Following on from last week’s Ras al Khaimah Championship presented by Phoenix Capital, the tournament naming team put their collective thinking caps on and got creative to give us … the Ras al Khaimah Classic.

The field remains mostly unchanged though several players have returned from the Saudi International and will take their place in the field this week.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Inaugural event.

COURSES: The players have mostly had at least two laps around Al Hamra and they found it to their liking in terms of scoring.

RIGHT: Last week's winner Nicolai Hojgaard is obviously comfortable with the Al Hamra layout. PHOTO: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

Not surprisingly the par-5s proved gettable for players of this level and the third hole, in particular, played almost half a stroke under its par.

Just seven holes for the week averaged over par and with a cut line of two-under and a winning score of 24-under it proved the kind of course where pars will have players feeling like they are going backwards.

While it may look ‘easy’ because of the numbers, that style of golf is difficult to sustain as it can be mentally quite taxing.

The course is unlikely to change in any significant way from last week so it will be a case of ‘more of the same’ this week.

PRIZEMONEY: US$2,000,000
RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

PLAYERS TO WATCH: After a stunning display of recovery golf on his way to victory last week Nicolas ‘Houdini’ Hojgaard will be a popular choice to go back-to-back but that seems an unlikely scenario.

The pressure to continually make birdies – coupled with the pressure of winning, especially under difficult circumstances – is a bigger obstacle than some may think.

For all the good golf both Hojgaard and runner-up Jordan Smith played last week it would be surprising to see both near the top of the leaderboard again.

Instead, look to players who finished strongly on Sunday after playing less than spectacular golf the opening three days.

After a good week in Saudi Arabia, Adri Arnaus is a player to watch this week. PHOTO: Oisin Keniry/Getty Images.

Haotong Li had the best score Sunday, a 63 that leapfrogged him 25 places up the leaderboard and could stand him in good stead this week.

Though inconsistent in recent years, Li remains a fabulous player with an ability to go super low and he will like his chances this week.

Also coming into the week off a good performance though in Saudi Arabia is Adri Arnaus, a player with history at this Al Hamra course.

Arnaus was third behind Harold Varner III last week but as a Challenge Tour member in 2018 he won the final event of the season on this golf course.

Jordan Smith – a winner here in 2016 on the secondary circuit – showed last week that familiarity is of some help and Arnaus will hope to benefit from the same.

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Scott Hend, Jason Scrivener, Maverick Antcliff and Wade Ormsby.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 503 7.30pm –12.30am)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 503 7.30pm – 12.30am)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 8pm – 12.30am)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 8pm – 12.30am)
*AEDT, check local guides