
Niall Lyons has five selections for the Ras Al Khaimah Championship at Al Hamra golf course.
Ras Al Khaimah
It was back in February of 2022 when this Al Hamra golf course made it's debut on the DPWT with a double header holding back to back tournaments.
Nicolai Hojgaard and Ryan Fox won both those renewals with a plethora of other big hitters making up the places both times. Last year it was the bombers again dominating with Olesen, Rasmus Hojgaard and Lacroix making up the 1-2-3.
Wind can play it's part around here and results two years ago were a little different with two shorter hitters making the 1-2 in the shape of Daniel Gavins and Alexander Bjork.
Tucked in behind though were Zander Lombard and Adrian Meronk and I'd still prefer to go the route of longer hitters, especially those with good results in coastal conditions.
Two now defunct courses on the DPWT Steyn City in South Africa and the Albatross course in Prague would be two to look to for clues as they are dominated by the longest off the tee, and although Al Hamra may not quite be in the same bracket, the best off the tee is where to concentrate here.
Ras Al Khaimah Championship Tips
- 2.5pts each-way R.Fox 22/1 (1/5 7) Paddypower, Ladbrokes, Coral
1.5pts each-way A.Ayora 40/1 (1/5 7) Paddypower - 1pt each-way F.Schott 125/1 (1/5 6) Skybet
- 1pt each-way Haotong Li 66/1 (1/5 7) Paddypower
- 1pt each-way C.Shinkwin 125/1 (1/5 6) Unibet, Livescore, BetMGM
Below is a look at the stats of the top performers in the last three editions of this tournament.
Ryan Fox at 22/1 (Seven Places)
I was a little annoyed last weekend I hadn't selected Ryan Fox last week at 80/1 and again it was another reminder of how valuable even plodding form on the PGA Tour is when returning back to the DPWT.
Last week was a strong renewal of the Dubai Desert Classic and this week we see many of those big names missing. In return we see a greatly reduced price for the New Zealander but I really like him at 22/1 on a course he has already won upon.
He returned with an 11th placed finish the following year so has backed up the thinking that this course is ideal for him. Again, like others I will select afterwards, prowess off the tee is a big string to his bow, and he has the added benefit of having hit the ball extremely well with his irons last week in Dubai.
Sometimes it's feast or famine with the putter for Fox but it's a positive that he has gained plenty with that club here over the last two years.
Whilst McKibbin also appealed at 25/1, I have to go with the proven winner not only on this course but in multiple events.
Double the price of the tournament favourite Olesen is inexplicable to me and I'm happy to have a decent bet on him adding another win to his tally here.
2.5pts each-way R.Fox 22/1 (1/5 7) Paddypower, Ladbrokes, Coral
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Angel Ayora at 40/1 (Seven Places)
The cat is well and truly out of the bag with Angel Ayora and although a month off may not be ideal preparation for this I can't help be tempted by the 40/1 on offer which could be a thing of the past and disappear at any moment with a victory.
Ayora looks a special talent and in the past number of years it hasn't taken long for these guys to get off the mark.
Ayora took to the DPWT like a duck to water in December with two top 6 finishes in Australia and South Africa.
He hits a monster ball off the tee and Al Hamra should be perfect for his game. The Spaniard has a ceiling way higher than many above him in the market and when you've got a hunch about something like that you have to prepared to take a price that many believe to be a little on the thin side.
With this type of bet we are playing the long game but this may be the one tournament in the whole year bar Spanish events that you'd choose for him to have the best chance in.
Freddy Schott at 125/1 (Six Places)
Similar to Ayora, a month off might not be ideal but I'm a little surprised at the triple figure quotes available for Freddy Schott.
The German was around the 100/1 mark when he missed the cut in the Gensis in October, an event where Tom Kim and Byeong Hun An were joint jollies.
It feels like this event may be slightly weaker than that affair yet we see as big as 125/1 with great golf being played in between.
Two top 20s in the two Australian events were followed up by a 5th placed finish in Mauritius so it begs the question why isn't a good deal shorter for this event.
How short can he be is your question? Well I wouldn't have him any bigger than 80/1 really and given he has made the cut here twice when not playing as well in the lead in we could have a really interesting runner here at triple figure prices.
It's a tall order, but he hits the ball a mile and he should strip fitter here than the last few years given his recent form.
Haotong Li at 66/1 (Seven Places)
A final round of 77 last week is a little off putting, but prior to that he was going really well and his ball striking in Dubai is enough to get me interested in Haotong Li this week.
Li should have good memories of this place given he finished with a final round of 62 three years ago to finish in a tie for 3rd place.
With seven top 20s last year 2024 was a little bit of a return for LI who endured a rotten 2023 missing all but two cuts.
He was better than his score suggests last week and a below par short game is really what cost him across the four days.
Signs are good though as he gained enough off the tee and on approach to suggest he's up for this fight and a return to a course where he has some form makes him an interesting runner.
Callum Shinkwin at 125/1 (Six Places)
It may prove fruitful to have Callum Shinkwin on your slips this week even after a missed cut in Dubai.
A nightmare on and around the greens scuppered his chances there but it's worth noting that his ball striking was good.
Shinkwin is a consistent operator from the tee and hits it far enough to compete with the best in that department.
He finished 4th here last year and he was inside the top ten at halfway the year prior before having to withdraw.
25th and 21st on his other two appearances here mean Shinkwin has one of the better records here.
He has not been outside of the top 12 after his last six rounds here. Links specialists have gone well here, most notably Ryan Fox and Shinkwin has a runner up in the Scottish Open and at the Dunhill Links.
He goes under the radar having missed the cut last week, but the positives were there in his long game to suggest that if the other stuff comes together this week he could be a runner here at the weekend.
1pt each-way C.Shinkwin 125/1 (1/5 6) Unibet, Livescore, BetMGM