dp world tour picks

Expert Picks: DP World Tour Championship

In the final episode of the season, The Tips brings you expert analysis to help you choose your Fantasy team as the DP World Tour Championship returns to Jumeirah Golf Estates for its 15th edition.

Whether it’s making picks to update your Fantasy team or keep your eye on the betting markets, The Tips - launched earlier this season - provide their insights as the show looks to sort the form horses from the long shots on both the DP World Tour and on the PGA TOUR.

Joining regular host Ollie Silverton this week are industry-leading golf tipsters Ben Coley and Matt Cooper along with golf broadcaster Kit Alexander, who outline their picks and reasons why ahead of the fifth and final Rolex Series event of the year and the RSM Classic on this week's podcast, which you can find here: https://linktr.ee/dpworldtour .

If you have not done so already, you can sign up to play the official 2023 DP World Tour Fantasy game and submit your six-man team before round one gets under way on Thursday: https://fantasy.dpworldtour.com/

The 2023 season-long winner will win a trip to the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai next year, enjoy a lesson with a DP World Tour professional and a round of golf on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates. For more information on this amazing prize and others, read here .

DP World Tour Championship

The top 50 players from the DP World Tour Rankings in Partnership with Rolex are all participating in this week's season-ending event in Dubai.

Following last week's Nedbank Golf Challenge, Rory McIlroy has won the Race to Dubai, moving behind only six-time winner Seve Ballesteros and record eight-time holder Colin Montgomerie.

Defending champion Jon Rahm is aiming to win the DP World Tour Championship for a record fourth time, adding to his victories in 2017, 2019 and 2022.

McIlroy and fellow Major Championship winner Matt Fitzpatrick have the opportunity to match Rahm as three-time winners of the event.

While there is a relaxed atmosphere for those who have made it to the season finale, Alexander believes there is still much for those in action to play for.

"It's probably the last time the majority of these players will tee it up this year," he said.

"Maybe some will play in the Hero Challenge, a few might go down and start next season in South Africa.

"But for a lot of guys this is the last big hurrah before Christmas, before the end of the year.

"It's a chance to fulfil their own goals. Whether that's maybe a win, getting into the top 50 (on the Official World Golf Ranking) and the Majors ahead of next year or just forcing their way further up the Race to Dubai and finishing among the top 10 not otherwise exempt to earn a PGA TOUR card for next season and that is big on a lot of people's minds this week."

As mentioned by Alexander, as part of the Strategic Alliance between the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR, a direct and formal pathway has been established for players to earn dual membership status.

Of those ten dual members, the leading player will also be exempt into THE PLAYERS Championship and the Charles Schwab Challenge in 2024.

With many on the bubble of finishing among the leading top ten finishers, Coley believes it will be hard for one of those to emerge victorious over the Earth Course with the stakes so hight and due to the depth of the field.

"To go ahead and win a tournament this big when it has that extra carrot and when they're probably going to have to beat Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton or Tommy Fleetwood etc. I think it is a really, really big ask."

Both Coley and Cooper are in no doubt that accuracy combined with distance off the tee is a key factor this week.

"It's a ball strikers track," Cooper said. "It values good shots off the tee especially and especially if you've got that little bit of extra juice to maybe cut the odd corner or carry one or two bunkers but not everyone can."

As for who our expert guests think will excel? In their first outright picks, Coley plumped for Min Woo Lee, while Cooper opted for Matt Fitzpatrick.

Min Woo Lee

BC: I want someone who's not got anything bigger to worry about ideally or something that might weigh heavy on them on Sunday. Of the top three, my preference would be for Jon Rahm who's played in this tournament four times and three players have beaten him, two of them aren't playing this week. Matt Wallace is the only player in this field who was finished ahead of Jon Rahm at the Earth course, which is fairly ridiculous, but such a run will come to an end I'm sure at some stage. He's a brilliant chipper and putter. His short game is absolutely world-class. As with quite a lot of modern golfers who come through with his sort of background, iron play is sort of the missing piece of the puzzle. A bit of finesse maybe you could argue is needed. He's certainly improved over the past 18 months. He's obviously a Rolex Series winner already… We've seen all year his star really rise. He was fifth in the US Open, top 20 at the PGA Championship and he was in the mix at The PLAYERS Championship. He's just been a pretty permanent fixture into the autumn too. Despite not getting that big win since Scotland that his performance has probably merited, I think we'd all probably agree that he's on his way to the very top of the game actually. If he can find that little improvement with his wedge game in particular, he'd certainly be a welcome addition to the top of the sport, a real player with superstar potential and this would be a great way to underline that.

Matt Fitzpatrick

MC: It's just down to his fondness for the course. Of course he's also added length over the years to his tee shots. He's had eight starts here, six of them top tens, two wins and I just think that's a really strong case when you add in his recent form, which almost seems to have gone forgotten. He played so well at the Ryder Cup of course and then won the Alfred Dunhill Links the week after, but he sort of dropped hints before then. I think he's in good form and he loves the golf course.

Fantasy Insight: As it stands, Viktor Hovland is the favourite for players of our Fantasy Game this week , featuring in 87.63% of teams. Other popular players include Matt Fitzpatrick (66.93%) and Tyrrell Hatton (57.32%). Of those, two-time champion Fitzpatrick features among our expert picks' leading selections.

Comparatively, some of our other expert choices feature much further down the ranks in terms of players chosen, with Sami Välimäki in 2.94% teams.

To find out more about their opinions on this week's Nedbank Golf Challenge and hear their tips for the RSM Classic, listen to the podcast in full here: https://linktr.ee/dpworldtour .

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DP World Tour Championship: The Course Compatibility of Jon Rahm Is Even More Obvious Than McIlroy’s

Matt Cooper

• The 14th edition of the DP World Tour’s seasonal finale
• Once again it returns to the Earth Course at Jumeirah in the UAE
• Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm are the first and second favorites

The DP World Tour Championship Odds

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The DP World Tour Championship Picks and Predictions

• Shane Lowry each way at +1400 with Caesars Sportsbook
• Jon Rahm to win at +500 with FanDuel Sportsbook
• Gavin Green to beat Eddie Pepperell at  -105 with BetMGM

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The DP World Tour Championship Profile

Since it was first played in 2009 the DP World Tour Championship has been a popular conclusion for every DP World Tour season.

Lee Westwood was the first winner and, with a few exceptions, he set the tone - this is an event that tends to be won by one of the classiest players in the field.

Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Jon Rahm and Matt Fitzpatrick are all two-time winners of the title, and last year Collin Morikawa lifted the trophy.

In the last 10 years the only other man to win was Danny Willett which further reveals how elite the honors board is - all of those players have also won major championships.

A sub-plot this week is the race to be crown the leading player for the year. McIlroy leads the rankings and will be chased to the line by Ryan Fox and Fitzpatrick

Course Report

The Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates is a Greg Norman design and it is long.

The card can be pushed out beyond 7,700 yards which might explain why high-quality drivers of the ball tend to win here because missing fairways leaves players with very long approach shots.

An added difficulty is that the greens tend to be elevated making them tricky to hit and it also exaggerates errant blows.

The Favorites

The course description suggests that Rory McIlroy would be a good fit and reality has backed that up.

He was the winner in both 2012 and 2015 and really should have won 12 months ago until he had an unlikely meltdown on the back nine. 

In 11 visits he has finished in the top six-eight times and he arrives fresh off a run of two wins in five starts (never finishing outside the top four in that spell).

The course compatibility of Jon Rahm is even more obvious than McIlroy’s.

In the Spaniard’s case he has played the tournament three times, winning on debut in 2017, finishing fourth on defense, and winning again in 2019.

He’s found form late in the season, winning the Open de Espana and he was fourth last time out in the States.

The final two-time tournament winner in the field is Matt Fitzpatrick who did recently lose a playoff in the Italian Open but has generally seen his form drop at the end of a breakthrough year that saw him win the U.S. Open.

A shorter hitter than McIlroy or Rahm he has nonetheless thrived in this final week of the year.

He has five top 10s from his seven visits, adding second place last year to his wins in 2016 and 2020.

Don’t Overlook Lowry

It’s been a fine year for Irishman Shane Lowry.

He kicked it off with a run of 13 top 25 finishes in his first 16 starts and quite how he didn’t win one of those events is anyone’s guess.

He played superbly in the Honda Classic, for example, but finished second after a remarkable finish by Sepp Straka and an unlucky burst of torrential rain that hampered Lowry himself.

