2025 Soudal Open betting tips: Who I’m backing in Belgium
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Tom Jacobs picks out his top Soudal Open betting tips for the DP World Tour event from Rinkven International Golf Club, Antwerp.
The DP World Tour continues its European Swing this week at the Soudal Open, just days after the conclusion of the second major of the year – the US PGA Championship, won in commanding fashion by World No.1, Scottie Scheffler.
Last year’s edition saw Spain’s Nacho Elvira secure his second DPWT title, edging his way to a one-shot victory over Romain Langasque, Niklas Nørgaard, and home favorite Thomas Pieters.
Before we get into my Soudal Open betting tips for the week, here’s everything else you need to know…
Soudal Open key details
Venue: Rinkven International GC, Antwerp, Belgium (Par 71 – 6,924 yards)
Format: 72-hole strokeplay with 36-hole cut
Purse: $2.75 million
Race to Dubai / Ryder Cup points: 3,500 / 1,000
Favorites: Laurie Canter, Thomas Pieters, Matt Wallace, 22/1
Defending champion: Nacho Elvira (ESP), -18
Most wins: Lee Westwood (ENG), 2
How to watch the Soudal Open
US viewers can catch all the action on the Golf Channel.
All times EDT
Thursday, May 22: The Golf Channel, 07.00
Friday, May 23: The Golf Channel, 07.00
Saturday, May 24: The Golf Channel, 07.30
Sunday, May 25: The Golf Channel, 07.00
UK viewers can catch all the action on Sky Sports Golf.
All times BST
Thursday, May 22: Sky Sports Golf, 12.00
Friday, May 23: Sky Sports Golf, 12.00
Saturday, May 24: Sky Sports Golf, 12.30
Sunday, May 25: Sky Sports Golf, 12.00
Soudal Open tee times
Tee times and groupings can be found here.
Soudal Open betting tips
The Banker: Sam Bairstow 40/1 e/w (Paddy Power 6 Places)
Sam Bairstow has long been touted as a future winner on the DP World Tour for a couple of seasons now, and has squandered a couple of good chances. Eventually though, I expect him to get over the line, and this week presents a good opportunity.
Four top 10 finishes in his last eight starts, and two more finishes of 11th and 22nd in that span, Bairstw is clearly bang in form, and he now returns to a course he finished 10th at last year, despite opening with a round of 74. He followed that opening round, with rounds of 65, 63, and 68, and that is enough to suggest he can win here.
His best chance to win this year came at the South African Open, where he was 2nd after rounds 1 and 2, but could only finish 11th as he played poorly in the third round and the event was reduced to 54 holes.
Bairstow finished 6th at the Hainan Classic, where he was 4th and just two shots back after 54 holes, and he finished fast last time out in Turkey, closing with a 64 to finish 7th.
He’s looked fragile in contention, but so have many others in the past, and then they go onto a win, and after being particularly sweet on Martin Couvra coming into this season, and missing his win last time, I don’t want to make the same mistake twice.
The 40/1 more than factors in his Sunday struggles, and I am sure he can come good in contention in the coming weeks, and it could certainly be here, where he played so well 12 months ago.
The Outsider: Jacob Skov Olesen 75/1 e/w (bet365 8 place market)
We backed Jacob Skov Olesen at 80/1 where he finished 8th, and while he didn’t perform the following week, he has since bounced back with another strong performance, this time 12th at the Turkish Airlines Open.
Like Bairstow, Olesen did his best work on Sunday in Turkey shooting a 65, one worse than Bairstow, but climbing the leaderboard in a similar fashion. That T12 finish was his fourth top-13 finish in five starts, one of which came in the Kenya Open, which correlates nicely this week.
Olesen was inside the top 5 for the first three rounds at Muthaiga, which is certainly eye-catching, given last year’s Soudal Open winner, Nacho Elvira has finished 2nd on that course, behind the 2024 winner, Darius Van Driel, who finished runner-up in the Belgian Knockout which used to be hosted here. Guido Migliozzi was the man to beat Van Driel here to win the Belgian Knockout, and he’s also won the Kenya Open, albeit at the similar Karen Country Club. Sam Horsefield has won here and also has excellent form with 3rd and 8th place finishes on the tight courses in Kenya.
Olesen’s skillset certainly lends itself to these tighter courses, as he’s more accurate off the tee, than he is long, and given he ranked 2nd in SG Approach and 10th in SG Tee to Green last time in Turkey, he clearly comes into this one in good shape.
He hasn’t played here yet, but everything points towards him enjoying it, and the odds once again seem generous on a man who’s in such good form.
The Longshot: Gregorio De Leo 150/1 e/w (150/1 Paddy Power 6 Places)
Gregorio De Leo is splitting his time between two tours this year, having got some playing rights for the DP World Tour back at Q School. When he’s dropped down to the Challenge Tour this year he’s been solid, finishing 12th, 19th, and 37th, but the more pleasing results have come on the DP World Tour, despite the added volatility.
He hasn’t been as consistent at the top level this season, but De Leo finished 24th last time out at the Turkish Airlines Open and more importantly to me, T5 at the Magical Kenya Open, where he had a chance to win. We have spoken above about how important form in Kenya could be, and I am willing to bet he enjoys this course as well.
De Leo is not the finished product and is still a bit raw, but he presents plenty of upside, especially when looking further down the odds board this week.
This is a play on his potential, but mainly on the Kenya link, so it’s a short case for him, but I like the odds.
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2025 Soudal Open betting tips from Today's Golfer.
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Nacho Elvira celebrates with the Soudal Open trophy
