Dubai Desert Classic betting guide
The final leg of the European Tour's Desert Swing, the Dubai Desert Classic, gets underway tomorrow on the Majlis Course at the Emirates Golf Club.
This year, the tournament celebrates its 25th anniversary, and event organisers have managed to lure all the past winners back to Dubai.
As well as Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Henrik Stenson and a host of other current stars, the likes of Mark O'Meara and Fred Couples are also taking part.
The Majlis Course features a number of water hazards and bunkers, with course management and total driving often ranking as the most important attributes.
Henrik Stenson, at 10/1 with Ladbrokes, has been quite thus far this season, but that's not altogether surprising given what he achieved in the last six months of 2013. He makes his home in Dubai, he shot 66 in the Champions Challenge on Tuesday and his Total Driving statistics are excellent.
Rafa Cabrera Bello, at 25/1 with Ladbrokes, looks hard to ignore this week. He also shot 66 in the Champions Challenge, he won the Dubai Desert Classic in 2012 and he's in excellent form, having recorded top-five finishes at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the Qatar Masters.
Click below for Dubai Desert Classic betting options:
Peter Hanson, at 40/1 with Ladbrokes, is proficient in the desert, and he's enjoyed a solid start to the 2014 season. The burly Swede registered two top 25s in the two previous desert swing events, and he hasn't finished outside the top 25 on the European Tour since the 2013 PGA Championship. He currently ranks 9th on the European Tour in Putts Per GIR and 4th in Putts Per Round.
Tommy Fleetwood, at 66/1 with Ladbrokes, has shown in recent weeks he's got the potential to be a frequent winner on tour. He finished third at the Volvo Golf Champions at the start of January, 19th in Abu Dhabi and he registered a top 10 at the Dubai Desert Classic last year.
Tom Lewis, at 125/1 with Ladbrokes, is worth an each way bet at such a high price. The Englishman boasts solid Driving Distance, Greens in Regulation and Putts Per GIR statistics, and opening rounds of 68-67 last week in Qatar suggest to me his best form isn't too far away. Dubai Desert Classic betting tips:
3pts each way on Henrik Stenson at 10/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts each way on Rafa Cabrera-Bello at 25/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts each way on Peter Hanson at 40/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts each way on Tommy Fleetwood at 66/1 with Ladbrokes 1pts each way on Tom Lewis at 125/1 with Ladbrokes
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