Dubai betting preview

By David John Last updated: 3rd February 2010

It is the final leg of the Gulf Swing and another top drawer field do battle for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic before the big guns head towards the USA and begin the build up for the first World Gold Championship event in a couple of weeks.

Rory McIlroy took last week off in Qatar to prepare for his first defence of a European Tour title and the young Ulsterman is favourite across the board to do the business once again.

McIlroy has taken the chance to arrive early in Dubai to get ready but he did manage to miss one of his scheduled practice rounds due to a sunburnt chest picked up over the weekend.

That was just a precautionary measure and all reports are that he is raring to go once again.

It is fair to say that he has been knocking on the door and it can only be a matter of time before he's back in the winner's circle.

He has a little bit extra to deal with this week in terms of being the defending champion and although I am in no way ruling him out, I would still like to look elsewhere at the odds on offer.

I think there is just about enough mileage in Lee Westwood at 12/1 this week for him to make it third time lucky in the desert.

Westy's campaign in the last two events in Abu Dhabi and Qatar has been beset by bad fortune but he still has the chance to set the record straight.

His missed cut in the first event was down to his regular clubs going missing while a cracked driver in round three thwarted his battling pursuit of Rober Karlsson the following week.

It led him to say: "It's hard to imagine anything else going wrong this week, so 11 under is an unbelievable score."

Granted four rounds that are not blighted by something out of the ordinary, Westwood can make amends and looks the most likely winner of the event.

His last outing in Dubai was his superb victory in the season finale of 2009 where he comfortably got the better of all his main rivals this week.

Henrik Stenson's odds are bigger than you would expect after two moderate displays by his lofty standards in Abu Dhabi and Qatar.

But I reckon he deserves the benefit of the doubt this week on his return home to Dubai where he boasts a stunning record.

The winner in 2007 said: "I have done well as I am quite familiar with the Majlis course. It is one of my favourite weeks on tour and I always look forward to it."

Like many of those at the head of the betting, Stenson is warming up for the spring in the United States and will be fine tuning his game for the next few months ahead.

Equally though, he will want to raise the level of his performance compared to the last fortnight and if he shows anything near what he is capable of at this venue, the 18/1 on offer with Sky Bet could be on the generous side.

Those looking beyond the obvious and a solid each-way alternative could do a lot worse than Scott Strange, who is an interesting contender this week on his first start of 2010.

We last saw the Western Australian in top form at the Australian PGA Championship where he was tied for second behind Robert Allenby.

His performance was all the more remarkable as he battled through the week with a hand injury after someone had rather unfortunately crushed it while shaking it in greeting him.

He makes a belated return to action in the new year following the birth of his daughter Meghan but he has already set himself a target of making the top 50 in the world.

That does not look unreasonable considering he is a winner on the European Tour in both of the last two seasons and a step up to contending in an event of this stature is well within his compass.

A promising seventh on his debut last year at the Emirates course, Strange should also take some inspiration from fellow Perth man Brett Rumford's fine effort at Qatar last week and if he is sharp enough following his break, he is worth a punt at 70/1.

Tips:

3pts win Lee Westwood at 12/1 (general). Not much luck the last fortnight and can make make up for it with a win.

2pts win Henrik Stenson at 18/1 (Sky Bet). Not been at his best lately but that could change back in Dubai.

1pt e.w. Scott Strange at 70/1 (Boylesports, VC Bet, Paddy Power 1/4 1,2,3,4,5). First start of 2010 but has plenty going for him.