Race To Dubai Golf Tip: Simon Dyson

The usual names dominate the betting for the Race To Dubai but with Rory McIlroy committing to the PGA Tour in 2012 and Luke Donald already playing most of his golf in the US an outsider could sneak into the frame with a good season.

At 80/1 with Paddy Power, you could do a lot worse than have a speculative wager on Simon Dyson. A regular on the European Tour, he played 29 tournaments earning almost £1.7million in prize money in 2011. That was enough to finish 10th in the Race to Dubai but 2012 could be even better.

The Englishman is now ranked 28th in the world, meaning he is eligible for the majors and the World Golf Championship events. These flagship tournaments carry the biggest prize funds so a couple of good finishes could see his chances quickly improve.

At 34 years of age, Dyson is in his golfing prime and that is translating into consistently good results. In 2011, he won twice on the European Tour with six further top ten finishes. He finished the year with a career low stroke average, another sign of his continued progression as a golfer.

His schedule means he will play in more tournaments than many of his rivals and therefore have more point scoring opportunities in the Race to Dubai. Armed with the experience of closing out tournaments, he looks a good each way bet at 80/1 (Paddy Power) with 1/5 odds for a top four finish.