As the DP World Tour Championship gets under way at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, here is a quick guide on what you need to know
Five to watch
Sergio Garcia (ESP), Age — 38, Race ranking — 17
The 2017 Masters champion was looking at a fairly anonymous season following a slump in form after winning the Singapore Open in January this year. However, a captain’s pick for the Ryder Cup by Europe captain Thomas Bjorn worked wonders for his confidence and after scoring three points in the tournament to help Europe to victory, he went on to defend his title at the Andalucia Masters in Spain last month. The ever-smiling veteran will certainly be a popular winner in Dubai.
Lee Westwood (ENG), Age — 45, Race ranking — 16
The Englishman has got his mojo back after winning last weekend’s Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa. The 45-year-old confessed that he had doubts if he would ever win again, having gone four-and-a-half years without a win on tour. However, following his success in Sun City be believes he can take the momentum into this weekend. It would be quite a story if the 2009 DPWTC winner could make it back-to-back trophies this week.
Shubhankar Sharma (IND), Age — 22, Race ranking — 26
The Indian came from relative obscurity to win the Joburg Open in December last year and followed it up with victory in the Maybank Championship in February. Ninth place at the WGC-Mexico Championship earned him a special invitation to play at the Masters in Augusta. He finished seventh at the Hero Indian Open in March to prove his earlier success was no fluke, but he will be eager to get his hands on another trophy after a quiet few months on tour.
Ian Poulter, Age — 42, Race ranking — 35
The outspoken Englishman ended a drought of six years when he won the Houston Open in April, but inconsistent form meant he had to rely on a captain’s pick from Bjorn to play in his favourite event — the Ryder Cup. He did not disappoint — does he ever? — at Le Golf national in Paris and he is still riding that wave of popularity and confidence coming into the DPWTC.
Jon Rahm (ESP), Age — 24, Race ranking — 13
We couldn’t miss out on the big-hitting Spaniard, given that he is the defending champion.
The 24-year-old burst on to the golfing scene at the 2016 US Open at Oakmont last year when he tied 23rd while still an amateur. His pro career began with a win at the Farmers Insurance Open in January 2017 and he has since notched four more big wins including the Irish Open, Spanish Open and, of course, last year’s DPWTC. Victory at Jumeriah would make him the third two-time winner after Henrik Stenson and Rory McIlroy.
Tee times: Time and Players
7.40am Robert Rock Matthew Southgate
7.50am Hideto Tanihara Joakim Lagergren
8am Lee Slattery Darren Fichardt
8.10am Joost Luiten Dean Burmester
8.20am Aaron Rai Paul Dunne
8.30am Danny Willett Chris Paisley
8.40am Sam Horsfield Martin Kaymer
8.50am Tom Lewis Marcus Kinhult
9am Mike Lorenzo-Vera Ashun Wu
9.10am Wade Ormsby Jordan Smith
9.25am Shane Lowry Lucas Herbert
9.35am Mikko Korhonen Henrik Stenson
9.45am Dylan Frittelli Erik Van Rooyen
9.55am Branden Grace Ian Poulter
10.05am Andrea Pavan Ross Fisher
10.15am Thomas Detry Andy Sullivan
10.25am Chris Wood Alexander Levy
10.35am Thomas Pieters Shubhankar Sharma
10.45am Adrian Otaegui Jorge Campillo
10.55am Brandon Stone Matthew Fitzpatrick
11.10am Rafa Cabrera Bello Ryan Fox
11.20am Matt Wallace Alexander Bjork
11.30am Sergio Garcia Lee Westwood
11.40am Kiradech Aphibarnrat Russell Knox
11.50am Jon Rahm Tyrrell Hatton
Noon Lucas Bjerregaard Eddie Pepperell
12.10pm Haotong Li Alex Noren
12.20pm Thorbjorn Olesen Rory McIlroy
12.30pm Xander Schauffele Patrick Reed
12.40pm Tommy Fleetwood Francesco Molinari
The venue
The tournament runs from Thursday to Sunday at Jumeriah Golf Estates, Dubai.
Free tickets for the DP World Tour Championship are available from www.dpworldtourchampionship.com
DPWTC: Former champions
2017 Jon Rahm
2016 Matthew Fitzpatrick
2015 Rory McIlroy
2014 Henrik Stenson
2013 Henrik Stenson
2012 Rory McIlroy
2011 Alvaro Quiros
2010 Robert Karlsson
2009 Lee Westwood
Race To Dubai
2017 Tommy Fleetwood
2016 Henrik Stenson
2015 Rory McIlroy
2014 Rory McIlroy
2013 Henrik Stenson
2012 Rory McIlroy
2011 Luke Donald
2010 Martin Kaymer
2009 Lee Westwood