He also had a good crack in Abu Dhabi and Augusta before very nearly winning the RBC Heritage, again doing very little wrong.

The tide turned with a superb victory in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and he has it in him to complete a prestigious double this week.

He’s been both a first and second-round leader on the Earth Course, he also has five top-12 finishes including a best of second in 2017.

That halfway lead came last year and memories of it might fuel a solid rebound.

Remember how major winners thrive here? He’s the top price of the players with such a tick on the CV.

Take him each way in the outright at +1400 with Caesars Sportbook which pays out six places.

Let’s keep this simple and add the big Spaniard to the staking plan.

Jon Rahm has not only won here twice in three starts, he also has 11 sub-70 scores in 12 circuits.

His adjusted stroke average is fully 1.26 shots per round better than the second-best in the field (McIlroy). That’s five shots per event!

Make him the back-up to Lowry at +500 with FanDuel Sportsbook .

Oppose Pepp

Something about the Earth Course doesn’t seem to agree with Eddie Pepperell.

The obvious answer is length because the Englishman uses a 3-wood from the tee which becomes a problem on such a big layout.

But whatever it is, he’s played five times, has only once been inside the top 50 after 18 holes and has finished better than 48th just once too - when 26th on debut in 2014.

He’s been in a nice run of form for a while but last week needed at least 73 blows in three of his four laps in the Nedbank Challenge.

Take him on with Gavin Green who has finished top 12 in each of his last three starts and hasn’t missed a cut in 11 appearances (there’s no cut this week but it highlights his consistency).

Green has played Earth just once and was only 57th but he opened with a 70 to lie top 10 so it’s not all bad and his long game should suit.

Back Green at -105 with BetMGM.

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How to Watch The DP World Tour Championship

• Tournament: The DP World Tour Championship
• Location:  The Earth Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai
• Date: Thursday, November 17 - Sunday, November 20
• How to watch: Thursday & Friday 6-11 a.m. then Saturday & Sunday 6-12 p.m. ET on Golf Channel. And all four days on Sky Sports.

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Matt Cooper has been a sports journalist since 2009 with his work appearing at ESPN, Sky Sports, NBC, Sporting Life and the Planet Sport Network among many others, in addition to guest appearances on the BBC and CNN. Although a specialist in golf, who has traveled the world to cover the sport, Matt has also covered rugby, cricket, football and the Olympics. Email: [email protected]

For all the latest tips, predictions and special offers directly into your inbox once a week.

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Opinion & Analysis

2022 dp world tour championship: betting tips & selections.

After 11 months of the 51st official season of the DP World Tour, we arrive at the finale – the DP World Championship, held at the Earth Course, Jumeirah Golf Estate in Dubai.

A genuine test of the very best, the 7600-yard course asks questions of every facet about the game, wearing players down by its length, and often asking players to battle against desert cross-winds.

Players can score well here. Indeed, every one of the 13 winners has recorded a final score well into double-figures ranging between 14-under and 25-under, with a mix of scoring well on the longer par-fours and the four par-fives, determined by quality putting on Bermuda greens.

It’s not Valderrama, the venue previously used as the season closer, but that doesn’t take away the thrilling nature of the track, one that may have not seen a play-off since 2010, but has seen five of the last seven determined by a single stroke.

In a limited elite field, often there is an option somewhere to avoid the top of the market, but here there seems little choice but to row along.

Four players have won this event twice, and three return to tee it up again this week.

Rory McIlroy is the undisputed best player in the world and victory here would wrap up the titles on both sides of the Atlantic.

He doesn’t have to win this week to do that, but Rory isn’t a player to sit in laurels and will surely attempt to continue a stunning run of form that includes giving former world number one, Scottie Scheffler, a start and beating at East Lake, sauntering home when defending the CJ Cup, and in-between having chances in Italy and at Wentworth.

However, he hasn’t played competitive golf for a few weeks and it’s worth recalling that he led after the first and third rounds last year before falling to sixth, whilst he had a chance to win in 2019 before a final round 73 saw him finish well behind this week’s market rival, Jon Rahm.

For me, the Spanish star hasn’t been at his best for a while, his only victory since May coming in a much lower-class field at his home Open.

I’m happy to leave both alone in favour of the man that says, ‘I know this one like the back of my hand and feel so comfortable here. That has to count in my favour.”

Given his course record of seven starts, two wins, one-runner-up, fourth and ninth, there is no question that Matt Fitzpatrick enjoys the trial of these four days.

Now armed with length off the tee, he has a natural ability to save par – crucial when in elite fields – whilst also ranking highly in par-five performance.

As he showed in his two course wins, both by a shot from proven links players Tyrrell Hatton and Lee Westwood, he is tenacious in battle and simply keeps grinding away, as he did when winning his first major, at Brookline in June this year.

His play-off loss to Robert McIntyre in Italy was maybe a surprise, but that player is himself a major contender of the future, something crucial to the outcome of this event, and he did have McIlroy, Hatton and Viktor Hovland behind.

Of the top trio, the 28-year-old is the least likely to spit out the dummy and keep going. He can be the first to win the DP World Championship for the third time.

The last ten champions have all been existing major champions, or (as with Fitzpatrick) future major winners and it looks likely the outcome will be the same.

Viktor Hovland hasn’t won one yet, and his last win was almost 11 months ago (although admittedly from an excellent field) at nearby Emirates Club, so at a few points bigger, take proven major winner and contender Shane Lowry.

The 35-year-old Irishman is simply a big-time player, with his victories including a six-shot Open victory in tough conditions at Royal Portrush and a win from an elite field at the WGC Bridgestone, all starting from a win at the 2009 Irish Open as an amateur.

Aside from his win at the 148th Open Championship, Lowry has six top-10s in majors through 12 years and European wins in Portugal, Abu Dhabi, and latterly Wentworth, where motivated by some LIV discussion, he beat both McIlroy and Rahm by a shot, with Hovland et al well beaten off.

Rather like the headline selection, Lowry is a big-time player that turns out against the very best and enjoys it around here, a course at which he led at halfway in 2021 before a benign back-nine caused him to drift out of contention, still finishing on the front page of the board.

Admittedly, rather like Tommy Fleetwood, Lowry would rather conditions became a tad more difficult, but he finished ninth and 12th in the past two runnings of this prestigious event despite losing shots off the tee, and any slight improvement in that, plus his standard top-grade iron play and short game, should see him stave off much of the lesser-knowns in this field. I’ll also be looking out for match-bets against Hovland.

Away from the stars, it’s very difficult to see a shock winner. Although the likes of Antoine Rozner and Eddie Pepperell are playing well, and have huge links form, it’s asking an awful lot for them to beat players they rarely finish in front of, and especially on a course proven to reward the very best.

Instead of tilting at windmills, I’m playing two names that are links-positive and who have pretensions to performing at majors, particularly at The Open.

Kiwi Ryan Fox is playing his best golf of a 10-year career.

Previously hard to win with, mainly because of a very poor short game, Fox has elevated himself to number two on the DP World Tour rankings, just behind McIlroy and in front of much of the top lot taking part here this week.

Fox has played more DP events, but his run over the past 10 months has been nothing short of sensational, taking him from a world ranking outside of the top-200, to a current place inside the top-30.

In his last 20 starts, the 35-year-old son of New Zealand rugby legend Grant, has won in Ras Al Khaimah and at the Dunhill Links, finished runner-up four times, including last weekend when one final-hole error let in course specialist Tommy Fleetwood, and posted four further to-five finishes.

Over the last three months, Fox ranks third in all-round rankings behind you-know-who and Jordan Smith, comprising 15th for driving, 34th for greens-in-regulation and top-10 for putting.

Although course form is average, Fox is on a different level now from the player seen in 2018 and proved so by finishing runner-up last week on a course he had not previously finished inside the top-50.

One of only a few that can be fancied to mix it up with the big boys, and with the motivation to challenge the big boys to the title, he admits:

      “I’ll just try to do the same thing – go out and beat the golf course then see what happens. I’m looking forward to it.”  

I’m struggling a little with Robert MacIntyre. 

Although still believing he is capable of a big run in a big event, the Scot’s inconsistency makes him very hard to read, and punters should take care where to back him.

However, when he is right, as when beating Fitzpatrick in a play-off for the Italian Open (McIlroy behind), he looks like the player that finished tied-sixth and tied-eighth in two of the three Open Championships he has contested in a short career.

12th and 23rd at The Masters shows the 26-year-old has the class to contend in this field whilst repeat performances at the Dunhill Links, Alfred Dunhill (South Africa) and Italian Open (two different courses) suggest he can turn it on when conditions suit.

