FINAL RESULT: 1-2; +3.75pts

Montgomerie mc
Jimenez 4th
Fasth 11th

Good event and a pleasing profit overall, particularly with the quality of the players on the leaderboard. But there were still good chances for a big return. After Jimenez had raced his eight-foot eagle putt past the hole on the thirteenth hole to tie for the lead, he thereafter putting very tentatively and scarcely reached the hole thereafter. He finished two shots out of the playoff. And it was only a poor 3rd round that cost Fasth a place near the top of that leaderboard as well. But overall, a very good Middle East swing.

Outright plays (total stake per play: 1pt)

Colin Montgomerie to win 25/1 e.w. available generally
Happy that he's not been paired with Tiger as he does him in too much awe and so he may struggle if paired together over the weekend, but he has shown great determination since closing that chapter in his life that was his marriage and the results have been borne on the golf course. He won the Order of Merit after a six-year gap last year and having started last year in 83rd position in the World Rankings, he is now back in 11th. Monty is back and a real contender in such a strong field as this. A former winner of this event, he should once again be consistently on the leaderboard this week.

Miguel Angel Jimenez to win 50/1 e.w. available generally
Returning to the Emirates Golf Club should be a bitter-sweet experience after he missed out on this event in such dramatic fashion last year. He led after the 2nd and 3rd rounds and was still one ahead of playing partner, Ernie Els, with one hole to play. But the Big Easy became the only player to eagle the final hole that day, while Jimenez missed a six-footer to force a playoff. He had done little wrong all week, just as he did two weeks ago when finishing 5th two weeks ago in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, also in the UAE, when hitting 86% of greens in regulation (ranked 1st) and finishing 5th. He has finished 2nd previously in this event and at these odds, that would still be a profitable result if he was denied again.

Niclas Fasth to win 66/1 e.w. @ Expekt
Had been tempted to opt for the place-only market after he struggled to make any impact on Henrik Stenson last week despite starting the final round in second place. He still finished 4th and having finished the previous week with a 69, he has clearly shaken off the early season rustiness. So having won twice on the European Tour last season, there really is no reason why he can't do so again this week. When Els won his previous Dubai Desert Classic in 2002, it was in a very close tussle with Fasth who was level with him for much of the final round. That makes two selections who have strong motivations to chase this title in Dubai.