Dubai Open 2026: Niall Lyons Golf Betting Tips at 14/1 to 100/1

Last year's inaugural edition of this event was a fine one with Tommy Fleetwood edging out Lawrence and McIlroy by a single shot in what was a thrilling back 9. We return once again to Dubai Creek with the invited 60 guests in what is a gentle re-introduction of the DPWT. Next week the action will heat up a little but for now we'll concentrate on Dubai Creek where four of the top five home last year ranked inside the top 5 for strokes gained tee to green. It wasn't exactly a bombers dominated tee to green statistic either with Jordan Smith, Francesco Molinari and Thriston Lawrence all ranking high in the statistic. 

Quality came to the fore in the second half of last season on the DPWT when PGA Tour and LIV players started making the trip. It is really difficult to imagine this event going to anybody outside the top 20 or so in the market thereafter we have regular DPWT members for the most part. Gotterup, Noren, McIlroy, Kim, Fleetwood, Rai, Fitzpatrick, Puig and Neeragaard Petersen all won in the second half of last season and really it ought to be said the regular tour member could barely lay a glove on the more established golfers. Jayden Schaper may prove to have an advantage on the rest given he was so hot at the end of last year but he needs to prove himself in a field of this quality before quite warranting odds this short.

Niall Lyons' Betting Tips for the Dubai Open

Tip 1: Shane Lowry - 3pts Each-Way (5p)

Best odds of 14/1 and five places with BetMGM, 10Bet, and Virgin Bet.

Desert courses are often dominated by links specialists and whilst Fleetwood and Lawrence (1st and 2nd last year) have come close to winning an Open Championship McIlroy and Molinari (2nd and 5th) have the Claret Jug tucked away.

Having already won in Abu Dhabi Shane Lowry has shown before what he can do on these types of layout and I'm weighing in on the 2019 Open Champion to follow in the footsteps of those Open specialists who dominated last years edition. I may scold myself come the end of the week as I've been frustrated with Lowry's lack of victories with only one stroke play victory coming since that Major breakthrough now six and a half years ago. Therefore, I will tread very lightly with him for the rest of the year in better fields should he find another way not to win.

Often it is silly mistakes with the putter that costs him at the business end of events, and it certainly did in India where he eventually finished 3rd. He finished off the year in solid fashion with two top 12 finishes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Water features a lot at this course and I always feel Lowry is an ounce better when he is forced to concentrate off the tee. He won around the tight Firestone course many moons ago and a victory at Wentworth displays that quality once again.

Once focused on targets off the tee Lowry excels and I'm confident he can have a great driving week here at Dubai Creek. The rest will almost certainly depend on the putter, but he can look north towards the two favourites as being his main rivals here this week and he shouldn't be afraid of many of those in behind him. I see this as a small pool of players who can win this title and Lowry and more than four times the price of McIlroy looks the better option.

Tip 2: Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen - 2pts Each-Way (5p)

Best odds of 22/1 and five places with Sky Bet & Paddy Power.

Nicolai Hojgaard has proven himself worthy of consideration on a task such as this and to be honest I'm surprised both him and Neergaard Petersen aren't clear 4th and 5th favs. Schaper is given a little too much respect for my money whilst Puig and Olesen are in the same boat. Neergaard Petersen most certainly looks overpriced at 22/1 and rates an easy enough selection at those odds.

He really did finish the year in fine fashion with a win at the Australian Open in dramatic scenes as Cameron Smith spurned a chance for a home soil victory. That win amongst some of the world's best will give him plenty of confidence.

A few weeks prior to that victory he ran McIlroy and Fitzpatrick really close at the Earth Course and he can be proud of the way he rallied on Sunday having looked beaten a long way from home. His approach play was staggering that week and a win around the windy Royal Melbourne can only enhance his credentials for these Desert tests. Together with that top 3 finish in November he also has a runner up in Qatar as well as a top 5 in the Dunhill Links.

Whether or not the profile of last year's event will continue into the 2026 renewal remains to be seen but I'd air on the side of similar playing out once again given the history of these desert events down the years. I missed out on his breakthrough victory having backed him numerous times last year, I don't think I can pass up 25/1 to oblige once again.

Tip 3: Jacob Skov Olesen - 0.75pts Each-Way (5p)

Best odds of 100/1 and five places with bet365 & BetMGM.

Two from that top bracket of players is enough for me and I wouldn't be mad keen on playing a lot from the bottom half of the betting.

Francesco Molinari may go well once again and sits at a nice enough price but my preference for a small bet is Jacob Skov Olesen. With the links credentials of those who fought this out last year Olesen has proven himself really capable in these tests. Top 5s at the Dunhill Links and Nexo Championship has been backed up by 11th at the DP World Tour Championship whilst leading at Portrush after round one and a victory at Ballyliffin as an amateur are clearly relevant.

He may just be one who is buoyed by the success of Jayden Schaper and although winning this is a really tall order, he could land a place and give us a chance at a trade come the weekend.