If we exclude Rory's efforts here in 2013 when trying to use his Nike clubs for the first time, Rory has not been outside the TOP-3 in his last six visits. Throw in his 5th on debut in 2009 it's obvious Rory likes Abu Dhabi GC yet he is still to win here. He makes his seasonal debut this week looking to get 2018 off to a better start than he did in 2017. Dustin Johnson, the World Number One is back to try and go one better than his only effort in Abu Dhabi to date and having made his mark already in 2018 by winning last time out in Hawaii, we can be assured its not appearance money only on his mind for the week ahead. He faces Rory as well as Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and a few other European contenders,notably in the shape of Matty Fitzpatrick and Tyrell Hatton. A strong OWGR SoF in Abu Dhabi is assured and Dustin is the one to beat for me despite Rory's obvious claims, not to mention Stenson's. Three time winner Martin Kaymer has not won anywhere since the US Open at Pinehurst in 2014 and indeed since his extraordinary collapse here in 2015, he hasn't been as close since. He followed up that infamous result with a 16th in 2016 and was 4th twelve months ago. Again, it's obvious there is something about this course that fits his eye, and if Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson want to lay down the gauntlet this week then so too does the German who may look for inspiration to re-ignite his career on a course that will be forever synonymous for the German. At 33/1, it's really a price too good to be true for a player with so much form here and he makes my staking plan.
I was very tempted to get involved with Paul Casey @ 20/1 who will be keen to show his worth for consideration for the Ryder Cup team having lost his singles match last Sunday in the Eurasia Cup. Twice a winner here, PC has all the attributes for Abu Dhabi and having climbed to number 14 in the World, we know he's pushing to climb higher and this week gives him an ideal opportunity to do so. Having sided with Kaymer already and having started the season looking to back more 40/1 + opportunities, I've left the Englishman on the sideline. I was tempted though by his compatriot Danny Willett, who like Kaymer is looking for a big result this week to kick start anything, something to revive his career after a 2017 to forget. Willett has desert form in his locker and having shown some glimpses towards the tail-end of last year that his game was returning, he should tee it up on the 10th tee on Thursday seeing the two threeballs out in front of him serving a reminder of where he was just two years ago as DJ, Rory and Tommy head down the fairway in front of him just behind the threeball of Rose, Stenson and Matt Kuchar. A good showing is not beyond the Rotherham lad this week and @ 7.00 for a TOP20, it's well worth a dabble. Instead though, I've opted to get Darren Fichardt and 25 year old, Zimbabwean, Scott Vincent into the staking plan for the TOP-20 market @ 9.00 and 8.50 having shown better form of late.
Fichardt has shown more consistency outside his native South Africa in recent times and is well capable of putting a decent weeks work in Abu Dhabi here. Two T-10s in his last four starts to add to a further TOP-20 in that period augurs well for his confidence ahead.
Vincent is on the rise and it remains to be seen how he copes with the big boys but if his college career in the US and subsequent take to professional ranks is to be a gauge then he could just be one such player to be onside with. He showed his capabilities last week at Glendower when finishing 4th as well as a 3rd place finish behind Justin Rose and Phacara Kongwatmai in Jakarta the week before Christmas. Expect the unexpected!
Finally, Ross Fisher is added to the lineup on the back of solid form throughout 2017 which saw Ross climb back to number 35 in the world. He always produces strong GIR stats, a key performance indicator for tackling Abu Dhabi GC and having ranked 6th for the 2017 season, I'm hoping the winter practice and warm up last week in KL has Ross rarin' to go this week and if he can repeat a TOP-20, a feat he achieved in two of his last three visits, I'll be happy @ 3.00 with 40% of my staking plan with a 1 pt stake on the win @ 70.00
Both Fisher and Kaymer join Casey in my cross doubles effort this week from Abu Dhabi with The Career Builder Challenge on the PGA Tour
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