The 2021 PGA European Tour reaches the boiling point this weekend as the DP World Tour Championship Dubai is coming into day 2.
Apart from the Championship title, there’s also the Race to Dubai.
Rory McIlroy, who’s the main star of the event and the main favourite to win the main title, saw his odds shortened from 6/1 to 6/4 after yesterday’s first round, having carded a seven-under-par 65.
However, although McIlroy remains one of the most successful golfers in the history of the sport, his recent performances, bar winning two PGA Tours in 2021, is very much reflected in the longer odds as at this stage, which suggests that everything is still up for grabs.
Coming into the DP World Tour Championship Dubai, McIlroy finds himself in ninth place in the PGA Tour, while in the Race to Dubai, the Northern Ireland golfer is sitting at number 20, making him a very unlikely winner of the latter. However, he stands a good chance to yet again bag the DP World Tour Championship for the third time in his career. Previously, he won it in 2012 and 2015.
However, hot on McIlroy’s heels is 24 year old American Collin Morikawa, whom following a brilliant 2021, is the highest-ranked golfer taking part in this tournament. He currently finds himself at 11/2.
In the run-up to this weekend, defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick was in the top three but following yesterday’s performance the 27 year old Brit odds have drifted significantly and he’s now 80/1 to repeat last year’s incredible performance.
However, it may be too early to completely write Fitzpatrick off as the English golfer seems to love playing at Jumeirah Golf Estates and to date, his worst performance in Dubai was the tie for 34th, which happened a few years ago. Since then, we saw him finish 9th followed by a win in 2020.
The obvious question is can he do it again? He might, unless McIlroy or Morikawa stops him. Those three are the main candidates to win the World Tour Championship Dubai. They’re the best golfers taking part in this tournament, meaning that it’s very likely one of them will walk away with the title.
But, who’s it going to be? McIlroy is the betting fourth for a reason and as it stands, he has the best chance to win the title.
DP World Tour Championship Winner
- Rory McIlroy 6/4
- Collin Morikawa 11/2
- Sergio Garcia 12/1
- Christiaan Bezuidenhout 12/1
- Paul Casey 12/1
- Shane Lowry 20/1
- Nicolai Hojgaard 25/1
- Joachim B Hansen 28/1
- Robert MacIntyre 33/1
- Martin Kaymer 40/1
- Matt Fitzpatrick 80/1