At the Earth Course, we can upgrade MacIntyre’s finishes of 4/23/14 as he was second, 12th and fourth through three rounds of the 2020 running, whilst he was never out of the top-five last season, after a run of four missed-cuts and a best of tied-24th in seven outings.

This year he comes into the event in a good frame of mind. Having made all eight cuts from all of his recent outings, his form of two top-10s and a pair of top-20 finishes, suggests he could again put in a performance that will shake-up the ante-post odds for Hoylake in July next year.

Recomended Bets:

Matt Fitzpatrick  Win

Shane Lowry Win

Ryan Fox Win AND Top-10

Robert MacIntyre Win AND Top-10

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Vincenzi’s 2024 memorial tournament betting preview: collin morikawa to reign supreme at jack’s place.

The PGA Tour heads to Jack’s place to play the 2024 edition of the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday. The Memorial is regarded as one of the most prestigious non-majors of the PGA Tour season, and for the second consecutive year the tournament will be a “Signature Event”.

Muirfield Village Golf Club is a 7,571-yard par-72 located in Dublin, Ohio that features Bentgrass greens. A Jack Nicklaus design, the course was built in 1974 and redesigned by Nicklaus in 2020. The course can play extremely difficult due to its long rough and lightning-fast greens.

The Memorial Tournament will play host to 80 golfers this week, which is down from 120 last year. The top 50 and ties will make the cut. Being a designated event, the field is predictably stacked and will feature most of the biggest stars on Tour. All eligible players have committed to the event in addition to sponsor’s exemptions Matt Kuchar, Brandt Snedeker and Billy Horschel. 

Past Winners at the Memorial Tournament

• 2023: Viktor Hovland (-7)
• 2022: Billy Horschel (-13)
• 2021: Patrick Cantlay (-13)
• 2020: Jon Rahm (-9)
• 2019: Patrick Cantlay (-19)
• 2018: Bryson DeChambeau (-15)
• 2017: Jason Dufner (-13)
• 2016: William McGirt (-15)

Key Stats for Muirfield Village

Let’s take a look at five key metrics for Muirfield Village to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their last 24 rounds.

1. Strokes Gained: Approach

Jack Nicklaus designs all have one thing in common: They reward the best iron players on Tour. When designing Muirfield Village, Jack created a second-shot golf course that strongly benefited golfers who could really dial in their approach shots. With that in mind, does it surprise anyone that Tiger Woods won this event five times?

Strokes Gained: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds

• Scottie Scheffler  (+1.37)
• Corey Conners  (+1.14)
• Xander Schauffele  (+1.14)
• Sepp Straka  (+0.88)
• Rory McIlroy  (+0.88)

2. Strokes Gained: Ball Striking

Strokes Gained: Ball Striking does include approach, but if there is any week to overemphasize Strokes Gained: Approach, this is the week. The statistic also incorporates Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, which will be important considering the rough at Muirfield Village can be exceedingly penal.

Strokes Gained: Ball Striking Over Past 24 Rounds

• Scottie Scheffler (+2.48)
• Xander Schauffele  (+1.88)
• Rory McIlroy  (+1.60)
• Ludvig Aberg  (+1.56)
• Corey Conners  (+1.42)

3. Good Drive %

Driving the ball well will be an important factor. Bombing it off the tee is not a requirement at Muirfield Village, but distance always helps. The rough can get very long, and golfers who can’t put the ball in the fairway will fall out of contention quickly. Balanced and consistent drivers of the golf ball should be the targets this week.

Good Drive % Over Past 24 Rounds

• Collin Morikawa  (+88.1%)
• Tom Hoge  (86.1%)
• Sepp Straka  (+85.9%)
• Scottie Scheffler  (+85.8%)
• Alex Noren  (+85.8%)

4. Strokes Gained: Putting (Bentgrass – Fast)

The Bentgrass greens at Muirfield are lightning quick. Whoever can master these difficult putting surfaces has a major advantage at Jack’s place.

Strokes Gained: Putting (Bentgrass+Fast) Over Past 24 Rounds:

• Justin Rose  (+1.43)
• Thomas Detry  (+0.88)
• Sahith Theegala  (+0.77)
• Harris English  (+0.74)
• Denny McCarthy  (+0.73)

5. Strokes Gained: Nicklaus Designs

We often see similar leaderboards when events are hosted by Jack Nicklaus designed courses. The model this week will look to incorporate those golfers.

Strokes Gained: Nicklaus Designs (per round, min. 4 rounds) Over Past 36 Rounds:

• Scottie Scheffler  (+2.49)
• Patrick Cantlay  (+2.32)
• Collin Morikawa  (+1.99)
• Shane Lowry  (+1.74)
• Austin Eckroat  (+1.67)

6. Course History

Course History (Strokes Gained: Total (per round, min. 4 rounds) Over Past 36 Rounds:

• Scottie Scheffler  (+2.75)
• Patrick Cantlay  (+2.54)
• Justin Rose  (+2.17)
• Collin Morikawa  (+1.77)
• Jordan Spieth  (+1.66)

The Memorial Tournament Model Rankings

Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (27%), SG: BS (18%), Good Drive % (16%), SG: Putting Bentgrass – Fast (13%), Course History (13%) and SG: Total Nicklaus Designs (13%).

• Scottie Scheffler
• Xander Schauffele
• Shane Lowry
• Sahith Theegala
• Collin Morikawa
• Rory McIlroy
• Keegan Bradley
• Sepp Straka
• Corey Conners
• Viktor Hovland
• Russell Henley
• Justin Thomas

2024 Memorial Tournament Picks

Collin morikawa +1800 ( fanatics ).

Collin Morikawa has consistently shown up in the biggest events over the past few months. He finished in a tie for 3rd at The Masters, 9th at the RBC Heritage, a tie for 16th at the Wells Fargo Championship and a tie for 4th at the PGA Championship. He also finished 4th in his most recent start at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Iron play is always a strong indication of where Morikawa’s game is trending, and his Strokes Gained: Approach numbers have seen a recent uptick. The two-time major champion has gained an average of 4.0 strokes on approach over his last two starts, which despite not being as good as his peak approach numbers, are a major improvement over the past year or so.

Morikawa has played some great golf at Muirfield Village throughout his career. He won the Workday Charity Open in 2020 and lost in a playoff at The Memorial Tournament in 2021. His two most recent starts at the course have ended in a withdraw and a missed cut, but his current form is much better than it was over the past few seasons coming into the event.

In addition to the strong iron play, the ability to keep the ball in the fairway will be a major advantage for a Memorial Tournament that I anticipate will play relatively difficult. Morikawa has gained strokes off the tee in eight consecutive starts, including 3.8 strokes at the PGA Championship and 4.0 strokes at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

The American has been fantastic at Nicklaus Courses since he burst onto the scene on the PGA Tour, and that was once again on full display at Valhalla last month. In his last 36 rounds, Collin ranks 3rd in Strokes Gained: Total on Nicklaus designs. He also ranked 1st in the field in Good Drive %, which will be a key this week.

It’s been a while since the 27-year-old has won a big event on Tour, but that could very well change this week at Jack’s place.

Justin Thomas +2500 (BetMGM)

Justin Thomas is winless in last 43 professional starts, dating back to the 2022 PGA Championship. For a player with 17 professional wins and in the prime of his career, that’s a long time.

Other than being “due”, Thomas has shown signs that is just about all the way back from his two-year slump. He has four top-ten finishes this season, with three of those being at a “signature” event or a major. Most recently, he’s finished in a tie for 5th at the RBC Heritage, a tie for 21st at the Wells Fargo Championship and a tie for 8th at the PGA Championship.

JT has loved Nicklaus designs throughout his career. He finished 2nd at the 2020 Workday at Muirfield Village, losing in a playoff to Collin Morikawa. In his last 30 rounds at the course, he ranks 6th in Strokes Gained: Total.

In addition to the obvious course fit, Thomas’ ball striking numbers have come to life of late. He gained 4.1 strokes on approach at the PGA Championship to go along with 4.6 strokes off the tee. Valhalla another Jack Nicklaus design so it’s encouraging to see that’s where he had arguably his best ball striking week of the season. The key for Thomas will be keeping the ball on the fairways this week and he’s improved his SG: OTT performance in four consecutive starts.

Thomas is finally in form and ready to get back in the winner’s circle at Muirfield Village.

