Golf tips, free bets and latest odds for the Dubai Desert Classic and American Express – Best golf sign up offers

RORY MCILROY is on a revenge mission this week after throwing away the Dubai Invitational - and he could not have chosen a better track as he bids to regain the winning thread.

McIlroy is the defending champion at the Dubai Desert Classic, and has a simply astonishing record at the Emirates course.

His victory in a thrilling shoot-out with arch-enemy Patrick Reed last year was his third in this event - and he has not finished outside the top ten in any of his last ten starts here.

McIlroy is a best-priced 100-30 to claim win No 4 at the Emirates, and it is easy to see why he is at such short odds.

But as last week's water ball at the final hole showed, there is no such thing as a certainty in golf.

And there are some attractive propositions lower down the betting - and at the American Express event in California.

How to bet on golf

Here are five easy steps for beginners.

1. Choose Your Favourite Sportsbook – there are plenty to choose from and most have their own app or mobile site.

2. Make a Deposit – each sportsbook will walk you through how to connect your bank account to their system including providing a list of all the safeguards they have set up to ensure the safety of your transactions.

3. Claim Your Bonuses – most sportsbooks offers bonuses to first time bettors in the form of free bets.

4. Place Your Bet – now it’s time to navigate through your sportsbook’s odds where they will offer a variety of options including outright winners, or top finishing positions, such as top 10 or 20, or even to make the cut. For the event this week each way odds are generally paid on the top eight players.

5. Collect Your Winnings – If you're successful you will be able to withdraw your winnings once the bet is complete. Some bookmakers offer cashout options on certain bets as well, which is worth keeping an eye on.

Where to find the best odds for the golf?

Lots of bookmakers have different options for betting on the golf this week, including competitive odds and different place markets.

We like the markets on bet365, including the price boosts on offer pre-event.

Rory McIlroy to lead after round one and win is 16/1, while a double on McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler winning is 28/1.

Dubai Desert Classic tips

It is a surprise to see Tyrrell Hatton installed as second favourite to McIlroy, ahead of Tommy Fleetwood, who took advantage of Rory's late stumble to win last week's Dubai Invitational.

Hatton has a decent record at the Emirates, with two third place finishes and a fourth in his last five starts.

But he only arrived in Dubai on Tuesday evening after a gruelling flight from Hawaii, where he finished in a share of 13th at the Sony Open.

It is also worth remembering that Hatton looked certain to miss the cut until he nailed a sixty footer for eagle on the 36th hole last year and only just finished inside the top 40. So odds of 10-1 are not too tempting.

Fleetwood is available at 11-1, but one top six finish in 12 starts in this event does not make that look over-generous.

In fact there are question marks over most of the players near the top of the betting. So it might be worth taking a chance on 22-1 shot Joaquin Niemann.

The LIV star booked his place here by winning the Australian Open last time out, after finishing fifth in the Aussie PGA. He is one of the best young players in the game, and is hungry for world ranking points to earn a return to the Masters.

I have to go down to 45-1 shot Laurie Canter to find another player who looks worth backing.

Canter was a close fourth on his Desert Classic debut three years ago, and has overcome the disappointment of losing his place on the LIV circuit to finish fourth in the Australian Open, and runner-up to Louis Oosthuizen in Mauritius.

He appeals as an each way proposition. And continuing the LIV theme it might be worth having a saver on Bernd Wiesberger, at 100-1.

The former Ryder Cup player has ended his stint with the rebels to rejoin the DP World Tour, and can boast three top ten finishes at the Emirates.

BetVictor sign up

Bet £10 get £40

18+| Opt-in, bet £10+ at odds 2.00+ within 7 days. No cash-out. Get 3x £10 Free Bets on selected events. Plus a £10 Slot Bonus, selected games, and wager 20x to withdraw a max £250. 7-day expiry. Card payments only. T&Cs apply.

SIGN UP

American Express tips

The American Express event has plenty of star appeal, with world world No 1 Scottie Scheffler among ten of the world's top 25 in action.

He heads the market at 11-2. But the Amex is a real birdie-fest played over three easy courses, and despite recent improvements, Scheffler's putting is still not good enough to back him at short odds in this kind of shootout.

Give me Xander Schauffele over Scheffler in this event. Xander shot a superb 62 to charge into third place here a year ago, and HIS putting is usually a strength of his game.

I've made the point before that the X-man does not win as often as he should. But at around 12-1, he looks the best bet for this one.

JT Poston and Taylor Montgomery both finished in the top six here a year ago, and both played well at the Sony Open last week.

At 30-1 and 50-1 respectively they deserve to come into consideration, while 125-1 shot Cristiaan Bezuidenhout is capable of improving on last year' share of 11th.

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – 
• Gamble Aware – 

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling website