Lee Westwood returned to winning ways in stunning fashion in last week’s Nedbank Golf Challenge and the Worksop-born player is a worthy favourite at the general 5/1 ahead of the season-ending Dubai World Championship.
It’s not only Westwood‘s recent form that makes him such an attractive proposition at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, it’s also his record at the luxurious golf resort in the desert. Westwood won the Dubai World Championship in 2009 and was third 12 months ago when finishing just a shot off the pace. He’s had no trouble winning back-to-back tournaments in Korea and Indonesia earlier this year so is clearly worth following once in the groove and he may be operating under less pressure than the likes of Luke Donald (a general 11/1), who knows a place in the top nine would be good enough for him to make history as the first player to top the US and European money lists in the same year, that’s providing Rory McIlroy doesn’t win in Dubai.
The young Ulsterman is suffering from a virus, however, and struggling to maintain energy levels which isn’t ideal with so much riding on the next four days. The US Open champion is a general 6/1 to win in Dubai. Sergio Garcia has enjoyed a successful second part of the year and should be refreshed having taken a few weeks off. The Spaniard is available at 14/1 with most layers while the 20/1 about Paul Casey with bwin very much catches the eye. Most bookmakers are paying out on the first five for each-way purproses and the Englishman wouldn’t be far away if reproducing the form he showed in the final three rounds of last week’s Nedbank Golf Challenge.
Others to consider include Ian Poulter (27/1 on betfair) who was beaten in a play-off in Dubai last year by Robert Karlsson (a general 25/1) and Germany’s Martin Kaymer (a general 14/1). The latter has won twice on the European Tour this year but his two previous appearances in this event have been disappointing and that may be the case again this season and, if I was forced to put up a big-priced outsider in this it would be Gregory Harvet. The Frenchman has secured a top six finish in three of his last six tournements, a second in the UBS Hong Kong Open last week guaranteeing his place in Dubai. He’s consistently recorded four-round under-par totals over the last few weeks yet Victor Chandler are prepared to put up 80/1 against his name. He’s the alternative value bet but Westwood may well show his class again in a tournament he clearly loves.
- Lee Westwood to win Dubai World Championship at a general 5/1
- Paul Casey (Each Way) at 20/1 with bwin
- Gregory Harvet (Each Way) at 80/1 with Victor Chandler
