia in 1999.
Paul Casey
The defending champion has found good, consistent form on the US PGA Tour in recent months, having recorded four top 20 finishes from his last seven events in the US. Should he retain his title, he would become the first player since Colin Montgomerie (1996-97) to win back-to-back Irish Opens. In addition to his win 12 months ago, he finished second in 2006 and tied 13th in 2002 – the last time the event was at Fota Island.
David Horsey
Has found a fine level of performance this season without tasting victory. Has played in 11 events this term, yielding four top ten finishes, including three consecutively in the Joburg Open, Africa Open and Trophée Hassan II. Showed the early season form had returned with a tie for ninth in his last event, the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity.
Rory McIlroy
Playing in is eighth national Open, he will be aiming to beat his previous best finish of seventh in 2008. Finished 23rd in last week’s US Open Championshipm, which was the first time he has been out of the top 15 in any event since the WGC – Cadillac Championship. Having won his first event on European soil at the BMW PGA Championship, he will try to become only the fourth player to claim the PGA Championship / Irish Open double in the same year. He would follow Seve Ballesteros (1983), Bernhard Langer (1987) and Ian Woosnam (1988).
Marcel Siem
Recorded his best two results of the 2014 season in his last two events, finishing tied seventh in the BMW PGA Championship and a very creditable tied 12th in the US Open Championship. His first Irish Open was at Fota Island in 2002. Will try to improve on his best Irish Open result of tied 17th back in 2011 and make it back-t-back wins by Germans following the success of his good friend Martin Kaymer at last week’s US Open Championship.
