Niall Lyons is up 90pts through two weeks of the 2026 season. Check out his five tips for the Bahrain Championship here.
Bahrain Championship
For the third year on the trot we head to the Royal GC in Bahrain.
The 2024 edition was the first time the course had hosted a DPWT event since 2011, when Paul Casey won the Volvo Golf Champions. Interestingly, he later won the Irish Open at Carton House — another Montgomerie design — which could offer a clue as to who might perform well in Bahrain this week.
The Dutch course that staged the 2016 and 2017 KLM Opens is also worth revisiting, as are editions of the Turkish Airlines Open at Maxx Royal — both Montgomerie layouts. Luiten, who won the 2016 KLM Open, also finished runner-up at Carton House.
Previous Montgomerie design form is clearly relevant.
Overall, this is a desert track with a links feel, so that blend of form could prove key. Laguna (Singapore Classic) has shown crossover, while desert venues — especially Al Hamra — also warrant attention.
Looking at the stats, one thing stands out: putting hasn’t been crucial. Canter ranked 51st on the greens when he won here, Frittelli 31st. Driving Distance looks far more important.
Winners/Contenders Stats
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Tip 1: 2.75pts EW T. Detry (20/1)
As ever I've always got a keen eye on those dropping down in class and the eye is drawn to Thomas Detry.
Patrick Reed continued a fine run of form last week for the big names on the DPWT and we can't overlook the chances of the Belgian adding to that ever growing list of current or former PGA Tour regular winners.
Detry's last two visits to this tour resulted in a 7th place at the Genesis then a 6th at the Nedbank.
This will be a tougher affair given the examination ahead but he will be suited by the conditions.
With a desert victory already tucked away on the PGA Tour (last years Phoenix Open) his next best performances in his career all lie by the coast.
Runner up in the 2021 Scottish Open as well as top 5s at Pebble Beach and Kapalua suggest this is actually where his strengths lie.
Desert golf with a bit of wind thrown in looks a perfect combination and although we have to trust to luck a little that he gets a good draw he looks a big name in amongst some smaller fish.
Winless Ayora is shorter and he shouldn't fear a few of the names tucked in behind him in the betting like Julien Guerrier and Andy Sullivan.
It looks like a week to get with the Belgian to finally land that overdue DPWT victory.
Tip 2: 1.5pts EW - L. Canter (33/1)
Grant Forrest is another who could go well under these conditions but his price doesn't appeal much in the 50/1 range.
Instead at shorter odds I can't help but feel Laurie Canter has been a little overlooked in the market.
Winner here last year he also has a 3rd place to his name in the Dubai Desert and is more than capable of going back to back here.
Canter of course gained his PGA Tour card courtesy of his Race to Dubai ranking last year but has since turned down that opportunity in favour of a return to the LIV Golf circuit.
He shook off some rust last week and a final round of 68 which was only beaten by one other on the day is a firm footing a title defence here this week.
At the back end of 2025 he finished runner up in the Genesis Championship but it was his performance in the DPWT Championship that really caught the eye finishing one shot outside of the playoff and alongside the likes of Fleetwood, Aberg and Neergaard Petersen.
He doesn't have any such worries from those guys this week and must fancy his chances of going well once again given how this course rewards long and straight driving.
BresBet
Tip 3: 1pt EW Z. Lombard (90/1)
Zander Lombard looks worth chancing at the odds here given his form of late.
His winter period was extremely successful managing to bag his tour card at the Qualifying School when he won be an almighty thirteen shots in Tarragona.
It didn't exactly end there either he went home to the Sunshine tour and finished 7th before a 5th placed finish in the year ending Mauritius Open.
That is often where he is best by the coast and this track in Bahrain should provide a really good opportunity for him to kick start his season.
It was a steady opener in a tougher field last week finishing 26th in the Dubai Desert and having finished runner up to Frittelli here two years ago he has to be on the shortlist.
Has a great game for this type of test and should fancy it.
Tip 5: 0.75pt EW O. Guillamoundeguy (150/1)
I'll finish with two triple figure selections the first being 21 year old Frenchman Oihan Guillamoundeguy.
This season is his first on the big stage having gained a card with a tremendously conistent 2025 where a win at Killeen Castle in Ireland was the highlight.
He performed really well throughout the year and having missed the cut in the Open De France in September fared a lot better in December where he made the cut in Johannesburg before finishing 9th in the Mauritius Open, a venue that is certainly relevant when looking to this week.
Bar the top end of the market this event is gettable for the outsiders as not a lot separates them and it'd be no surprise should this Frenchman continue what has been a fine start to his DPWT career.
Tip 5: 0.75pt EW - A. Levy (275/1)
I can't resist a poke on Alexander Levy who I'm really surprised turns up here at odds of 250/1+.
The Frenchman hasn't played on tour this year yet but he did have a run out at the LIV Promotions event in the second week in January.
That didn't quite go to plan but heading to this track there is plenty to suggest he could go well.
In three of his last DPWT events he has finished 9th and 7th so my eyes are drawn to him well down the field in the betting.
7th in Mauritius in December is a good sign as this is another place subject to the wind and with a top 5 before in the Dubai Desert and a victory in Portugal he is more than equipped for this type of test.
It's a tall order but he looks overpriced.
