Abu Dhabi Championship: Kaymer for More Gulf Glory

Abu Dhabi Championship (January 21st-24th)

Format: Strokeplay (126-man field)
Course: Abu Dhabi GC, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (par-72, 7,510 yards)
Weather: Mainly dry but with a chance of isolated showers Friday morning
Where to watch: Live on Sky Sports all four days, starting 7.00am (UK time) Thursday
Bets on by: 3.00am (UK time) Thursday
2009 Winner: Paul Casey (21 under)

Ross' Three Off The Tee:-

Martin Kaymer @ 14/1 Coral
The big guns of the European Tour are out in force this week and I'm expecting the cream to rise to the top, as it has done for the last three years. Paul Casey won in 2007 and again last year, while Kaymer cruised to victory in 2008 and went close to successfully defending his title, eventually losing out by a shot. Now completely over the foot injury that forced him off the fairways for a large chunk of the second half of last season, it's not hard to see him going close again on a course he clearly loves.

Geoff Ogilvy @ 14/1 Paddy Power
At the same price, Ogilvy is impossible to leave out. The Aussie arrives here in great form after a successful defence of the SBS Championship and, while he's making his course debut, he's already shown an aptitude for desert courses like this one - twice a winner of the World Matchplay played in Arizona and fourth in last November's Dubai World Championship. This is likely to be his last event for a while - his wife's expecting their third child - so he will be keen to go out on a high.

Darren Clarke @ 50/1 Totesport
The Ulsterman has left me scratching my head at times but now might be the time to back him again. He's already made it abundantly clear his target for 2010 is a return to the Ryder Cup squad and he's made a decent start with a second-placed finish behind Charl Schwartzel in last week's Joburg Open. Afterwards, he said: "Now I'm scoring well I'm feeling pleased with my game. I feel like I've got a win in me again." This week's field is much better but I still feel 50's is too big for Dazzler in his current mood.

Bubbling Under: Robert Karlsson (40/1 Boylesports)
An eye complaint kept the 2008 Order of Merit winner off the fairways for much of 2009 but he's back to full fitness now and could make a mockery of his odds.

Reality Check: Paul Casey & Rory McIlroy
Casey will be a popular choice this week but he is clearly not firing on all cylinders. After his tie for tenth place at Kapalua, he admitted that the rib injury he picked up in the middle of last year is still affecting his swing, which makes him a swerve for the time being. As for Rory, he just doesn't deserve to be favourite in this field given his poor wins to runs ratio.

Recommended Bets:-
Martin Kaymer 1.5pts @ 14/1 Coral
Geoff Ogilvy 1.5pts @ 14/1 Paddy Power
Darren Clarke 1pt each-way @ 50/1 Totesport

 

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Tags: Abu Dhabi GC,  Abu Dhabi Golf Championship,  Darren Clarke,  European Tour,  Geoff Ogilvy,  Golf Betting,  Martin Kaymer,  Paul Casey,  Robert Karlsson,  Rory Mcilroy