Where to watch the Irish Open
Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 8am Thursday
Best bets
Kazuma Kobori to win 12.40pm threeball
2pts 6-5 bet365, Hills
Marcel Siem to win 1.50pm threeball
1pt 29-20 general
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Irish Open first-round predictions
Home heroes Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have been handed early-morning tee times for the first round of the Irish Open at the K Club.
Lowry, who was awarded a Ryder Cup wildcard spot by European captain Luke Donald on Monday, starts off alongside Brooks Koepka, who failed to make the US team, and France’s Martin Couvra at 7.50am. McIlroy begins his tournament ten minutes later, when he tees off with Kristoffer Reitan and last week’s European Masters champion, Thriston Lawrence.
Tyrrell Hatton, the third member of Donald’s squad in action in County Kildare this week, will be joined by fellow Englishman Marco Penge and Ireland’s Seamus Power when he begins his quest for K Club glory at 1pm.
Two lesser lights to watch from the afternoon threeball action are Kazuma Kobori (12.40pm) and Marcel Siem (1.50pm).
Kiwi Kobori, a fast-finishing runner-up in the British Masters at the Belfry in his last start, is a precise fairway finder who should prove too solid for the inconsistent Ben Schmidt and Ireland’s Mark Power, who has missed seven of 11 cuts at the Challenge Tour level this year.
German veteran Siem was eighth at the Belfry, where he opened with a 66, and 16th in the 2023 Irish Open at the K Club.
Playing partner Andrea Pavan found some form last week but looks difficult to trust, while Yannik Paul’s long game has deserted him – he opened with a 77 in the Danish Championship and then shot an 80 on Thursday at the British Masters.
Read more from our golf experts:
Steve Palmer’s free predictions and golf betting tips for the Irish Open
Irish Open 2025: The K Club course guide, start time and how to watch
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