McIlroy favored for fourth title of the season at DP World Tour Championship

Dean Etheridge
By , Updated on: Feb 20, 2023 07:00 PM
McIlroy favored for fourth title of the season at DP World Tour Championship

The 2022 DP World Tour finally ends this weekend. So with the world’s number one golfer playing in Europe this week, we thought it was only right we focused our free golf betting picks on the DP World Tour Championship, starting in Dubai on Thursday.

Yes, world number one Rory McIlroy is playing on the European Tour this week. McIlroy is joined in Dubai by big names like Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, and recent Nedbank Golf Challenge winner Tommy Fleetwood.

Across the pond in the US, the RSM Classic takes center stage. The favorite to win that event is Brian Harman. So without any disrespect meant, Dubai is the only place to be this week when it comes to golf betting online.

  • What; 2022 DP World Tour Championship
  • Where; The Earth Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, UAE
  • When; Thursday, November 17th - Sunday, November 20th, 2022
  • Par; 72
  • Yards; 7,675

As we’ve already alluded to, this event is the final one of the 2022 DP World Tour calendar. It is one of the flagship events of the European Tour, and as such is set in immaculate Dubai surroundings.

The course was designed by Greg Norman, now more well known for his role in LIV Golf, but it has to be said he did a great job. There is water in play at holes 6, 14, 16, 17, and 18. And with an island green on the par 3 17th hole, the run-in is spectacular, and just prime for drama on the climax to the back 9.

So with the possibility of a tight tense finish on Sunday afternoon, it means a man with nerves of steel, who is a big game player, could be the call in our golf betting picks. Let’s now take a look at the betting, and see who is the favorite to be that man.

Who is the favorite to win the 2022 DP World Tour Championship?

It’s not a surprise to see the player who has steadily improved across the whole of 2022, and recently regained the status of the world number one, Rory McIlroy as the favorite with the best online golf betting sites. What is a surprise, is to see the Northern Irishman at just +300 to win what would be his fourth title of the year.

Just behind McIlroy is Spain’s Jon Rahm at +500. Rahm started 2021 as the world number one, and will be hoping to finish what can only be described as a disappointing 12 months, with what would be his third win of the year.

Despite only being one win behind McIlroy, Rahm hasn’t enjoyed anything like the success that McIlroy has. The wins achieved by Rory have been in higher quality competitions, and McIlroy has had a far better time in the four majors this season. In the Masters, McIlroy was 2nd, he was 8th in the PGA, T5 in the US Open, and 3rd in the British Open. In contrast, Rahm finished his four majors T27, T48, T12, and T34.

2022 DP World Tour Championship Winner BettingBetOnline
Rory McIlroy+300
Jon Rahm+500
Matt Fitzpatrick+1100
Viktor Hovland+1200
Shane Lowry+1600
Tommy Fleetwood+1600
Tyrrell Hattonn+2000
Ryan Fox+2800
Jordan Smith+3300
Rasmus Hojgaard+3300
Min Woo Lee+3300
Alex Noren+3300
Kurt Kitayama+3500

Behind the main two contenders in the main golf betting odds comes 2022 US Open champion, Matt Fitzpatrick at +1100, Viktor Hovland at +1200, with Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood both at +1600.

The above odds are all taken from BetOnline. To learn more about this popular online bookmaker, such as their latest new customer offer, please check out our BetOnline sportsbook review.

DP World Championship Betting Picks

The three front runners in the betting have all won here twice in recent years. McIlroy was in 2012 and 2015, Rahm in 2017 and 2019, and Fitzpatrick in 2016 and 2020. Of those three, Rahm and Fitzpatrick are more recent, and both are regarded as good desert golf players, and can’t be ignored.

It’s also a pretty long course in Dubai, and that suits the big hitters, as do the wide fairways. All this points to Jon Rahm, who we all know could be unplayable if he clicks in these conditions.

In head-to-head betting, BetOnline makes Rahm +104 to beat Rory McIlroy across the four days. For the record, Rory is -135. With a +1.5 shot start, Rahm is -125 on the handicap, Rory is -105.

I’m going to put some faith in Jon Rahm this week. He may not win the tournament, but I’m backing him to have a better week than the world number one, and I am choosing Jon Rahm to beat Rory McIlroy in the head-to-head market as my first golf betting pick.

Jon Rahm To beat Rory McIlroy at the DP World Tour Championship
+104
BetOnline

Fitzpatrick looks good value to win outright

In betting to win the competition outright, I do think McIlroy will be in contention, but I can’t be backing him to win at +300. At +500, is Jon Rahm also too short? I’m not sure.

In order to get better odds, and therefore better value, I’m going to instead go for Matt Fitzpatrick. The Englishman has won here twice already, and is also having an exceptional 2022. At +1100, I’m making Matt Fitzpatrick to win as my second betting pick.

Matt Fitzpatrick To win DP World Tour Championship
+1100
BetOnline

And finally, let’s throw in a long priced outsider for a bit or real value. He is possibly a touch short at +3300, but I do like the look and sound of Jordan Smith. This season Smith has performed well, and he’s ending the year in even more impressive form. He was 13th at Nedbank last week, and before that he won the Portugal Masters at the end of October.

The competition in Portugal might not have been the strongest, but it was still a good win. And as one of the longer hitters lining up this week, I’m going for Jordan Smith at +3300 for my outside pick.

Jordan Smith To Win DP World Tour Championship
+3300
BetOnline

Meet the author

Dean Etheridge

Dean Etheridge brings decades of sports knowledge and betting insights to his writing. Hailing from Coventry, England, he offers an engaging British perspective on everything from soccer to cricket. Dean has established himself as a reputable voice on English Premier L...

Online Sports Betting may receive compensation if you sign up through our links. Rest assured, we avoid biases and provide honest opinions on sportsbooks. Read more here.