Steve Palmer's Austrian Open predictions & free golf betting tips

Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the Austrian Open at Diamond Country Club on the European Tour.

Where to watch

Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 12.30pm on Thursday

Best bets

Hurly Long
1pt each-way 250-1 bet365, Sporting Index

Wil Besseling
1pt each-way 55-1 bet365, Sporting Index

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Snow and rain has made Diamond Country Club extremely soft for the Austrian Open - and further showers are expected for the tournament - so this could be a week when big hitters take over at a track measuring almost 7,500 yards. Temperatures of around 10C are forecast all week, so balls will not fly far in the heavy air.

Steve Palmer's top tip

Hurly Long 250-1

There are lots of big-hitters to consider this week, but most of them are making their debut at Diamond CC, including Sam Horsfield and Rasmus Hojgaard. Thomas Detry has the edge in terms of course credentials - he finished eighth in last year's Austrian Open - and he played nicely in the Corales Puntacana Championship on the PGA Tour last time out. The favourite has every chance, but taking single-figure odds about a European Tour maiden is difficult to justify.

Preference is for a modest, two-pronged staking plan at juicy prices - headlined by 250-1 German youngster Hurly Long. The man from Heidelberg will not mind the chilly weather and his aggressive swing has shown up well in Austria before. He won a Pro Golf Tour event in St Polten in 2019 on his way to winning the Pro Golf Tour Order of Merit.

Last year Long won on the Challenge Tour - the Italian Challenge Open in October - so he has been moving steadily up the grades. His college career in Texas, the highlight of which was a course-record 61 in a competition at Pebble Beach, suggested Long would be successful in the professional ranks. He closed with a 60 in his St Polten triumph and clearly has the ability to produce fireworks when in the groove.

Long finished 34th in the Austrian Open last year, having arrived after three missed cuts and outside the world's top 550, and he returns as world number 342.

Next best bet

Wil Besseling 55-1

While many of the market principals are adjusting to previously uncharted terrain, Wil Besseling can hit the ground running at a track where he finished third in last year's Austrian Open. The Dutchman outscored everyone on the Sunday with a 66.

The softer conditions for this edition should help Besseling - he is one of the longest drivers on the circuit - and the slow greens will take pressure off his short-game weakness. He won on the Challenge Tour in 2008 and has placed third four times on the European Tour. Expect a bold breakthrough bid from a player who finished 2020 strongly before enjoying a long close-season.

Players to note

Sam Horsfield
The two-time Tour champion impressed on the Kenya Swing and should be a serious threat.

Rasmus Hojgaard
The Dane, a two-time Tour winner at the age of 20, could easily fall in love with Diamond CC.

Diamond CC course guide

Course Diamond Country Club, Atzenbrugg, Austria
Prize money €1m (€145,670 to the winner)
Length 7,458 yards
Par 72
Field 144
Course records- 72 holes 269 Bernd Wiesberger (2012) 18 holes 63 Tom Lewis (2013)

Course winners taking part Joost Luiten, Chris Wood, Ashun Wu

When to bet By 6.30am Thursday

When to watch Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 12.30pm on Thursday

Time difference Austria is one hour ahead of the UK and Ireland

Course type Parkland

Course overview The Jeremy Pern-designed Diamond Country Club has hosted this event since 2010. It was the Lyoness Open from 2012 to 2017, then became the Shot Clock Masters in 2018, before coming off the schedule in 2019, returning last year. This flat, exposed track has water hazards on nine of the 18 holes and becomes much tougher when the wind blows. The back nine, which has two long par-four holes (the 504-yard tenth and the 490-yard 17th), two long par fives (the 600-yard 15th and the 591-yard 16th) and a long par three (the 225-yard 14th), is more difficult than the front nine, where two easy par fives (the 506-yard first and the 556-yard fourth) present eagle opportunities. The two par threes on the front (two and six) both have island greens surrounded by water.

Story of last year Marc Warren edged Marcel Schneider by a shot

Weather forecast The week started with some light snow and soft conditions are expected, with sporadic showers expected throughout and light to moderate breezes. Cold temperatures, peaking at 13C on Sunday

Type of player suited to the challenge This long, flat course is excellent terrain for big-hitters to enjoy themselves, particularly when it is playing as soft as it is this week. Plenty of birdies are available when the wind is down

Key attribute Power

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