TONY FINAU 20/1 - £5EW SKYBET 8PL
ABRAHAM ANCER 30/1 - £5EW SKYBET 8PL
RUSSELL KNOX 100/1 - £5EW BET365 5PL
ADAM HADWIN 80/1 - £5EW CORAL 8PL
PATRICK REED 33/1 - £5EW SKYBET
ERIK VAN ROOYEN 40/1 - £5EW PP 8PL
SCOTT HEND 250/1 - £5EW CORAL 8PL
THOMAS PIETERS 33/1 - £5EW PP 8PL
SCOTT JAMIESON 200/1 - £5EW PP 8PL
ADRI ARNAUS 50/1 - £5EW PP 8PL
The American Express
The Desert Classic (currently known as The American Express for sponsorship reasons; previously known as the CareerBuilder Challenge, Palm Springs Golf Classic, the Bob Hope Desert Classic, the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, and the Humana Challenge) is a professional golf tournament in southern California on the PGA Tour. Played in mid-winter in the Coachella Valley (greater Palm Springs), it is part of the tour’s early season “West Coast Swing.”
It previously had five rounds of competition (90 holes) rather than the standard of four rounds, and was known for its celebrity pro-am. For many years, the event was named for and hosted by entertainer Bob Hope and featured a number of celebrity participants.
In 2012, the Desert Classic changed to a traditional 72-hole format over three different courses with a 54-hole cut, similar to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. It continues to have a large pro-am, but has slowly ceased featuring celebrity participants. The tournament is organized by the non-profit Phil Mickelson Foundation, which took over from Desert Classic Charities in 2020.
Abu Dhabi HSBC
The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is a European Tour golf tournament held at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. When founded in 2006, it was one of three European Tour events to be staged in the Arabian Peninsula, but at one point was one of six.
PGA West Stadium Course
PGA West is a set of 6 golf courses located in La Quinta, California.
The PGA West Stadium Course was designed by Pete Dye and is viewed as the sequel to the TPC at Sawgrass. It was inspired by the Scottish links-style courses and at one point was considered one of Golf Digest’s Top 100 Courses in America.
The PGA West Stadium Course has hosted many important golf tournaments and is considered one of the most challenging courses in America.
Skins Game – 1986–1991
The American Express, formerly the Desert Classic – 1987, 2016–Present
PGA Club Professional Championship – 1990
PGA Tour Qualifying School Finals – 1986, 1988, 1989, 2002, 2006 & 2008
Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – 1995 & 1996
Past Results
2021 Kim Si-woo 265 −23 1 stroke
2020 Andrew Landry 262 −26 2 strokes
Desert Classic presented by Workday
2019 Adam Long 262 −26 1 stroke
CareerBuilder Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation
2018 Jon Rahm 266 −22 Playoff Andrew Landry
2017 Hudson Swafford 268 −20 1 stroke
2016 Jason Dufner 263 −25 Playoff David Lingmerth
Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation
2015 Bill Haas 266 −22 1 stroke
2014 Patrick Reed 260 −28 2 strokes
2013 Brian Gay 263 −25 Playoff C Howell III + David Lingmerth
2012 Mark Wilson 264 −24 2 strokes
Yas Links UAE
Yas Links Abu Dhabi, a first in the Middle East – where noble heritage combines with impressive surroundings to enrich both your game and your senses in a truly unique environment. The Kyle Phillips designed course ranks #48 in the world golf rankings and combines visual glory with the thrill of golf’s ultimate test.
The 18 hole course presents the kind of challenges that golfers from all over the world dream about whilst the 9 hole par 3 course and practice facilities are the perfect fit for all abilities. The clubhouse is set alongside the water’s edge, against dramatic views of the Arabian Gulf which provides the perfect setting for dinning and events.
