Abu Dhabi Championship 2019 - Abu Dhabi GC

A Wednesday start this week sees the first of the Rolex Series events on the European Tour of 2019 tee it up at Abu Dhabi GC in the UAE. Tommy Fleetwood goes in search of a hat-trick having won here the past two years and he's joined by the World's Numbers 2 & 3, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson. The World ranking points on offer are significantly higher than on offer on the PGA Tour, with the SoF almost 60 points higher. The field is strong and boosted by the appearance of Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace, and Ryder Cuppers, Tyrell Hatton, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Henrik Stenson, Thomas Pieters,and Thorbjorn Olesen. Three time winner here, Martin Kaymer looks to start the year as always with a return to form on a course that has always fitted his eye.

As per my preview twelve months ago, its pretty much the same approach for me again this time round. I thought Kaymer couldn't be ignored at 33/1 last year, and with some signs of return to some consistency towards the end of 2018, perhaps he's better equipped for Abu Dhabi this week than he was in 2018, where he finished 27th. At 50/1 (6 places) this time round, in pretty much the same way of thinking as per the 2018 preview, it's a price that has to be taken for a player that performs so well on this course in Abu Dhabi.

Byeong-Hun An I made as a 28/1- 33/1 chance here so the 40/1 for a top ball striker who has Middle East form couldn't go un-backed. He tends to go well on these type of courses, has proven results in the UAE and at the price has to be taken.

Jeunghun Wang is capable of much more this season, and he too tees it up here knowing he brings UAE form having finished TOP-15 here the past two seasons. 150/1 is far too big for a player well capable of contending.( I make him 100/1 at worst) A three time Europeantour winner, of which one was in neighbouring Qatar, the South Korean tees it up early Wednesday alongside Jordan Smith and Fabrizio Zanotti.

I'll complete my staking plan with South African Erik Van Rooyen who makes his course debut. Again 100/1 is enticing considering the form he showed last season, grabbing T-10s in Morocco,Denmark, South Africa and Ireland, not to mention a T-20 at The Open. He's slightly favoured ahead of Shane Lowry, the Irishman will be motivated to make Harrington's Ryder Cup team and will want to hitting form throughout 2019 if he wants a chance of making the team for Whistling Straits.

Date	16/01			Total Outlay	6.00
Event	Abu Dhabi Championship			Total Returns	0.00
Tour	EURO			P&L	-6.00
Outlay	6.00			ROI	-100.00%
Return	0.00
			6.00			0.00
Stake	Player	Odds	Total Cost of Bet	Terms	Result	Returns
1.00	Martin Kaymer (6 places)	51.00	2.00	E/W		0.00
1.25	Byeonghun An	41.00	2.50	E/W		0.00
0.25	Jeunghun Wang	151.00	0.50	E/W		0.00
0.50	Erik Van Rooyen	101.00	1.00	E/W		0.00