Steve Palmer's Ras al Khaimah Classic predictions & golf betting tips

Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the Ras al Khaimah Classic at Al Hamra on the DP World Tour.

Where to watch

Live on Sky Sports Golf & Main Event from 8.30am on Thursday

Best bets

Nicolai Hojgaard
4pts each-way 14-1 Coral, Ladbrokes

Julien Brun
2pts each-way 50-1 bet365

Romain Langasque
2pts each-way 33-1 bet365

George Coetzee
1pt each-way 70-1 bet365

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Nicolai Hojgaard obliterated the Al Hamra course from tee to green last week to win the inaugural Ras al Khaimah Championship - and the Danish dude will be unleashed on the same track this week in the Ras al Khaimah Classic.

There was much doom and gloom around European golf after the heavy Ryder Cup defeat at the end of September, but victories for Thomas Pieters, Viktor Hovland and Hojgaard on the DP World Tour this year have shown that Europe possesses the talent to challenge the United States in future.

Palmer's top tip

Nicolai Hojgaard 14-1

There must be every chance that gifted 20-year-old Nicolai Hojgaard can complete an Al Hamra double on Sunday, having spectacularly found his A-game in Ras al Khaimah last week.

The Classic field is weaker than the Championship one - Bernd Wiesberger, Johannes Veerman and Danny Willett have jetted home - and Hojgaard will have high hopes of bossing proceedings again. The rising star won by four shots last week, despite carrying a cold putter, ending up 60th in the strokes-gained-putting statistics.

This is a ball-striking colossus who seems capable of making a huge impact in the sport - and wide-open venues like this one suit him best. The attacking Hojgaard has four par-fives and three driveable par-fours to gun at in Ras - and he made two eagles on Sunday in a breathtaking display of class and guts. A commanding lead turned into a two-shot deficit, but he fought back in awesome fashion.

There is no travel to worry about between tournaments - Hojgaard can stay in Ras and freshen up for another crack at Al Hamra - and it is unlikely that he will rest on his laurels. From a world ranking of 67, Hojgaard has the scent of a Masters debut in his nostrils, which should guarantee full focus for this week.

The favourite is a remarkably backable price given how dominant he was at the same venue last week. There should surely be a larger gap than there is between Hojgaard and Jordan Smith at the top of the betting. Smith bogeyed the 15th on Sunday just when it seemed he might get his hands on the trophy - and that final-round frailty is well established.

Next best bet

Julien Brun 50-1

Challenge Tour graduate Julien Brun continues to impress and the 29-year-old Frenchman can go close to a maiden DP World Tour title this week. Brun, who won on the Challenge Tour in October before finishing second in the CT Grand Final in November, has finished in the top 25 in his last 13 tournaments.

Last week, Brun was 13th at Al Hamra and carded four under-par rounds, so he has clearly settled nicely on the main circuit and should be strongly threatening silverware before long.

Other selections

Romain Langasque 33-1

George Coetzee 70-1

A couple of horror holes derailed the Ras al Khaimah Championship challenge of Romain Langasque - and a more positive result can be expected this week. Langasque endured a triple-bogey eight at the third hole in round two, but carded seven Friday birdies and missed the cut by a single shot. The Frenchman finished third in the strokes-gained-off-the-tee stats - he has been driving superbly - but suffered on the greens.

Langasque was 14th in the Dubai Desert Classic putting stats the week before Ras, so if that flat-stick touch returns he should be a major factor at Al Hamra over the next four days. He finished sixth and fourth there in his two Challenge Tour spins at the track - and his golf in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the fortnight prior to last week was excellent.

Complete a four-pronged attack with George Coetzee, who seems a lively outsider in an assignment which suits. Coetzee, a carefree character who enjoys himself off the course, has got himself into a groove over the last three weeks. The rust came off in the two Rolex Series events, then he struck his ball superbly on his way to 27th place at Al Hamra last week.

Coetzee, who has a great desert record and has contended in far superior Gulf events to this one, has won five European Tour titles.

Players to note

Rasmus Hojgaard
Nicolai's twin brother topped the driving-distance stats at Al Hamra last week and is arguably the main danger to the recommendations.

Niklas Norgaard Moller
Another Danish youngster worth considering at juicy prices, Moller was second in the driving-distance stats last week (sandwiched between the Hojgaards) and looks full of promise.

Daniel van Tonder
A final-round 65 for 13th place meant Daniel van Tonder ended the Ras Championship on a high and the South African Open champion warrants respect for the Al Hamra rematch.

Ryan Fox
The New Zealander was dismal on the greens in round one last week, missing the cut by a shot, but he possesses the power to set up countless birdie opportunities at this layout.

Al Hamra course guide

Course Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras al Khaimah, UAE
Prize money $2m ($333,400 to the winner)
Length 7,325 yards
Par 72 - four par-fives; ten par-fours; four par-threes
Field 132 The cut Top 65 and ties qualify for round three
Highest-ranked players in field (world rankings in brackets) Richard Bland (56), Robert MacIntyre (66), Nicolai Hojgaard (67), Shaun Norris (73), Daniel van Tonder (80)

Course records- 72 holes 264 Nicolai Hojgaard (2022 Ras al Khaimah Championship); 18 holes 63 Adrian Otaegui, Haotong Li (2022 Ras al Khaimah Championship)

Course winners taking part Jordan Smith, Adri Arnaus, Nicolai Hojgaard

When to bet By 3.10am on Thursday morning

When to watch Live on Sky Sports Golf & Main Event from 8.30am on Thursday

Time difference Ras al Khaimah is four hours ahead of the UK and Ireland

Last week - Ras al Khaimah Championship 1 N Hojgaard (35-1), 2 J Smith (22-1), T3 H Li (66-1), L Nemecz (200-1), A Otaegui (110-1), M Pavon (90-1)

Course type Desert

Course overview The Peter Harradine-designed track hosted its first professional event with the 2016 Ras al Khaimah Challenge on the Challenge Tour, then the tournament was staged again in 2017. In 2018, the course hosted the Challenge Tour Grand Final instead - won by Adri Arnaus - then last week saw its first DP World Tour gathering. Nicolai Hojgaard won the Ras al Khaimah Championship by four shots on Sunday. The winning scores in the three CT events there were 20, 15 and 17 under par, then Hojgaard reached 24 under last week. The layout meanders around four lagoons, with paspalum grass throughout

Weather forecast Sunny, warm and generally calm, although a moderate breeze is forecast for Thursday and Sunday afternoons

Type of player suited to the challenge Wide fairways, limited bunkering and straightforward greens make this a simple assignment for Tour professionals, particularly with a lack of serious wind in the forecast, and a powerhouse putting well should go low

Key attribute Power

Spotlight insight There has not been a UK or Irish winner of the last seven DP World Tour events in the Gulf