The DP World Tour stays in the UAE this week with the fourth staging of the Ras Al Khaimah Championship, from the Al Hamra Golf Club, an event won by Danes at two of its three runnings.
Key Stats/Skill Set Required
- Par 5 Scoring
- Birdies
- Putting Average
- Strokes Gained: Putting
- Driving Distance
- Strokes Gained: Tee To Green
- Strokes Gained: Approach
- GIR
Al Hamra is a classic desert course that favours long hitters. Scoring on the Par 5s is essential to success. Three of the four winners on the course have reached -22 so putting well and scoring is critical. An excellent approach game is of critical importance.
Key Correlation Courses
- Doha Golf Club
Quality Danish golfer who won here last year and looks a great bet to defend his crown. Olesen dominated here last year, winning by six strokes including a 62-63 Friday-Saturday. Ranks 3rd in Strokes Gained: Putting, 4th in Par 5 Scoring and 14th in Putting Average. Finished 3rd in Abu Dhabi last time out. Has a huge claim again.
There are few more consistent types than Jordan Smith. In his last 13 DP World Tour events, he has 10 Top 25 finishes. The concern with him is his inability to get over the line with his two DP World Tour victories hardly becoming of a player of his talent. This is not a strong field this week though and he ranks 3rd in GIR, 9th in Par 5 Scoring and 15th in Strokes Gained: Tee To Green.
Perhaps the most enticing bet of the week. Waring is not a major name among the wider public but he won the Abu Dhabi Championship last year and is in Ryder Cup contention after being picked in the Team Cup. Ranks 9th in Birdies and 13th in Strokes Gained: Approach. Finished Top 25 in four of his last five events.
Exciting Australian player who is knocking on the door of a DP World Tour win. He was outstanding last week in the Dubai Desert Classic where he finished T-8, smacking driver off the deck on 17 and walking in putts from off the green. He missed the cut here last year but is playing much better this time around and his putting will carry him a long way, ranking Top 15 in Putting Average and Strokes Gained: Putting.
Veteran Austrian who started well last week before fading to T-45. Ranks 7th in Strokes Gained: Tee To Green, 7th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 12th in GIR. Has an excellent record in the Abu Dhabi Championship, the key guide to this. Very nice Top 20 bet is the best way to play him.
Patrick Reed is the favourite in this market but Veerman is the more consistent player of late and should be favoured in this market.
Stunned to see black odds about Olesen here. He dominated this event last year and most of the better Danish players are not in the field this week.