Sergio Garcia heads a stellar field for the first event of the European Tour's "Middle East Swing", the Abu Dhabi Championship.
The Course: Abu Dhabi G.C., Abu Dhabi, UAE (par-72, 7,500 yards)
This long par-72 course opened in 1998 but was toughened-up for its European Tour debut in 2006 with 30-plus new bunkers and a hundred trees added. Water comes into play on half of the holes, including the closing three, and wind is often a factor (the front nine is more exposed). Tricky, sloping greens are tifdwarf Bermuda. The four par-5’s are the 2nd, 8th, 10th and 18th.
Ross’ Top Tip: Henrik Stenson @ 8/1 bet365
The Swedish ace is one player to have on your side in the three Gulf events. He's already won the Dubai Desert Classic and Qatar Masters and needs this one for the hat-trick. He's already gone close, finishing runner-up twice, and his confidence must be sky high coming into this week having closed 2008 with a World Cup win and an incredible nine-shot Nedbank Challenge success. Arguably, he should be clear favourite ahead of Sergio Garcia, but I'm not complaining - snap up the 8/1.
Next Best: Rory McIlroy @ 20/1 @ Ladbrokes
Bookmakers are giving the youngster plenty of respect and rightly so as his first win is just around the corner and quite possibly this week. He's already of interest based on his debut performance last year, when he finished 11th with progressively lower rounds, but his recent form is the clincher for a bet. His last 10 starts have produced seven top-10 finishes, while he has made the top-four in three of his last four outings, so the 20/1 is more than fair.
Outsider: Oliver Wilson @ 50/1 Skybet
Another player still looking for his first win on Tour but that will come sooner rather than later and at 50/1 he's worth a bet. He was on the losing side at last week's Royal Trophy, but he did manage a 3&2 win over Hideto Tanihara which should at least give him some confidence going into this week.
Tournament Lay: Sergio Garcia for a place - 3.55 on Betfair at the time of writing
The Spaniard's last five starts in the three Gulf events have produced only one top-10 finish and not once has he awarded each way backers.
Ross' Match Bet: Henrik Stenson to beat Sergio Garcia @ 10/11 Paddy Power
Recommended Bets:
Henrik Stenson 2pts each way @ 8/1 bet365
Rory McIlroy 1pt each way @ 20/1 @ Ladbrokes
Oliver Wilson 1pt each way @ 50/1 Skybet
