Dubai Desert Classic: Power ranking the top 10 at Emirates GC

The European Tour continues its “Desert Swing” with this week’s Dubai Desert Classic.

The golf world moves from last week’s newly-named Desert Classic on the PGA Tour to this week’s Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour. I hope you’ve got it all straight.

This event originated in 1989 and has been held at the Majlis course at Emirates GC. This tournament generally draws pretty healthy fields and boasts a who’s who of past winners that include Tiger Woods, Seve Ballesteros, Colin Montgomerie, Fred Couples, and on and on.

The course is a par 72 measuring 7,328 yards. Greens are Bermuda Tiff Eagle. The fairways are expected to play firmer and faster this year, which could negate some of the advantage bombers tend to have at this event.

Water comes into play on 10 holes on an otherwise standard desert course without much for trees. Right to left shots appear to be slightly more prevalent around the Majlis.

Players will have to go low to win as 11-under or better has won every year with high teens/low 20s under par usually getting the job done.

Weather shouldn’t be a big factor this week as sunshine, temperatures in the 70s and 80s and winds in the single digits miles per hour highlight the forecast. Big surprise in the desert, huh?

While there are several big names across the pond at the Farmers Insurance Open, this year’s Dubai Desert Classic has some household names, too.

Here are 10 to keep an eye on this week: