Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship – five to watch outside of Spieth and McIlroy

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  Matt Fitzpatrick of team Europe plays a shot during the final day’s singles matches at the EurAsia Cup on January 17, 2016 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

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  Branden Grace of South Africa in action during the Pro-Am as a preview for the 2016 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club on January 20, 2016 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. David Cannon/Getty Images

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  Team Europe Victor Dubuisson of France tees off on the first hole during the 2016 Eurasia Cup Golf tournament at the Glenmarie Golf and Country club in Shah Alam, outside Kuala Lumpur on January 16, 2016. Mohd Rasfan / AFP

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  George Coetzee of South Africa waves to the crowd on the ninth hole during the second round of the Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club on January 22, 2015 in Doha, Qatar. Andrew Redington / Getty Images

With four of the world’s top six players competing at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, starting Thursday, John McAuley plumps for five to watch outside of Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson and Rickie Fowler.

Martin Kaymer

A pretty obvious pick, since he has previously been known around these parts as “King Kaymer”. The German, a double major champion, is a three-time winner in Abu Dhabi and thus holds several records, while last year’s stunning collapse, when he surrendered a 10-shot lead on Sunday, will only motivate him to put that right. A desert specialist, too.

Matt Fitzpatrick

Granted, the young Englishman missed the cut on debut last year, but so did Gary Stal before clinching the Falcon Trophy 12 months ago. Unlike the defending champion, though, Fitzpatrick has since been brilliant, winning his first event and posting nine more top 10s. Finished tied-4th in Dubai in November, so feels comfortable in the Emirates. A superb talent.

Branden Grace

The South African does not have the best record in Abu Dhabi from four appearances, although he did finish fifth in 2013. However, he is one of the most in-form golfers on tour, having secured five top-five finishes in his past eight strokeplay outings. Grace’s group starred in Wednesday’s Pro-Am. Admittedly, that could be a viewed as a good or a bad omen.

Victor Dubuisson

While mercurial is often used to describe the Frenchman, there is no denying his talent. And after a slump in form, that has been evident since his Turkish Airlines Open victory late last season. Since then, Dubuisson has finished tied-13th in Dubai and tied-fourth at the Nedbank Golf Challenge. Showed promise at last week’s EurAsia Cup, while he finished tied-fourth in Abu Dhabi last year.

George Coetzee

Injury derailed the latter part of his 2015, but by then the South African have proved he can close out tournaments, winning twice earlier in the year. He patently likes Abu Dhabi, having posted three top-10 finishes in his past four appearances. Another who performs well in the UAE, and comes into the week off a final-round 67 in Johannesburg.

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