Pieters to Continue Great Form

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1.5 Pts E/W (1-5) Thomas Pieters (20/1 Coral)

This week we leave Abu Dhabi, but continue the Middle East swing at the Qatar Masters. We went close last week having the second round leader Andy Sullivan and Joost Luiten who was second going in to the final round. Sullivan unfortunately fell away and we were left to settle with a partial place for Luiten.

The Qatar Masters provides us with a familiar event, but with a noticeably weaker field than the one we saw at Abu Dhabi. The event is hosted by Doha Golf Club again which measures out at 7,400 yards. The course is a standard Par 72 with two par fives on each 9. Like last week these should prove key for the winner. It is essential that you take advantage of these opportunities and given that three of the par fives will only be reachable for the longest of hitters there is a distinct advantage for the bombers this week.

Another factor that gives longer hitters the edge is the fact that the fairways are generous and historically the rough hasn’t been too punishing. A key difference this week is the event runs from Wednesday to Saturday, which limits a bit of practice time for the golfers who played last week. Wind is usually an issue on this course, but looking at the forecast it doesn’t look like it’s going to be too blustery for the players this week.

1.5 Pts E/W (1-5) Thomas Pieters (20/1 Coral)

Pieters this week appears to be a no brainer and is our sole headline pick. He played impeccable golf over the weekend at the HSBC and finished a close second to Rickie Fowler. What was most impressive was the way he overpowered the golf course. He has now established himself as one of the longest hitters in the game and can clearly use this to his advantage this week. He is one of the only players that will be able to get to the par fives in two this week, and if his driving is as accurate as it was last week he will be hard to beat.

Pieters played this event in 2015 finishing inside the top forty and giving himself some valuable course experience. His previous two wins came in quick succession and his second place last week looks an indication that he is ready to strike again. We are happy to make an each way play on him this week as our only pick.