2026 Italian Open Best Bets: Ginger Joe’s Squad

At 7,214 yards and playing as a par 71, Circolo Golf Torino isn’t an overly demanding test off the tee, but that doesn’t mean players can spray it around. Positioning will still be important, although the real challenge looks set to come from fairway to green.

There should be plenty of short and mid-iron approaches throughout the week, so I’m placing a strong emphasis on players who are capable of creating lots of birdie chances with their iron play.

The greens don’t appear particularly severe either, which should allow the better ball-strikers to separate themselves from the field with real attacking golf. There are some scoreable par 5s and several opportunities to attack, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see some very low rounds posted, particularly over the opening two days.

For me, this looks like a week to prioritize ‘solid enough’ drivers of the ball and more importantly, players who excel with their shorter irons. That’s the profile I’ve focused on when putting together my selections. I could easily have gone deeper with the squad, but I’ve decided to keep it to three players who I believe are ideally suited to the test ahead this week.

I am not usually a fan of backing favorites in golf tournaments, particularly because fields often exceed 150 players. However, Patrick Reed stands out as an exception this week. In truth, I expected him to be a clear favorite and trading at single figure odds for this event, so I can’t let him go untouched at 14/1.

Reed is a five-time DP World Tour winner, and two of those victories have come already this season. He landed the Dubai Desert Classic in January before following up with victory in the Qatar Masters just two starts later.

Add in a runner-up finish in Bahrain, and it’s no surprise to see him sitting comfortably at the top of the Race to Dubai standings. Of course, this is also a player who knows how to win on the biggest stage, as a major winner having won the Masters title at Augusta in 2018.

As for this week’s course, it looks an excellent fit. There are plenty of holes that suit a nice shot shape from tee to green, and Reed’s ability to move the ball both ways is a major asset this week.

Many of the shaped holes favor a left-to-right tee shot, which should suit his eye nicely off the tee. From there, the course is not overly long, meaning a high percentage of approach shots will come with short irons in hand.

That is where Reed becomes particularly dangerous. His wedge and short iron play is unquestionably among the strongest in the field, and on a course where precision into the greens will be vital, that gives him a significant chance of scoring well. Add in his reliable putting and proven ability to contend on all types of layouts, and it’s hard not to like his chances.

Patrick Reed is my standout selection and the player I believe has the best chance of lifting the trophy this week in Italy.

Davis Bryant has quietly put together a very solid season on the DP World Tour. He looks the type of player capable of breaking through for a maiden victory before the year is out.

Sometimes you see players repeatedly knocking on the door, and Bryant fits that profile this season. His best golf never seems far away, which makes him an interesting player to catch at the right time.

Consistency has been one of his biggest strengths this season. In 16 starts, he has missed just three cuts and has already recorded two runner-up finishes, the first being in Kenya, and then again in Austria a couple of weeks ago. Those results suggest his game is in excellent shape, and they actually highlight his best attributes too.

His formula is fairly straightforward. He keeps the ball in play off the tee, relies on the strength of his iron game, and gives himself plenty of birdie opportunities. On a course where low scoring is expected, that profile is particularly appealing. We’ve already seen rounds of 63 and multiple 64s from him this season, proving he can go very low when everything clicks.

His putting is solid without being spectacular, but if he continues to find fairways and attack pins with his irons, this venue should suit him nicely. At 80/1, he looks a very interesting outsider with the potential to considerably outperform his odds.

There are several players at triple-figure odds who caught my eye for this week in Italy, but I’ve decided to stick with just one of them. Dan Rodrigues is the final member of the squad, and he’s a player I’ve been monitoring closely throughout the season.

On recent form alone, it’s easy to see why some would overlook him after three consecutive missed cuts. However, I think that tells only part of the story. Earlier in the season he produced some very encouraging performances, and there is enough evidence to suggest he can play well here.

Rodrigues is a well-rounded player with very few weaknesses. He drives the ball well, his iron play, particularly with the shorter clubs, is one of the stronger aspects of his game, and when confidence is flowing, the putter tends to follow. That combination should give him every chance on a course like this.

Looking back through his results, there is plenty to like. He finished runner-up in the Turkish Open, while also posting strong performances in the Hainan Classic, China Open and the Kenya Open. All of those events have enough similarities to propose this course could play to his strengths.

There is admittedly an element of risk with Rodrigues. He’s the type of player who can be difficult to catch at the right time, which is why I’m not making a particularly strong case for him as a sure outright winner.

That said, the short break since the KLM Open may have come at the perfect time, and if he returns refreshed, he has more than enough ability to outperform his odds. At 200/1, you’re not backing a player who lacks the quality to win on tour, he definitely can, it’s just a case of when. He is a very live 200/1 shot!