Abu Dhabi Golf Championship
January 18th – 21st, 2018
Abu Dhabi G.C.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Par: 72 / Yardage: 7,583
Purse: $3 million
with $533,302 to the winner
Defending Champion:
Tommy Fleetwood

This week’s field includes:
30 players in the field are in the top-100 of the Latest Official World Rankings
The field includes 15 of the top 50 in the latest Official World Rankings, with three top-10s in the field: #1 Dustin Johnson, #6 Justin Rose and #9 Henrik Stenson. The other top-50 in the field are #11 Rory McIlroy, #14 Paul Casey, #15 Matt Kuchar, #17 Tyrrell Hatton, #18 Tommy Fleetwood, #21 Rafael Cabrera Bello, #28 Branden Grace, #30 Matthew Fitzpatrick, #31 Ross Fisher, #40 Thomas Pieters, #44 Bernd Wiesberger and #49 Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
Last year 15 top-50 players were in the field
The field includes 12 of the Top-25 on the Race to Dubai standings for 2018. Those players are #1 Wade Ormsby, #2 Dylan Frittelli, #3 Shubhankar Sharmam, #5 Chris Paisley, #T8 Alexander Bjork, T8 Rafael Cabrera-Bello, #12 Branden Grace, #14 James Morrison, #16 Tommy Fleetwood, #18 Scott Vincent, #21 Matthieu Pavon and #23 Jacques Kruyswijk .
The field includes seven of the nine different past champions: Tommy Fleetwood (2017), Gary Stale (2015), Pablo Larrazabal (2014), Jamie Donaldson (2013), Robert Rock (2012), Martin Kaymer (2011, ’10 & ’08) and Paul Casey (2009 & ’07).
A perfect way for fantasy golfers to check on the past performance of all the players in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship field is our performance chart listed by average finish. One last way to check who is the best is through a special formula worked out in Golfstats that gives us the best average performances at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in the last five years or check out our sortable 8-year glance at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.
A good cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmakers in England.
Time to look at our who’s hot and who isn’t:
Who’s Hot in the field for the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship
Player | BMW SA Open | Sentry Tournament of Champions | Joburg Open | Australian PGA Championship | Hong Kong Open | DP World, Dubai | Nedbank Golf Challenge | Turkish Airlines Open | WGC-HSBC Champions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dustin Johnson (165.33 pts) |
DNP | Win (132) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T2 (33.33) |
Branden Grace (165.17 pts) |
2 (100) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T31 (9.5) |
Win (44) |
DNP | T15 (11.67) |
Chris Paisley (132.33 pts) |
Win (132) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
T39 (3.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Justin Rose (128 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T4 (40) |
DNP | Win (44) |
Win (44) |
Dylan Frittelli (111.33 pts) |
T20 (30) |
DNP | T42 (5.33) |
DNP | DNP | T4 (40) |
T42 (2.67) |
T2 (33.33) |
DNP |
Scott Vincent (93.33 pts) |
T4 (80) |
DNP | T30 (13.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Shubhankar Sharma (88 pts) |
DNP | DNP | Win (88) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Kiradech Aphibarnrat (81.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T2 (50) |
T42 (2.67) |
T6 (20) |
T24 (8.67) |
Jacques Kruyswijk (80.67 pts) |
T4 (80) |
DNP | T49 (0.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Darren Fichardt (68.33 pts) |
T7 (55) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T6 (20) |
DNP | DNP |
Matthew Fitzpatrick (63.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 12 (19) |
T8 (16.67) |
T11 (13) |
T9 (15) |
Dean Burmester (63.33 pts) |
T54 (0) |
DNP | T19 (20.67) |
DNP | DNP | T4 (40) |
T42 (2.67) |
61 (0) |
DNP |
Tyrrell Hatton (59.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T8 (25) |
T19 (10.33) |
T16 (11.33) |
T11 (13) |
Jorge Campillo (59.33 pts) |
T12 (38) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T24 (8.67) |
DNP | T27 (7.67) |
T35 (5) |
DNP |
Renato Paratore (55 pts) |
T7 (55) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T60 (0) |
T56 (0) |
DNP |
Matthieu Pavon (54.83 pts) |
T34 (16) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T13 (18.5) |
T19 (10.33) |
T20 (10) |
DNP |
Richard Sterne (53.83 pts) |
T20 (30) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T31 (9.5) |
T19 (10.33) |
T54 (0) |
T38 (4) |
Thorbjorn Olesen (49.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T60 (0) |
T36 (7) |
T12 (12.67) |
T5 (23.33) |
T31 (6.33) |
Nacho Elvira (47.33 pts) |
T20 (30) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T39 (3.67) |
DNP | T29 (7) |
T30 (6.67) |
DNP |
Tommy Fleetwood (46.83 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T21 (14.5) |
T10 (13.33) |
T23 (9) |
T20 (10) |
Martin Kaymer (46.5 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T17 (16.5) |
5 (23.33) |
T30 (6.67) |
DNP |
Li Haotong (45.5 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T13 (18.5) |
