We preview the Omega Dubai Desert Classic which is set to be hosted by the Emirates Golf Course in Dubai from 25 January – 28 January.
The second leg of the Desert Swing sees a slight alteration in schedule for the European Tour. The Qatar Masters is ordinarily the second stop in this lucrative pocket of the season, but this year the organizers have opted for the Dubai Desert Classic as the second event.
This event has been a good omen of late for European players, with both Danny Willett and Sergio Garcia going on to claim green jackets following victory here. Rory will no doubt have that in mind with dreams of a career Grand Slam tied to Augusta. Defending champion Sergio Garcia won in Singapore last week and will clearly be a major threat this week.
Omega Dubai Desert Classic | 25 January – 28 January | Emirates Golf Course, Dubai
This event came into being at the behest of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He allowed for the construction of this course in 1986, and currently this event is the longest running event current staged in the UAE. The Karl Litten designed course has generous fairways and forgiving rough. It is very much your stereotypical desert course, favouring big hitters with concessions for inaccuracy. One look at the winner’s list tells you all you need to know about this even: Ernie Els, Seve Ballesteros. Tiger Woods, Rort McIlroy and Henrik Stenson have all tasted success here.
Clearly McIlroy and Garcia are leading the markets. Both of them arrive in great form and are desperate for success at Augusta. Tommy Fleetwood’s ever shortening odds reflect the extent to which he has started to dominate proceedings in Europe. Even so, expecting him to double up after such an emotional victory last week would be rather demanding. Elsewhere, the likes of Henrik Stenson and Louis Oosthuizen lead further major winning gloss to proceedings. This should be yet another epic event that underlines the fact that Thomas Bjorn will certainly have a highly competitive Ryder Cup side this year.
Past Winners
2017: Sergio Garcia (-19)
2016: Danny Willet (-19)
2015: Rory McIlroy (-22)
2014: Stephen Gallagher (-16)
2013: Stephen Gallagher (-22)
To Win Outright
Rory McIlroy 9/2 | Sergio Garcia 8/1 | Tommy Fleetwood 12/1 | Henrik Stenson 12/1 | Matthew Fitzpatrick 20/1
Value Bets
Dylan Frittelli: To Win 66/1, To Place 14/1
The course layout at the Emirates Golf Course has long suited South African players familiar with the grass found here. Dylan Frittelli had a breakthrough season last year, winning twice on the European Tour and putting himself at the front of a new wave of South African golfing upstarts. The big-hitting Frittelli will benefit from a course that certainly caters to bombers. He is also in reasonable form, having finished inside the top 20 in Dubai. The HSBC bears strong resemblance to this course and should prove a great corollary, especially considering the fact that the Qatar Masters isn’t wedged between the events this year.
Alexander Levy: To Win 80/1, To Place 17/1
The mercurial Frenchman must be one of the more maddening entities on the entire tour. He will clearly be doubly motivated this season giving the fact that the Ryder Cup makes its way to France this year. He is once again a man with prodigious length off the tee, which is paramount. He showed glimpses of brilliance in Abu Dhabi, eventually missing too many putts en route to a credible seventh placed finish. I suspect that he could be one to watch this week if could get some more consistency in the short blade.
Nicolas Colsaerts: To Win 125/1, To Place 25/1
The huge driving Belgian joins Levy in that aforementioned enigmatic category. A year ago, it seemed as if Colsaerts’ game had completely abandoned him. But a relative resurgence last season makes him an attractive proposition at 125/1. He led after the first round in Turkey, eventually finishing second to runaway winner Justin Rose. So there is clearly some form here. He has an excellent record in Dubai, finishing second, 10th, 11th and 17th at the DP World Tour Championship. Considering the fact that once in every twenty rounds sees him holding a first round lead, 66/1 to lead after round one might be an interesting gamble.
The Man to Beat: Henrik Stenson- To Win 12/1, To Place 26/10
Stenson once lived in Dubai and clearly understands the conditions here well. He was a winner here in 2007 and even managed to grind out a sixth place finish in 2016 while injured. He was spectacular in the final round at Abu Dhabi, shooting a brilliant 65 to force his way inside the top 10. He has a magnificent record in Dubai, with three victories alongside eight other top 10 finishes. Stenson seems like the best value in the upper echelon of the markets.
