Fantasy Picks For The Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship

Sep 25, 2014; Auchterarder, Perthshire, SCT; European players Henrik Stenson (left) and Justin Rose (right) walk down the 8th fairway during practice for the 2014 Ryder Cup at The Gleneagles Hotel-PGA Centenary Course. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The 2015 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship gets underway on Thursday morning when 126 from 26 different countries take to the Abu Dhabi Golf Course in the United Arab Emirates. The strong field includes nine major champions with 16 wins, and three world number ones. Six players from the 2014 European Ryder Cup team will tee it up along with one from Team USA.

The organizers in Abu Dhabi are celebrating the tenth anniversary of the HSBC Championship this year, and have brought back five former winners of the event, including Chris DiMarco, who won the inaugural tournament in 2006.

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2014 US Open Champion, Martin Kaymer will kick off his 2015 season, and has won the Falcon Trophy three times. Kaymer is one of nine major champions in the field representing 16 major championship victories.

Rory McIlroy is one of three Number one players in Official World Golf Rankings that include Ernie Els, and Martin Kaymer. He is also one of four players currently in the top ten in the rankings. Rory McIlroy(1), Henrik Stenson(2), Justin Rose(6), and Rickie Fowler(10).

Pro Golf Now Fantasy Picks

Henrik Stenson

I felt compelled to put the 38 year-old Swede at the top of this list for a couple of reasons. When players scattered for the holidays, Henrik Stenson had finally found a golf game that had eluded him for the majority of the 2014 golf season.

Whether he was exhausted after his record-setting 2013 season, or was dealing with injuries, he looked to be hitting his stride in Shanghai. With a nice finish at the Turkish Airlines Open, and a second consecutive victory in the DP World Tour Championships in Dubai, he looked to be back to his old self.

Stenson spoiled Rory’s bid to win everything at Jumeriah Estates when he was able to win in Dubai. He was back to playing the power game that we had become accustomed to seeing from the elder statesman from Sweden.

After his record-setting season in 2013, when Stenson became the first player in history to win both the FedEx Cup, and the Race To Dubai Championship, great things were expected from him. With age, and time becoming a factor, he needs to have a great 2015, and challenge for some major titles if he wants to leave a legacy.

What better place than Abu Dhabi to get the season going, and win his first Falcon trophy?

Henrik Stenson has finished runner-up in Abu Dhabi twice, including a loss to Chris DiMarco in the inagural event in 2006, but to date needs a win to complete the “Middle East” sweep.

"“I’m looking forward to the week, as always,” said the Swede. “I’m doing my tenth tournament out of ten possible, and same on the two other ones, doing my 15th start in Doha and Dubai. I’ve played every possible chance that I’ve had throughout these three weeks.“So it’s great to be back here in Abu Dhabi. It’s a great golf course, and I’ve been second twice, particularly the first year we had in 2006, I think I lost out by a shot to Chris DiMarco in the end.“It’s the one missing, and I would like to have it, and I probably fancy my chances a little bit more this time around."

Stenson has won the DP World Tour Championship twice, he beat Ernie Els in the 2007 Dubai Desert Classic and won the Commercialbank Qatar Masters in 2006, and needs only a Falcon Trophy to complete the sweep.

Rory McIlroy

Sep 27, 2014; Auchterarder, Perthshire, SCT; European golfer Rory McIlroy takes off his hat after finishing on the 18th hole during day two of the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles Resort – PGA Centenary Course. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

I am sure that I join the rest of the world in wanting to see how Rory McIlroy gets his 2015 season started this week. We all know what happened here in 2013.

It’s always difficult to follow a performance like we saw at the end of the 2014 season when McIlroy won two majors, and the Bridgestone Invitational, but expectations are high for the youngster in 2015, and a good effort in Abu Dhabi will be a barometer for what’s to come.

Rory typically doesn’t get off to a hot start after a long lay-off, but I would be remiss not to at least include him in my fantasy picks. We saw at Valhalla, how he can be cold one minute, and turn on a dime to win a big event.

Both of Rory’s wins in the desert have come at Dubai with a win in the 2012 DP World Tour Championship, and the Dubai Desert Classic albeit coming on two separate golf courses. But like Stenson, Rory does not have a Falcon Trophy on his mantle.

With high expectations for 2015, and a possible completion of the career slam, Abu Dhabi would be a great place to get the season going in a positive direction.

Martin Kaymer

Martin Kaymer has three wins in Abu Dhabi, and knows this golf course well. He changed up his winter routine somewhat this year, but still needs to be on this list.

"“My preparation has been a little different,” he added.“Since 2005, I’ve always been in America for Christmas time. And last year and this year, I’ve been home in Germany, I haven’t played golf much.“This year I went to Dubai the week before this event here, practiced a little bit, so it was a little bit of a different preparation, which doesn’t mean it’s worse or better. I feel good – it was very necessary to have a break after such a long season I had last year.“Therefore, I don’t have big expectations as every year. I just approach it as a neutral tournament, because I think if you compare yourself the way I played in 2008, or 2010 or 2011 where I won, you put automatically some pressure on yourself, because I played really, really well without making many mistakes.Next: Rory McIlroy Makes 2015 Debut in Abu Dhabi"

Martin Kaymer plays well on tough venues. That was apparent after his win at Pinehurst last June, and his subsequent victory at TPC Sawgrass. I look for the young German to be a factor this week in Abu Dhabi, and has a good chance to win that fourth Falcon Trophy.

Be sure to visit EuropeanTour.com for details on this event.

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