The DP World Tour remains in the United Arab Emirates for this week's Ras Al Khaimah Championship at Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.
The 132 field with the top 65 including ties making the cut will all be competing for a share of the $2M prize purse with the winner collecting the Ras Al Khaimah Championship title and a winner's cheque for $333,400.
Nicolai Hojgaard returns to defend the title he won here last year when seeing off his nearest challenger Jordan Smith with four shots to spare. His winning scorecard read 264, -24.
Ras Al Khaimah Golf Club will be playing 7,400 yards long this week, it’s a par 72 desert track with plenty of birdie opportunities available, expect low scoring again around this easy layout.
The weather is forecast to be sunny and pleasant throughout with breezes peaking at no more than 10mph.
This event will be screened on Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Gold with live coverage starting at 8.30 am on Thursday morning.
So let’s crack on with this week’s betting tips for the Ras Al Khaimah Championship.
Adri Arnaus 28/1 EW 1-7 places Paddy Power
For my first and main selection in the desert, I’m going to single out Adri Arnaus 28/1 EW 1-7 places Paddy Power. The 28-year-old from Barcelona, Spain is a native to these parts having chosen to reside in Dubai and also has previous winning form on this golf course when winning a challenge tour event here in 2018.
He finished 13th at the Dubai Desert Classic last weekend and with the field not as strong this week, the door could be ajar for another DPWT crown for the Spaniard. He also finished a very respectable 9th at the DP World Tour Championship at the end of 2022, just a couple of events back so it’s clear for all to see that Arnaus enjoys playing golf here, hence why he decided to relocate to these parts.
Adri had a better 2022 than most in this field which was topped with a victory when winning the Catalunya Championship in his homeland. He was also runner-up at the MyGolfLife Open and finished 3rd at the Saudi International.
In the 25 events that the Spaniard entered last year he finished inside the Top 10 on no less than seven occasions. His best performances were at the start of the year so I’m backing Adri Arnaus to continue that trend with another W in the bag this Sunday afternoon when he claims the Ras Al Khaimah Championship.
Thriston Lawrence 45/1 EW 1-6 places Skybet
For my next best selection in the Middle East, I’m going to point you all in the direction of Thriston Lawrence 45/1 EW 1-6 places Skybet.
The 26-year-old South African missed the cut last week at the Dubai Desert Classic and withdrew the previous week at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship but I’m willing to forget both of the abovementioned just as I’m sure he will.
You only have to go back a few tournaments to see a W for Lawrence when he scooped the South African Open Championship at the tail end of last year. He also had another victory last in 2022 when winning the Omega European Masters and was runner-up at the Magical Kenya Open.
All in all he had thirteen Top 20 finishes in 2022 with eight of those inside the Top 10, that’s more consistent than most in this field. The Sir Henry Cotton rookie of the year can get his year up and running with another victory on the DP World Tour this weekend to add to the three already in the bag, again more than most in this field can boast.
I'm counting on Thriston Lawrence to put the disappointments from the past fortnight behind him as he powers on to claim his fourth DPWT crown at Ras Al Khaimah with the added insurance, if not winning outright then just a place will return a tidy profit.
Nicolai Hojgaard 22/1 EW 1-6 places Unibet
For my final outright DPWT tip this week I’m going to recommend the defending champion Nicolai Hojgaard 22/1 EW 1-6 places Unibet. It’s easy to forget that this kid from Billund in Denmark is still only just 21 yrs old and will need to see off his twin brother Rasmus who I can also envisage being up there challenging on the back nine on Sunday afternoon.
At such a young age he has already bagged two DPWT titles and won this event last year so obviously knows what it takes to conquer this course.
His winning scorecard read 264 on -24. His other victory was when winning the Italian Open in 2021 and believe me when I say there will be plenty more to come for this talented kid. He’s already finished inside the Top 10 this year having only played two events and has made the cut at both.
I just have a feeling that course management will prevail this week and who better to see his way around here than the previous champion?
I’m actually looking for a price for either Nicolai or his twin brother Rasmus to win this event but can’t see any specials available for this market therefore I’m going to stick with the former to produce the goods and be the birdie machine just as he was last time around here as he successfully defends his Ras Al Khaimah title this coming Sunday.
So all that’s left now is the match bet Nap which again was so kind to us last weekend. The SuperBanker Nap on the PGA Tour and also the match bet Nap on the DPWT both landed comfortably so let’s keep the good run going with one of our very own, Callum Shinkwin to see off Romain Langasque over 72 holes looks appealing at 10/11 with Bet365.
Ras Al Khaimah Championship Best Picks
- Adri Arnaus 28/1 EW 1-7 places Paddy Power
- Thriston Lawrence 45/1 EW 1-6 places Skybet
- Nicolai Hojgaard 22/1 EW 1-6 places Unibet
- Callum Shinkwin to beat Romain Langasque over 72 holes looks appealing at 10/11 with Bet365
In December 2020 we sadly 