4 (26.67) |
T66 (0) |
T50 (0.33) |
Rafael Cabrera-Bello (40.5 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T60 (0) |
T21 (14.5) |
T42 (2.67) |
DNP | T5 (23.33) |
Henrik Stenson (38.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T35 (5) |
T2 (33.33) |
David Lipsky (36 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T12 (12.67) |
24 (13) |
T42 (2.67) |
T27 (7.67) |
T58 (0) |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who’s Not Hot in the field for the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship
Player | BMW SA Open | Sentry Tournament of Champions | Joburg Open | Australian PGA Championship | Hong Kong Open | DP World, Dubai | Nedbank Golf Challenge | Turkish Airlines Open | WGC-HSBC Champions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thomas Aiken (-16.67 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Ashley Chesters (-16.67 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Zander Lombard (-13.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DQ (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Lasse Jensen (-13.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Brandon Stone (-10 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T66 (0) |
T74 (0) |
76 (0) |
Trevor Immelman (-10 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Ricardo Gouveia (-10 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Edoardo Molinari (-9 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T47 (1) |
DNP | T55 (0) |
T56 (0) |
DNP |
Thomas Detry (-8.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | T45 (1.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Gary Stal (-6.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T60 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who to watch for at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship
Best Bets:
Dustin Johnson
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T2 |
Is playing way too good right now, he will be very hard to beat.
Rory McIlroy
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T3 | 2 | T2 | CUT | 2 | 2 | 3 | T5 | T11 |
Has done everything in this event except for winning. He has been runner-up four times and third, 3 times he knows how to play this course.
Paul Casey
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T65 | T23 | T18 | T27 | Win | CUT | Win | T45 |
He also knows this course, he is looking to make the Ryder Cup team, a win here could make it an easy decision.
Best of the rest:
Tommy Fleetwood
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | CUT | CUT | T19 | CUT | CUT |
Played great last year, look for him to be as good this year.
Pablo Larrazabal
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T2 | T26 | CUT | Win | T39 | CUT | T11 | T43 | T42 |
Another past champ that will play well this week, if he putts well he will be hard to beat.
Branden Grace
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T13 | T5 | T20 | T52 | 5 | CUT |
Played great last week, comes to a course that he can do well on.
Tyrrell Hatton
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T13 | T46 | T6 | T10 |
Another of those players that get better with time, a great ball striker should do well this week.
Byeong Hun An
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T13 | T5 | T12 |
Another of these quiet players that will play well this week and find a way to be in contention over the weekend.
Solid contenders
Peter Hanson
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T8 | T11 | T10 | T9 | T35 | CUT | T11 | T10 | T43 | T2 | T61 |
Playing for the first time since Spain in October, he has a good record in this event and could do very well this week.
Ian Poulter
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T39 | T14 | CUT | 2 | T9 | T10 |
This guy can surprise you anytime and I think he will contend either this week or next week in Dubai.
Joost Luiten
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T29 | T5 | 6 | T6 | T42 | T23 |
Been in the top-six in three of his last four starts.
Rafael Cabrera-Bello
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T19 | T14 | CUT | T4 | T23 | T48 | 7 | T43 | T15 |
Guy that can do well and surprise a lot of folks
Long shots that could come through:
Dylan Frittelli
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT |
Be a good longshot, is playing good right now.
Dean Burmester
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 |
Another unheralded player that could surprise us this week.
Darren Fichardt
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT | T70 | T10 | T32 | T17 |
Was T-7th last week he played well in this event in 2014.
Just don’t think he is ready right now:
Henrik Stenson
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T8 | T3 | CUT | CUT | T23 | CUT | T42 | T21 | CUT | T2 | 8 | 2 |
We haven’t heard much from him getting hurt in China, played terrible in the Hero Challenge and even though his record is good in Abu Dhabi I just don’t think he will do well.
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