The European Tour has a fairly long history of hosting tournaments in the Middle East. In total there are six tournaments held in the area on the current schedule with the season ending, as usual, in Dubai. The Oman Open is newer than all these events bar the Saudi International with this week’s edition just the third of its young history.
As European Tour players are used to competing all around the world, especially in this region, a decent field including some big names has assembled at Al Mouj Golf Club. Andy Sullivan is one of the best known golfers in the field and after a few years in the relative doldrums, this could be the event in which he springs back to his best with a win at 40/1 with Coral.
Top Tips
Andy Sullivan @ 40/1
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Course Info
Al Mouj Golf Club was handed the task of being the first course in Oman to host a European Tour event. The event organisers were fairly confident that it would hold up to the scrutiny of this calibre of player as it had previously hosted several Challenge Tour events including the season finale on that tour, the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final.
Many players who have graduated from the Challenge Tour are happy to have another crack at Al Mouj but even those who are competing at the course for the first time will find there is something familiar about it. That’s because Greg Norman designed it to be a genuine test of links golf. Al Mouj has wide fairways, lots of bunkers and is exposed to the coastal winds which act as the main defence to par.
| Course | Location | Length | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Mouj Golf Club | Muscat, Oman | 7,365 Yards | $1,750,000 |
Recent Winners
Anybody in any doubt about how much of an important role the wind plays in dictating the difficulty of Al Mouj only needs to look at the first two editions of the Oman Open. Kurt Kitayama had a very difficult task to hang on and see off the challenge of his fellow competitors in the blustery conditions that greeted most days of last year’s renewal. Contrast the American’s winning score of -7 with that of Joost Luiten who won the inaugural edition in much calmer conditions with a score of -16.
| Year | Winner | To Par | Winning Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Kurt Kitayama | -7 | 1 Stroke |
| 2018 | Joost Luiten | -16 | 2 Strokes |
Analysis: Putting Should be Decisive Again
Whether the course plays hard or difficult, there is one element of a golfer’s game that must be in good working order to have a chance of winning around Al Mouj: putting. Hitting the wide fairways off the tee is fairly routine for his standard of player and it’s almost as easy to hit the greens in regulation. What really sets the players apart this week on a course that yields plenty of birdie chances is their ability to putt well on the Paspalum greens.
Mercifully for those competing this week, the weather forecast suggests that scoring should be pretty good. There isn’t too much in the way of wind to be concerned about and the temperature should be very pleasant. It’s going to come down to holing putts and avoiding bogeys on the tricky greens then so those who have a good week with the putter should cash in.
Sullivan Primed for a Return to the Winner’s Circle
The European Tour returns to action for the first time in two weeks in Oman. Whilst some of the biggest names have been competing in America and Mexico, the rank and file have had little option but to take some time off and work on their games. Andy Sullivan is one of those who can rightly feel annoyed with the lack of competitive golf as he was finally finding the sort of form that he showed he’s capable of when winning three tournaments in 2015.
The likeable Englishman knows that he can no longer dine out on that incredible 2015 and his place in the 2016 Ryder Cup team. It’s time for him to get back to winning ways and there’s every chance that will happen for him in Oman. He played well enough on his tournament debut in Muscat in 2018 but never really got going last year. His game is in a better place than 12 months ago though and he ranks especially well for putts per green hit in regulation. Providing he doesn’t have any sort of aberration with his long game, Sullivan can hole the required number of putts to earn a big win at 40/1 with Coral.
Can Bjork Utilise His Course Experience?
Alexander Bjork has played more golf at Al Mouj Golf Club than the majority of his competitors this week. The Swede played in the inaugural Oman Open as well as three Challenge Tour events here. In total, he’s amassed three finishes inside the top 25 including a 12th place in his sole European Tour start in Oman.
The 29 year old broke his duck on the European Tour in the 2018 Volvo China Open and has knocked on the door a couple more times. He has the game to earn multiple tour wins over the course of his career and ranks particularly well for putting so may just utilise his course experience and return nicely for those who back him each way at 80/1 with Laadbrokes.
Final Verdict: Andy Sullivan to Win
Andy Sullivan has been chomping at the bit to get back with a card in his hand. He’s had some missteps this season including being disqualified at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic but generally his game has come on leaps and bounds from where it was just a year or so ago. This isn’t the highest calibre field of the year and it’s one that Sullivan can finish top of at 40/1 with Coral.