Open D’Italia Tips: Thomas Aiken

With a host of big names missing from the Open D’Italia, the bookmakers have sided with home favourites Matteo Manassero and Francesco Molinari at the top of the market but both are opposable. In the last five tournaments they don’t have a top-30 finish between them.

At four-times the price, I am siding with another proven winner on tour – Thomas Aiken.

The 30-year-old has had an up and down season. He won the Avanta Masters in March and finished third in the World Match Play but there were far too many missed cuts until he burst back into life at the KLM Open.

His second round 64 was the joint third best round of the week and only one player bettered his final round 66. Rounds 1 and 3 weren’t nearly as good and meant he finished T16 but it was still his highest finish for almost four months.

The South African’s solid all-round game should be suited to the Golf Club Torino, which offers a sterner test than recent Italian Opens. At 66/1 (Bet365) he is a solid each-way bet with ¼ odds for a top-5 finish.