Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Betting Info
It is the first big duel of the season as Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods are lined up to take a crack at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. While the field will be made up of 124 players, all eyes will largely be on just two of them. What makes this interesting, is that McIlroy has just signed up with a Nike equipment deal, matching up that of Tiger Woods. Extra focus will be on McIlroy v Woods because a whole host of top European stars like Luke Donald and Lee Westwood aren’t in attendance. Did all the invitation money go on getting Woods and McIlroy together? Last year produced a shock result, what will golf betting at the event bring this time around?
Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Betting Defending Champion
The shock mentioned was caused by England’s Robert Rock. He went and out-gunned Tiger Woods and held off the challenge of Rory McIlroy in the last round here last season to take a remarkable win. That was the only win of the season and he didn’t really come close anywhere else over the course of the season. He hasn’t been out this season so far, so not a front runner. Robert Rock is trading down at odds of 80/1 with online bookmaker Sportingbet.
Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Betting Favourite
Who wins the toss up for the favorite in European PGA golf betting this week? It is Rory McIlroy, actually without any surprise. The new Nike man took second place last year, one shot back of Rock. He ate up the course well enough, it was just a sticky second day which ruined things for him. The world number one will have high expectations for the year and if he can come out and score an early victory over Woods, just to quieten down that focus in the first stages of the new season, then it will serve him well. Tremendous record at the course with a top five finish in each of the last four starts at the event. Outright favourite at odds of 9/2 with online bookmaker Sportingbet and deservedly so.
PGA Humana Challenge Golf Betting Odds and Preview
Other Contenders
Germany’s Martin Kaymer is trading well in the outright winner market, because he has a great affinity with the tournament. Kaymer is a three time victory at the event, winning in 2008, 2010 and 2010. He bombed badly missing the cut last season but overall his track record at the event can’t be matched. We haven’t seen Kaymer at his world beating best for some time now and it would do him a whole power of good to take this title for a fourth time. Doesn’t look terribly likely given his overall form of last season. Didn’t manage to get his hands on a title on the European Tour last season. He is long overdue one.
American world number eight Jason Dufner will be making his debut at the event and cannot be overlooked. The laid back golfer went very strongly during 2012 climbing the rankings right up into the top ten. The thing about Dunfer is that he delivered all over the world, not just on North American courses, so he could well be a threat. Dufner took two tiles last season and there has just been positive after positive in his game. He landed a second place finish at the 2012 WGC-HSBC Championship in China as well and he will have his plans laid out for this one. A very decent top ten shot for some value.
Another man making his Abu Dhabi debut is England’s Justin Rose who produced one of his best seasons during 2012. Rose finished second in the European Tour’s Money List, the Race to Dubai last season with a tremendous return from just thirteen tournaments played. A good start will see major positives again from him this season. Untested at the track and the event, so that may put him at a bit of a disadvantage. Great balance in his game though and such a solid, consistent player that a top ten bet on him would probably bring some value.
Are we forgetting someone? Oh, yes, Tiger Woods. What can he deliver? Both Woods and Robert Rock put in third rounds of 66. The difference between the two at the end was Woods could only manage a 72 on Sunday, whereas Rock held his nerve with a round of 70. Woods’ T3 was earned on his debut at the event last year, and such a sporadic attendee to European Tour events that you never know what you are going to get. Woods was on his game last season on the PGA Tour, picking up wins and this will be fantastic opening to the new year for him. Can he produce something to get close to Rory McIlroy? Big chance for him to get one up on the Northern Irishman. Woods is 7/5 in the Place Market at online bookmaker Sportingbet.
Best Outside Bet
Italy’s Francesco Molinari could be the bet of the week for your golf picks. He has landed top ten finishes three times in his last four appearances at the event, finishing 8th for the past two seasons. He has already turned out a good performance as well early into the 2013 season, securing a T9 at the Volvo Champions, looking pretty solid. Well worth taking some value in him to at least make a top ten finish and keep his streak going. Molinari is 5/2 for a top ten finish at online bookmaker Sportingbet.
Latest Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Betting Prices at online bookmaker SportingBet
Rory McIlroy 9/2, Tiger Woods 7/1, Martin Kaymer 8/1, Justin Rose 14/1, Jason Dufner 22/1, Padraig Harrington 28/1, Henrik Stenson 28/1, Francesco Molinari 28/1, Paul Casey 28/1, Peter Hanson 28/1, Ernie Els 28/1, George Coetzee 40/1
Online Bookmaker Promotion
There is superb extra value in live in play betting at Sportingbet throughout the month of January,as you can get a free £20 every day. Place six qualifying live in-running bets on a single day and you will receive up to a £20 free bet to use the following day. You can make another six qualifying live in play bets and get another free £20 bet everyday. The maximum value of the free bet will match the biggest qualifying stake. New customers to online bookmaker Sportingbet can get a risk free £50 bet as a welcome bonus as well.
