The second leg of the European Tour’s desert swing takes place this week with a potent field competing for the title at the 30th Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Shane Lowry, last week’s wire-to-wire winner at Abu Dhabi, looks to make it two in a row, but he’ll be challenged by a number of top players, including betting favorite and World No. 5 Bryson DeChambeau. Defending champion Haotong Li is also listed among the favorites, as are past Major champions Louis Oosthuizen, Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson. Matchup odds for the tournament contested at the Emirates Golf Club are listed below.
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Omega Dubai Desert Classic Matchup Odds at BookMaker.eu
Romain Langasque +161 vs. David Lipsky -205
Scott Jamieson -107 vs. Erik Van Rooyen -123
Dean Burmester -126 vs. Bernd Wiesberger -104
Matt Wallace -113 vs. Ian Poulter -117
Lee Westwood -109 vs. Tom Lewis -121
Lucas Bjerregaard -104 vs. Jordan Smith -126
Matthew Fitzpatrick +143 vs. Rafael Cabrera Bello -180
Sam Horsfield -125 vs. Chris Paisley -105
Alexander Bjork -121 vs. Thomas Detry -109
Matthias Schwab -116 vs. Alexander Levy -114
Joost Luiten -122 vs. Thorbjorn Olesen -108
Rafael Cabrera Bello -161 vs. Thomas Pieters +128
Matthew Fitzpatrick -112 vs. Thomas Pieters -118
Richard Sterne -103 vs. Ryan Fox -127
Eddie Pepperell -114 vs. Pablo Larrazabal -116
Ross Fisher +104 vs. Andy Sullivan -134
Sergio Garcia -104 vs. Tyrrell Hatton -126
Tommy Fleetwood -110 vs. Louis Oosthuizen -120
Byeong Hun An -167 vs. Martin Kaymer +133
Soren Kjeldsen +112 vs. Jason Scrivener -142
Henrik Stenson -105 vs. Tyrrell Hatton -125
Bryson DeChambeau -104 vs. Tommy Fleetwood -126
Bryson DeChambeau -105 vs. Louis Oosthuizen -125
Shane Lowry -119 vs. Haotong Li -111
Sergio Garcia -123 vs. Henrik Stenson -107
Need to Know
At 7,328 yards, the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club is considered one of the finest in the Middle East and has a reputation for being one of the most difficult desert layouts on the Tour. The length and exposed fairways play well to the big hitters, however there are a number of water hazards and bunkers that come into play, as well as desert areas. That requires a mix of power and accuracy to successfully navigate the course. For the most part the greens are flat, negating any advantage the best putters have. Tee to green play is what will separate the field over the four days. While long-ballers are favored, they must back that up with expertly struck approach shots.
Omega Dubai Desert Classic Matchup Picks
Louis Oosthuizen -120 vs. Tommy Fleetwood
Recent form in Dubai may suggest otherwise, but Oosthuizen has a game that perfectly fits this layout. And he has something to prove after his third-round meltdown last week in Abu Dhabi cost him a chance to win. The veteran has been through the ringer during his career and that 75 shouldn’t affect him too much. In fact he rallied on the last day with a 66 to finish four shots off the pace. He missed the cut in his last two starts here, but he’s in fine form, save for that third-round scuffle last week. He hits for distance and will have no problem driving in excess of 300 yards. His approach has looked good also, setting him up for numerous birdie chances. He carded 68 or lower in three rounds at Abu Dhabi and on a similar desert-style course should at least score comparably. Meanwhile, Fleetwood was a mess last week grabbing a share of 42nd with three rounds of 70 or higher.
Sergio Garcia -123 vs. Henrik Stenson
There could be some rust in Garcia’s game since he hasn’t started in some time. But he did end 2018 on a high note starting with his Ryder Cup performance and continuing with a win in his Andalucia Masters at Valderrama. He’s been strong in this event as well with a victory in 2017 and four straight top-10s from 2008 to 2013. Sergio won’t have a problem off the tee and as long as his approach shots and putting are in fine form, there’s no reason why he can’t enjoy success again. Stenson disappointed last week missing the cut in Abu Dhabi. Is that an aberration or will his game continue its decline? He grabbed a top-10 here last year, but he’s finished inside the top-10 just once in his last 13 official events.
Shane Lowry -119 vs. Haotong Li -111
Recent form and the similar layouts of the Emirates Golf Club and the Abu Dhabi GC have me leaning toward Lowry in this matchup. He hasn’t had much success here, but he also hasn’t played this event since 2014, so the break might do him some good. He scorched an opening 62 last week and led from start to finish, though he was just 8-over across the final three rounds. He credited the victory to additional time spent in Abu Dhabi ahead of last week’s event. The desert course did him well, but it wasn’t so nice for Li, who missed the cut after a pair of 71s. But you can’t discount the defending champ after he shot a tournament record 23-under last year.
Golf Betting Odds
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