Betting: Rory is the story at the DP World Tour Championship
We take a look at the 10 most likely winners this week as the Race to Dubai reaches its climax
Rory McIlroy
R2D Ranking: 1st
Last 3 European Tour Results:
· WGC HSBC CHAMPIONS 2015- T11
· TURKKISH AIRLINES OPEN 2015- T6
· US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP 2015- 17th
Course Form:
· OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC 2015- 1st
· DPWORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP 2014- T2
· OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC 2014- T9
Odds: 9/2
Chances: As the current leader of the Race to Dubai and most recent winner on the Earth Course it isn’t surprising that McIlroy is favourite going into this event. The Irishman has recently returned from injury and will be hoping to end his European Tour season with a victory. His record here is ridiculously good.
Henrik Stenson
R2D Ranking: 16th
Last 3 European Tour results:
· BMW MASTERS 2015- T3
· WGC HSBC CHAMPIONS 2015- T11
· US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP 2015- T25
Course Form:
· OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC 2015- T13
· DPWORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP 2014- 1ST
· OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC 2014- T29
Odds: 11/2
Chances: They call him the Ice Man because he is so cool under pressure and Stenson has shown remarkable consistency throughout the year. He has not, however, won an event in 2015 and that explains why the former winner cannot take the R2D this weekend. Nevertheless the Swede has won at the Earth Course previously and will be looking to do so again this week. Surely due a W soon.
Justin Rose
R2D Ranking: 3rd
Last 3 European Tour Results:
• BMW MASTERS 2015- T7
• UBS HONG KONG OPEN 2015- 1ST
• US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP 2015- 4
Course Form:
• DPWORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP 2014- T2
• DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP 2013- T10
DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP 2012- 2ND
Odds: 15/2
Chances: With top-10 finishes in each of his last three events on the European Tour, Rose is in with a great chance going into Dubai this week. He has also finished 2nd twice in the past three years at this event and course and will be hoping to go one better come Sunday. Looks nailed on for a place at worst.
Patrick Reed
R2D Ranking: 15th
Last 3 European Tour results:
• BMW MASTERS 2015- 2nd
• WGC HSBC CHAMPIONS 2015- T7
• UBS HONG KONG OPEN 2015- T3
Course Form:
· First time playing the Earth Course on the European Tour.
Odds: 14/1
Chances: Similarly to Rose, America’s Patrick Reed has also posted top-ten finishes in his last three events on the European Tour. Last time out, in Shanghai, Reed was beaten in a play-off by Sweden’s Kristoffer Broberg. One disadvantage for Reed is that he has never played the course in competition while the leading Europeans are very familiar with its challenges.
Branden Grace
R2D Ranking: 6th
Last 3 European Tour results:
• BMW MASTERS 2015- T22
• WGC HSBC CHAMPIONS 2015- T5
• ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP 2015- T30
Course Form:
• OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC 2015- T55
• DPWORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP 2014- T9
• OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC 2014- T80
Odds: 25/1
Chances: Two wins earlier in the season show that the South African can compete with the best of them. Grace can still mathematically win the Race to Dubai with a victory at the Earth Course. Yet he hasn’t shown great form in Dubai with a T55 and T80 in his past three visits.
“Grace hasn’t shown great form in Dubai with a T55 and T80 in his past three visits.” Victor Dubuisson
R2D Ranking: 10th
Last 3 European Tour results:
• BMW MASTERS 2015- T17
• TURKISH AIRLINES OPEN 2015- 1ST
• USB HONG KONG OPEN 2015- T32
Course Form:
• DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP 2014- T2
• DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP 2013- 3RD
OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC 2013- T72
Odds: 25/1
Chances: A win at the Turkish Airlines Open was Dubuisson’s first of the season and has rescued what was shaping up to be a poor season by his standards. With a T2 and a 3rd in this event over the past two years, the Frenchman seems to enjoy playing this course. His form is so good that he looks a decent shout at 25/1 to get in contention on Sunday.
Byeong Hun An
R2D Ranking: 7th
Last 3 European Tour results:
• BMW MASTERS 2015- T3
• WGC HSBC CHAMPIONS 2015- T19
• TURKISH AIRLINES OPEN 2015- 4TH
Course Form:
• OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC 2015- T13
Odds: 28/1
Chances: In what is his rookie season on the European Tour, Byeong Hun An has surpassed all expectations. The Korean achieved his first victory on the European Tour and has continued to impress with two top-5 finishes in his last 3 events.
His only visit to this course was earlier this year where he put in a solid performance and many feel the young man has developed a lot even since then.
Matthew Fitzpatrick
R2D Ranking: 14th
Last 3 European Tour results:
• BMW MASTERS 2015- T13
• WGC HSBC CHAMPIONS 2015- T7
• TURKISH AIRLINES OPEN 2015- T26
Course Form:
• OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC 2015- T121
Odds: 33/1
Chances: Also in his rookie season, like Ben An, Fitzpatrick has impressed the golfing world, clinching his first victory and continually finds himself competing at the top end of the leaderboard on the European Tour. However Fitzpatrick when played at the Earth Course for the first time earlier this year he did miss the cut.
Danny Willett
R2d Ranking: 2nd
Last 3 European Tour results:
• BMW MASTERS 2015- T28
• WGC HSBC CHAMPIONS 2015- T3
• TURKISH AIRLINES OPEN 2015- T11
Course Form:
• OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC 2015- T13
• DPWORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP 2014- T21
• OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC 2014- T13
Odds: 33/1
Chances: A pair of wins and several top 10 finishes have been part of a great season for Danny Willett and he starts the week lying 2nd in the R2D, just behind McIlroy. Willett has played well at this course before and has a great chance to win this week, which would automatically bring with it the European Tour Order of Merit. You would say that 33/1 is a great price for the in-form Englishman.
Ian Poulter
R2d Ranking: 37th
Last 3 European Tour results:
• BMW MASTERS 2015- T11
• WGC HSBC CHAMPIONS 2015- T30
• TURKISH AIRLINES OPEN 2015- T16
Course Form:
• DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP 2014- T21
• DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP 2013- 2ND
• DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP 2012- T26
Odds: 33/1
Chances: Poulter has had somewhat of a disappointing season and is without a win on the European Tour thus far. He has come close in this event two years ago and will be confident in having a good week in Dubai. The Englishman certainly can’t be counted out yet and his recent form is encouraging.
Our verdict: Here at NCG we feel that Danny Willett might just walk away with the win and therefore the R2D this week. At 33/,1 the in-form Englishman is available at an excellent price and one we feel is too good to miss.
Tom Irwin
Tom is a lifetime golfer, now over 30 years playing the game. 2023 marks 10 years in golf publishing and he is still holding down a + handicap at Alwoodley in Leeds. He has played over 600 golf courses, and has been a member of at least four including his first love Louth, in Lincolnshire. Tom likes unbranded clothing, natural fibres, and pencil bags. Seacroft in Lincolnshire is where it starts and ends.
