Soudal Open tips: Thomas Pieters poised to convert LIV form into homegrown victory

Soudal Open key stats:

• When: May 23-26 2024
• Where: Rinkven International Golf Club, Antwerp, Belgium
• How long: 6,940 yards - par 71
• What to expect: Parkland short course, low-score flat track, mixture of exposed and tree-lined holes, approach shots and scrambling key
• Who won last year: Simon Forsstrom (-17)

We have a wide-open tournament ahead of us here, as illustrated by the fact that Adrian Otaegui and Jordan Smith edge the betting at 18/1 odds. 

Otaegui’s favourite status is based on his overdue win at the China Open at the beginning of the month, although he was less impressive in stronger company at last weekend’s PGA Championship, where he missed the cut. 

Smith finished with a tidy low round at Valhalla when not in contention, but this serial non-winner hasn’t lifted a trophy since 2017, although he has been a close runner-up a few times.

Lurking just behind them in the betting at 20/1 we find hometown favourite Thomas Pieters, who takes a break from LIV Golf action, where he has recovered from a difficult early season to record three straight top-15 finishes, including ninth place in Miami, and a best-yet fifth last time out at the Singapore Invitational.

As a home-country golfer the former Ryder Cup star is allowed to play here, where his course form and local support could help him convert his recent LIV form into what would be a very popular victory.  

Suggested bet (1): Thomas Pieters (20/1) each-way in the Soudal Open

Yannik Paul (22/1) has potential and does perform well intermittently on the DP World Tour, but he does not yet seem to have that winning edge, and those odds do not appear to reflect the German’s chances of winning here this week.

A more likely contender at tastier odds is Richard Mansell, who kicked off his 2024 campaign with four top-15 finishes in his first five starts.

Mansell played well on Monday at Walton Heath, where he emerged with the likes of Sam Bairstow, Robert Rock and Tom McKibbin as one of the nine qualifiers for next month’s US Open at Pinehurst. 

A regular contender on Tour, the English journeyman should go well on this course, and he looks good each-way value at around 33/1. 

Suggested bet (2): Richard Mansell (33/1) each-way in the Soudal Open

Others to watch:

• Bernd Wiesberger (25/1) - Showing some signs of life back on the Tour, and might just shine in a weaker field
• Antoine Rozner (28/1) - Solid if unspectacular, the Frenchman should be suited by the set-up of this course
• Johannes Veerman (45/1) - Talented American has won on Tour and was runner-up in China three weeks ago, so could represent solid each-way value
• Gavin Green (60/1) - Short course and target-golf-strategy could be right down his street, although he does struggle to win
• Matteo Manassero (66/1) - Teenage sensation a decade ago, the Italian won in South Africa in March and his odds look big in a field of this nature
• Grant Forrest (80/1) - Missed the cut in Japan and China, but qualified for US Open with Mansell (et al) on Monday, so may have turned the corner in time for this.

Suggested bet summary:

1. Thomas Pieters (20/1) - 2 points each-way
2. Richard Mansell (33/1) - 1 point each-way