The return of the Racing Post’s weekly golf show, ‘The Sweet Spot’, reviewed the week’s action and looked ahead to the upcoming Irish Open and Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Host Bruce Millington and Racing Post’s golf tipster, Steve Palmer, picked out their headline name ahead of the tournament, with Palmer identifying Manchester-born Sam Horsfield as his standout selection

“Accurate approach shots are key to success this week, I think,” Palmer explained. “Horsfield is fifth in the European Tour strokes going on approach stats. That’s third best in this field. His game is ideal for this assignment. Cloudy, calm conditions expected for the most part and I think it’s going to be low scoring.

“Horsfield is a birdy machine. We’ve seen it in his last few starts. He made really fast starts – a 64 in Sweden and a 64 in Germany last time out – and he failed to kick on and finished 19th and fifth. 

“On this course, he gallops to the line. Jet-setting has been a problem for Horsfield – he’s Florida-based and he’s been crossing the Atlantic a lot with a demanding schedule. But this time he’s had a short journey from Germany to Ireland and I think he’s fresh for the fight.

“His two European Tour wins have come in the UK and I think a third win comes in Ireland on Sunday.”

Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard was identified as the ‘main danger’ by Palmer, with the youngster predicted for success at the Irish Open.

He continued: “Højgaard has had similar issues to Horsefield with regards to his schedule, going back and forth across the PGA Tour and the European Tour.

“Inconsistent performances have resulted and he’s young and inexperienced but since the US PGA, he’s played exclusively in Europe, and his form returned last week. Four solid rounds for 17th placed in the BMW, closed with a 68.

“He’s a two-time European champion at the age of 20 – one of those wins came in the UK Championship. He’s got a great record in England generally and I see him thriving across the Irish Sea as well.”