The second tournament of the European Tour season takes place this week with a potent field competing for the title at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. The oldest Middle East tournament on Tour will again be contested at the majestic Emirates Golf Club, which has served as host every year since 2001 and in all but two editions since the first playing in 1989. The field is highlighted by Abu Dhabi winner Tyrrell Hatton, who opened as the prohibitive betting favorite at online sportsbooks. Collin Morikawa, the top-ranked player in the field, is second on the odds board with defending champ Lucas Herbert positioned further down the list. All three players are featured in tournament matchups. Visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of tournament matchup betting odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
Omega Dubai Desert Classic Matchup Odds at BookMaker.eu
George Coetzee -128 vs. Thorbjorn Olesen -102
Callum Shinkwin -143 vs. Hao Tong Li +113
Sean Crocker -141 vs. Alexander Levy +111
Laurie Canter +112 vs. Dean Burmester -142
Andy Sullivan -145 vs. Lee Westwood +115
Antoine Rozner -142 vs. Sami Valimaki +113
Lee Westwood +111 vs. Martin Kaymer -141
Matthias Schwab -121 vs. Henrik Stenson -109
Danny Willett -101 vs. Ian Poulter -129
Victor Dubuisson -128 vs. Kurt Kitayama -102
Paul Casey -127 vs. Christiaan Bezuidenhout -103
Jazz Janewattananond +100 vs. Adrian Otaegui -130
Jason Scrivener -127 vs. Romain Langasque -103
Tyrrell Hatton -147 vs. Tommy Fleetwood +117
David Lipsky -154 vs. Ross Fisher +123
Thomas Detry -135 vs. Joost Luiten +105
Adri Arnaus +115 vs. Thomas Pieters -145
Robert MacIntyre -140 vs. Victor Perez +110
Rasmus Hojgaard -131 vs. Scott Jamieson +101
Lucas Herbert -118 vs. Mike Lorenzo Vera -112
Mikko Korhonen +105 vs. Jordan Smith -135
Shane Lowry -132 vs. Bernd Wiesberger +102
Justin Rose -128 vs. Rafael Cabrera Bello -103
Sergio Garcia -180 vs. Victor Perez +143
Collin Morikawa -140 vs. Matthew Fitzpatrick +110
Andy Sullivan -124 vs. Martin Kaymer -106
Christiaan Bezuidenhout -128 vs. Matt Wallace -102
Tommy Fleetwood -124 vs. Matthew Fitzpatrick -106
Tyrrell Hatton -159 vs. Matthew Fitzpatrick +127
Robert MacIntyre +116 vs. Sergio Garcia -146
Aaron Rai -133 vs. Wilco Nienaber +103
Tyrrell Hatton -141 vs. Collin Morikawa +111
Tommy Fleetwood -110 vs. Collin Morikawa -120
Paul Casey -139 vs. Matt Wallace +109
Need to Know
The flagship course at Emirates Golf Club, the Majlis is considered one of the finest in the Middle East and at 7,353 yards has a reputation for being one of the most difficult desert layouts on Tour. The length and exposed fairways play well to the big hitters, however there are a number of water hazards and bunkers that come into play, as well as the local desert landscape. The combination requires a mix of power and accuracy to successfully navigate the layout. For the most part the greens are flat, negating any advantage the best putters have. Wind is always a factor and players will have to contend with a number of dogleg holes. Hitting fairways is always a recipe for success and it’s a bigger deal on this track.
Omega Dubai Desert Classic Matchup Picks
Martin Kaymer -106 vs. Andy Sullivan
Kaymer had a rough time last week ending a nice run of success that saw him close the previous season with four top-10s in eight starts. I’m betting that’s just a minor hiccup since the German has played well in the past in this part of the world. And he’s been especially good at this tournament going 10 of 11 with nine top-25s. Kaymer hasn’t finished lower than T24 in his last four starts on this layout and I fully expect him to rebound with a solid week of golf.
Bernd Wiesberger +102 vs. Shane Lowry
If anything, Wiesberger has been consistent, which is enough for me to back him at plus odds in this matchup. I’ve done well in the past throwing down on the Austrian and he’s paid off more times than not. And I take into account the success he’s had playing in the Middle East. He snared a top-10 at the Golf in Dubai Championship in December and finished T25 last week in Abu Dhabi. He’s done well here in the past with a three-year stretch of T9-T4-T16 from 2014-2016. And he’s looking for more than the MC he had last year.
Tommy Fleetwood +117 vs. Tyrrell Hatton
Two of the favorites going head-to-head is intriguing and you won’t find Fleetwood at this price often. It’s hard to win two tournaments in a row so I’m fading Hatton, though that could backfire considering how good he was last week. But Fleetwood wasn’t bad and if not for a closing 73 he’s right there. Instead, he settled for a T7. Recent form is solid with three top-10s among his five top-20s over his last five starts, and you can’t argue with his play in Dubai finishing no worse than T16 in his last three trips. I’ll gladly back Fleetwood at this price.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout -103 vs. Paul Casey
It’s hard to look past what Bezuidenhout has done over the last several months. Following a T38 at the Masters, he closed the season with a pair of wins in his native South Africa along with two other top-15s. He went under par in all four rounds last week in Abu Dhabi for a T12 and finished as runner-up in this event last year. He’s on a roll and I’m sticking with him until he proves otherwise.
Robert MacIntyre +116 vs. Sergio Garcia
Another player on a heater is MacIntyre, who I’m backing this week before the betting markets catch up. Sure, Garcia has found his form and even posted a win last year, but he’s likely a favorite based on brand recognition. I’m not buying it. Instead I’ll throw down on the Scot after watching him win in Cyprus followed by four other top-25s, including a T16 last week. He was also good in his debut at this event last year collecting a T8.
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