The DP World Tour tees off 2022 with the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at the Yas Links Golf Club, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
As we look forward to the new look DP World Tour and the Race to Dubai, it promises to be an exciting year ahead with lots of new venues & events including this weeks host in the Emirates.
Tyrrell Hatton returns to defend the title he won last year but with thirteen of the World’s Top 50 golfers in attendance including, Collin Morikawa, Rory McIlroy & Viktor Hovland, it’s not going to be an easy task.
The 132 field will be competing around this stunning par 72 links style desert course for the $8m prize purse with the winner collecting the title and $1.33m along with 8,000 Race to Dubai points.
The weather is forecast to be sunny and warm throughout but breezes will peak on Thursday and Friday with a much calmer weekend.
This event will be screened on Sky Sports Golf & Sky Sports Main Event with live coverage starting at 3.30AM GMT on Thursday morning.
I’ve already posted a preview for the American Express over on the PGA Tour so for the first time in 2022 we have both the DP World and PGA Tours hosting events so there’s lots of action to keep us entertained from now until the end of the year including majors.
So let’s move on with the first selections on this years DP World Tour in the Emirates.
Min Woo Lee
For my first and main selection I’m going to advise Min Woo Lee 35/1 EW Bet365.
The young 23 year old Aussie arrives here fresh from a 4th place finish at The Australian Open so he already has some advantage over most of this field who have yet to hit a ball this year.
In his last five events Min Woo Lee has finished inside the Top 20 at every attempt with four of those being Top 10 finishes and three of them in the Top 5.
This talented kid was T2nd at the Andalucia Masters, T4th at the Dubai Championship and T8th at the Portugal Masters all on the DP World Tour. He has now risen up to 44th in the world rankings with help from his win at last year's Scottish Open where he won his maiden title on European soil but he was also victorious at the ISPS Handa Open in 2020 to make it two professional victories.
This layout will suit Min Woo Lee’s game with his long ball striking and excellent short game and his win at the Renaissance could be a good pointer on this track.
If Min Woo Lee comes to Abu Dhabi with his recent excellent form then he will definitely be challenging on the back nine at Sunday's final round and make the 35/1 on offer just now look huge.
Robert MacIntyre
For my next selection I’m going to single out our very own Robert MacIntyre 40/1 EW Bet365.
The 25 year old Scot from Oban, if you ask me, will light up 2022 and I can only see a few more titles in the bag, hopefully a major.
Bob almost has himself inside the World's Top 50, currently 58th so his first challenge is to find a way to get that Top 50 berth as it opens up so many more opportunities. He’s already recently received his invitation to this years Masters at Augusta after a dazzling 12th place last year so will be looking to get back in the groove after an amazing year.
This will be Bob's first tournament of the year but last time out he finished 4th at the DP World Tour Championship where I tipped him at 55/1 EW, yet again he didn’t disappoint and returned a decent Each Way profit for us.
The talented Scotsman finished an even better T8th at The 149th Open Championship and was inside the Top 50 at every major last year. The only thing missing last year was a victory but he was knocking on the door on so many occasions so I’m keeping the faith with Robert MacIntyre to start the year with a bang and get in the winners enclosure at the first time of asking on the new look DP World Tour with a victory in Abu Dhabi.
Collin Morikawa
For my next pick I’m liking the look off the Worlds No2 best golfer, Collin Morikawa 15/2 EW Ladbrokes.
For me Morikawa is the best iron player on the planet and can hit those pins with precision at almost every attempt.
The current Race to Dubai champion had a year to remember and I can only see that trend continuing this year.
He has the new, recently-released TaylorMade stealth driver in his bag and used his new tool sublimely at the Sentry Tournament of Champions where he finished 5th in Hawaii to start the year.
He won the 149th Open Championship at Royal St George's and the WGC Workday Championship at The Concession last year as well as his Race to Dubai credentials. It’s hard to believe that this talented kid from Los Angeles, California is still only 24 years old.
With two majors already in the bag it’s only a matter of time before Morikawa is crowned the World’s No1 player, he actually could have done it at the Sentry Tournament of Champions two weeks back if he finished in the Top 3 and Rahm finished 5th or worse but that didn’t materialise.
It’s simply a treat to watch this kid at any given opportunity and he has to be the one they all have to beat this weekend at Yas Island. It would come as no surprise to see Morikawa run away with this and show his class from start to finish.
Min Woo Lee v Thomas Pieters
For my final selection it’s the customary matchbet and this week I’m going to advise my main selection Min Woo Lee to get the better off Thomas Pieters over 72 holes 10/11 Nap Bet365.
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Tips
- Min Woo Lee 35/1 EW Bet365
- Robert MacIntyre 40/1 EW Bet365
- Collin Morikawa 15/2 EW Ladbrokes
- Min Woo Lee to beat Thomas Pieters 10/11 Nap Bet 365 , 72 hole matchbet