Byeong Hun An +5000 (DraftKings)

Byeong Hun An is playing the best golf of his career. This season, the 32-year-old has finished T16 at the Genesis Invitational, T16 at The Masters, T8 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and 3rd at the Wells Fargo Championship.

The South Korean’s ball striking has been fantastic this year. He’s gained strokes both off the tee and on approach in six consecutive events. An will now head back to a course where he’s had plenty of success. Back in 2018, he lost in a playoff to a surging superstar named Bryson DeChambeau. Ben has five top-25 finishes in eight starts at the course. The few times he missed the cut were in 2020 and 2021 when he was really struggling with his game.

An has had some close calls of late and I believe we need to stick with him for one more week.

Corey Conners +6000 (DraftKings)

Corey Conners is absolutely striping the ball right now. In his past 24 rounds, the Canadian ranks 2nd in Strokes Gained: Approach, 5th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking and 22nd in Good Drive %.

At last week’s Canadian Open, Conners ranked 4th for the week in approach and finished in 6th place. In his previous two starts, Conners ranked 2nd in Strokes Gained: Approach at the Wells Fargo Championship and 4th at the PGA Championship. There are very few players on the planet that are currently hotter with their irons than Corey Conners.

Conners has a solid history at Muirfield Village with mixed results. His best finish came in 2022, when he finished T13 and also finished T22 back in 2020. While putting is typically Conners’ greatest weakness, he’s gained strokes on the greens in three of his six starts at the course and ranks 30th in the field in Strokes Gained: Putting on fast Bentgrass, so there’s hope that the 32-year-old can putt to field average this week.

Conners’ ability to hit fairways and dial in his mid-irons can propel him to the top of the leaderboard this week at a course that favors ball strikers.

Will Zalatoris +8000 (DraftKings)

I’m not entirely sure if Will Zalatoris is fully healthy based on his recent struggles, but there are enough positive signs for a player of his talent at this number.

Zalatoris made a Friday charge in his most recent start at the PGA Championship, which enabled him to sneak through the cut line. For the week, he gained 3.56 strokes on approach and has gained on approach in nine of his past ten starts.

Although he’s struggled at times, Zalatoris still has some strong finishes in big events this year. He finished in a tie for 9th at the Masters, a tie for 4th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and a tie foe 2nd at the Genesis Invitational.

If Zalatoris is feeling fit, Muirfield Village is a perfect course to showcase his strengths. He’s one of the best iron players in the world and already has a 5th place finish in his most recent start at the course (2022).

This is a buy low opportunity on a world class player that has win equity.

Saso says so! Yuka Saso survives for second U.S. Open title

One of my favorite golf writers was the late Ron Balicki, and not just for the shared first name. Balicki was called, and enjoyed, the nickname “Wrong Ron,” because whoever he chose to win, was guaranteed to do not that. I might have inherited the moniker, sadly, and if you read yesterday’s update, this week goes miles to secure that designation. Four amateurs made the cut, and three of them tied for low amateur at 12-over par. I picked the one that did not make that number. Hilarious, no? As for the tournament proper, the new “Wrong Ron” guessed the correct country, but the wrong golfer. I went with Hinako Shibuno, and it was the  other pride of Japan, Yuka Saso, who stole the show. Alas!

For a healthy portion of the day, odds were in the favor of a player earning a second Open title. Important note:  her name was not Yuka Saso. As golfers around her crumbled, Minjee Lee held steady at +1 on the day, and -4 on the week. Arpichya Yubol from Thailand had made the big move of the day. She reached -3 on the day an -1 for the week, before two late bogies dropped her to solo fifth position, a remarkable achievement. The round of the day came from Ally Ewing, who posted four birdies against zero bogeys for 66 and a tie for third spot.

DIALED IN ?? 2021 champion Yuka Saso with another birdie, now 2 clear of the field. #USWomensOpen | @Ally pic.twitter.com/B2TslN56re — U.S. Women’s Open (@uswomensopen) June 2, 2024

As for Minjee, the round’s thread began to unravel at the 9th. A missed fairway led to bogey, and she followed with a three-putt for another at the tenth hole. Double bogeys at 12 and 14 took her out of the running for the title, and opened the chase to a new segment of the field. Hinako Shibuno would ultimately finish in solo second, one of two golfers to finish under par on the week. Shibuno was never a threat for the title, but when others lost their momentum, she found herself positioned for a runner-up finish.

A GOLF SHOT clinic! Yuka Saso has this left for eagle on the short par-4 16th. #USWomensOpen | @Ally pic.twitter.com/OGn5Auv2Nj — U.S. Women’s Open (@uswomensopen) June 2, 2024

It was Yuka Saso who turned in the day’s memorable performance. Saso turned in even par on the day, preserving her position at one-under par. Andrea Lee (+5) and Wichanee Meechai (+7) fell away from their place atop the third-round chart, as did Minjee Lee. Suddenly, Saso had posted four birdies in five holes on the inward half. She finished at two under on the day, four under on the week, and earned a three-shot win over Shibuno.

In her post-0round comments, Saso revealed that she had doubts that she would win again, especially a major title. She discussed the addition of a new putter to her bag, and her extraordinary confidence in her driver. Finally, Saso revealed how important the first cut of rough was to the resolution of the tournament. That wee bit of playable grass made all the difference in her mind.

TWICE AS NICE! ?? Yuka Saso has won the U.S. Women’s Open for the second time! #USWomensOpen | @Ally pic.twitter.com/TIIMUIvhfd — U.S. Women’s Open (@uswomensopen) June 2, 2024

With the refreshing transparency that all writers desire, Yuka Saso won for a second time on Sunday. We’ll forgive her if she values the US Open silver a bit more.

5 examples of how Lexi Thompson has been treated harsher than any of her peers

* Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on GolfWRX in September 2023*

• Related:  Lexi Thompson announces retirement from golf

Following Lexi Thompson’s Solheim Cup post-round presser on Friday evening, the 28-year-old has been the topic of much discussion.

Golf pundits and fans alike have been weighing in with their takes after this exchange with a reporter surrounding an untimely shank on Friday afternoon went viral:

Confounding answer from Lexi and subsequent reaction from the US side. It was one of the pivotal moments of the entire day and somehow that's off limits? pic.twitter.com/9std3LFlmN — Tron Carter (@TronCarterNLU) September 23, 2023

After the incident, LPGA Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez said that Lexi has “been picked on and drug through negative comments. She is tired of it”

So has the criticism of Lexi Thompson been justified, or is this yet another example of her being unfairly treated?

Well, here are five times, in my opinion, that Lexi has been scrutinized far differently over the years than her peers.

2022 KPMG PGA Championship

At the 2022 KPMG PGA Championship, Lexi Thompson held a two-stroke lead with three holes to play. She couldn’t close the deal and lost the tournament.

Afterwards, she was fined $2k (as were the rest of the group) for slow play.

Lexi declined to speak to the media and got hammered on social media for doing so…

Lexi Thompson has declined to speak with the media here at Congressional. Not a great look? — Zephyr Melton (@zephyrmelton) June 26, 2022

Almost every golfer at some point has skipped a media session following disappointment on the course, and nobody has really batted an eyelid.

Tiger skipped back-to-back post-round media briefings at the 2019 WGC Mexico after being frustrated with his putting. Remember the backlash over that? Nah, me neither.

Donald Trump

@TheWhiteHouse

Every (or nearly every) big-name golfer under the sun has played golf with Donald Trump. Tiger Woods, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy etc. Nobody really cared.

For whatever reason, when Lexi Thompson did, it was a story , and she took herself off social media soon after the photo was posted.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Lexi Thompson (@lexi)

2021 U.S. Women’s Open

In the final round of the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open, Lexi Thompson had a 6-foot eagle on her opening hole. She missed and made birdie to lead by five.

She then lost the tournament.

Following the round, Brandel Chamblee said on ‘Live From’ :

“She’s got 6 feet away. Now professional golfers don’t miss the center of the face by a pinhead. Look where she hits this putt on the very 1st hole. Look where this putt comes off the face. She would have missed the center of the putter there by a half an inch. I have never — I have never — seen a professional golfer miss the center of the putter by a wider margin than that. That was at the 1st hole. “

Honest? Absolutely. Correct? Brandel usually is. Has any other LPGA golfer been handed the full-on Chamblee treatment? Not to my knowledge.

2023 Solheim Cup

Lexi Thompson spoke the words, “I don’t need to comment on that” when a reporter asked her about a failed shot, and the golf community collectively lost their minds.

