Omega Dubai Desert Classic 2011 Betting Preview and Tips

Last Week: Each way win- Alvaro Quiros 2nd at 15/1 Omega Dubai Desert Classic betting preview and tips Emirates GC Dubai, United Arab ...

Last Week: Each way win- Alvaro Quiros 2nd at 15/1

Omega Dubai Desert Classic betting preview and tips

Emirates GC

Dubai, United Arab Emirates 10 Feb 2011 - 13 Feb 2011

Rory McIlroy 10/1

Form like 2,5,6,5 might not be that impressive for a racehorse but when it describes a golfers last four finishes it immediately grabs your attention. And when the player it belongs to won here in 2009 and tied sixth last year, you would be foolish to leave him off your betting slip. The question, as always, for Rory McIlroy is not how many birdie chances he creates in Dubai, but how many he takes. Quite simply, tee to green, Rors is the best and when his putting steps up, he will be the world’s best.

Alvaro Quiros 21/1

The towering Spaniard drove his golf ball an average of 323 yards from the tee last week, the longest in the field by a mile. If he can reproduce that driving form plus get a couple more putts than he did in Doha this man is going to be hard to stop. Finished tied sixth last year but knows he could have won were it not for a disastrous final round of 75. Second on his own last week and third at the Earth Course down the road in November, he remains a desert specialist.

Miguel Angel Jimenez 36/1

He may not have the length off the tee of the others but Jimenez remains a wily old campaigner. He proved that when beating Lee Westwood in a playoff to win here last year. Add to that tying for second, fourth, seventh and tenth all in the noughties and you begin to see just why The Mechanic loves to comes back to Dubai every year. Okay so he didn’t do so well in the wind last week, but his tied second in Bahrain suggests he will be still as dangerous as ever around here.

 

Thomas Bjorn 36/1

Could last week’s winner make it two in a row with another victory this week? With the pressure off and a few pints downed Bjorn is back on the course where he won in 2001. The Dane claims the new Callaway Razr driver is giving him ten extra yards off the tee but in truth his putts per greens in regulation were imperious. Another display like that on the short stuff could see him challenge again.

Pic: A smiling Thomas Bjorn

Long Odds Shouts

David Howell 150/1

You might know him better as the funny guy from The 200 Yard Gong Shot or Clay Pigeon Golf or even Sky Sports but David Howell used to be a pretty handy golfer. In fact he was much better than that around 2005 and 2006 as he broke into the world’s top 10, played Ryder Cup and even took care of Tiger Woods in the HSBC Champions. Howell is now back fit and well after struggling with back problems and forging his way back up the leaderboard. Finished fifth last week and is a former winner albeit on a different course in 1999. I just think momentum is with Howell for a big finish and the Force grows strong with him. Well worth an each way look from 150/1.

Rafael Cabrera-Bello 110/1

Tying for third last week makes it two top-10’s in his last three starts for the young Spaniard having also clocked up a seventh place finish in Abu Dhabi. This man is a statisticians dream with his numbers from last week defying belief. He was fourth in driving distance, seventh in greens in regulation, first for putts per greens hit in regulation and fourth in overall putting. Simply put its extremely rare that a player finishes at or near the top of all the stat categories so alarm bells are ringing, especially when I see he can be got for 110/1 on the exchanges. Also keep an eye on the progress of England’s John Parry from 170/1. Straight off the tee and brilliant on the greens, better iron play could be the key for him this week.

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