Steve Palmer's free predictions and golf betting tips for the Irish Open

When to bet on the Irish Open

By 7.30am on Thursday

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Steve Palmer's Irish Open predictions

Shane Lowry
3pts each-way 16-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

Tom McKibbin
2pts each-way 35-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

Adrian Meronk
1pt each-way 75-1 bet365

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Steve Palmer's Irish Open preview

Rory McIlroy won the Irish Open at the K Club's Palmer North Course in 2016 and the world number two is looking to repeat the trick at the Straffan venue this week.

McIlroy, who finished 16th on his return to the course in the 2023 Irish Open, will be greeted by a layout where his long, straight driving is a huge asset. If McIlroy is in the mood he should be a factor but this mercurial character has been difficult to trust since the Masters and may not be ready to apply himself properly in the forecast bad weather.

Tyrrell Hatton, who has Palmer North form figures of 5-MC, did not post a top-20 finish in his final four LIV events as an individual. Marco Penge could take a shine to the North Course on his debut but he is competing for a fifth consecutive week so may be running on empty.

Consistent ball-striker Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen is a tempting option on a course he should fall in love with but the Dane is also seeing it for the first time and may not hole enough putts to claim a maiden DP World Tour title against such a strong field.

Steve Palmer's top tip

Shane Lowry 16-1

Popular Irishman Shane Lowry can cap off a perfect week by following his Ryder Cup wildcard selection with victory in his national Open at the K Club.

Lowry was all smiles when given the nod by European skipper Luke Donald on Monday and that positivity should remain on display when big Shane tees up in front of adoring galleries on the Palmer North.

Lowry famously won the 2009 Irish Open as an amateur on his DPWT debut – a dramatic success at a wet and wild County Louth – and this week he can do so as a professional for the first time.

A miserable weather forecast will not worry Shane LowryCredit: Getty Images

The Offaly-born star finished fifth in the 2013 Irish Open at Carton House but was not in good form going into his K Club debut in 2016, battling to a respectable 23rd place. Two years ago, when the K Club hosted again, Lowry finished third and was beaten by only two shots.

There is surely nobody better equipped for hanging tough in wind and rain on the Palmer North. Lowry is a master at controlling his ball in a breeze and he will be relishing the forecast, as well as being inevitably inspired by the support. Running away with the 2019 Open at Portrush, with the whole island of Ireland cheering his every move, underlined his liking for performing in front of his fan club.

The way Lowry improved in the FedEx Cup playoffs encouraged those supporters. He understandably took a while to get over an agonising near-miss in the Truist Championship in May but he moved through the gears in the playoffs, closing with a 67 in the BMW Championship before being the 13th-best scorer in the Tour Championship.

A second-round 63 at East Lake hinted that Lowry was getting his sparkle back and he can make the ideal start to what could be a glorious September by delighting the Straffan masses.

Next best bet

Tom McKibbin 35-1

A brilliant performance in the LIV Team Championship last time out has set Tom McKibbin up well for the Irish Open. McKibbin joined forces with Caleb Surratt to win two foursomes matches for Legion XIII, then the Northern Irishman carded a 65 in the Sunday strokeplay to help his team triumph.

McKibbin, who shared a $14m cheque with his three Legion XIII pals at the Team Championship, has enjoyed a seriously lucrative LIV campaign. He posted seven top-20s in 13 events, finishing seventh in Adelaide, sixth in Hong Kong, fifth in Dallas and fourth at Valderrama. He has made three starts in regulation DP World Tour events this year, finishing sixth in the Dubai Desert Classic and third in Singapore.

Palmer North seems an ideal layout for McKibbin to show off his elite driving. He finished runner-up in a Challenge Tour event at the neighbouring Palmer South in 2022 as a 19-year-old with hardly any experience, then he was 39th in the Irish Open at Palmer North the following year.

McKibbin has returned older, wiser and better in every respect, and he seems well capable of winning a second DPWT title on Sunday.

Other selection

Adrian Meronk 75-1

Another LIV player who left the Team Championship feeling good about his game was Adrian Meronk, who beat Jon Rahm in a quarter-finals matchplay contest. The Polish giant carded six birdies and 11 pars in a 2&1 success over Rahm but Cleeks lost their other two matches, allowing Legion XIII to progress to the semi-finals.

Meronk won the first LIV event of the season, then had a quiet spell, but 15th place at Valderrama was followed by seventh in LIV UK and eighth at LIV Indianapolis, where he carded a 12-under-par weekend.

Meronk was tenth on his Irish Open debut in 2020, then won his maiden DPWT title in the 2022 event at Mount Juliet, a parkland track similar to this week's assignment. A share of 23rd at the K Club in 2023 was decent considering he had just been controversially left out of the European Ryder Cup team.

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