The Tips panel return this week with more expert insight ahead of events on both the DP World Tour and the PGA TOUR.
Every week a panel of industry-leading golf tipsters and special guests preview the week’s betting markets, with the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed and RBC Canadian Open coming under the microscope.
Joining regular host Ollie Silverton this week are sporting life’s Ben Coley, golf writer Tom Jacobs and DP World Tour Commentator Inci Memet –who makes her debut in the DP World Tour’s official golf betting podcast.
From one of the longest tracks all seasonto one of the shortest, Ullna Golf & CC makes it’s first appearance on Tour since 1987 at this week's Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed, having staged the Scandinavian Enterprise Open from 1983 – 1987.
Surrounded by plenty of water and with a lot of playing for position off the tee likely, the tips all focused less on distance and more around approach and short-game with their selections this week.
For Coley, the obvious stand-out was home favourite Alex Noren.
“No doubt it’s been a difficult year for him, but if you look at what has happened when he comes to the DP World Tour where he is a big fish he’s been exceptional," he said.
“He could have won his last three events on the DP World Tour: Second to Jon Rahm in Dubai, fifth at Yas Links and second at the Dunhill. These are massive events, and he’s done really well every time he’s come back to the DP World Tour.”
Comparing him with compatriot Alexander Bjork, who comes to his home country in exceptional form, Coley said he’d still opt for Noren thanks to his exceptional all-round game.
“If you go on the events they have both played over the last two years, Bjork has never beaten Noren. With a shorter course as well, if he doesn’t have to hit driver that’s a massive advantage because he’s not necessarily the best driver. He’s got a brilliant putter in the bag, his short game is really good and his approach play at its best is a strength… he’s just a class act.”
For his second pick he went for Andy Sullivan, with the hope that this is a course where he can consolidate some of his recent low rounds into four good days.
“He’s had so many lightning starts. He was 39th last and he had a shocking week on the greens. That club so often has been a strength down the years so I would expect it to return to something a good deal more effective this week.
"For a player of his class, around a golf course I think will suit him, I’m hopeful he can kick on. Low rounds haven’t been the problem for him this season, just stringing four of them together.”
Also focusing on a player that he thinks will suit this type of course, Jacobs opted for Joost Luiten.
“Three third place finishes already and back to back top 22 finishes back at home at the KLM then last week at the Porsche European Open,” he said of Luiten.
“He’s had a couple of chances already this year. I’m going to be leaning towards shorter hitters as it’s probably their best chance this season and for Luiten I don’t feel there will be a better course for him.”
For his second choice he went with Matt Baldwin.
“Matthew Baldwin won by seven strokes earlier this season, and the way he was in that event after years of not winning was impressive” he added, before elaborating that he wasn't worried about his faltering last weekend in Germany.
“He was fifth going into the weekend last week, but this isn’t Green Eagle where you can get caught out. Everything points towards another good week.”
Adding in her own opinions on the female prospects in this week’s mixed event, Memet said that while she was happy to single out Olivia Cowen, it was hard for her to look past defending champion Linn Grant.
“Olivia Cowen has only had one Ladies European Tour win but she’s your solid top ten player,” she said.
“She’s always up there, and I think recently she played in Belgium finished fourth and seems to always linger at the top of the leaderboard. Tee to greens he’s pretty solid as well.
“But you can’t miss out Linn Grant.
“The defending champion, playing on home soil, the top seed in the women’s game. An obvious pick but she is such a super player. If you look at every aspect of her game, she is one of the longer hitters, and although this isn’t particularly long golf course at all, she will be able to cut corners, her short game is brilliant and she’s just got nerves of steel.”
The Tipsters then moved on to the the Canadian Open, held at Oakdale Golf & Country Club.
Jacobs went with Tyrrell Hatton as his headline pick, while Coley opted for something of a wildcard in Canadian Mackenzie Hughes.
"I've gone with Tyrrell Hatton," said Jacobs.
"He's third in strokes gained total this season, behind Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm. To me, if he can get a win while he's in that form, it's time to jump on board. For someone who has only missed two cuts since he missed the cut here last year, he's playing plenty well enough to win this event."
"Mackenzie Hughes has really raised his game in this event," added Coley.
"His last four appearance in this his worst is 32nd. He's not always arrived in great form, because he is a very fluctuating golfer, but he arrives with a win this season. The problem is his form book doesn't look good because he's missed three of his last four cuts but last week it was by one shot, and his approach play was as good as it's been, he just didn't put well. He was born an hour down the road, it's a genuine home game for him."
Meanwhile, Inci singled out DP World Tour member Adrian Meronk as one of her choices for this week.
"Adrian Meronk is not far off playing some of his best golf. At the KLM Open he made a double bogey early on but he was still right at the top. At the US PGA Championship he made one more birdie than the champion Brooks Koepka.
To find out more about why each guests made their picks, and what other players they mention on this week’s podcast, click here https://linktr.ee/dpworldtour