Lost on many people is the fact that she literally answered the question instantly after.

Jessica Korda described the reporting of the awkward exchange with the media member as yet another example of the golf media shredding Lexi, but in reality, it was really just golf media covering the furore created by golf fans reacting to the viral clip.

So sad seeing golf media , yet again, shred Lexi. It’s easy writing about other people’s mistakes. It’s Golf, bad shots happen- give the girl a break. She grows the game more than anyone on tour… And she’s a great player!! — Jessica Korda (@Thejessicakorda) September 23, 2023

Lexi then won her next two matches, collecting 3 points from 4 for the U.S. team. But nobody seems to care about that.

‘yOu ShoUlD PrAcTIce puTTinG’

There’s very few golfers that have been plagued with such inane posts on their Instagram page as Lexi Thompson has.

I’ve tracked golfer’s social media accounts over the past few years (job requirement, sort of?). I can categorically say that Lexi gets some of the angriest and most aggressive responses to her posts of any golfer. Male or female. (She also gets some very nice ones too) .

Despite countless posts of Thompson relentlessly practising her putting, the number of comments from dummies accusing her of neglecting that area of her game is both bizarre and alarming. Notice how the comments have been disabled on the post below? Probably not a coincidence.

Go on any other golfer’s social account, and it will be hard to find the same dynamic.

Throw in the scandalous rules decision at the 2017 ANA Inspiration that cost her a second major title and spawned the “Lexi rule,” and it’s hard not to think Lexi has had a bit of a raw deal at times.

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Play Fantasy DP World Tour - pick your team now

The all-new 2022 Fantasy DP World Tour game launches ahead of The Masters; select six players to represent your team each week and select a captain to earn double points; navigate the new Selection Cap feature that will limit how many times you can select the top players

Monday 4 April 2022 23:27, UK

Choose a team of six golfers for each week of the 2022 DP World Tour schedule, and your players will then earn points based on their performances. Get your team on the leaderboard!

Select a team of six golfers for each week of the 2022 DP World Tour schedule, starting with the Masters this week (April 7-10). Your team will then accumulate points based on the their performances in 2022 DP World Tour events.

In a brand new version of the game, players will need to use their DP World Tour knowledge to overcome the Selection Cap, which will limit the amount of times individuals can be chosen throughout the year.

Click here to visit the official Fantasy DP World Tour website and create your team!

Meanwhile, every golfer competing in each tournament will be available for selection - not just DP World Tour members.

Key game information is as follows:

DP World Tour Schedule

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The DP World Tour Championship betting preview: Odds, predictions and tips

Matt Cooper

• Published : 15:59, 14 Nov 2023
• Updated : 15:59, 14 Nov 2023

It’s the final tournament of the 2023 DP World Tour season and the Earth Course in Dubai is set for another week of world-class action and drama.

DP World Tour Championship odds

Odds with Spreadex :

• Rory McIlroy 5/1
• Viktor Hovland 11/2
• Jon Rahm 11/2
• Matt Fitzpatrick 12/1
• Tyrrell Hatton 12/1
• Tommy Fleetwood 14/1
• Tom Kim 14/1
• Min Woo Lee 18/1
• Nicolai Hojgaard 25/1
• Adrian Meronk 28/1

Best betting offers for the DP World Tour Championship

Here are our best-rated golf betting sites in the UK .

DP World Tour Championship betting preview

Unlike the PGA Tour’s FedExCup contrived finale, the DP World Tour heads into its Tour Championship knowing that the Race to Dubai rankings have already been won by Rory McIlroy.

It really doesn’t distract too much from this week’s action, however, which promises to be a thrilling celebration of the best of European golf.

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Two-time tournament winner McIlroy is closely followed in the betting by three-time champion Jon Rahm and young hot shot Viktor Hovland who is yet to lift the trophy but surely has the game to do so.

Matt Fitzpatrick is yet another two-time winner of the event and he is joined by fellow Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton in hoping to chase down the favourites.

DP World Tour Championship betting tips

Find some of the best picks for the DP World Tour Championship.

🏌️‍♂️ Matt Fitzpatrick each way

Last year’s US Open champion loves playing this event because the course is an ideal fit for him.

He was fourth on debut in 2015, claimed victory in 2016 and was the halfway leader on defence in 2017.

A year later he finished outside the top 12 for the first and only time in eight starts, but was soon back in the saddle.

He was ninth in 2019, winner for a second time in 2020, runner-up in 2021 and fifth last year.

He hasn’t been seen in action since starring in the Ryder Cup and winning the Dunhill Links Championship in consecutive weeks but he’s not alone among the favourites in having had time off.

⛳ Take Matt Fitzpatrick each way with bet365 offering 12/1 for five places ⛳

🏌️‍♂️ Adrian Meronk each way

The Earth Course demands supreme ball-striking and high quality driving of the ball in particular.

Those are the exact qualities that have helped the Pole Adrian Meronk win three times this season and he also used those skills to finish seventh in the tournament last year.

He’s also finished eighth at Jumeirah’s Fire Course and 11th at Al Mouj in Oman - both of them Greg Norman designs like the Earth Course.

He won just two starts ago in Spain and contending again is well within his scope.

The course suits him, he’s ranked third in the Race to Dubai and he remains motivated to remind everyone what he could have added to the Ryder Cup cause

⛳ Take Adrian Meronk each-way at 30/1 with 888Sport ⛳

🏌️‍♂️ Thorbjorn Olesen to beat Sepp Straka in a matchbet

As mentioned, the Earth Course is a Greg Norman creation and down the years the Austrian Sepp Straka has struggled to find his best game when playing on them.

He’s teed it up nine times on three different layouts, has just one top 30 finish and even that was only 22nd.

In contrast, the Dane Thorbjorn Olesen has 10 top 30s from 12 starts on Norman courses and seven of them were top 20s.

On the Earth Course alone Olesen has seven top 30s in nine starts while Straka makes a course debut this week.

⛳ Back the Dane at 10/11 with Spreadex ⛳

How to watch the DP World Tour Championship

• Venue: The Earth Course, Jumeirah, Dubai
• Date: Thursday 16th November - Sunday 19th November
• Broadcast:  Full coverage on Sky Sports Golf: Thursday, Friday & Saturday 7.00 am - 1.00 pm, Sunday 6.30 am - 12.30 pm

About the author

Matt Cooper has been a golf journalist for 15 years. He's worked for, among others, Golf365, SkySports, ESPN, NBC, Sporting Life, Open.com and the Guardian. He specialises in feature writing, reporting and tournament analysis. He's covered numerous Opens, Ryder Cups and Solheim Cups, and travelled to golfing destinations as varied as Kazakhstan, South Korea, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Find Matt on Twitter @MattCooperGolf

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2022 DP World Tour Championship leaderboard, scores: Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton begin to separate

The englishmen will be difficult to catch over the final 36 holes in dubai this weekend.

As was the case upon the completion of the first round, Matt Fitzpatrick and Tyrrell Hatton find themselves alongside each other at the top of the leaderboard heading into the weekend at the 2022 DP World Tour Championship. Playing in the final group in the second round, the two Ryder Cup teammates traded blows around Jumeirah Golf Estates, and ultimately signed for rounds of 5-under 67 to finish their days at 12 under for the tournament.

While Fitzpatrick was the one to shoot out of the gates on Thursday, it was Hatton's turn on Friday. Connecting on four birdies in his opening five holes, Hatton quickly opened up a three-stroke lead over his playing competitor. 

"I'm pretty happy with the score. I got off to another nice start again today," said Hatton. "Hopefully the putter stays fairly hot and we have a good weekend. There's still 36 holes to play. I have a fairly good record around here. Matt [Fitzpatrick] has an excellent record around here. But, you know, we'll enjoy each other's company tomorrow and hopefully we can keep playing well."

Struggles and visible disdain ensued for the world No. 29 as three bogeys in his next seven holes allowed Fitzpatrick to claw his way back. The reigning U.S. Open champion reclaimed a share of the lead with a birdie on the par-4 15th, and pushed ahead with another on the following hole. This lead would be short-lived as Hatton converted a birdie opportunity from 20 feet on the par-3 17th before the two were able to save par on the closing par-5 18th after struggles off the tee.

"Just got to keep pushing on, just keep playing how I feel like I'm playing right now. I feel really comfortable with where my game is at, particularly after three weeks off, and looking forward to the weekend," said Fitzpatrick. "I feel like I've played two good rounds to start with and put myself in position, and I'll just keep doing more of the same and see where it gets me come Sunday."

