The Irish Open returns to Royal County Down for the first time since Soren Kjeldsen's 2015 triumph and Rory McIlroy is unsurprisingly the one they all have to beat back in the calmer waters of the DP World Tour.
McIlroy has struggled since letting the US Open slip from his grasp in June, missing the cut at the Open and failing to make a serious impact in the FedEx Cup playoffs.
The Holywood hero will garner huge support in his native Northern Ireland and he possesses links pedigree in abundance, but he missed the cut at Royal County Down nine years ago and has struggled to regularly contend in this event despite having won it in 2016.
McIlroy's close friend Shane Lowry also takes a high rank in the betting, while recent PGA Tour champions Aaron Rai and Robert MacInytre are among those returning from the US to battle it out for a valuable DP World Tour prize.
- BERND WIESBERGER TO WIN AND EACH-WAY
- RYAN FOX TO WIN AND EACH-WAY
- JORGE CAMPILLO TO WIN AND EACH-WAY
Wiesberger To Challenge McIlroy
It would be just like McIlroy to offer a timely reminder of his ability by winning this week, but there are enough question marks over his form to suggest it could pay to look further down the betting.
Bernd Wiesberger came agonisingly close to winning the 2015 Irish Open title at this venue, losing out to Kjeldsen in a three-man play-off which also included Eddie Pepperell, but recent efforts suggest he's primed to go one better.
Wiesberger has finished in the top 25 in nine of his last 11 starts, striking his irons superbly for the most part, and his tee-to-green precision is an asset at a course where mistakes can be severely punished.
The 38-year-old also finished runner-up behind Jon Rahm in the 2019 Irish Open at Lahinch then he won the Scottish Open at a modern links, the Renaissance Club, the following week.
BERND WIESBERGER TO WIN AND EACH-WAY
Fox To Relish Links Return
Ryan Fox will have one eye on next week's title defence at the BMW PGA Championship, but he loves links golf and won't think twice should an opportunity to win the Irish Open present itself.
While Fox has struggled with life on the PGA Tour, the Kiwi slugger has shown glimpses of his best form in recent months and he could improve for a return to the island of Ireland.
He finished fourth and second in 2017 and 2018 in the Irish Open - both at links venues. He was also second and third in the two most recent renewals at Mount Juliet and the K Club.
RYAN FOX TO WIN AND EACH-WAY
Campillo Can Perform On The Links
At big odds take a chance on Jorge Campillo, who has shown himself more than equipped to handle a windswept Irish Open layout.
The Spaniard was third behind Russell Knox at Ballyliffin in 2018 then seventh behind Rahm at Lahinch in 2019.
He returns to the Emerald Isle after finishing sixth in the British Masters a fortnight ago on his penultimate start.
JORGE CAMPILLO TO WIN AND EACH-WAY
