Golf betting: Qatar Desert Classic preview

Tiger Woods laid down a marker on his return to action last week with his 62nd professional tournament title and so impressive does the World No1 now look that Paddy Power's Evens price on a Dubai Desert Classic victory is by no means prohibitive. Click here for a $600 Paddy Power Poker welcome bonus when you join Paddy Power Poker Tiger roared away with the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines last weekend, equalling Arnold Palmer's Tour title haul and suggesting that the US Open, which will be staged at the San Diego course this summer, is already in the bag. It is no surprise then to find Woods such a short favourite to win in Dubai. He simply blew away allcomers with a scintillating eight-shot margin of victory that will have given this week's field plenty of food for thought. Adam Scott's win on the European Tour last weekend was equally impressive, the Australian carding a course record 61 on the final day to snatch the trophy out of the grasp of Henrik Stenson and it is a shame the Australian is not competing in Dubai this week. Stenson was this column's each-way tip last weekat the Qatar Masters and the Swede is rightly second favourite to outfox the Tiger. The same reasons apply here: he loves this time of year, beat Woods and Els here last year thanks to a final-hole birdie and has come second in his last two tournaments. And after winning the nine-hole charity challenge match this week with the help of a hole in one, his 10/1 price won't last long. Lee Westwood's claims are hugely impressive, after finishing in the top five for the firth time in a row last weekend he is a 14/1 shot, but three-time winner Ernie Els's track record is second to none, and having won it three times and finished second for the last two years the Big Easy's 12/1 is hard to overlook. In terms of the longer shots Johan Edfors makes for great appeal at 66/1. He has a liking for this tournament and showed a fine return to form when finishing fourth in Qatar, leading for the first three rounds before wilting on day four. Another name to look out for is David Howell. 2007 was a year to forget for the Englishman whose game has been blighted by back problems but his seventh place last weekend suggests he has found his form again - to coincide with lucrative 90/1 odds. Verdict: 3pts Woods to win Dubai Classic @ Evens (Paddy Power), 2pts Stenson e/w @ 10/1 (Paddy Power); 2pts Els e/w @ 12/1 (general); 1pt Johan Edfors @ 66/1 (general); 1pt David Howell @ 90/1 (Bet365) Click here for a $600 Paddy Power Poker welcome bonus when you join Paddy Power Poker