As we approach the penultimate event of the DPWT season and the first leg of the play-offs in the Race to Dubai, there is plenty to play for as the Rolex Series event offers significant prize fund of $9,00,000 and chance to compete in the final event of the year.
With Rory leading the Race to Dubai points list and full of confidence after his exceptional performance at the Bethpage Black, it would take a brave man to bet against his swooping his first Abu Dhabi championship title. Yet, with such a strong field and and so many winners on the tour this season, there is clearly stronger competition than perhaps ever before in the 20 year history of the event.
The Yas Links golf course demands length, playing over 7.400 yards off the tips, so clearly those with the distance off the tee will have an advantage, but history tells us that the flat stick generally dictates the champion in this event, with slick, undulating greens, requiring a deft touch under immense pressure.
With the limited field of 70 players, the odds are shorter than general events, yet this who’s who of European golf boasts some of the most in-form players in the game today with over 35 winners on tour this year and 19 of them winning for the first time.
It’s not always the highest ranked players who win this event, and with a number of the most recognised players absent this week, the door is open for as some lower ranked players to make a name for themselves (as some may remember Paul Waring clinched victory with a stunning 3 wood into the last hole in 2024, leaving him a tap in birdie to take the title).
Looking outside the obvious, Adrien Saddier made history with his 200th start on the DP World Tour with victory in Italy, positioning himself as one to watch this week. Daniel Brown will be wanting to prove a point after losing in a play-off in Germany recently to Marco Penge, and Alex Noren will be hoping he can bring the form he displayed in claiming his two DWPT titles this season in the UK, at the Betfred Masters and BMW Championship at Wentworth, as he reaches the twilight years of his DPWT career.
However, all eyes will be on McIlroy, as fans watch to see if he can close out his stunning and record breaking season in style, and Tommy Fleetwood fans will be hoping he can make it a hat trick of wins, having secured victory in 2017 and 2018 and finally claimed his first PGA Tour title at the Tour Championships this season.
Top 10 odds at time of publishing:
MCILROY, Rory
11/2
FLEETWOOD, Tommy
13/2
HATTON, Tyrrell
17/2
ÅBERG, Ludvig
12/1
FITZPATRICK, Matt
14/1
MACINTYRE, Robert
14/1
MCKIBBIN, Tom
18/1
PENGE, Marco
20/1
NOREN, Alex
22/1
RAI, Aaron
22/1
For a full listing of the odds for the tournament and some of the best sports betting options available, visit Betway
