The Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship heads to Yas Links this week for the first of the DP World Tour Play-Offs, with plenty at stake as players look to secure their place in next week’s season finale in Dubai. The top 50 in the Race to Dubai standings will progress, so there is plenty of pressure heading into the week.
Yas Links is a par 72 measuring around 7,468 yards, and it’s a proper links-style test. The course offers generous fairways, but the exposed layout can make things tricky if the wind picks up. The real test looks set to come around the greens, with large, undulating putting surfaces and tricky run-off areas making approach play and scrambling important.
For me, I’m looking for players who can take advantage of the par fives while also showing good distance control with their irons. Putting will be significant too, particularly if the greens play firm, so I want to see a strong all-round game rather than relying on one area.
It’s a quality field with Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood and defending champion Aaron Rai amongst those involved. With the Race to Dubai title still up for grabs, it should be a great week of golf.
Let’s get into my three-man squad for the week, but don’t forget to sign up for free, to get more content all year round!
2026 Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship Best Bets: Ginger Joe’s Squad
| Contestant | Odds |
|---|---|
| Casey Jarvis | +3300 |
| Joe Dean | +6000 |
| Manuel Elvira | +30000 |
1. Casey Jarvis (+3300)
In my preview for this event, I mentioned that really, you want a good all-round player to win here, but I also think when it comes to the Play-Offs and the season finale, you want players who have put together strong seasons. Well, Casey Jarvis fits that mould perfectly. Not only does he have two wins on his CV this season, but he also has a really good game from tee to green. His short game has improved throughout the year, too.
His wins came at the Magical Kenya Open and then the South African Open, and he has continued to go close in big events since. His shot shape isn’t necessarily ideal for this course, but it wasn’t particularly suited to the courses where he picked up those two wins either, and he managed just fine. I think the way he has managed his game and developed his attributes this season has to be taken note of.
He has stuck to his strengths while continuing to improve his short game, and that’s allowed him to put together some really low scores. He certainly has a shout this week, and you’d be brave to underestimate him, especially as he is soon to be joining the PGA Tour.
2. Joe Dean (+6000)
I have followed Joe Dean for a few years now, and coming into this season, he had really lost his way, and for quite some time too. However, from around May onwards, he has now put together six top-15 finishes, one of which was a win in a huge Signature Event after claiming the British Masters at The Belfry.
He has continued to play really well since then too, which is a hugely encouraging sign, and he looks like a player who is in control of his game right now. I think the setup of this course should work nicely for him. With the way he is playing, he certainly has the ability to post some low numbers.
I also like Joe Dean as a player because of his background. He made the DP World Tour the hard way, qualifying through all three stages of DP World Tour Q-School in 2023, while still working as a delivery driver to fund his golf. That was back in 2023, and his runner-up finish at the 2024 Kenya Open was a huge breakthrough for him.
Since then, it’s been a process of making small swing changes, and I think we’re only really starting to see what he’s capable of over the last five months. Don’t be surprised to see him play well here. It’s a tough task, as it is for everyone, but he looks nice value to get involved with this week.
3. Manuel Elvira (+30000)
Manuel Elvira has had a frustrating season, particularly after what happened at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, where he pretty much threw away a chance of winning with a costly finish on the par five. It was a painful way to lose, but he did play some really good golf to get himself into that position. His game fits this course really well when it all comes together.
Don’t get me wrong, he has struggled to find that same level since the disappointment at Wentworth, but it will click back sooner or later. With a return to a course that should suit his game, I think there is a chance he can put together a nice number this week.
His short game is ideal for this test, and I don’t see any reason why the course should cause him too many problems. If he can get back to the level he was showing at the beginning of last month, then there is enough value in his price to take a chance. He has the ability to get himself into contention, perhaps with a little luck along the way, and I’ll give him a chance here.
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