Birdie Birdie Birdie Par Birdie @TyrrellHatton goes three clear at the top 💪 #DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/UnzGODnZGe — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 18, 2022

For their efforts, the Englishmen have grown a three-stroke edge over their nearest pursuers. Former European Ryder Cup member Alex Noren stands at 9 under alongside Adri Arnaus, and a bit further back a couple big fish are waiting in the shallows. Two-time DP World Tour Championship winner Jon Rahm stands at 8 under after a splendid round of 6-under 66 while Rory McIlroy is at 5 under courtesy of a fast finish.

Round 2 leaderboard, scores

• T1. Matt Fitzpatrick: -12
• T1. Tyrrell Hatton: -12
• T3. Alex Noren: -9
• T3. Adri Arnaus: -9
• T5. Jon Rahm: -8
• T5. Jorge Campillo: -8
• 6. Kurt Kitayama: -7
• T8. Tommy Fleetwood: -6
• T8. Rasmus Hojgaard: -6
• T8. Min Woo Lee: -6
• T11. Rory McIlroy: -5
• T11. Adrian Otaegui: -5
• T11. Richie Ramsay: -5
• T11. Yannik Paul: -5
• T11. Maximilian Kieffer: -5

World No. 1 may have found something

A birdie-birdie-eagle finish propelled McIlroy to a round of 4-under 68 in his second round and back into contention. Playing his first 33 holes in 1 under, the world No. 1 found himself as many as 10 strokes back. Now at 5 under, he sits in a tie for 11th and only seven adrift. McIlroy is projected to finish second in the DP World Tour Ranking after entering the week in the top spot given Fitzpatrick's presence at the top of the leaderboard.

"[It was] pretty mediocre golf for the first 33 holes, and then something sort of clicked," said McIlroy of his fast finish. "Whatever it is, I need to bottle it for the weekend. It was nice to finish with a flourish there and put myself a little closer to the guys. You never know, that finish here on Friday could be key to something that happens over the next 36 holes."

. @McIlroyRory closing out his second round in style 🚀 #DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/eMhoSuQgwG — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 18, 2022

DP World Tour Championship updated odds and picks

Odds via Caesars Sportsbook

• Matt Fitzpatrick: 8/5
• Tyrrell Hatton: 5/2
• Jon Rahm: 5-1
• Rory McIlroy: 12-1
• Alex Noren: 12-1
• Adri Arnaus: 25-1
• Kurt Kitayama: 30-1
• Tommy Fleetwood: 35-1

One member of the English pair is likely to nab this title, but I can't help but look in the direction of Rahm at 5-1. Entering the week as one of the hottest players in the world, the Spaniard was able to climb his way back into this tournament with seven birdies against only one bogey. Rahm left a couple shots out there on Friday and should be in with a chance come the final nine holes on Sunday if he is able to wield the putter in the same manner as his previous five starts.

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Fantasy Golf: 2023 DP World Tour Championship DFS Picks

By hans geevers | nov 15, 2023.

This week, the DP World Tour presents the final tournament of the season, the 2023 DP World Tour Championship.

A stacked field of talent, including defending champion Jon Rahm, will battle in an effort to win the final full field event of the season. Let’s discuss this prestigious event from a DraftKings/fantasy golf perspective!

The 2023 DP World Tour Championship will be played at the Earth Course in Dubai. The Earth Course is a par 72 that measures approximately 7,675 yards. 

Before I discuss my fantasy golf player selections I wanted to emphasize that the purpose of this article is not to provide an exact lineup for a specific fantasy provider.

Having stated that, this article will provide multiple player options in an effort to assist the reader in generating a unique lineup that will hopefully have the potential to win a DraftKings GPP (guaranteed prize pool) contest!

Here are my DraftKings/fantasy golf selections for the 2023 DP World Tour Championship!

2023 DP World Tour Championship DFS Player Selections

Tommy fleetwood  $10,300.

The talented Englishman has accumulated two top-12 finishes in his last three tournaments played on the DP World Tour, including a sixth-place result at the 2023 BMW PGA Championship.

It should also be noted that Tommy Fleetwood has posted quality results at the Earth Course in the past. Since 2019, Tommy Fleetwood has played the DP World Tour Championship four times. In those four events just mentioned, Fleetwood has accumulated an impressive three top-ten finishes, including a second-place result at the 2022 DP World Tour Championship.

Matt Wallace  $8,100

Matt Wallace has accumulated two consecutive top-15 finishes on the DP World Tour, including a 15th-place result at last week’s 2023 Nedbank Championship in South Africa.

Matt Wallace finished second at the 2018 DP World Tour Championship.

Jorge Campillo  $7,600

Jorge Campillo has accumulated three consecutive top-19 finishes on the DP World Tour, including a second-place result at the 2023 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters three weeks ago.

Additionally, Jorge Campillo finished ninth at the 2022 DP World Tour Championship.

dark. Next. 2023 RSM Classic Fantasy Golf Picks

Additional golfers I like this week : Rasmus Hojgaard $8,700: Alexander Bjork $8,200: Marcel Siem $6,900.

DP World Tour Odds and Picks: Soudal Open (Best Bets to Win)

By iain macmillan | may 21, 2024.

With a non-signature event scheduled for the PGA Tour and a week off in the LPGA, it's time to take a look at the DP World Tour, also known as the European Tour.

This week, they head to Belgium for the Soudal Open, set to be hosted at Rinkven International Golf and Country Club.

In this article, I'm going to dive into the odds to win the event as well as my top two picks to win it.

Soudal Open Odds

The top 10 odds to win listed below are via BetMGM Sportsbook

Adrian Otaegui +1800

• Jordan Smith +2000
• Thomas Pieters +2000
• Yannik Paul +2000
• Bernd Wiesberger +2500
• Richard Mansell +2800
• Alex Fitzpatrick +3300
• Thriston Lawrence +3300
• Adrien Dumont de Chassart +4000
• Antoine Rozner +4000

DP World Tour Picks and Best Bets for Soudal Open

It's a chalky pick, but for good reason. Not only did he win the last DP World Tour event he played in, the Volvo China Open, but he's the most accurate driver of the golf ball on the DP World Tour which is the biggest key metric at Rinkven International Golf and Country Club. He also won this event back in 2018 and has finished 15th here the last two years.

Great form, fantastic course history, and a perfect course fit. It makes too much sense to not take the favorite at 18-1.

Joel Girrbach +6000

Joel Girrbach has played some fantastic golf lately, going T13, T18, and T3 in his last three events. Not only is his game trending in the right direction, but he enters the event ranking third in driving accuracy, which I wrote above is the No. 1 stat to consider this week.

He's also 11th in strokes gained: approach and 24th in greens in regulation. If he can have a good weekend putting, he's going to be in contention on Sunday. He may be the best value bet on the board at +6000.

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

You can check out all of Iain's bets here !

Go to Betfred.com

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DP World Tour Championship 2023 Tips: Fitzy the man in Dubai

 | November 13 | 

17 mins read

Rory McIlroy may have already won the Race to Dubai title but there is still the little matter of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship to decide. Our man Jamie Worsley is back with his long-read preview and four selections to prevail in the desert. 

DP World Tour Championship Tips

3 pts Matt Fitzpatrick each way (1/5 – 6 places) – 12/1  

1.75 pts Ryan Fox each way (1/5 – 6 places) – 30/1  

1 pt Lucas Herbert each way (1/5 – 6 places) – 50/1 

1 pt Matt Wallace each way (1/5 – 6 places) – 60/1

As Max Homa picked up his first international success with an emphatic four-stroke win at the Nedbank Challenge yesterday, the result of that event had more significant ramifications for our final event of the 2022/23 DP World Tour season this week in Dubai, and indeed the culmination of the Race to Dubai.

With Adrian Meronk and Ryan Fox unable to make a sizable mark at Gary Player Country Club, it leaves Rory McIlroy with an unassailable lead atop the R2D and means somewhat of an anti-climax to the end of the season.

Having said that, Rory is obviously a very deserving winner, having won two of the strongest events on the calendar this year, claiming his third Dubai Desert Classic at the start of 2023 and producing that sublime finish to take the Scottish Open back in July. Add in the fact that he’s hit the top 10 in three majors and these rankings – which are/were supposed to reward season-long excellence – are going to a player who has represented just that.

No matter what happens this week, he will collect his fifth Harry Vardon Trophy, putting him solo 3 rd on the all-time list behind Colin Montgomerie (8) and Seve Ballesteros (6).

