Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship betting guide

Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship betting guide

The European Tour heads to the Middle East this week for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship - the first event of a three-tournament desert swing.

The Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship - the first full-field event of 2014 - attracts a number of the world's best players, and is renowned as one of the most exciting tournaments on the European Tour roster.

The likes of Henrik Stenson, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia will all be aiming to stop Jamie Donaldson defending his title.

The Abu Dhabi Championship is once again staged at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club - a 7,600-yard layout laden with bunkers and water hazards - so distance off the tee is a definite advantage here.

Rory McIlroy is the 5/1 favourite with Ladbrokes, and despite his victory at the Australian Open in December, those odds aren't nearly long enough. Martin Kaymer, at 14/1 with Ladbrokes, won the Abu Dhabi Championship in 2008, 2010 and 2011 - his last European Tour victory. Kaymer hasn't finished outside the top 25 on the European Tour since August 2013 and he ranked 13th in Stroke Average and 21st in G.I.R last season.

Joost Luiten, at 25/1 with Ladbrokes, is a long, aggressive player who should fare well this week. He won twice on the European Tour in 2013, finished the year with a third-place finish at the Nedbank Golf Challenge and registered a top six on his last appearance at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. Jamie Donaldson, also 25/1 with Ladbrokes, will relish returning to the Abu Dhabi Golf Club - the site of his biggest victory as a professional. He's also in excellent form, having recorded two top-two finishes and another top 10 in his last four European Tour starts.

George Coetzee, at 66/1 with Ladbrokes, struggled with injury for most of 2013, but he's extremely proficient in the desert. He finished ninth in Abu Dhabi last year, sixth the year before and only a brilliant closing eagle from Chris Wood at the 2013 Qatar Masters deprived him of a play-off berth. The South African will be looking to get his year off to a fast start.

Andy Sullivan, at 250/1 with Ladbrokes, is a great outside bet this week. The Englishman played some good golf in the desert last year and he's coming into the tournament off the back of two top 15s in his last three starts. Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship betting guide:

3pts each way on Martin Kaymer at 14/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts each way on Joost Luiten at 25/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts each way on Jamie Donaldson at 25/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts each way on George Coetzee at 66/1 with Ladbrokes 1pt each way on Andy Sullivan at 250/ with Ladbrokes