Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship betting preview: Three tips for Yas Links

Odds Now’s resident golf tipster Ross Kilvington returns to tipping duties with a preview of the DP World Tour’s 2025 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

As well as teeing up what to expect from Yas Links as a venue, Ross also has three betting picks.

Golf betting tips: Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship 2025

Following a rare week off on the DP World Tour, it is back to business with the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship this week.

The penultimate event of the season features the top 70 in the Race to Dubai standings who elect to tee it up at Yas Links.

Last year, Paul Waring secured the biggest victory of his career, claiming the title by two shots. After this first playoff event, the top 50 in the rankings make it through to the DP World Tour Championship next week. This, of course, is the season finale.

Previously held at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, the event has been hosted by Yas Links since 2022, and it has often been described as the first proper links course in the UAE. Kyle Phillips – the man behind Kingsbarns – designed the course, and it opened back in 2010.

If the wind picks up, it is a mighty tough track, especially with the finishing par-5 awaiting the professionals. The green can be reached in two, but if the wind is strong, will those in the field elect to go for glory or play it safe?

Last time out, we at Odds Now saw our 50/1 selection, Thriston Lawrence, finish third at the DP World India Championship.

With another three selections ahead of the penultimate event this week, can we land another winner?

Betting tips for the 2025 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Selection #1 - Tyrrell Hatton – 9/1 (SkyBet 1/4 odds 5 places)

The field is stacked this week, with Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood leading the betting market.

I’m plumping for Tyrrell Hatton this week, however, with his obvious skill set on links-style courses suiting this track particularly well.

Indeed, the Englishman was runner-up last year, seventh in 2023 and tied sixth in 2022 at Yas Links. He did win the tournament in 2021, but that was held at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Hatton’s love for the links is well known, having won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on three occasions during his career. Add in five top-20 finishes at the Open, and the Englishman looks poised to shine here yet again.

Hatton ranked third for greens in regulation (71.11%) in the 2025 LIV Golf League, along with ranking in the top 20 for both birdies (167) and eagles (5). Odds of 9/1 are short, but given his sublime history at this course, backing him for another title looks a worthwhile wager.

Selection #2 – Tom McKibbin – 30/1 (SkyBet 1/4 odds 5 places)

Tom McKibbin made a giant breakthrough at the Hong Kong Open last week, securing a place at the Masters and Open next year. Fourteen years ago, McIlroy won the same competition at the same and the parallels between the two are eerily similar.

The Northern Irishman has played some excellent golf in recent weeks. T20 at the Irish Open was followed by a T11 at the BMW PGA and T15 at the Dunhill Links. He even came close to winning in Spain, eventually finishing three strokes behind the winner.

Furthermore, McKibbin clearly enjoys playing golf in this part of the world. Across 15 DPWT events in the Middle East, he has finished in the top 20 six times.

This event presents a chance for the youngster to further solidify his growing stature in the game. With an excellent victory behind him in Hong Kong, McKibbin can finally claim his first victory in the Middle East.

Selection #3 – Daniel Brown – 80/1 (SkyBet, 1/4 odds 5 places)

Daniel Brown has already won once on the DPWT this season, triumphing at the BMW International Open during the summer.

Last time out, the Englishman lost in a playoff to Marco Penge at the Open de Espana, following on from three top-12 finishes across his previous five events. He did have to withdraw from the Dunhill Links, and he was in some discomfort at the Open de España, requiring treatment on the tee box during his final round.

Despite his injury issues, Brown certainly enjoys links-style courses and impressed earlier this year in the Middle East.

Brown finished T10 and second at the Qatar Masters and the Bahrain Championship, respectively, while ending 2024 by finishing 43rd at the DP World Tour Championship.

At the 2024 Open Championship, Brown was the leader after the first round and was trailing the leader by just one stroke heading into Sunday at Royal Troon. He eventually finished T10, but that week established his links credentials, no doubt about that.

In Spain, a few weeks ago, Brown ranked first for SG Total and second for both SG Approach and SG Around the Green. When on form, he is superb with his irons.

The question is, will he be rusty this week after not playing since the Open de España? At odds of 80/1, I’m willing to chance him to return strongly.