Past Results
2021 Tyrrell Hatton 270 −18 4 strokes
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA
2020 Lee Westwood 269 −19 2 strokes
2019 Shane Lowry 270 −18 1 stroke
2018 Tommy Fleetwood 266 −22 2 strokes
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
2017 Tommy Fleetwood 271 −17 1 stroke
Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship
2016 Rickie Fowler 272 −16 1 stroke
2015 Gary Stal 269 −19 1 stroke
2014 Pablo Larrazábal 274 −14 1 stroke
2013 Jamie Donaldson 274 −14 1 stroke
2012 Robert Rock 275 −13 1 stroke
TONY FINAU 20/1
Well Tony still owes us a good week. He finally got over the line last year winning the Northern Trust.
I feel he has a great 2022 and wins at least twice this year and feel the way he is striking it out there he looks like this week could be right up his alley.
He skipped the Sony but we were with him at the Sentry and he looked ready and his game looked sharp.
His tee to green game will be shown up here and can only be a positive for me, the putter could get hot and no one better than him once the putts start to drop. Great little bet this week, like I start he owes one for sure.
ABRAHAM ANCER 28/1
Ancer always seems to start the New Year off slow, but I saw plenty to get excited about over the past two weeks. He only missed the cut by two shots and he also kicked off round one with a tidy 66 so the game and swing is on point.
After winning the WGC – St Jude his game has grown and it looks like another win is only around the corner. He had a good BMW and another top ten at the Mayakoba to close last year.
Straight driving will be needed here and ranks quite high over the past few years on this track, out of 228 fairways he has managed to hit 165 so with a percentage as high as 72% there are not that many better than him here this week.
I feel it’s our banker for the week. “NAP”
RUSSELL KNOX 100/1
Russell has always been a close friend to the team. We have had plenty of fun watching his career over the years he has always bagged us a good return when we have played him. This links playing superstar born in Inverness now resides in Florida could be the perfect fit for a horses for courses choice here at the West Stadium.
We have already seen him play a few holes in practice and he is looking like he is at home here already. This event seems to be to his liking as well his last four visits here read:
- 29th
- 18th
- 37th
- 16th
Could be a great top ten bet here as well.
Two on the List
ADAM HADWIN 80/1
PATRICK REED 28/1
ERIK VAN ROOYEN 40/1
Winner of the Barracuda in August 2021 beating Andrew Putnam by five strokes was some pretty impressing playing that week. In fact since he has become a regular on the PGA Tour now he seems to be fitting in very well.
Following that emphatic win he then went back to back top ten’s at the Northern Trust and the BMW.
I think he will be on plenty of betting slips this week and for good reason his overall game just seems to fit the bill here and I see at worse another top ten finish. I feel come Sunday afternoon he will be in a position to pull his socks up and could be motoring us home for the win.
SCOTT HEND 200/1
Loving the way Scotty is hitting it right now. As you know you we have a few of the team based in Thailand and in fact we were with Scott the week before Xmas in Thailand just a few weeks ago now. He played a couple of Asian Tour events both in Phuket and we managed to see lots of his golf and even he said he has never hit it better and feels so ready to kick of the 2022 in a winning way.
I agree the Asian Tour has a much weaker field compared to the DP World Tour, but better to be playing in tournament golf so will have that edge this week with a lot of the players being cold as no golf for such a long break.
He still knocks it up there with the youngsters with the driver so that will be no issue here. I think if he can make the cut then I think his chances of a big odds winner for us.
THOMAS PIETERS 33/1
The highlight for me was being with his group on the final day at the Portugal Masters, of course we were focused on Richard Bland that week as our tip finished in a tie for eighth place. But the way Pieter’s went about his business the whole week was so impressive, he finished on a total score of 265 beating Lucas by two shots. Topping the Stroke average and strokes gained total for the week is going to win any event.
We had a great chat with him yesterday whilst out in practice and he is so looking forward to get stuck into 2022. After our chat we got to find out that he will be mainly focused on playing a lot more over in the US and why not the money and overall events are so appealing.
It could be a breakthrough year from him and this could be the perfect start for us and him to bag another early winner.
Two on the List
SCOTT JAMIESON 200/1
One of our inside the ropes picks for this week the team have seen him flushing very well all over the practice rounds.
