Abu Dhabi-Careerbuider challenge golf,

Agreed huddys, Rory looks to have an outstanding chance and should go close. Have backed him @ 9/2

Over in America, Ryan Palmer looks a good bet @ 25/1 with 7 places. Has strong form in the desert and has started the season well.

Good luck all, an exciting weekend's sport to look forward to

New course for spieth but he is a machine
Eddie pepperell may get a top5/10 imo
Backed donald and w.simpson in usa so far

A good week last week, even if Snedeker couldn't ultimately get the job done. It is the first time in quite awhile he has been in the real heat of battle though, and that wont be lost on him. He will be very hard to beat at Pebble in a few weeks.

What a treat in store in Abu Dhabi this week.

The first Rory v Jordan showdown in what could be a year filled with them. Jordan comes here off the back of a scintillating win in the Hyundai, and being the player and competitor he is, he will be giving this week his full attention. This is his first visit here though, and a look through past participants tournament records show a definite trend of vast improvement from their first visits.

Spieth is no ordinary animal, and can obviously be expected to adapt and conquer quicker than others, but this is Rory McIlroys territory, and he will be on full throttle this week.

Spieth is obviously still by far and away the biggest danger, but I do believe he should be a few points bigger in the market, and also believe his participation will increase Rory's chances of beating the rest. This is a big year for Rory. He has lost the Number One slot and currently holds no majors. Jordan has come out all guns blazing, and destroyed a serious field in the Hyundai. All this offers a huge motivation factor for Rory to finds his A game. And quickly.

His record here speaks for itself, and only pure bad luck has prevented him being a two time winner. He has prepared more for this assault than any previous year, and comes here off the back of a win. He will be ready, and considering how he is humming about his long game, I feel its just a  matter of how he putts this week.

If he putts poorly, I would imagine he finishes in the places. If he putts averagely, he will win. If he putts well, he could destroy them.

I have been lucky enough to call Rory very right the past year or so from a betting perspective, and I am very confident he will come up trumps again this week.

I felt no need for another bullet in the tournament outright market, but did play a few in the without Rory & Jordan market.

Byeong Hun An is someone I don't think I have backed before. But he is an undoubted class act, and a star that is here to stay.

Considering it was his debut here last year, a 12th place finish was highly impressive. A second round 75 maybe costing him an unlikely victory. He certainly found his range over the weekend, and will fancy his chances of doing even better this time around. 22-1 without the big two is a cracking bet IMO.

Lee Westwood is someone I have backed before(probably too often!), and I thought he might have been one for the scrap heap the last couple of years.

He did though, show serious signs of life towards the end of 2015, and a successful week at the EurAsia Cup last week will have left him cherry ripe for this. He wont come here with the huge expectations of before, and that may play into his hands. I don't expect him to get the better of both the big two, but do fancy he will be on the premises.

Ross Fisher is another Englishman who showed definite signs of a revival in the latter months of 2015. This terrain will show him in his best light, and last years 9th can be built upon.

6pts e.w Rory McIlroy 9-2

1.5pt e.w Byeong Hun An 22-1
.9pt e.w Lee Westwood 35-1
.6pt e.w Ross Fisher 50-1
(Above 3 without McIlroy & Spieth)

The Career Builder Challenge doesn't have an of the 'Big 3' in attendance, but it does have a decent field, headed by a player who is more than due.

Patrick Reed has in been in serious form for the past 3 months. This timespan hasn't yielded a victory, but it was only a rampant Spieth that beat him in the Hyundai.

Course form may not have as much bearing here as usual, but its definitely of no disadvantage that he is a past champion, and not afraid to go very low. Given his current level of play, its very hard to see him not contending. I wouldn't for a second be questioning his bottle, and if presented with an opportunity on Sunday, I expect him to grab it.

Last week done nothing to change my mind about where Matt Kuchar is with his game, and Zach Johnson still didn't have that zip to his iron play. I wouldn't back Kevin Na with stolen money, and though Bill Haas has an undoubted chance I just feel he is a shade short.

Someone who IMO is certainly overpriced is Phil Mickleson. 40-1 on one of the greatest players of all time in a pretty humdrum tournament?  A player at his best when his back is against the wall, and one who will be striving to prove that his decision to leave Butch Hramon was the right one. Phil is a show off, and will be eager to show everyone, not least his new coach just what is capable of. I think he will be right up for this, and 40s is massive.

