Steve Palmer's French Open first-round preview, best bets, free golf tips

When to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Golf, 12.30pm Thursday

Best bets

Julien Brun to win 12.50pm threeball
1pt 31-20 Hills

Adrian Otaegui to win 1.20pm threeball
1pt 11-10 bet365

Preview

Sunday's Italian Open victor Robert MacIntyre joins Irish Open hero Adrian Meronk and defending champion Nicolas Colsaerts in the marquee threeball on the opening afternoon of the French Open in Paris.

Colsaerts triumphed in October 2019 - the last French Open - in wet conditions at Le Golf National. Sunshine and perfect scoring conditions are forecast for the later starters on Thursday, though, and the likes of Guido Migliozzi, Richie Ramsay, Rasmus Hojgaard and Antoine Rozner are set to feature in the Sky Sports coverage.

The value in the late threeball prices is to be found alongside the names of Julien Brun (12.50pm) and Adrian Otaegui (1.20pm).
Brun will be relishing a chance to tee up in his national Open for the first time since 2014. He was 22 then, learning the ropes, and returns as a 30-year-old becoming increasingly settled on the DP World Tour.

Brun is a three-time Challenge Tour winner - the first of those victories coming in France - and he looks set to retain his DP World Tour card from his current position of 92nd in the Race to Dubai standings.

The Frenchman is preferred to Alex Fitzpatrick, who is short of experience as he bids to break out from the shadow of his brother Matt. The third member of the group, Grant Forrest, missed the Italian Open cut by five shots last week.

Otaegui is up against David Horsey and Darren Fichardt. The Spaniard, who closed with three consecutive rounds of 69 in Italy last week and covered his final seven holes in six under par, seems a solid favourite.

Not got a bet365 account? Bet £10 & get £50 in free bets

Open account offer. Minimum deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as bet credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Minimum odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude bet credits stake. Time limits/T&Cs apply. 18+ begambleaware.org

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Sign up to emails from Racing Post Sport and get all the latest news and tips

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport