Collin Morikawa won the DP World Tour Championship in fine style in November, cruising to a three-shot victory, while sealing the Race to Dubai title in the process.
The Californian superstar is back in the Middle East this week for the Abu Dhabi Championship – and can be backed at 13/2.
Morikawa, who lives in Las Vegas, relishes desert golf and should take a shine to the new Abu Dhabi venue. After 16 years at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, the tournament has moved to Yas Links, and the vast majority of the field are seeing the track for the first time this week.
Open Champion Morikawa’s exceptional iron-play – he is arguably the greatest of his generation when it comes to approaching the greens – means he can settle at Yas Links quicker than his rivals.
This cool dude won his second major title on his Open debut at Sandwich last summer and has the ability to quickly overcome a lack of course experience.
Morikawa probably has a psychological edge over his main market rival, Rory McIlroy, who he overtook on his way to winning the DP World Tour Championship.
Hovland Looking for Quickfire Hat-Trick
Viktor Hovland suffered a setback before the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii – his golf clubs failed to make the trip from Oslo with him and got lost – so his planned pre-tournament practice sessions were ruined.
The Norwegian used his caddie’s clubs to get ready for the Sentry – then his tools finally arrived just in time for the event – but a rusty, out of sorts Hovland finished 30th in the 38-runner event.
Better can be expected in Abu Dhabi and many punters will be lured to the 10/1 next to his name.
Prior to the Sentry, Hovland won the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba, then the Hero World Challenge, so he ended 2021 with wet sail.
It will probably not be long before he is lifting another trophy and the fact that the Yas Links terrain is paspalum grass will give him confidence. All three of Hovland’s PGA Tour victories have come on courses with paspalum grass.
Min Woo Lee May Upset Market Leaders
Fourth place in the Australian PGA Championship last week was a perfect warm-up for Min Woo Lee – and the gifted youngster can build on his Brisbane effort by contending in the Abu Dhabi Championship.
Lee, who was born in windy Perth, is excellent at controlling his ball in a breeze – and the forecast for Abu Dhabi suggests there will be some tough conditions over the first two days.
The 23-year-old won the 2020 Vic Open – his maiden European Tour title – in strong breezes. And his second triumph came last summer in the Scottish Open, where he showcased his links credentials.
Yas Links looks the sort of layout where Lee could prosper and the 28/1 against his name seems worth an each-way investment. He was fourth in the 2019 Saudi International and seems to enjoy desert golf.
*All odds correct at time of writing
