The European Tour finale gets under way this week in the form of the inaugural Dubai World Championships played at the 6,600 yards long, par 72 Earth Course designed by Greg Norman. Little is known about the course which stages its first major event but it does feature many bunkers and water hazards. Long hitters should have an edge.
OUTRIGHT: Martin Kaymer 1pt Win and Place 16/1
Kaymer ticks all the boxes for this one. Long off the tee and in solid form with a tied sixth place finish last time out two weeks ago in the HSBC event he should feel at home on this track especially as it should remind him of the Arizona desert style courses he practices on in the winter. Further evidence of that can be found in his playing records in Abu Dhabi and in the Dubai Desert Classic events where he has not finished outside the top four in his last four attempts.
OUTRIGHT: Ernie Els 1pt 1pt Win and Place 16/1
Els’ confidence must be high after his runner-up finish two weeks ago in the HSBC event, an event he might well have won. He will be looking to continue in that same vein this week and should feel at home on a course which bears many similarities to one of his favourite tracks at Doral in Florida.
OUTRIGHT: Alvaro Quiros 1pt 1pt Win and Place 50/1
Long hitting Quiros should be in his element on this track especially on the long par 5s which will be out of range to most of the field. He has a sound record in this part of the world having won the Qatar Masters here in January 2009 and followed that up with a top fifteen finish in The Dubai Desert Classic the following week. Encouragingly he finished tied eigth last time out in The HCBC event two weeks ago.