The season finale on the DP World Tour is never short on excitement. The Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates has played host to the climactic finish to the season for more than a decade, producing bundles of thrilling moments and champions from around the globe.
In order to lift a trophy at week’s end, players will need to artfully navigate three of the toughest holes on the course: the fourth, ninth and 12th. Last year, Collin Morikawa became the first American player to win the DP World Tour Rankings in Partnership with Rolex thanks to his three-shot victory in Dubai. Even for the best player in the field that week, those three holes were no waltz, as Morikawa played them in a combined one over par.
Let’s take a deeper look into each of these three holes, and examine how significant of a test they will provide this week for the best players on the DP World Tour at the fifth Rolex Series event of the season.
Hole 9
Difficulty Rank: 1st
The opening nine at the Earth Course concludes with what has historically been the toughest test on the grounds. The ninth, a long par four stretched to nearly 500 yards, averages nearly two-tenths of a stroke over par (+0.17). With a set-up this long, understandably the longer players are rewarded for their power: the value of driving distance is third highest of any hole on the course.
Players will face an average approach shot of about 200 yards, the second-longest anywhere on the course. In turn, that has yielded the lowest green in regulation percentage of any hole at the Earth Course – a paltry 56 per cent – and an average proximity to the hole of just over 42 feet. With an average score of nearly two-tenths of a stroke over par, players will be pleased to get through this difficult test and head to the back nine.
Hole 12
Difficulty Rank: 2nd
The 12th is another difficult par four, listed on the scorecard at 476 yards this week. Accuracy off the tee is paramount at this hole: players who miss have been penalised 0.42 strokes, the second-highest average on the course. After the tee shot comes one of the most significant approach shots players will face this week: the value of finding the green in regulation is higher at the 12th hole than at any other spot on the course – more than one-quarter of a stroke.
As the second-toughest hole on the course, the 12th has played an important role in this tournament in recent years. None of the last three winners of the DP World Tour Championship made bogey on the 12th hole at any point during the week.
Hole 4
Difficulty Rank: 3rd
At 245 yards on the scorecard, the fourth hole is by far the longest of the par threes featured this week at the Earth Course. On average, this is the longest approach shot into any green players will face this week. In turn, the hole has historically yielded an average proximity to the hole of more than 43-and-a-half feet – the furthest away of any hole here.
Hit a stellar approach shot, though, and the reward on the fourth hole is immense. The value of getting it close here is the highest of any hole on the golf course.
Players to Watch
As a two-time winner of this event, it’s no surprise that Rory McIlroy leads all players in the field this week in career strokes gained (+20.1) on the three toughest holes at the Earth Course. McIlroy has been terrific at this venue regardless of which hole he’s on: his career scoring average of 68.5 is the best of any player at this event with 16 or more rounds played.
Reigning U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick – who has also won this tournament twice – has also performed well on the three toughest holes, gaining a full 8 strokes vs the field in his career.
