Soudal Open preview and tips: Thorbjorn Olesen and Adrian Otegui set to shine
- Martin Colwell
- 9 May 2023
After tipping last week's 20/1 winner Adrian Meronk, golf pundit Martin Colwell, who runs PuttForDoughGolf23 on Tipstrr, is hoping for more of the same from this week’s DP World Tour event in Belgium.
The bookies' favourite at the time of writing is Alexander Bjork, who has been playing decently enough and finished fourth at last week's Italian Open.
However, it could be argued that his position at the top end of the betting says more about the weakness of the field this week than about Bjork's prowess.
Slightly further out at around 18/1 we have a strong trio in the shape of Yannik Paul, Adrian Otaegui and Thomas Detry.
Paul has been generally good these past few months and finished runner-up in both the Thailand Classic and the Indian Open in February.
Otaegui catches the eye at this course, as it should suit his game and he has had success on similar tracks. Although failing to make the top 20 since coming runner-up in the Alfred Dunhill Championship in December, he is likely to prefer being back on European soil and could well be in contention on Sunday.
Suggested bet: Adrian Otaegui each-way in the Soudal Open
Thomas Detry has been playing on the USPGA Tour of late and has been going well enough. However, he is still a maiden on both tours after several years of trying to win.
At around 20/1 we find Jorge Campillo and Thorbjorn Olesen. Campillo has been in very good form these past few weeks, with five successive top tens including a win in the Kenya Open and an eighth-placed finish in last week's Italian Open.
Olesen has the best pedigree of those at the top of the market and has been playing well enough in recent times. Last week's mid-division finish ended a run of three straight top-six finishes, including a 24-under-par four-stroke victory in the Thailand Classic.
Suggested bet:
Thorbjorn Olesen each-way in the Soudal Open
Of this top group I prefer Otaegui based upon his previous experience of this type of course and Olesen on pedigree and having outstanding form of late.
Others to consider
Marcel Siem looked good last week in Italy and has won on tour previously, and the 50/1 currently available makes the German look like each way value.
Frenchman Clement Sordet has course form here, having placed here previously, but is a little out of sorts recently, although his return to this course could revitalise his game.
Alex Fitzpatrick partnered his brother Matt in the Zurich Classic at New Orleans on the USPGA Tour last month. Alex played well for most of the week and now returns to the bread-and-butter routine of the DP World Tour.
Alex will be keen to push up the rankings on this tour and force his way over to play in the U.S. regularly. An excellent ball striker, the course should suit him.
Suggested outsider bet:
Marcel Siem each-way in the Soudal Open
