Stenson to start where he left off

Dubai Desert Classic 

It's the final part of the desert swing and Tiger has flew over to join the party. Tiger is a regular to Dubai, probably for two reasons, his appearance fee and his good mate Mark O'Meara adding it to his schedule around the turn of the century. I see O'Meara did an interview for the European Tour website, though not sure what we learnt from it - "you have to putt well to win any tournament", "the European Tour has proven itself to be one of the best tours in the world" and “Driving the ball will be important, keeping the ball in the short grass, and putting well. You have to putt well to win any tournament, and this will certainly not be an exception this week, making the putts." - Thanks Mark. Great insight. 

Tiger was too bad to be true last week and you'd probably want to give him another go in the hope he has shook off some of that rust. At 6/1 he's a decent price but I'm happy to leave him out this week after watching Torrey Pines beat the crap out of him last Saturday. 

McIlroy is the favourite this week at a skinny 3/1. He's definitely got his mojo back but I think I'll let him win again before I touch him at a price like that. On to who I do like this week...

Big bad Henrik Stenson is my weapon of choice this week. After the finish to last season I was of the opinion he would struggle to replicate it at the early part of this season but I think the fact that we are in Dubai I'm hoping he'll get some positive thoughts. I could say a course like this suits Stenson's eye but after last season you'd have to say most courses do when he's on form. I do like siding with Stenson when driving is key, as he absolutely nukes that three wood of his and it usually finds the short stuff. I really don't think that McIlroy is three times more likely to win this week than Henrik. 

Next up is the only Stevie G that matters. Stephen Gallacher is the defending champ this week and I think he can go close again. He likes this part of the world and has already notched up a Top 10 finish in Abu Dhabi a couple of weeks ago. He shot a couple of low numbers here last year with a 62 and 63 to win by a comfortable enough three shots in the end. Most people will point to the trend between results in this part of the world and Portugal to explain the winners in the last few years and Gallacher is one of those examples. He also finished in a tie for second here in 2012 and I'm happy enough to back him at the prices to hopefully place again. 

Off the beaten track a little, but hey, it's my blog. I suppose I better formally retract my Coetzee comment which I posted on Twitter after another lacklustre finish in Abu Dhabi. The guy just frustrates the life out of me. I followed him for a few holes at Royal St George's the year Clarkey won and I thought this kid had talent. But three years down the line he still hasn't picked up a tour win and he's had his chances. The way he just crumbled from the middle of the 18th fairway was worrying but he had another solid week last week and I'm sure he will many times, but I think he might need to have his first one handed to him before he will kick on. Anyways, let's leave it there.

My Selections:

Henrik Stenson to win @ 11/1 with BetFred (2 point win)

Stephen Gallacher each way @ 45/1 with Bet365 (1 point each way) 

Be lucky!