The DP World Tour swings back into action with this week's Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek Resort, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Before I continue I take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy New Year & all the best for 2024.
The figures are in for my Telegram channel & since its launch at the end of April last year, we are £2896.22 in profit.
That’s now three years since it all began that The Caddy has consistently bashed the bookie year after year while having fun watching golf. £3.5K in 2021 & £4K profit in 2022.
Come & join us by clicking the link below & don’t miss out on what I expect to be our best year ever.
Dubai Creek will be playing 7,059 yards long this week, it’s a par 71 desert layout that will require precision & accuracy.
The smaller field of 60 will be matched with 60 amateurs in this new-look DPWT pro-am event. They will be competing for a share of the $2.5M prize purse with the winner collecting the Dubai International title & a winning cheque for $416,750.
This will be the first edition of this event so no defending champion. It starts the second of the DPWT swing series with this being The International Swing which runs until 10th March with events in the UAE, Bahrain, Kenya & South Africa.
The weather forecasts sunny & warm conditions throughout with breezes peaking at around 10mph.
This event will be screened on Sky Sports Golf with live coverage starting at 7.30 am on Thursday.
So let’s move on with the first DPWT tips for 2024.
Rasmus Hojgaard 16/1 EW Betfair 1-6 places
For my first & main selection at Dubai Creek, I’m going to single out Rasmus Hojgaard 16/1 EW Betfair 1-6 places. The young Dane will be looking to join his brother on the PGA Tour next season & can get off to a good start with a victory in the desert. This talented 22-year-old kid has finished no worse than 26th at the last half dozen attempts with half of them being Top 20 or better finishes. Two were in the Top 10, 4th at the Open de France & T6th at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.
You then only have to look back another half dozen tournaments to see a W for Rasmus Hojgaard when he scooped the Made in Himmerland in his homeland. 3rd at the KLM Open & T6th at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship were another couple of Top 10 efforts from 2023. His Stoke Average figures are up there but it’s GIR stats that will be important come Sunday where Rasmus Hojgaard ranks 13th on the DPWT for Greens in Regulation.
If he can get hot with the putter then it could be the perfect start for Rasmus Hojgaard as he starts 2024 with a victory in Dubai.
Ewen Ferguson 50/1 EW Skybet 1-5 places.
For my next best selection I’m going to advise Ewen Ferguson 50/1 EW Skybet 1-5 places. The young 27-year-old Scotsman resides in Dubai these days & although I’m going on limited information here, I believe he’s played this course on many occasions. Not only that, he’ll have the luxury of sleeping in his bed every night. It’s those little things could make a big difference at the DP World Tours' first event on the 2024 golfing calendar.
It makes lots of sense for the young Scot to be based in Dubai as it’s more central for the many locations that the DPWT visits throughout the season & the conditions are usually always perfect for training & practice.
The Glaswegian had three Too 20 finishes across the same number of continents all one after another towards the end of last year but T9th at the flagship DP World Tour Championship could be the best clue out of them all.
Without a W in 2023, Ferguson did have another half dozen Top 10 finishes throughout the year with a few more Top 20s in there as well. The two-time DP World Tour champion could make it three in familiar surroundings this weekend when he’s crowned the Dubai Invitational Champ, I did tell you he loves it here.
Kalle Samooja 100/1 EW 1-5 places Unibet
For my final selection & because of the smaller field this week, I’m going to give you a taster as to what’s on my Telegram channel & give you this weeks 100/1 + Winner. This is a bet I do every week & we have already tasted success with Brian Harman winning The Open tipped at 110/1.
I also tipped Lucas Glover at 95/1 to win the FedEx St Jude & although he wasn’t 100/1, as explained at the time he was 100/1 the night before so I’m still claiming it this is all in the past few months on my Telegram channel so please come & join us & win some money while having fun watching golf, it’s all we’ve done here for three years on the bounce.
So here it is folks Kalle Samooja 100/1 EW 1-5 places Unibet.
This week’s longshot starts his year at the Dubai Invitational & the Finn usually goes well in the desert. He has five Top 20 finishes in these parts & seems to enjoy playing in the Gulf States.
His only victory to date came at the European Porsche Open in 2022 but he does have a couple of Top 5 finishes at the Qatar Masters & he also finished 4th at the Dubai Desert Classic. His best effort last year was 4th at Made in Himmerland but 9th at the Open de Espana was also a good effort. I’m not saying Kale Samooja will run away with this or anything like that but at that price & with it being the first time out for almost everyone in this smaller field Kalle Samooja could be the surprise package & it could be another Top 5 or better Finish for the Finn.
Dubai Invitational Betting Tips
- Rasmus Hojgaard 16/1 EW Betfair 1-6 places
- Ewen Ferguson 50/1 EW Skybet 1-5 places
- Kalle Samooja 100/1 EW 1-5 places Unibet
Dubai Invitational Matchbet Nap
- Available on The Caddy's Telegram Channel – Get 30 days FREE here