We do still have the matter of what should be a fantastic golf tournament to finish off the season, as the stars arrive for the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Estates - Earth Course.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY

The DP World Tour Championship debuted in 2009 (as the Dubai World Championship), replacing the Volvo Masters as the season-ending event on the DP World Tour.

That first edition was won by Lee Westwood with a score of -23 and his six-stroke victory there is the record winning margin in the event, a feat he shares with 2013 winner, Henrik Stenson, who shot a record -25 winning score.

The Swede became both the first person to win this event twice and first player to retain the title when winning in 2014. Two more players have won the event twice: Rory McIlroy (2012, 2015) and Matt Fitzpatrick (2016, 2020), though they all trail Jon Rahm, who recorded his third victory in the event last year, after previously winning the 2017 and 2019 renewals. He returns looking for title #4 this week.

The pristine Jumeirah Estates - Earth Course was completed in 2008 and is designed by Greg Norman. It has hosted every renewal of the DP World Tour Championship since 2009 and boasts an average winning score of -19 over the fourteen editions to date.

The Earth Course is a par 72 and will this week play to 7675 yards. It contains ten par 4s ( 371-499 yards ), four par 5s ( 572-626 yards ) and four par 3s ( 186-245 yards ).

This is your typical, open Middle-Eastern desert track. The landing areas in the rolling fairways are generally wide, though they do tighten the further you go and are protected by deviously strategic bunkering, which frame the holes and with most large and deep, represents the primary defence of the course. With the rough not too difficult to play out of and the tree-smattered waste areas which border most holes only in-play for the most wayward.

Elevation changes into the huge, undulating and varied greens are frequent. Greens which are often fronted by those penalizing bunkers and have added protection in the way of often-steep run-off areas around the majority.

Whilst the putting surfaces are easy to hit, possessing the 8 th -highest GIR numbers on the DPWT , they are tough to putt on and very difficult to scramble around, ranking inside the top 10 in both scrambling and putting difficulty on tour. It’s into and on/around these greens where the tournament is usually won and lost.

Water is in-play on five holes but only really comes into play over the back nine. It makes up one of the most exciting finishes on the DPWT, with the 16 th , 17 th and 18 th all occupied by water hazards.

The 16 th is the final par 4 and a lengthy 486 yards . Water sits to the far right of the wide fairway, which has two bunkers in the landing area for protection. Avoiding these hazards is not even half of your job done, with the shallow green protected by bunkers short and long, and water directly to the right.

Get out of there with a par and you are then tasked with the 195-yard par 3 17 th – a hole surrounded by water on all sides. It has one of the smallest and most quirkily-shaped greens on the course, with certain pin placements hard to find and four bunkers for protection if the water danger alone wasn’t enough.

The famous final hole is a 620-yard risk/reward par 5 . A creak dominates the hole, protecting the fairway to the right and the narrow, sloping green to the left. Players often bail out off-the-tee into the bunkers left and hit layups into the rough on the right to avoid the water. Two quality shots will be needed to reach the green in two but disaster lurks for anyone who is slightly off when taking an aggressive line with driver or in approach. It is a fabulously dramatic finish to the event.

• SG: Approach
• Greens-in-Regulation
• SG: Putting
• SG: Off-the-Tee

You’ll likely need a little bit of everything to be successful at Jumeirah Estates this week but I want to lean particularly on the strongest iron players and putters, which would’ve proven a fruitful tactic in recent renewals. This is no surprise into tough green complexes, where precise approach play is needed to access the pins and when you inevitably don’t hit the correct spot, you’re going to need to rely on the flatstick.

Jon Rahm was at his best in both of these areas when winning last year, ranking 2 nd in approach and 2 nd in putting. Runner-up, Alex Noren was 2 nd on the greens, 3 rd in GIR and 7 th in approach, whilst Tyrrell Hatton (also 2 nd ) ranked 5 th in approach and 6 th in putting.

Collin Morikawa produced a solid all-round display to win in 2021, though his closest challengers in 2 nd , Alexander Bjork and Matt Fitzpatrick, ranked 1 st and 2 nd with the putter respectively.

Fitzpatrick putted well when winning the previous year, ranking 1 st on the greens, followed home by the 4 th , 6 th and 7 th -best approach players for the week; 2019 and 2018 winners, Jon Rahm and Danny Willett, both excelled in approach; Rahm ranking 4 th and Willett ranking 2 nd .

Though the fairways are wide, the bunkers do make this a relatively challenging driving course and few have been able to contend without at least driving the ball solidly. Of the last five winners, Rahm in 2019 ranked 4 th off-the-tee; Collin Morikawa and Matt Fitzpatrick ranked 8 th .

CORRELATING EVENTS (COURSES)

Events around the Middle East are a good place to start here with the style of golf pretty similar right across the region. There are three that stand out – all in the UAE – most in relation to this week’s challenge, whilst back in Europe there are a couple of events I’m relying on to give us further clues for this week’s tournament.

Abu Dhabi Championship (Abu Dhabi Golf Club)

First up is the Abu Dhabi Championship. Whilst current host, Yas Links should work too, it’s the previous host, Abu Dhabi Golf Club – which hosted the event up to and including 2021 – that appeals most.

Much like the Earth Course, it is your typically well-manicured, generous desert course; possessing similar birdie/bogey averages and has large greens which are easy to hit.

Notable Correlating Form:

Lee Westwood:

DPWTC (1 st ) / Abu Dhabi (1 st )

Tyrrell Hatton:

DPWTC (2 nd , 2 nd ) / Abu Dhabi (1 st )

Tommy Fleetwood:

DPWTC (2 nd , 5 th ) / Abu Dhabi (1 st , 1 st , 2 nd )

Matt Fitzpatrick:

DPWTC (1 st, 1 st , 2 nd ) / Abu Dhabi (2 nd , 3 rd )

Shane Lowry:

DPWTC (2 nd , 5 th ) / Abu Dhabi (1 st , 4 th )

DPWTC (6 th , 7 th ) / Abu Dhabi (2 nd , 9 th )

Kiradech Aphibarnrat:

DPWTC (2 nd , 9 th ) / Abu Dhabi (4 th )

Dean Burmester:

DPWTC (4 th , 4 th , 6 th ) / Abu Dhabi (7 th )

Victor Perez:

DPWTC (7 th ) / Abu Dhabi (2 nd )

Dubai Desert Classic (Emirates Golf Club)

Emirates Golf Club is a more penal ball-striking test but it’s a course where those who are strongest with the long game have usually thrived. Which has produced many telling form-ties.

Rory McIlroy:

DPWTC (1 st , 1 st ) / DDC (1 st ,1 st , 1 st )

Danny Willett:

DPWTC (1 st , 4 th , 5 th ) / DDC (1 st )

Alvaro Quiros:

DPWTC (1 st ) / DDC (1 st )

DPWTC (2 nd , 2 nd ) / DDC (3 rd , 3 rd , 4 th )

Adri Arnaus:

DPWTC (9 th , 9 th , 10 th ) / DDC (3 rd , 9 th )

Andy Sullivan:

DPWTC (2 nd , 10 th ) / DDC (2 nd , 4 th , 6 th )

DPWTC (4 th , 4 th , 6 th ) / DDC (3 rd )

DPWTC (6 th , 7 th ) / DDC (3 rd )

Dubai Championship (Jumeirah Estates - Fire Course)

There were only two editions of the Dubai Championship staged in 2020 and 2021, acting as a stand-in during the pandemic. Taking place at the same golf complex as this week and also designed by Greg Norman, the Fire Course is a touch more linksy in feel but is big, open and full of scoring opportunities.

DPWTC (9 th ) / Dubai Championship (1 st )

DPWTC (2 nd , 10 th ) / Dubai Championship (2 nd , 4 th )

Matt Wallace:

DPWTC (2 nd ) / Dubai Championship (2 nd )

Mike Lorenzo-Vera:

DPWTC (3 rd ) / Dubai Championship (2 nd )

Adrian Meronk:

DPWTC (7 th ) / Dubai Championship (8 th )

Portugal Masters (Dom Pedro - Victoria Course)

Over to Europe and the Dom Pedro Victoria Course looks a great comp this week. This open resort course has many form-ties with the Earth Course with golfers experiencing similarities into and on the large, undulating putting surfaces.

