Tipster: Stanley

Dubai Desert Classic

Matchup plays (1pt):

Ernie Els to beat Darren Clarke -200 @ Pinnacle

Very short price, but a very strong favourite in this matchup. Els has finished ahead of Clarke in all of their common European Tour events in the past year and has a great record on this course: six top-10 finishes in six visits, including two wins. On each occasion he has finished ahead of Clarke who will be further hampered by having played five rounds of competitive golf at La Costa from Friday to Sunday. Just can't see Clarke being a factor this week.

(also available at Sirbet)

Raphael Jacquelin to beat Richard Green -111 @ Stan James

Looking for Jacquelin to resume his early season form here. He had opened the season with top-five finishes in his first three events, but was opposed in the matchups because of his awful record in Australia. He duly obliged, but he should improve considerably this week and even though Green won this title in 1997, he is far from being as competitive as the Frenchman.

Paul Lawrie to beat Robert Karlsson -115 @ Five Dimes

Opposing Karlsson again who should struggle if the wind blows this week. Whereas Lawrie prospers in this weather - he won the nearby 1999 Qatar Open - the tallest player on the Tour has neither the physique nor the swing to cope with these conditions. Lawrie leads Karlsson 8-3-0 h2h on the European Tour over the past year and he should maintain his advantage with the Tour in this region.

Adding (1pt):

Thomas Bjorn to beat Ian Poulter -125 @ Stan James

Normally look to oppose the erratic Poulter in matchups and will so particularly this week because of his poor course form - a best finish of 64th in three visits - and that fact that he was still competing in the World Matchplay at the weekend. Bjorn has great form here and arrived at one of his homes at least one day before Poulter arrived at his temporary accommodation. Should be straightforward.

(also available at Expekt)

Andrew Coltart to beat Charl Schwartzel -108 @ Pinnacle

Schwartzel does not travel well outside his native South Africa and he returned there after the Heineken Classic to only mixed success:  a missed cut in the Telkom PGA Championship and a 19th place finish in the Southern Africa Tour Championship. He missed the cut last year on his debut, while Coltart also did the same, but it was the first time since 1995. As with Lawrie, the more the winds blow the more this former Qatar Masters champion should come to the fore.

(also available at Sirbet)

Final update: 2-3-0; -1.48pts

Els/Clarke WON by 9

Jacquelin/Green WON by 2

Lawrie/Karlsson LOST by 8
Bjorn/Poulter LOST by 4

Coltart/Schwartzel LOST by 9

Small loss, but largely disappointing performances from the selections with only three of them making the cut and, of these, only Els being in contention for the title.

Tipster: Shaker

Dubai Desert Classic

Matchup play (3 pts):

Paul Casey to beat Ian Poulter +100 @ Bet365

I think Poulter had some flattering results in the Matchplay, making an average of just over 1 birdie per 18 holes. Casey narrowly went out in the first round but didn't play too badly and, anyway, that could be a blessing in disguise now. Even ignoring all that, Casey is the better player, the more consistent, and has no poor performances on this course to remember. It is his first appearance here but he's taken virtually every other course in his stride during his short career and that is no worry at all. The only slight negative is that he's paired with Woods the first two days and I'm not absolutely certain that will suit. That could easily not be an issue, though, and I definitely won't let that put me off this price - how Casey is rated the outsider is beyond me.