*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Abu Dhabi Championship
Shane Lowry
It looking like a windy weekend in Abu Dhabi and one man who thrives in those conditions is Shane Lowry. He’s a very capable player under any conditions but the more wind that blows the better for him.
He’s won this tournament before in 2019 and I think it’s significant that he did that and went on to become Open champion. I think he understands more than most the value of getting a win on the board at the first opportunity. He’d be one I’d be really, really keen on.
Robert MacIntyre
For similar reasons I’ll put up Robert MacIntyre. He’s got a very good record in the Open himself and was not far behind Shane at Portrush. He played really well behind Collin Morikawa in July at St George’s.
He ended last year playing much better than he did in the summer. The only thing I would say with Bob is, he’s around the top 50 in the world but not yet inside it and as he doesn’t have a PGA Tour card, these next weeks might make or break whether he gets into the big tournaments this year. I think the conditions we have this week will suit.
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Adam Scott
I think Adam Scott should have been an Open champion, he should have won it in 2012. I think those sort of skills are going to be particularly important in the conditions. He was playing well towards the end of last year.
He’s very determined and he’s got a good record after a break. His last PGA Tour win, he’d been away for six or seven weeks. I wouldn’t have too many problems there, he tends to play a light schedule.
Min Woo Lee
Min Woo Lee is definitely one of the most talented young players in the world. He can play in the wind, he won in Scotland last summer, he’s won back home in Australia in the wind and he had a nice little warm up at home last week.
I think everything’s set fair for him and if he learns to find some consistency with the putter the sky is the limit. Hopefully he can get off to a good start this year.
The American Express
Abraham Ancer
I think Abraham Ancer is about as obvious as they come when you’re looking outside of the favourites. He’s placed in the last two years, he was 2nd in 2020 and I think he finished 5th last year.
A lot of people will see his start to the season in Hawaii and think he’s gone off the boil, but it’s exactly how he started last year. He just doesn’t seem to quite have those courses figured out yet. This one he certainly does, he’s a very good desert golfer. I think he’ll have a good week.
Talor Gooch
The other one from the top of the betting is Talor Gooch. I think along with Seamus Power he would be one of the most improved players on the PGA Tour. He was 4th here in 2019 and has come a long way since.
He’s made a really solid start. Like Ancer, he’s very similar in stature and game style and it’s that kind of neat and tidy game which tends to payoff here.
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Kramer Hickok
At a bigger price I’ll go with Kramer Hickok who’s so far remained best known as being best friends with Jordan Spieth but hopefully at some stage he can emerge from that shadow and in on the PGA Tour. He was 20th last week and played some nice stuff in Hawaii.
In the last 12 months he’s had some real near misses. A lot of people will remember staying up for that 8 hole playoff at the Travelers Championship. Basically, with Hickok, you need him to be on a short course and all three of these courses are short where his accuracy off the tee counts and it certainly will here.
Davis Riley
The other one is Davis Riley who’ll be more volatile, less certain to play well I’d say, but he’s a massive talent. If you ask people in America they tend to talk about this kid as though he’s on his way to the top.
In terms of what might fit this week he’s already established himself as a really, really good driver of the ball. I thought it was a good performance last week and I’d be hopeful this more simple challenge could be suitable to his game and he’s certainly got bags of talent.
This week’s golf tips
Abu Dhabi Championship
Shane Lowry
Robert MacIntyre
Adam Scott
Min Woo Lee
The American Express
Abraham Ancer
Talor Gooch
Kramer Hickok
Davis Riley
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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