This article is part of our DraftKings Euro Tour series.
TROPHEE HASSAN II
Location: Rabat, Morocco
Course: Royal Golf Dar Es Salam
Yardage: 7,615
Par: 73
2016 Champion: Jeunghun Wang
Tournament Preview
Euro DFS is back. It has been a month since the last event, but at least we had the Masters in there to ease the pain. This week the European Tour returns with a strong field teeing it up in Morocco. The Trophee Hassan II is at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam for the second year in a row and the third time since 2010. This tournament is also played at Golf du Palais Royal, because of this there is not much course history. Royal Golf Dar Es Salam is considered as one of the elite courses in Africa. It is long, with treelined fairways, minimal elevation changes and greens highly defensed with bunkers. There is water on a few holes, the ninth seeing the most with an island green. The length of this course will put a premium on Driving Distance, just as the heavily bunkered greens will put importance on Greens in Regulation.
Key Stats to Winning at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam
• Driving Distance
• Greens in Regulation
• Sand Saves
Past Champions
2016 - Jeunghun Wang
2015 - Richie Ramsay
2014 - Alejandro Canizares
2013 - Marcel Siem
2012 - Michael Hoey
DraftKing Picks
Dean Burmester - $11,700 (12/1)
This is Burmester's first start since his win at Tshwane last month. He came in T14 last year on this course and has had a stellar year. He is 14th in driving distance, hitting more than 72 percent GIR and is fifth in Sand Saves. Dean is the favorite to win and a safe play if you don't mind chalk.
Dylan Frittelli - $9,400 (35/1)
Dylan is coming in with good recent form. He was T29 at Hero, T12 at Tshwane, and T16 at Joburg. Frittelli played last year, finishing T31, so he knows the course. His GIR is more than 71 percent, and his drives average more than 310 yards.
Romain Langasque - $9,000 (40/1)
This will be the first time for Romain at Trophee Hassan II. He enters with solid form and has not missed a cut since July. Langasque is a big hitter, averaging more than 309 yards in driving distance. He is also having a good year with his irons, ranking 38th in GIR on tour.
James Morrison - $8,700 (30/1)
James has played some great golf lately. He was T6 at Tshwane, T4 at Joburg and T12 at Maybank. While he does not have course history, he has tournament history, finishing as high as T23 in 2014. Morrison averages more than 291 yards of the tee and is hitting 70 percent GIR. He ranks 27th in sand saves. This is a good value play considering pricing vs. odds.
Mikko Korhonen - $7,900 (45/1)
Mikko is returning to Trophee Hassan II, where he came in T22 last year. He has not missed a cut in his last nine starts, his best being T2 at Tshwane last month. His driving distance averages more than 297 yards, and his GIR is 72 percent. He ranks 15th in Putts Per Green and 61st in sand saves this year.
Aaron Rai - $7,100 (200/1)
Rai is a long shot, but has almost every box checked for what we are looking for this week. Aaron is a young player from England just getting going on the European Tour. He was T7 at Joburg and won The Barclays Kenya Open last month on the Challenge Tour. He ranks sixth in GIR and first in sand saves. His average driving distance is 279 yards, but he makes up for it by ranking first in driving accuracy. Expect good things for this young talent.
