It’s a new event to the main Tour but the course and the Emirate of Ras al Khaimah will be familiar to many in the field from their Challenge Tour days.

From 2016 to 2018, the Al Hamra Golf Club hosted the secondary Tour, the final year as the venue for the end of season Grand Final.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Inaugural event.

COURSE: While this is the first year for the DP World Tour to play here there are some clues to how the course might hold up from its time hosting the emerging talent of the Challenge Tour.

RIGHT: Masters winner Danny Willett is the biggest name in the field this week at Al Hamra. PHOTO: Francois Nel/Getty Images.

Winning scores for the three years Al Hamra hosted an event ranged from 15-under-par to 20-under, so assuming no major changes, there will be good scoring opportunities this week.

At just under 6,700 metres there is enough length for a field of this level with much of the challenge coming from the multiple water hazards that line the course.

Water is in play on both sides of the par-5 3rd hole while the finishing hole is an intimidating proposition late Sunday with water lining right of the fairway from tee to green.

Designed by Peter Harradine, a nine hole composite course can be played under lights here, a not uncommon feature for courses in this part of the world where the daytime temperatures can make being outside unpleasant.

Predominantly a resort course with wide fairways and large greens, expect the course set up crew to be working hard to find challenge pin positions for this week’s field.

PRIZEMONEY: US$2,000,000

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PLAYERS TO WATCH: 2016 Masters winner Danny Willett headlines the field in what should be an ideal week for some of the Tour’s emerging talent to shine.

Some of the more recognisable names teeing up include Chris Wood and Bernd Wiesberger though the field is light on high profile stars.

However, there will be no shortage of talent on show including the impressive Hojggard twins out of Denmark and Sweden’s Markus Kinhult.

This week mark's the DP World Tour's first visit to Al Hamra, while the Challenge Tour recently used the course as a venue with many players in the field familiar with the layout. PHOTO: David Cannon/Getty Images.

Jordan Smith, winner of the Challenge Tour event at this course in 2016, is back and brings good from after a T9 finish in Dubai last week.

After a somewhat disappointing 2021 campaign, Smith found some form at the back end of the season and has shown promise in his first two starts this year also.

Also showing some form last week was Adrian Meronk who finished T4 in Dubai. He lost a play-off at this course in 2017 and will no doubt be feeling confident ahead of Thursday’s first round.

Young guns aside, there will be plenty of support for last week’s runner-up Richard Bland who has attracted a whole new legion of fans since winning his first event last year at the age of 48.

Bland has become one of the best wedge players in the game and as well as he’s playing at the moment it would be no surprise if he was thereabouts late Sunday.

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Jason Scrivener and Maverick Antcliff.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 7.30pm –12.30am)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 7.30pm – 12.30am)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 7.30pm – 12.30am)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 7.30pm – 12.30am)
*AEDT, check local guides