Dubai Desert Classic
The DP World Tour moves from Abu Dhabi to Dubai for the Dubai Desert Classic. Rory McIlroy is the bookies favourite due to been number one in the world. McIlroy will have revenge on his mind after going into the water on the 18th hole with his second shot which ended his chances of winning the 2022 edition. It will be interesting to see how McIlroy performs considering that he hasn’t played since the DP World Tour Championship in November.
Tyrrell Hatton shot a final round of seven under to finish tied seventh at 2023 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. He played the back nine in 29 shots which included a hole in one on the par 3 13th. Hatton has played well in Dubai Desert Classic over the years as he finished tied fourth in 2022. He loves to win a big tournament and my opinion is that Hatton will win the Dubai Desert Classic this weekend.
Min Woo Lee shot a final round of four under to finish in a tie for second at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. All parts of Lee’s game are especially the big power drives and my opinion is that Lee will finish in the top five again this weekend. Padraig Harrington finish in a tie for ninth in the 2022 Dubai Desert Classic. Harrington is hitting the ball further and The Dubliner shot a final round of five under to finish fourth at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. My opinion is that Harrington will continue his solid start to 2023 by finishing in the top five at Dubai Desert Classic.
Sami Valimaki shot a final round of ten under to finish in the top ten at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. My opinion is that Valimaki will continue his good form and finish in the top ten at Dubai Desert Classic. Rafa Cabrera-Bello represented Europe in 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National. The Spaniard returned to the winner’s circle as he won the Open de Espana in 2021. Cabrera- Bello finished in a tied for tenth at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and my opinion is that he will finish in the top ten for a second week in a row at Dubai Desert Classic.
Other Irish interest at Dubai Desert Classic is Shane Lowry. The Offaly man had a poor final round of 76 which included multiple missed putts from short range. Lowry will be looking for a response at Dubai Desert Classic but my opinion is that he will not finish in the top ten. Tom Mc Kibbin is also playing at Dubai Desert Classic. His rise on the DP World Tour is incredible with only been 20 years old. It would be another great achievement if Mc Kibbin makes it to the weekend at Dubai Desert Classic.
It's another big week in the world of golf with the Farmers Insurance Open taking place at Torrey Pines and Rory McIlroy playing on the DP World Tour at Dubai Desert Classic. Hope you enjoy the action on both tours over the weekend.