Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship: Fantasy DP World Tour ones to watch

The DP World Tour returns to the Kingdom of Bahrain for the second year running and here is all that players of our official fantasy game need to know ahead of the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship.

Nine of the top ten on the Race to Dubai Rankings are teeing it up at Royal Golf Club this week in what is the third of seven events in the International Swing.

Defending champion Dylan Frittelli is joined by Major-winning trio Pádraig Harrington, Jimmy Walker and Patrick Reed.

A host of recent first-time DP World Tour winners are also in the field, including Alejandro del Rey, Elvis Smylie and Ryggs Johnston.

Jordan Smith, Matthew Jordan and Laurie Canter, who were all part of Great Britain & Ireland’s Team Cup triumph earlier this month, are in action as are a host of Ryder Cup players, including Thorbjørn Olesen.

From insight into the week’s most-picked players among Fantasy managers, to our ones to watch, we run the rule ahead of Thursday’s deadline to pick your team.

Who are the most backed players?

The most picked player in the early stages is 2018 Masters champion Reed, who has registered back-to-back top tens at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and Ras Al Khaimah Championship, featuring in 69% of selections.

The start to 2025 by Laurie Canter has not gone unnoticed by our players, with the Englishman – third at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic earlier this month – backed by 64%.

Spain’s David Puig is picked by 54% after his third place finish last week, with Sebastian Söderberg then the choice of 49%.

Eight-time DP World Tour winner Olesen then rounds out the top five with 44%.

Who are our ones to watch?

Here, we pick out three players in action this week who are worth considering for your Fantasy team selections.

Favourite - Thorbjørn Olesen

Our players have American Reed as the favourite but for the second week running it is fellow Ryder Cup winner Olesen that has the backing among the betting markets. As referenced last week, the Dane has missed just five DP World Tour cuts since the start of the 2023 season, with 12 top tens outside of his two wins. At seventh, he sits just one spot outside the automatic qualifying spots for the European Ryder Cup team. While he did not play at this event last year, his experience and form - five top tens in his last eight individual events – suggest there is every likelihood he will put up a good performance.

Form Horse - Sebastian Söderberg

After narrowly missing out on dual membership status at the end of an injury-affected campaign last season, the Swede will no doubt be intent on putting himself in the mix again this year. A top five last week in Ras Al Khaimah saw him climb 37 places in the Race to Dubai Rankings, with the 34-year-old having made the cut in his three appearances so far on the 2025 Race to Dubai. He also has good memories of this event last year, having finished in a tie for sixth. Having come close to a second DP World Tour title last year, could this be the week he does so?

Wild Card - Pádraig Harrington

Despite being well into his 50s, the Irishman remains adamant he can defy his age and win for a 16th time on the DP World Tour. Speaking in the Green Room at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, he said: “Physically I am good enough and I’m actually playing well enough that I think I don’t need to catch lightning in a bottle. I actually think I’m hitting the ball as well as ever.” With wind likely to be a factor this week, his experience and ability in such conditions as a two-time Open champion should serve him in good stead. He was fourth at Yas Links on the Rolex Series at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in 2023, and a victory this week would see him overtake Miguel Ángel Jiménez as the oldest winner on the DP World Tour.

How can I play?

If you have not done so already, you can still sign up to play the official 2025 DP World Tour Fantasy game and submit your six-man team before round one gets under way on Thursday.

To play Fantasy DP World Tour, click here.

What can I win?

There are plenty of prizes on offer throughout the 2025 season including the Ultimate Prize courtesy of DP World which includes:

- Flights to Dubai for two people

- Accommodation in Dubai for two people

- Private lesson from a top DP World Tour professional on the Earth course driving range

- Two ball on the Earth course the day after tournament play finishes

- Two General Admission Season Tickets for the 2025 DP World Tour Championship

Those that finish second to fifth in the season long competition will also receive a range of DP World Tour Store vouchers. There will also be prizes to be won on a weekly and monthly basis so no matter how well you start or when you sign up to play, you will always have the opportunity to win.

Looking back - Ras Al Khaimah Championship

Of the near 30,000 people who had a Fantasy team last week, there were just 420 who picked Alejandro del Rey as the Spaniard claimed his maiden DP World Tour title and 228 points, with just two making him their captain.

Our three picks all made the cut at Al Hamra Golf Club.

Favourite Thorbjørn Olesen finished in a tie for 27th on his title defence, Form Horse Shaun Norris was tied 16th and Wild Card Daniel Gavins celebrated a hole-in-one in the second round on his way to a tie for 50th.

Season so far - 2025 DP World Tour Fantasy Top 10 player rankings