Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship 2019: Power Rankings

Given the success Louis Oosthuizen had at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship back in the day, it’s hard to believe it’s been eight years since his last start here.

King Louis finished T65 in his tournament debut in 2008 before improving to a runner-up finish in 2009 (67-69-68-64) and solo fifth in 2010 (67-71-68-66). Maybe it was that one missed cut in 2011 that scared him away.

Whatever the case is for his return to the Middle East, Oosthuizen figures to have a good shot at contending.

He ended the year by finishing tied for fifth at the CIMB Classic, and then moved on to his native South Africa where he took solo third at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, won the South African Open and took T7 at the Alfred Dunhill Championship. Home sweet home indeed.

Oosthuizen has made nine cuts in a row going back to May and has finished T32 or better in 12 of 14 starts in that span on primarly a PGA Tour schedule.

The 36-year-old’s stats last season were boom or bust: He was 30th in strokes gained off the tee and fifth around the green, while sitting just 162nd in approach and 121st in putting.

He was a better putter late in 2018 and was second in the field in putts per round in his win at the South African Open. He’ll likely live or die by the flat stick this week in Abu Dhabi, but I’m expecting him to put it together for four rounds and contend for a strong finish.