Golf betting tips: The best value bets in the Italian Open and Rocket Classic

The European swing is ending on the DP World Tour with the Italian Open at Argentario GC being the penultimate event. 

Kristoffer Reitan (33/1 BetMGM) is the man at the top of the current rankings after some recent flying form.

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Across the pond the ‘elevated events’ are done and dusted with Keegan Bradley collecting the winner’s cheque of $3.6m (£2.65m) at the Travelers Championship. 

This week we move on to the newly named Rocket Classic at Detroit GC where two-time champ Cam Davis (100/1 at Spreadex) will defend.

Italian Open: Generous price on market leader Jordan Smith in Tuscany

Marcel Siem (70/1 Spreadex) will defend the Italian Open but not at the same venue where he lifted the trophy just one year ago. 

The Italian Open home is on the move once again and this time it hits Tuscany in the shape of Argentario GC. The players will be competing for a $3m (£2.2m) purse and 3,500 Race to Dubai points.

Leading the Italian Open market is Jordan Smith and at around 20/1 I think he represents some value given the specific test awaiting at the course. 

Course fit can be extremely decisive in the fortunes of each player, Argentario GC is a short, tight, parklands style course beside the coast. It’s playing well under 7,000 yards to a par of 71 and those who excel from tee to green look set to thrive. 

Jordan Smith is one of these players, ranking sixth in ‘strokes gained off the tee’ and fourth in ‘greens in regulation’. 

The Englishman is in the top 20 for ‘par four scoring’ and he’s had a seventh and a fourth-place finish in his last handful of events, not to mention that he finished top of his US Open qualifying section at Walton Heath.

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I’m going to stick towards the front of the Italian Open betting this week and while we have the likes of Martin Couvra (33/1 with BetMGM) and Keita Nakajima (33/1 Betway), it’s Ewen Ferguson that stands out for my money.

The Scot has been on my radar for a while now and he backdoored his way into the place money, closing with a 67 at the KLM Open for a t4 finish. 

This was on the back of a playoff loss at the Soudal Open. Ferguson is seventh in ‘driving accuracy’ and 34th in ‘greens in regulation’.

Jorge Campillo is the standout from the middle tier of the Italian Open odds market, and you can get him as high as 50/1 in places. He is gaining on average, 1.44 strokes vs the field in terms of ‘greens in regulation’ this year. 

Campillo came in t2 as recently as the Turkish Airlines Open and he recorded another top seven finish last time out in the KLM Open.

FIRST’s top tips for the Italian Open 

Jordan Smith might be favourite for the Italian Open but in my opinion, he looks overpriced vs the field. Back him each way (seven places) to win the tournament at 20/1 with Ladbrokes.

Ewen Ferguson has hit top form and was unlucky to miss out in the Soudal Open. Back him each way at 22/1 (seven places) with Coral.

Jorge Campillo also looks overpriced in this company. Back the Spaniard at 40/1 (seven places) each way with Ladbrokes.

Pick: Jordan Smith e/w (seven places) to win tournament - 20/1 (Ladbrokes)

Pick: Ewen Ferguson e/w (seven places) - 22/1 (Coral)

Pick: Jorge Campillo (e/w) (seven places) - 40/1 (Ladbrokes)

Rocket Classic: Big drivers like Cameron Young to thrive in Motor City

It’s now the seventh edition of the Rocket Classic (previously Rocket Mortgage Classic) from Detroit GC and there’s a strong theme developing of the best ball strikers and biggest hitters dominating the leaderboards. 

That’s good news for the most recent PGA Tour winner Keegan Bradley (16/1 Betway). Only Patrick Cantlay and Collin Morikawa are ahead of Bradley in the Rocket Classic market and it’s anyone’s guess if the American Ryder Cup captain is going to tee it up at Bethpage Black.

The prize fund this week is $9.6m (£7.1m) with 500 FedEx Cup points going to the winner.

Detroit Golf Club is a treelined Donald Ross design with his signature sloping back to front greens, but it can be brought to its knees with some powerful driving.

That brings me to Cameron Young who is yet to win on the PGA Tour but has amassed almost $20m (£14.75m) in winnings. 

Young has been second and sixth at the Rocket Classic in his two appearances here and he ranks 17th in ‘driving distance’ this season. Young has returned to form lately recording back-to-back t4’s in the RBC Canadian Open and at the US Open.

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Luke Clanton finished top 10 on debut last year at the Rocket Mortgage Classic as an amateur. 

He showed some form with a 34th place finish last week in the Travelers Championship and had been biding his time before turning professional. 

Clanton has a very strong amateur pedigree winning the 2025 Ben Hogan award. Clanton finished t41 in the 2024 US Open and I’m willing to take a chance on him here in Motor City. 

Rico Hoey was sixth at the ‘Rocket Mortgage Classic’ on debut last season and he has been in and out of form on the PGA Tour this season. 

Hoey was t11 in the Texas Children’s Houston Open and recorded a recent top seven finish at the Myrtle Beach Classic. Hoey is fourth in ‘strokes gained off the tee’ and ranks fourth in ‘greens in regulation’ this year too, eye-catching for Detroit GC.

FIRST’s top tips for the Rocket Classic 

Cameron Young disappeared for a while but he looks to be back in top form and the 28-year-old has a strong course fit for Detroit GC. You can find him to win the tournament at 25/1 each way (10 places) with Ladbrokes.

Luke Clanton looks like a man who will make a very smooth transition from amateur to pro, and he could grab his maiden win early. 

Back the 21-year-old American to win the Rocket Mortgage Classic at 33/1 (six places) each way with Betway.

Rico Hoey grabs my attention for his performance last year at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and mainly for his ranking of fourth in ‘strokes gained off the tee’. 

The man from the Philippines’ is at 90/1 (six places) each way with BetMGM.

Pick: Cameron Young e/w (10 places) - 25/1 (Ladbrokes)

Pick: Luke Canton e/w (six places) - 33/1 (Betway)

Pick: Rico Hoey e/w (six places) - 90/1 (BetMGM)

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Odds correct at the time of writing.