Scandinavian Masters – Edoardo Molinari primed to strike
Published:Edoardo Molinari sits in tied fourth at the Scandinavian Masters after a first round 68 in Sweden put him four under par.
The Italian won the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond just before finishing tied 27th in The Open Championship – so is in great form and the clear favourite to win his three-ball today, a 5/4 shot.
He’s up against Niclas Fasth, though, the former Ryder Cup player who himself posted a good score on Thursday, a three-under par 69.
The six-time European Tour winner is classy opposition, having finished highly in all majors, and despite being ranked 205th in the world has a chance to come out of the trio on top, at 9/4, given the Swede is playing on home turf.
The 21-year-old American Rickie Fowler makes up the threesome, and is 7/4 to shoot the lowest round today.
He is some way behind the other two, having posted a one over par round of 73 on Thursday, but has the ability to put a run of good golf together.
Fowler was the amatuer world number one for 36 weeks two years ago and has finished runner-up in three PGA Tour events.
Despite Molinari being the clear frontrunner, of hope to both Fasth and Fowler is the fact that each of the world number 23’s last two second round scores were worse than his opening posting.
Out in front at the Scandinavian Masters is KJ Choi, who is tearing up the course at 10 under and on a tremendous round of six under for the day.
Open champion Louis Oosthuizen has picked up where he left off at St Andrews, sitting tied second on five under and currently on a level-par round through nine holes.
Scot Steven O’Hara is at three under for the tournament and is priced at 2/1 to win his three-ball with Oliver Fisher (7/4) and Pelle Edberg (11/8). See the full Scandinavian Masters tournament betting market.
