Steve Palmer's Hero Open preview, best bets, free golf tips, course guide

Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for Hero Open at the Forest of Arden on the European Tour.

Where to watch

Live on Sky Sports Golf from noon Thursday

Best bets

Rasmus Hojgaard
2pts each-way 28-1 Betfred, Betway, BoyleSports, Coral
Thomas Detry
2pts each-way 20-1 Betfred, BoyleSports
Pablo Larrazabal
1pt each-way 40-1general
Sam Horsfield
1pt each-way 35-1 Betfred
Chris Paisley
0.5pt each-way 80-1general

Andrew Johnston and Lee Westwood were unimpressed with post-lockdown golf, finding the strict European Tour 'bubble' difficult to tolerate at the Betfred British Masters, and uninspired by the lack of supporters, so the UK Swing has been shorn of this charismatic duo for its second leg.

The Hero Open at the Forest of Arden will have a Dutchman as favourite – for the third time in four weeks Joost Luiten goes into a European Tour event as market-leader. A miserable final-round 75 dropped Luiten out of contention in the Austrian Open, then he carded a ten at a par five on his way to sixth place in the Euram Bank Open. The six-time European Tour champion will hope for better in the Midlands.

Steve Palmer's top tip

Rasmus Hojgaard 28-1

Renato Paratore was victorious in the British Masters but teenage terror Rasmus Hojgaard claimed runner-up honours and the Dane can go one better in the Hero Open.

Hojgaard is a frightening talent – an imposing physical presence even though he does not turn 20 until March next year – and he appears to have all the tools to become one of the best in Europe.

Part of Hojgaard's development as an amateur was a 2016 McGregor Trophy triumph at Royal Ashdown Forest, East Sussex. Later he helped Continental Europe to victory in the 2017 Jacques Leglise Trophy at Ballybunion, Ireland, then was part of a winning Denmark team in the 2018 Eisenhower Trophy in Dublin.

Success in Britain and Ireland came quickly for Hojgaard. The similar climate to home has helped many Scandinavian players to flourish on these shores and Forest of Arden, like Close House, should allow Hojgaard to showcase his enormous skill.

The resort course, with generous fairways, four par-fives and large greens, will allow Hojgaard to open his shoulders and make merry. He is already off the mark on the European Tour – he won the Mauritius Open last year with an eagle at the third extra hole of a playoff – and a follow-up trophy may arrive on Sunday.

Experienced Masters-winning caddie Jonathan Smart has joined forces with Hojgaard and they seem likely to bank some healthy cheques in the months to come.

Next best bet

Thomas Detry 20-1

With a base in Cornwall and a Geordie caddie, Belgian youngster Thomas Detry feels comfortable on the UK Swing and Forest of Arden could easily provide the stage for his European Tour breakthrough.

Detry signalled he was ready for the Tour resumption when beating a decent field to win the Worplesdon Charity Pro-Am at the end of June, then eighth place in the Austrian Open followed. A missed cut at Close House was unexpected but that is what you get from Detry, who is brilliant but inconsistent.

It could all come good in the Hero at a venue which is an hour's drive from where he showcased his A-game with a glorious 12-shot victory on the Challenge Tour in 2016. That 29-under-par Bridgestone Challenge effort in Oxfordshire put Detry firmly on the golfing radar and two years later he won the World Cup for Belgium alongside Thomas Pieters. A thrilling Hojgaard versus Detry shootout could be in store.

Other selections

Pablo Larrazabal 40-1

Sam Horsfield 35-1

Chris Paisley 80-1

Pablo Larrazabal, a Barcelona boy thrilled to see his compatriot Jon Rahm reach the summit of the world rankings, returned in solid form at Close House, sharing 21st place, and the five-time Tour champ has the short-game skills to enjoy Forest of Arden's giant dancefloors.

Sam Horsfield, who carded a 59 on a par 73 when practising in Florida at the end of May, fired a third-round 61 in the British Masters. The 23-year-old powerhouse seems likely to deliver some fireworks at the Forest, while Chris Paisley can bounce back from his British Masters missed cut.

Perhaps jetting back from competing in Florida mini-tour events the weekend prior to Close House did not leave Paisley enough time to recover. Fully acclimatised, the 2018 SA Open champion is worth following at a track where his typically reliable putting stands him in great stead. He won on the Challenge Tour in Suffolk and is well capable of a European Tour victory in his homeland.

Players to note

Romain Langasque
The French maiden seems likely to make his breakthrough soon and the biggest cheque of his career (2019 Scottish Open) was banked in the UK.

Andrea Pavan
The Italian, a four-time winner on the Challenge Tour and twice on the European Tour, is a tempting 100-1 chance.

Forest of Arden course guide

Course Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club, Birmingham, England
Prize money €1m (€158,500 to the winner)
Length 6,958 yards
Par 72
Field 132
Course records- 72 holes 272 Barry Lane (2004) 18 holes 63 Colin Montgomerie (1997), Ian Poulter (2003)

Course winner taking part Thomas Bjorn

When to bet By 7am Thursday

When to watch Live on Sky Sports Golf from noon Thursday

Last week - British Masters 1 R Paratore (50-1), 2 R Hojgaard (90-1), 3 J Harding (45-1), T4 R Rock (125-1), A Sullivan (35-1), D Whitnell (500-1), 7 O Fisher (150-1)

Course type Parkland

Course overview Forest of Arden, designed in 1970 and revised in 1992, hosted the British Masters in 1997, 1998, 2003, 2004 and 2005, the title going to Greg Turner, Colin Montgomerie, Greg Owen, Barry Lane and Thomas Bjorn. It also hosted the English Open from 1993 to 1996, with Ian Woosnam, Montgomerie, Philip Walton and Robert Allenby on the honours board, and from 2000 to 2002, with Darren Clarke (twice) and Peter O'Malley triumphant. Accuracy is a theme which runs through the list of champions at the Donald Steel-designed layout. Mature oaks, lush rough, water hazards and countless bunkers guard the front nine, but the targets are fairly wide and the back nine is more open, with fern bushes rather than trees lining many fairways. The greens are large throughout and relatively straightforward. The four par-fives – the third, seventh, 12th and 17th – are short by modern standards and great birdie opportunities. The closing hole – a 211-yard par-three over water – is a nasty finish

Weather forecast Sunny with light to moderate breezes for the most part

Type of player suited to the challenge It was interesting to note during the British Masters that players could extricate themselves from even the thickest of the rough and the Tour seems keen to provide a gentle reintroduction to competition for its members. Expect another generous set-up for a resort course with welcoming fairways and large greens. Precision operators have flourished at this venue in the past, but a more attacking policy may be rewarded this time and a hot putter could be essential

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