DP World Tour
Molinari Sets Blistering Pace at Circolo Golf Torino
Edoardo Molinari has stamped his authority all over the DS Automobiles 83deg Open d’Italia after a scintillating opening round at Circolo Golf Torino. The Italian fired an eight-under 63 to establish a commanding one-shot lead over Joaquin Niemann, who sits at seven-under after his opening 64. The home favourite has instantly separated himself from the field, and with three rounds still to play, Molinari looks the horse to beat at 225/1 with bet365.
Our Pre-Tournament Pick
Patrick Reed, our pre-event selection, opened with a level-par 70 and currently finds himself tied somewhere in the field at minus-one. The American has work to do if he’s to get back into contention here. At this stage, Reed’s position looks precarious heading into Round 2, and we’ll need to see a significant upturn in form to justify backing him at the outset. The early momentum belongs firmly to the leaders.
Who’s in Contention
Niemann at seven-under is the obvious chaser, and at 8/1 with bet365, he represents genuine value for punters backing a comeback. The Chilean has proven pedigree on the DP World Tour and won’t be discouraged by a one-shot deficit. Behind him sits a congested group at six-under: Guido Migliozzi, Tom Vaillant, Kazuma Kobori, Ignacio Elvira Mijares, and Rocco Paolo Repetto Taylor all carded 65s. Migliozzi at 90/1 and Kobori at 80/1 offer interesting angles for those fancying a longer-priced winner, while Eugenio Chacarra lurks at five-under and 20/1, just three shots adrift after his opening 66.
The field remains wide open. Seven players are separated by just two shots from second to eighth place, which means we’re likely to see significant movement throughout the tournament. Molinari’s lead, while solid, is hardly unassailable by modern standards.
Round 2 Betting Angles
Molinari will be under pressure to maintain his tempo. Leading by one going into Round 2 at a course that’s clearly favourable to aggressive golf, he cannot afford to take his foot off the gas. Watch for his scoring: if he goes backwards here, Niemann and the chasing pack will sense blood. Conversely, if the Italian cards another low round, he could have effectively won the tournament by Friday.
Niemann’s position is intriguing. Just one shot back and with everything to play for, backing him at 8/1 for tournament honours remains sensible. He needs consistency over the next 36 holes to keep pace, but his opening 64 suggests he has the game to track Molinari. The Italian course appears to suit aggressive play from tee to green, so par rounds from either of these two could be costly.
The six-under brigade represents a layered opportunity. Any one of those five players could kick on and make a run at the lead during Friday’s action. The cut comes after Round 2, meaning players outside the top 50-60 will be sweating on making the weekend. This creates urgency that could either sharpen focus or breed sloppy errors.
Our Updated Pick
Odds: 8/1 – bet365
One shot behind Molinari after Round 1, Niemann has the form and composure to track the Italian leader over the remaining three rounds. At eight-under, he’s positioned perfectly to mount a serious challenge without carrying the pressure of the lead into Round 2. The gap to the front is narrow enough to close with a single hot round, and his opening 64 indicates he’s got the pace of this course.
Top 5 After Round 1
| Pos | Player | R1 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edoardo Molinari | 63 | -8 |
| 2 | Joaquin Niemann | 64 | -7 |
| 3 | Guido Migliozzi | 65 | -6 |
| 4 | Tom Vaillant | 65 | -6 |
| 5 | Kazuma Kobori | 65 | -6 |
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