This article is part of our DraftKings Euro Tour series.
DP World Tour Championship, Dubai
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Course: Earth Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates
Yardage: 7,675
Par: 72
Tournament Preview
The 2018 season comes to a close this week with the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. The Race to Dubai Championship and final Rolex Series event will once again be contested at Jumeirah Golf Estates, as the resort hosts the European Tour finale for the tenth straight year. The Earth Course consists of wide fairways and large undulating greens. Water is present on five holes, including the 17th, with an island green, and 99 bunkers are scattered throughout. A variety of types of golfers have won this event, though one consistent aspect was a good week of putting and ball striking. Recent form and course history will be once again considered heavily.
Key Stats to Winning at Jumeirah Golf Estates
Greens in Regulation
SG: Putting
SG: Off The Tee
Past Champions
2017 - Jon Rahm
2016 - Matthew Fitzpatrick
2015 - Rory McIlroy
2014 - Henrik Stenson
2013 - Henrik Stenson
DraftKings Picks
Tyrrell Hatton, $9,600 - (16/1)
Hatton has only experienced success at the DP World Tour Championship, finishing T8 last year, solo 2nd in 2016, T13 in 2015, and T6 in 2014. I expect more of the same this year. He comes to Dubai in good form, with four top-10s in his last eight starts, the highest of which was T2 last month at Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. There are many quality options at the top this week, Sergio Garcia being one of them, but at $2,300 cheaper, Hatton is an appealing proven contender and a solid player to start a lineup with.
Hao-Tong Li, $9,000 - (20/1)
Li has been on fire of late, finishing no worse than T11 over his last five events. He appears to be very close to getting in the winner's circle again this year, as he was T5 last week at the Nedbank Golf Challenge and solo 2nd before that at Turkish Airlines Open. His game really has appeared complete as of late, but the only concern this week could be the bunkers. Otherwise, Li should have a great tournament. His putting, iron game and off the tee are all stout, and he is ranked 5th on Tour in SG: off the tee. He finished T13 at Jumeirah Golf Estates last year.
Lee Westwood, $8,500 - (40/1)
This is a tournament Westwood has won before, back in 2009. Last week he showed he could turn back the clock a bit and notched his first win in four years. Westwood plays consistent golf, but it seems he needed to win again to prove to himself that he still has it. I believe the victory at Nedbank last week is going to jump start his career, and there will be more Ws to come. I would not be surprised to see him have back-to-back wins by claiming victory in Dubai. He is ranked 14th on Tour in greens in regulation and 22nd in SG: off the tee.
Andrea Pavan, $7,300 - (80/1)
The Italian is having a career year, which included a win at the D+D Real Czech Masters in August. Since then he has only one missed cut in seven tournaments. His form has been steady, and he finished T11 last week at Nedbank Golf Challenge. Pavan's stats are near the top in many areas, as he ranks 6th on Tour in greens in regulation and 2nd in SG: approach. Pavan's putter has been hot this season as well, with him slotting in 15th in SG: putting. This is his first appearance at DP World Tour Championship, and I believe he will make the most of it. At this price, he is core play.
