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European Tour: Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Fantasy Picks

By Matt Cochran

Jun 15, 2014; Pinehurst, NC, USA; Martin Kaymer (left) shakes hands with Matthew Fitzpatrick (right) during the trophy presentation during the final round of the 2014 U.S. Open golf tournament at Pinehurst Resort Country Club - #2 Course. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 15, 2014; Pinehurst, NC, USA; Martin Kaymer (left) shakes hands with Matthew Fitzpatrick (right) during the trophy presentation during the final round of the 2014 U.S. Open golf tournament at Pinehurst Resort Country Club - #2 Course. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship will host a star-studded field this week on the European Tour. Here’s the best plays for your fantasy golf lineups.

The European Tour has a big event this week with the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as the annual Desert Swing begins. Even bigger than the event itself might be the names entered in the field this week.

Headlined by Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship is fielding some of the best golfers in the world which will make it that much harder to make picks for your fantasy golf lineups.

Most of the public will be riding McIlroy or Spieth this week, so I don’t have to make a case to convince you to pick them. Instead, I’m going to make a case for the other golfers in the field and show you how to set up the perfect lineup for this week in Abu Dhabi.

Elite Plays

To find the most value in the field this week, fantasy owners should fade the public on Spieth and McIlroy and find some other options. There are plenty of big names in the field this week, so avoid these too blockbuster golfers and look elsewhere.

Rickie Fowler – Each week it seems like the Big 3 narrative changes, so while the other golfers steal the spotlight this week don’t forget the other potential part of this Big 3, Rickie Fowler.

The No. 6 golfer in the world will play alongside Spieth and McIlroy in the first rounds this week. The competition will benefit Fowler as he tries to keep up with his playing partners.

Henrik Stenson – Stenson adds another elite component to the field this week. Along with Folwer, Spieth, and McIlroy, the addition of Stenson means that four of the top 6 golfers in the world will be competing in Abu Dhabi this week.

While the rising young stars may deter this 39 year old, he continues to deny that age is a factor. He still believes he has life left in his career and he’s willing to prove it this week against this field.

Martin Kaymer – One guy that knows about being the top-ranked golfer in the world is Martin Kaymer. Kaymer will be playing alongside Stenson in the first two rounds.

Kaymer is playing in his 10th appearance at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship  and has won the event three times. He had a heartbreaking runner-up finish in 2015 after losing his lead to Gary Stal. He’ll look to redeem himself this year.

The Confidence Plays

Ian Poulter – Poulter spent last week representing Europe in the EurAsia Cup and leading his team to a 13-point victory. His showing was good enough to suggest that he will play for Team Europe in the Ryder Cup.

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Poulter enters Abu Dhabi this weekend with the confidence from his EurAsia Cup performance.

Victor Dubuisson – Victor Dubuisson is also coming off a big win at the EurAsia Cup and entering this week with confidence just like Poulter.

Duibuisson already has a good start to his season and sits fifth in the Race to Dubai standings.

Lee Westwood – After a positive showing at the EurAsia Cup, like these other two golfers, Westwood might have even played himself into a Ryder Cup spot.

All three of these guys played solid in the EurAsia Cup and are coming off a dominating victory. All three of these choices are promising picks for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

Bogey Plays

Andy Sullivan – Andy Sullivan is coming off the best season of his career on the European Tour. Sullivan’s best finish at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship was in 2014 when he tied for 19th.

Matthew Fitzpatrick – Fitzpatrick is coming off an impressive rookie season on the European Tour. Fitzpatrick recorded the most top-10 finishes in 2015 and he did so as a 21 year old. He meets competition that he’s faced plenty of times and has had success against. Expect the same to happen this week.

Next: Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Power Rankings

The Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship tees off on Wednesday night at 10:30 PM ET. You can catch all the live action on the Golf Channel or a replay of the rounds at 10 AM ET the following day.

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