Jason Dufner and Francesco Molinari are both very much still on my radar.

I think Dufner is very close to his best, and just as close to a win. He may need a week in contention akin to what Snedeker had last week, but I will take my chances here.

Molinari finished poorly last Sunday, but showed enough over the previous 3 days to suggest that pre Christmas quality in his game is still bang there. With the rustiness off the break now discarded, he can take high rank this week.

Tim Clarke is a bit of a stab in the dark. A couple of different venues this week, but his 3 top 5s in 4 appearances here a few years ago suggest its an event he looks forward to. Last weeks good finish sends him here near the top of his game, and at 125-1 there are far worse bets.

I had Ryan Palmer on the original list. I made him a 25-1 shot, so should have been happy with the 30s/33s on offer. What deterred me was that I thought he may have been priced slightly bigger by the books initially. I decided to add him, as he looks the ideal candidate for this week, and given he was still over what I made him, I shouldn't let greed get in the way!!

3pts e.w Patrick Reed 10-1
.9pt e.w Phil Mickleson 40-1(6 places)
.8pt e.w Jason Dufner 40-1 (6 places)
.5pt e.w Francesco Molinari 66-1
.3pt e.w Tim Clark 125-1 (6 places)
1pt e.w Ryan Palmer 30-1

Given Reeds current consistency and Rorys track record around Abu Dhabi, the e.w was too tempting to resist.

1pt e.w Double Rory 4-1 & Reed 10-1 (both 6 places)

Outrights Week 2: Staked 13.2 pts Returned 12.8pts
2/3 Balls: Staked 13.5pts Returned 26.25pts

Total Staked 2016: 51pts
Total Returns: 100.35pts
Running Total.....+49.35pts
R.O.I.........96.75%

Best of Luck all.

7/4 Tommy Fleetwood to bt Kjeldsen/Siem 3.30 am tee time!

Rory putted very well for the most part, two silly 3 putts being the exception.

Its a serious looking leaderboard. Spieth once again making bird on his 18th. Does he ever not??!!

Shame Hun An bookended an otherwise fine round with bogeys, though at least he clinched the 3 ball.

The only thing Westwood be clinching is a missed cut

typing from Gowran so excuse the lack of punctuation. thought molinari shaped v. well last week and looks a good bet to go close. 75 on here looks a bet. also like brendon de jonge to make a mark. addition of a pete dye course wont hurt him and he put up a good score last week on his 1st start of the season.

Added young z.blair at 100 on here

I wouldn't write Westwood totally off due to today only.  To be honest I didn't see a whole lot of his round, but one poor round can always be forgiven.

Personally think he is worth backing again in 3 ball tomorrow.

Another step forward from Jason Dufner tonight. Hopefully he can get himself right into it come Sunday. The worry will be there that he lacks that recent Sunday feeling, but the class is definitely still there. I think he will have a very good year.

Poor finish from Phil given the position he was in through 12.

1.5pt Lee Westwood 3.50am 3ball (average 4.05)

Weisberger 15/8 to bt Poulter/Dubuisson.

Tricky RICKIE at 12's ta

Superb stuff from Dufner.

This used to be a 5 rounder

3pts Webb Simpson 5.55 3 ball 11-8.

WD Calit.

Wd callit, exciting finish ,great 40/1 50 on here shout ...

Cheers.

Cracking finish alright. Looked sunk on a couple of occasions, and was probably more than a shade lucky in the end to get the win. After Snedeker though last week, it was pay back time from Lady Luck!!

Thrilled for Duff. Top quality bloke. Hopefully he can drive on from here, and I expect he will. The 100s is still big for Augusta.

Cracking return from Phil. He had his chances in the end, but will have been delighted with his driving. Will be a big factor this week I feel.

Yeah, was very lucky on 17. Twice!

POD definitely looks in better shape than a year ago.

WELL DONE ALL WINNERS CRACKING THREAD

Intersting tactics used by duff in playoff,walking near lingmerth etc a few times just before his shot,seemed to work eventually

great start to the year - great calling Callit. 
Great to see Mickelson back as well and his interview last night tells you he is in a good place