DPWTC (1 st ) / Portugal (1 st )

DPWTC (2 nd , 5 th ) / Portugal (1 st , 6 th )

DPWTC (2 nd , 10 th ) / Portugal (1 st , 2 nd )

DPWTC (6 th , 7 th ) / Portugal (1 st , 1 st )

Jorge Campillo:

DPWTC (9 th , 9 th ) / Portugal (6 th , 8 th )

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship possesses similar averages to this week’s event in GIR, scrambling and putting. With this, several compelling form-ties have developed.

DPWTC (1 st , 1 st , 2 nd ) / Dunhill Links (1 st )

DPWTC (1 st , 4 th , 5 th ) / Dunhill Links (1 st , 2 nd )

DPWTC (2 nd , 2 nd ) / Dunhill Links (1 st , 1 st , 2 nd )

DPWTC (2 nd , 5 th ) / Dunhill Links (2 nd , 2 nd )

DPWTC (2 nd, 5 th ) / Dunhill Links (3 rd , 4 th , 6 th )

DPWTC (6 th , 7 th ) / Dunhill Links (3 rd , 5 th )

DPWTC (2 nd , 9 th ) / Dunhill Links (4 th )

THE WEATHER

Conditions are warm and dry before the start of the event, though there is scheduled to be some afternoon showers during Thursday’s first round, along with gusty winds that could blow at close to 30mph. That is forecast to disappear from Friday, though the winds may return for Sunday’s final round.

This year’s Race to Dubai winner, Rory McIlroy, is the top-ranked player in the field at #2 in the world and is one of seven from inside the top 15, along with: #3 Jon Rahm, #4 Viktor Hovland, #8 Matt Fitzpatrick, #11 Tom Kim, #12 Tyrrell Hatton and #15 Tommy Fleetwood.

Tom Kim is one of thirteen debutants in attendance, joined by several first-time winners on the DPWT this season, including Open de France winner, Ryo Hisatsune and British Masters champion, Daniel Hillier.

Ryder Cup stars, Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka return to action after being absent since the that exhilarating win for Team Europe in Italy.

The top 50 of the Race to Dubai are all eligible and teeing it up this week. Daniel Brown was the last man in, just about hanging on to his spot, dropping five spots to 50 th after last week. Two players moved inside the top 50 after last week: Matt Wallace and Jens Dantorp; Marcus Helligkilde and Ockie Strydom were the unfortunate duo to drop out.

The top of the betting is very strong, with Rory McIlroy as our 4/1 favourite this week. He is followed by Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland at 5/1 .

Winners of this event are always of the highest order, with each of the last eleven DP World Tour Championship victors a then or future major winner . Whilst that leading trio are of course hugely respected, the prices make very little appeal to me. However, there is one player who looks the clear value at the top end of the betting, just outside the top three: two-time winner of this event Matt Fitzpatrick, and he goes in as my main selection in Dubai.

Following on from last year’s US Open major success, Fitzpatrick has continued to make noise in the golfing world this year. He initially struggled for form at the beginning of 2023, with the long game looking an issue. Though after a first full-field top 10 of the year coming back in April at The Masters, where the ball-striking had started to pick up, he recorded his second victory in the U.S and first in a regular PGA Tour event by claiming the RBC Heritage, in a playoff over Jordan Spieth.

The form of the Sheffield man was a little in-and-out following that success but he rediscovered it again in the FedExCup Playoffs, finishing second in the BMW Championship and then came 9 th in the season-ending Tour Championship.

Fitzpatrick maintained his form when heading back over to Europe for the Ryder Cup, finishing 3 rd in the European Masters and 18 th at Wentworth, before earning his second win of the year in the weather-shortened Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on his last stroke-play start, a little over a month ago.

He has been good in all areas this year but it’s with that trusty putter that he has done the most damage, ranking 11 th on the PGA Tour, something he often puts to good use in this event. Whilst not as strong as last year, the ball-striking has been solid, with the driver looking particularly good over the last three months, ranking 32 nd for this period.

Fitzpatrick’s record here is superb, with two wins, a 2 nd and he finished 5 th last year. He has gained strokes on these greens every year since at least 2017 and his win in the Dunhill Links last-time-out gives me confidence that his game is in a good enough place for another strong showing at the Earth Course this year.

Ryan Fox has been a little underwhelming on his last two starts but I’m expecting him to bounce back at a course that should suit this week.

Fox’s rise over the last couple of years saw him make new ground in his golfing career in 2023. After a positive start to the year on the DPWT, Fox spent a four-month stint on the PGA Tour where he played ultra-consistent golf, missing just two cuts in a twelve-event stretch and recorded five top 25s.

He headed back over to Europe in September, first finishing 3 rd in the Irish Open and then produced a scintillating back-nine performance at Wentworth in the BMW PGA Championship on the Sunday to gain the biggest victory of his career; against many of the elite opponents that he will once again face this week.

Fox subsequently finished, 2 nd to Fitzpatrick in the Dunhill Links three starts ago, though will need to be forgiven two below-par efforts on his two latest starts, where he’s finished 52 nd in the Andalucia Masters and was 51 st in last week’s Nedbank Challenge.

The New Zealander has gained strokes in all areas this year, ranking a solid top 40 in approach, off-the-tee and on the greens on the DP World Tour.

After finishing 28 th on debut in 2017 and 45 th in 2018, he returned to the Earth Course for the first time in four years in 2022, recording his best finish yet of 19 th . Where he got better as the week went on, finishing off with a 4-under 68.

Fox’s win in the Dunhill Links last year should work well, whilst he’s no stranger to winning in the UAE, having won the Ras Al Khaimah Championship last year. His win at Wentworth gives me and should certainly give him the confidence that he has what it takes to get the better of this elite field and break further ground this week.

Though Lucas Herbert has largely struggled for form on the PGA Tour this year, he’s looked a different player when making a rare step back to DPWT action and with his record at this course trending in a positive direction, I’m taking the talented Aussie to go better again this week.

In fourteen regular events on the PGA Tour this year, Herbert has missed five cuts but only recorded one official top 10, which came at the WGC-Match Play. This is in stark contrast to his DPWT form in 2023, where he finished 3 rd in the Dubai Desert Classic on his first start of the year and won the Korea Championship on his second start on the tour at the end of April.

He does arrive with a little more consistency in his recent PGA Tour results however, finishing 31 st or better in four of his last five starts and can hopefully build on that here.

We know what to expect with Herbert’s game. For all his approach play can be a little erratic, he makes up for it with the quality of his putting and driving, ranking 30 th on the greens and 65 th OTT on the PGA Tour this season. Indeed the putter has been his biggest weapon since turning pro and has looked excellent of late, ranking as the 5 th -best putter around over the last three months.

He finished 21 st at the Earth Course on his last visit in 2021, shooting three rounds under par. This was a marked improvement on his debut finish of 49 th in 2018.

Herbert’s excellent record in the Dubai Desert Classic, where he’s won and finished 3 rd gives me confidence he is capable of even better here, as does a 2 nd -place finish in Portugal. With rounds of 64 and 66 in Bermuda last week showing his game isn’t all that far away, I fancy him to be a player this week.

Matt Wallace earned his spot in this week’s field after a promising 15 th -place finish in the Nedbank Championship last week. He should be in a positive yet relaxed mood following that and with recent form and course form good, he can go well in Dubai.

Wallace became a PGA Tour winner earlier in the year when taking home the Corales Puntacana Championship. Though his form stuttered following that breakthrough victory, he’s looked a different beast back on the DPWT over the last few months.

He made his first DPWT start in seven months at the Czech Masters at the end of August, where he was an arguably unlucky runner-up to an inspired Todd Clements. Since then he has made a further eight starts and missed zero cuts, recording four top 25s. Two of them top 10s, when 6 th in the Dunhill Links and 9 th in Qatar two starts ago.

Despite this, Wallace still sat outside that all-important top 50 needed to get into this week but made that jump with his 15 th at Sun City. A week which promised and would’ve delivered even more if it wasn’t for a damaging three hole spell where he dropped five shots on Saturday.

His tee-to-green play has been very strong on the DPWT this year, ranking 3 rd . He has looked particularly strong with his irons, ranking 4 th for GIR and 9 th in approach. Something he showed last week, as the 6 th -best iron player in the field in South Africa.

Wallace was an excellent runner-up here on debut in 2018 and has been a perfectly solid 29 th and 28 th on his two subsequent starts in the event. With finishes of 2 nd at the Fire Course in 2020, 2 nd in the 2019 Dubai Desert Classic and top 10s in Abu Dhabi, Portugal and the Dunhill Links, his correlating form is stronger than most and can lead him to contending for a first DPWT success in five years.

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