This article is part of our DraftKings Euro Tour series.
SICILIAN OPEN
Location: Agrigento, Sicily
Course: Verdura GC
Yardage: 7,217
Par: 71
Tournament Preview
The European Tour will be headed to the island of Sicily this week for Rocco Forte Sicilian Open. The tournament will again be contested at Verdura GC. It is a links style course set along the Mediterranean Ocean. Wind will be it's greatest defense. There is not much course history, but the last two winners of this event have been long hitters. This week's field is weaker than average, with the biggest names across the pond at The Players. Still there are plenty of great options this week and we will focus on recent form and golfers that play links style well.
Key Stats to Winning at Verdura GC
• Greens in Regulation
• Driving Distance
Past Champions
2017 - Alvaro Quiros
2012 - Thorbjorn Olesen
2011 - Raphael Jacquelin
DRAFTKINGS PICKS
Andy Sullivan - $11,600 (12/1)
Sullivan is having a good season, he has not missed a cut so far and is improving each week. Last time out he finished T7 at Trophee Hassan. He is a good links player and will be able to handle the wind, should it pick up. He is long off the tee, averaging over 303 yards this season. He is also stellar with his irons, hitting 73 percent of greens in regulation. He is an easy, safe pick at the top to start your team.
Andrea Pavan - $9,500 (28/1)
Pavan has only one missed cut this year, everything else has been high finishes including a T11 at Volvo China Open two weeks ago. He missed the cut at Verdura last year, but that does not concern me since that was during a long stretch when he was not in form. The Italian should feel confident coming in this week and have something to prove. He isn't the longest off the tee, but his great form is hard to pass on.
Nino Bertasio - $7,600 (40/1)
Another Italian to consider is Bertasio. He comes in making his last three cuts after a dry spell earlier this year. He finished T32 last time out at Volvo China Open with a 65 on Thursday. He has the skills to succeed at Verdura GC. He is ranked 36th on tour in driving distance and 20th in putts per GIR. He did miss the cut last year, but as with Pavan was in a stretch of lost form.
Pedro Oriol - $7,600 (66/1)
Pedro has made 6 of 7 cuts this season, finishing as high as T8 at Tshwane Open. He was T29 last start at Trophee Hassan II. He averages over 315 yards in driving distance and is ranked 12th on tour in SG:off the tee. Oriol is having a good year with his irons as well, hitting 73 percent greens in regulation. This will be the first appearance at Rocco Forte Sicilian open for the Spaniard.
