Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship 2019: Power Rankings

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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JANUARY 20: Matt Wallace of England plays his shot from the second tee during round three of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club on January 20, 2018 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /

There aren’t many weeks on the European Tour where Matt Wallace will go off the board this early, but it’s a testament to the strength of this week’s field.

Wallace has only had one opportunity to play the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship (T32 in 2018). He opened with 71-68 and finished the week hitting 76.4 percent of greens in regulation but just couldn’t make enough putts to rise up the leaderboard.

His trends from 2018 still make him a viable candidate to win in the desert.

Wallace’s T18 at his most recent start, the Alfred Dunhill Championship in mid-December, was his fourth straight top-20 as well as his ninth consecutive cut made going back to the summer.

He’s not afraid to go low (22nd last season in birdies) and is the type of ball striker who usually fares well here. Wallace was 29th in strokes gained off the tee and 36th in strokes gained on approach.

Truly, the 28-year-old Englishman is a pretty well-rounded player as he was 33rd in strokes gained around the green and 52nd in strokes gained putting.

Wallace already owns ten professional wins (four on the European Tour) and is poised for a big 2019. No better way to get it going than a strong week at Abu Dhabi.

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