Fantasy Race to Dubai: Ones to Watch

The European Tour’s Race to Dubai continues this week at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. The event returns to the Education City Golf Club for a second time following its successful debut in 2020, where Jorge Campillo defeated David Drysdale in a dramatic play-off. But who will be crowned champion this week, and who should you have in your Fantasy team?

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The Favourite

Headlining the field and betting favourite this week is four-time European Tour winner Thomas Pieters, who returns to Europe following a tie for 15th place at the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open – which he recorded after a top 10 at the Saudi International presented by SoftBank Investment Advisers.

He’s one of just a handful of players who has played tournament golf in more recent weeks, with the last regular European Tour event held in Saudi Arabia from the February 4-7. Only a few players in the field, including Thomas Detry, Rasmus Højgaard, Andy Sullivan, Wade Orsmby, Brandon Stone and Aaron Rai, come from teeing up at the WGC.

Last year’s course switch to Education City also saw Pieters record his best Qatar finish – a tie for 21st – in four tournament starts, and it was a result that could have been better if not for losing strokes around the green. As it stands in 2021, Pieters ranks inside the top 20 on Tour for stroke average, SG: Off the tee, scrambling and one putts – and is definitely one to keep your eye on this week.

The defending champion

Jorge Campillo put on a putting masterclass on Education City’s greens on his way to clinching his second European Tour win during a dramatic play-off with David Drysdale last season.

Campillo’s victory was the last event before the COVID-19 pandemic halted the season for four months, and his form has been slightly more tumultuous since. He missed his first two cuts before recording three top 10s in his next four, but struggled towards the end of the season and has since begun 2021 with three missed cuts in a row.

Having said that, he won this event last year off the back of three missed cuts and a best of 67th in his previous four starts, and will be hoping Qatar once again helps him regain form. He definitely feels like a bit of a riskier pick this week, but if you want to opt for the defending champion, you’ll be pleased to know he’s not finished outside the top 20 in his last four trips to Qatar.

Expert Picks

Our expert picks will be brought to you every week by Sky Sports Presenter Kit Alexander and former Ladies European Tour player, coach and presenter Sophie Walker. The duo also co-host their own weekly _Fantasy Golf Youtube Channel._

Sophie’s picks

Andy Sullivan

Started this event last year with back to back 66’s but couldn’t keep it going over the weekend. The weight of a five year stretch without a win took its toll. However the drought ended at the English Open last summer and he seems back to his carefree self. This season Sullivan has made 4/4 cuts, hit over 70% of Green in Regulation and is 61st in OWGR. Education City Golf club reminds me of Jumeriah golf estates, Earth course, which Sulli has a decent recent record around finishing 10th in 2020 and 2019.

Rasmus Højgaard

It’s his birthday this week, so the two times European Tour winner will be looking to turn 20 in style. Rasmus has had an excellent start to the season with a 9th place at Omega Dubai Desert Classic and a 6th place in the Saudi International. He hits it miles and has a very experienced caddy on the bag in Jon Smart. I’m sure he will feature in many players' fantasy teams this week.

Kurt Kitayama

I had Kurt in my team for the Saudi International and he didn’t let me down. In a strong field he finished 12th. And for this reason I am reinstating him into my team. Kitayama went to school in Las Vegas so feels comfortable on desert courses. This is highlighted by 3 from 3 made cuts this year and a win at the Oman Open 2019. And with a stroke average of 69.75 nearly 1.5 shots better than tour average he is certainly worth a look at.

You can follow Sophie on social media here: @SophWalks (Twitter), @SophWalksGolf (Instagram)

Kit’s picks

Thomas Pieters

The big-hitting Belgian is the bookie’s favourite. He’s won four times on the European Tour and was tipped as a future world number one when he made his Ryder Cup debut in 2016. It hasn’t quite worked out that way since then, but he’s finished T10 and T15 in his last two starts in Saudi Arabia and Puerto Rico and he was T21 in last year’s Qatar Masters.

George Coetzee

South Africans have done consistently well in Qatar and Coetzee fits the profile I expect to flourish at Education City GC – he’s an excellent putter with a tidy short game who really knows how to control his ball in the wind. He won the Portugal Masters last September and started this year with results of 11-T60-T10 in the Middle East Swing.

Calum Hill

The 26-year-old Scotsman was 29th on the European Tour in Strokes Gained – Putting last season and he ranks 5th in that category this year. He notched a T4 in his last start in Saudi Arabia and finished 2020 in good form. He’s still looking for his first European Tour win but he did claim three trophies on the Challenge Tour in 2018 and 2019, so he knows how to get over the line.

You can follow Kit on social media here: @KitOnTheCourse (Twitter), @KitOnTheCourse (Instagram)