Dubai Desert Classic 2022 - Emirates GC, Dubai, UAE

 

The Desert Swing moves on from Abu Dhabi up to Dubai this week, a journey of just over one hour. I wonder if this will be the last time that the entourage will travel by car and if the hyperloop will be operational in twelve months time when that same journey should take just over 12 minutes instead. The UAE continues to attract huge investments and it was inevitable in the end that its commercial power would influence the tour before finally taking over. The Dubai Desert Classic will be the second of the 5 Rolex Series throughout 2022, the first being completed in Abu Dhabi last week before we all meet up again down the road at the Jumeirah Estates in November. Thomas Pieters grabbed his first Rolex Series title last week and the Series can boast another "top" player winning as Pieters has Ryder Cup experience to complement his other 5 victories to date on his resume. The Series in its short history has shown that the top players are tending to prevail and I believe that will continue here at The Emirates GC and that Rory is the man to beat. Collin Morikawa will like to make his trip to the Middle East a success on the course but I'm sure his fiancee, will see the trip a success after all the shopping, and that could be a distraction for him for sure,but the course will suit this elite ball striker. However, despite the heavyweights teeing it up here I'm happy to get some each way value further down the market

I think there is a bit of value in both Laurie Canter and Adri Arnaus here having shortlisted the Englishman last week. Canter was 4th here twelve months ago and despite a missed cut in Abu Dhabi I reckon he will be better suited to this track then last week's. The 60/1 - 7 places is tempting as is the same price on Arnaus. Whilst Canter now sees himself inside the OWGR TOP-100, the Spaniard is ranked ~40 places higher but he is heading in the same direction as Canter and can improve on his 9th & 3rd place finishes the past two years at the Emirates. 

Our winner last week in action at The Emirates

I'm completing my staking plan this week with Robert McIntyre, Lucas Herbert, Antoine Rozner,Garrick Higgo, and Thorbjorn Olesen. I have never gone with 7 players before and yet despite the obvious market leaders surely to contend, I think it's worth chancing the stable here. It was nearly 8 as well but deemed Joachim B Hansen just a little short for my liking but I do expect him to go well.

McIntyre has excellent course form albeit it just from two events in the books. He might be just 40/1 in the market and I had to think this one over a bit before pulling the trigger but his 3rd & 8th here are eye catching whilst the Aussie should be setting higher goals this year following a win at Mount Juliet last summer and a PGA Tour win last October in Bermuda. Not to mention he was victorious here two years ago following 7th on debut and he defended quite well when finishing T-25 in '21. He has shaken off the dust already in January when playing in Hawaii at the TOC so he should be ready to go and @ 50/1 he is decent value. 

The Frenchman could be one of those mercurial players but on a course where big hitters and ball strikers will or should do well, he may just click. A T-10 last year suggests he does like the track and given his two DPT wins to date have come in Qatar & Dubai, he may be a player that just wants to play well in this part of the world. 100/1 - 8 places doesn't look right

Higgo is a fascinating runner for me here this week. Like Rozner,  90/1 (8) & 100 (7 places) seems wrong to me and I can't leave them out. Two left handers on my staking plan may also seem wrong but Higgo returns to this part of the world having played on the PGA Tour of late. As with Herbert, Higgo too has tasted PGA Tour victory and will relish a return to this tour to execute a "smash n grab" if he can. 

Regular blog readers will know I'm happy to chance Olesen at the prices whilst he attempts to climb back up the rankings and the Dubai Desert Classic has been good to him over the years as well, with 4 TOP-8 finishes in his last 7 visits. The 125/1 - 7 places is too tempting to pass on. 

Selections
1 pt e/w L. Canter @ 60/1 - 7 places
1 pt e/w A. Arnaus @ 60/1 - 7 places
1 pt e/w R. McIntyre @ 40/1 - 7 places
1 pt e/w L. Herbert @ 50/1 - 7 places 
0.75 pt e/w A. Rozner @ 100/1 - 8 places
0.75 pt e/w G. Higgo @ 90/1 - 8 places
0.75 pt e/w T. Olesen @ 125/1 - 7 places