Steve Palmer's JP McManus Invitational predictions, best bets, free golf tips

Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the JP McManus Pro-Am Invitational at Adare Manor.

Where to watch

Live on Sky Sports Golf from 2pm on Monday

Best bets

Rory McIlroy
3pts each-way 11-1 bet365, Ladbrokes
Justin Rose
1pt each-way 50-1 BoyleSports

Viktor Hovland is the only member of the world's top ten who is missing the JP McManus Invitational - a two-day event at Adare Manor - and a star-studded line-up will gather in Limerick to raise money for local charities.

The tournament, masterminded by legendary racehorse owner McManus, has been staged five times previously. The 2000 event, at Limerick Golf Club, was won by Tiger Woods. Adare Manor has hosted the last two (2005 and 2010).

Tiger is lining up again and a 40-1 chance for victory. The former king of golf is using the JPMI as his warm-up event for the Open at St Andrews, which starts a week on Thursday.

Steve Palmer's top tip

Rory McIlroy 11-1

Covid delayed the sixth staging of the JP McManus Invitational, but the wait has been worth it for Irish golf fans, as the field assembled in Limerick is outrageously strong. The Sky Sports cameras have understandably been drawn to this beautiful part of the world.

For many of the superstars who have jetted over to Ireland, this is the first time they have seen Adare Manor, but Rory McIlroy was seventh in the 2008 Irish Open there and 20th in the 2010 JPMI, so can hit the ground running.

The form McIlroy has shown from the Masters onwards entitles him to favouritism for an event on a long, soft layout in Ireland. Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas and others are Adare Manor newcomers.

McIlroy, runner-up in the Masters, fifth in the Wells Fargo Championship, eighth in the US PGA, victorious in the Canadian Open and fifth in the US Open, has been looking comfortable with putter in hand, moving up to third in the world rankings.

Next best bet

Justin Rose 50-1

A two-pronged attack is recommended, with a smaller investment in Justin Rose. The response to falling outside the world's top 50 has been impressive from Rose, with 13th place in the US PGA followed by fourth in the Canadian Open and 37th in the US Open.

Rose carded a closing round of 60 in Canada and can be fancied to improve significantly on the 36th place he managed in the 2010 JPMI. Given the Monday start, it seems wise to focus on players who were not competing in the Irish Open or the LIV Golf Portland. McIlroy and Rose are fresh for the fight.

Adare Manor course guide

Course Adare Manor, Adare, County Limerick, Ireland
Length 7,469 yards
Par 72 - four par-fives; ten par-fours; four par-threes
Field 50
Format 36 holes of strokeplay (18 holes Monday, 18 holes Tuesday)

Course winners taking part Paul McGinley (2003 Irish PGA Championship), Padraig Harrington (twice)

Highest-ranked players taking part (world ranking in brackets) Scottie Scheffler (1), Jon Rahm (2), Rory McIlroy (3), Collin Morikawa (4), Justin Thomas (5)

When to bet By 8am on Monday

When to watch Live on Sky Sports Golf from 2pm on Monday

Course type Parkland

Course overview Robert Trent Jones designed Adare Manor in 1995, but Tom Fazio later conducted a comprehensive overhaul. There is no significant rough, but lots of water hazards to punish the errant. The 2005 and 2010 JP McManus Invitationals were at Adare Manor, as well as the 2007 and 2008 Irish Opens. The course will host the 2027 Ryder Cup. The 518-yard, par-five seventh and the 371-yard, par-four 15th are the easiest birdie opportunities

Weather forecast Cloudy and breezy for both days, with temperatures around 16C

Type of player suited to the challenge Length is useful on a long, soft layout, but accurate approaches are arguably more important given the trouble guarding the greens and the forecast wind

Key attribute Accuracy

Spotlight insight The two previous JP McManus Invitationals at Adare Manor were won by Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke

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