The Bob Hope Classic began today, but there is more hype surrounding the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship beginning tomorrow. All four major winners of the 2010 season are competing in the golf tournament. It marks the start of the “Desert Swing” and has a 2 million Euro prize purse.

Martin Kaymer leads the odds as the reigning champion at Abu Dhabi. It was his first tournament win of last year and he closed the season by winning the coveted Race to Dubai. He also won the U.S. PGA Championship. He has a good record on this big-hitter course with another win in 2008 and a tie for second in 2009.

Paul Casey is another man to watch. He won at Abu Dhabi in 2007 and 2009. He ended last season with four top six finishes. This will be his first event of 2011. Graeme McDowell is tied for fourth in the world rankings with Phil Mickelson. He is a good bet to be the top British or Irish player this week after finishing tied for third in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Normally beginning his season in the United States, Mickelson will be making a rare first appearance in Abu Dhabi.

World #1 Lee Westwood is second in the odds but doesn’t have a good history here. He tied second in 2008 but hasn’t done much else in Abu Dhabi to warrant backing. A good longshot bet is British Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen. He is definitely worth backing as the top South African this week. His odds to win at Abu Dhabi are shortening, most likely because of his recent Africa Open win. He finished fifth at Abu Dhabi in 2010 and tied for second in 2009.

Abu Dhabi Golf Championship Outright Odds (provided by Ladbrokes)

Martin Kaymer: 8/1

Lee Westwood: 9/1

Rory McIlroy: 10/1

Graeme McDowell: 16/1

Phil Mickelson: 16/1

Paul Casey: 16/1

Ian Poulter: 16/1

Louis Oosthuizen: 16/1

Francesco Molinari: 25/1

Paul Harrington: 33/1

Ross Fisher: 33/1

Reteif Goosen: 33/1

Charl Schwartzel: 33/1