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DP World Tour golf tips: Victor Perez and Ryan Fox set for desert duel at Al Hamra

The last leg of the DP World Tour's stint in the Middle East sees Tipstrr golf pundit Martin Colwell pick out a couple of course-and-distance specialists gunning for glory at Al Hamra Golf Club.

The DP World Tour continues its Middle East swing when the Ras al Khaimah Championship tees off at Al Hamra Golf Club in the early hours of Thursday morning (UK time).

Near to the coast amid desert surroundings, this 7,400-yard par-72 course has exposed fairways punctuated by plenty of water hazards, and conditions should remain pleasant, with temperature in the low 70s and the wind not expected to be a major factor.

This venue held two tournaments here on the tour in 2022 and they were won by Nicolai Hojgaard and Ryan Fox, from which we can conclude that distance off the tee is key, as is the ability to scramble around the green.
Looking at the metrics, strokes gained approach and tee to green are most favourable, while putting on the paspalum greens will be a challenge to all.
With no heavyweight favourites in the field this week, four golfers vie for top spot in the betting market at around the 16 to 18/1 mark.

From that shortlist of Ryan Fox, Victor Perez, Rasmus Hojgaard and Adrian Meronk, current form seems to favour Perez and Fox. Perez won the HSBC Championship in Abu Dhabi just two weeks ago, while Fox won on this course in 2022 and is the highest ranked on official world rankings this week.

And then we have the other Hojgaard brother, Nicolai, at a tempting 20/1. These odds seem to be based upon him winning this tournament last year, but I like the look of Nicolai more than Rasmus this week.

Prices then jump to 28/1, where we find Adrian Arnaus and Callum Shinkwin, both of whom played well last week, although their efforts were made to look ordinary alongside the class of Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed.

At 33/1, Thorbjorn Olesen played reasonably last week without challenging and has previous desert course form.

Others to consider:

Guido Migliozzi can blow hot or cold, but he can go very low when the putter is working, and at 40/1 would carry value if you happen to catch him on a hot week. 

On the same 40/1 mark is the Frenchman Julien Brun, who was very hot in Dubai over last weekend and if he can bring that form forward, he can show this week.

Shaun Norris is a multiple winner on various minor tours around the world, and the South African finished ninth last year here and is a tempting 125/1. 

Although eventually sliding down the leaderboard after a torrid finish, Norris was challenging for a top six finish early on Monday's delayed last day, and he has won before after playing badly the previous week.
At 150/1 we find Angel Hidalgo, who was in top form last week, and if he can find the magic touch again this week then he could make a mockery of those huge odds.
After last week's dramatic McIlroy-Reed showdown at the Dubai Desert Classic, this tournament has a slightly anti-climactic feel before the start, but that will change once the competition starts, and there is always a winner who can be backed.

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