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

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – FEBRUARY 05: Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa tees off on the 12th hole during the second round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club on February 5, 2016 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /

Louis Oosthuizen will seek to recapture his touch at Emirates GC. The sweet-swinging South African recorded a T3 (73-69-69-65) and T7 (68-65-68-74) back to back in 2008 and 2009 but has only returned three times, two ending in missed cuts.

His chances this week seem pretty high based on recent performance. The 36-year-old comes to the Dubai Desert Classic off of four top-10s in his last four starts and five in the last six going back to October. The highlight was his first win since 2016 at his native South African open in December.

More importantly, Oosthuizen is already off to a good start to the new year as he finished solo fourth last week in Abu Dhabi with three rounds of 68 or lower.

Oosthuizen is first on the PGA Tour in the early goings of the 2018-19 season in greens in regulation (84.03 percent). Last season he was eighth in strokes gained around the green (thanks in part to finishing second in sand saves) and 30th in SG off the tee.

He missed just four cuts last year and has missed more than seven in a year just twice this decade. That makes his shortcomings in Dubai in 2016 and 2018 seem a little less daunting.

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