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

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JANUARY 26: Matt Wallace of England walks up the 16th hole during round two of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 26, 2018 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /

It was a coin flip for the 10th spot this week between Matt Wallace and countryman Eddie Pepperell. Wallace gets the nod not for strong course history, but rather the lack thereof of poor results.

Pepperell hasn’t mustered better than T63 in five starts at the Dubai Desert Classic while Wallace did better in his 2018 debut, T37 (69-66-73-69).

Wallace is one of the rising stars on the European Tour. The 28-year-old is already a four-time winner in two seasons in the big leagues and looks primed to play well at some bigger events like this.

He’s become more consistent week to week lately. Wallace is vying for his sixth straight top-20 dating to November. He got off to a solid start in 2019 by finishing T16 last week in Abu Dhabi.

Wallace’s European Tour stats from 2018 show how he used an aggressive mindset to succeed. He was second in eagles and 22nd in birdies as well as 13th in greens under regulation. Wallace ranked above average in the main strokes gained categories including 29th off the tee.

With a T2 at last season’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, he’s primed to cash in again in the UAE.

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