This article is part of our DraftKings Euro Tour series.
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Course: Abu Dhabi GC
Yardage: 7,583
Par: 72
Tournament Preview
The season's first Rolex Series event, which brings an increased purse and stronger field, is the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at, as always, Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The long, desert course is tree-lined with water on the majority of holes. It will play even longer this year because of heavy rain that saturated the course. The greens are large and bunker protected. The stats say Abu Dhabi is a ball-strikers course — it rewards accuracy both off the tee and approaching the greens.
Key Stats to Winning at Abu Dhabi
SG: Tee To Green
Driving Accuracy
SG: Approach
Driving Distance
Past Champions
2019 - Shane Lowry
2018 - Tommy Fleetwood
2017 - Tommy Fleetwood
2016 - Rickie Fowler
2015 - Gary Stal
DraftKings Picks
Viktor Hovland - $9,300 (28/1)
The field is loaded this week. There are many strong plays up top, including the world No. 1. There are questions surrounding Koepka's return from injury and rust for the players returning after the extended break. I am going to take the savings and start with Hovland at $9,300. He is a first-timer at Abui Dhabi HSBC Championship, but that does not concern me. He has made the most of his first-time events around the world this last year. He is a ball-striker and long off the tee. He should have no problem getting into the mix at Abu Dhabi.
Thomas Pieters - $9,200 (28/1)
Pieters was T16 here last year. He has three top-5 finishes at Abu Dhabi. Pieters ended last year on fire. He made 12 cuts in a row, including a win at Czech Masters, and a T6 at the DP World Tour Championship. He appears to be on target to have the breakthrough year that many thought Pieters would have had by now. His golf game obviously fits this course. I think he will have a great week.
Thomas Detry - $7,900 (50/1)
Detry's highest finish at Abu Dhabi was T9 in 2018. He arrives with momentum from last week in Johannesburg, where he scored 66 on Sunday and finished T28. He has made his last six cuts in a row, with two top-5s. He drives the ball long off the tee and is accurate with his iron play. He is a birdie maker, at $7,900 he is underpriced.
Grant Forrest - $6,300 (250/1)
If you are looking for a bottom-price golfer, Grant Forrest might be worth consideration. He competed at Abu Dhabi last year and finished T42. He scored a 65 on day two. He arrives with some form finishing T4 last time out at Afrasia Bank Mauritius Open. He is a bomber who can spray it a bit but has a good short game.
