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 European Tour resumes this week with Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club once again. The exposed desert course is long and flat with tight fairways. The bunker protected greens are large, and water appears on 10 holes. This is now a Rolex Series Event, which means an increased purse and an even stronger field. Two top American golfers made the trip to Abu Dhabi, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka. This course has rewarded accuracy both off the tee and approaching the greens.
Key Stats to Winning at Abu Dhabi
• Driving Accuracy
• SG: Approach
• SG: Putting
• Driving Distance
Past Champions
2018 - Tommy Fleetwood
2017 - Tommy Fleetwood
2016 - Rickie Fowler
2015 - Gary Stal
2014 - Pablo Larrazabal
DRAFTINGS PICKS
Henrik Stenson $10,500 (16/1)
The top tier offers many good choices, and the winner will probably come from there. My favorite play is Stenson. He offers a bit of price relief and has as much upside as anyone. He is a proven desert golfer, finishing runner-up twice, as well as many top-10s. Stenson comes to Abu Dhabi with solid play, following a solo fourth at the Hero World Challenge. He does usually carry high ownership, but it probably will be split rather evenly among the other top choices.
Rafael Cabrera-Bello $9,600 (28/1)
Cabrera-Bello also plays well on desert courses. His highest finish at Abu Dhabi was T4 in 2014. He has the skill set for success on this course. He is accurate with his driver and approach shots. He ranked 42nd in SG: approach in 2018. Cabrera-Bello has also shown good form to get the new season started, finishing T6 at the Hong Kong Open. He would also be a great way to start your lineups if you want to make a more balanced build.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat $8,200 (45/1)
This middle-price tier has many interesting options. The one that stands out is Aphibarnrat. He finished last year strong and has had nice finishes at this course in recent years – T22 last year, T4 in 2017. Aphibarnrat has a good overall game. He is accurate and long off the tee, ranking 45th in SG: off the tee. He is good with his irons also and ranks 56th in SG: putting. I see great value in Aphibarnrat at $8,200.
Chris Paisley $7,300 (90/1)
Paisley found his game again toward the end of last year after struggling through spring and summer. He was T18 in his last start at Alfred Dunhill Championship, and that was his sixth made cut in a row. Paisley returns this week to a course that has been good to him recently. He finished T5 last year at Abu Dhabi and T29 in 2017. He is ranked 88th on tour in driving accuracy and 73rd in SG: approach. At this price he appears to be a bargain. He is one of the best putters on tour, ranking 2nd in SG: putting.
