Eric Uribe
The biggest golf tournament this week that should command your betting money is the DP World Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic. Not only does it feature some of the best European golfers around, but many also play on the PGA Tour. We’re previewing the tourney ahead, plus offering our expert picks on who to bet to win the Dubai Classic. Time is a wastin’ so get to reading and making this bet right away!
Before we get too into things, let’s cover the current odds, as listed on top golf betting sites. We scoured the industry for the most value-rich lines on the event. Here’s what we found and what golfers are most favored to come out on top:
| Player |  |  |  |
| Rory McIlroy | +330 | +330 | +330 |
| Tyrell Hatton | +1100 | +1100 | +1100 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
| Shane Lowry | +1800 | +1800 | +1800 |
| Min Woo Lee | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Robert MacIntyre | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Adrian Meronk | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
Who Is Playing At The 2023 Dubai Classic?
You saw the betting odds above, didn’t you? All of those world-class players are indeed in the field at the 2023 Dubai Classic. Fleetwood and McIllroy are getting the lion’s share of the attention. LIV Golf “defectors” like Patrick Reed are also in the mix. And there’s already drama brewing between the PGA and LIV players (more on that later).
As with everything in the United Arab Emirates, there’s a lot of money being thrown around in this tournament. Get this, the purse is sitting at a whopping $9 million. Per the European Tour’s rules, the winner is guaranteed a 17-percent stake of that — which equals out to a cool $1.5 million.
This is the 35th-annual Dubai Classic. Per usual, it’s taking place at the Emirates Golf Club. The reigning champion is Viktor Hovland, who took the victory a year ago.
Best Picks To Win 2023 Dubai Classic
Per usual with golf, you want to spread your bets. It’s never a smart idea to go all-in on one golfer — not when there are so many different players on the field. Bad outings are commonplace in this sport so it’s best to hedge yourself and wager on multiple players. That’s the exact betting strategy we’re employing at the 2023 Dubai Classic. Here’s who we’re taking to win:
Rory McIlroy
At last, the world’s No. 1 is back on the professional golf course. This will be McIlroy’s first competitive start since November, which was coincidentally also in Dubai. McIlroy had a watermark year in 2022 despite not winning a major. He won three PGA tourneys, plus the FedExCup and the DP World Tour’s Order of Merit — all of which contributed to his return to No. 1 status.
However, off-the-field drama is what people are talking about in Dubai, drama that involves McIlroy and Reed. It’s not just PGA-LIV beef, but moreover, it involves McIlroy recovering a subpoena due to Reed’s lawsuit against analyst Brandel Chamblee. Apparently, McIlroy “big timed” Reed at a Dubai practice round, and Reed responded by throwing a tee at him. Yes, a tiny tee!
Look, we don’t know what the hell is going on between the two. But we do know McIlroy has played like the world’s best player for the better part of a year. Based on that alone, you need money on McIlroy to win — or at the very least to finish top-5. We’re betting on a win.
Min Woo Lee
If we have one hesitation about McIlroy’s chances in Dubai, it’s his two-month layoff from competitive golf. That’s why for our backup bet we’re putting money on a player coming into Dubai on a very recent hot streak, and that’s Lee.
The Abu Dhabi Championship was last weekend, and Lee put in a show with a second-place finish. With the result, Lee now owns top-four finishes in five of his past seven starts. His worst finish during that stretch? A tie for 12th at the DP World Tour Championship. Lee is must-bet for us here.
How To Watch 2023 Dubai Classic
Want to track your bets in real time and watch the 2023 Dubai Classic? Welp, if you’re inside the United States, you’ll either have to stay up late or wake up early. Here’s the four-day schedule of the event:
- Thursday, January 26 — Round 1 (2:30 am – 8:30 am EST)
- Friday, January 27 — Round 2 (2:30 am – 8:30 am EST)
- Saturday, January 28 — Round 3 (2:30 am – 8:00 am EST)
- Sunday, January 29 — Round 4 (2:30 am – 8:00 am EST)
All four rounds will be aired live on The Golf Channel in the United States. There will NOT be a simulcast on NBC’s Peacock streaming app for those wondering since that’s sometimes the case.
How To Bet On 2023 Dubai Classic?
We’ve given you the full lowdown on betting the 2023 Dubai Classic — a broadcast schedule, tourney preview, and of course, our expert picks. The last thing on the betting agenda? Actually doing the damn thing at a trusted online sportsbook. With that in mind, take a close look at the underneath table.
In the table, you’ll find the top-rated bookmakers in the whole marketplace. Any one of them is offering industry-leading odds on the Dubai Classic and other golf events. If you need help picking the best sportsbook for you, then read our reviews and see what bonuses are offered at each site — two pieces of information we’ve outlined in the table. Get to it cause this tourney is ongoing!
