This week it’s the 25th anniversary of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic as the Middle East swing reaches a conclusion at the Emirates Golf Course. Once again there will be a top field competing with some of the game’s top players seeking to redeem their recent form especially Tiger Woods and Henrik Stenson.

Woods has played this event six times since 2001 and along with Ernie Els, is the only multiple winner. But having watched him hack round for the majority of the 54 holes he was involved in at Torrey Pines - one of his favourite courses - surely the world number one can’t be a factor at 11/2.

He was spraying it all over the property in La Jolla as coach Sean Foley attempted to stick a band aid on the problem mid-tournament with Woods apparently having too much weight on his heels.

So there is clearly a technical issue at the moment, his scoring on the par-fives was poor and the 79 he fired on Saturday to finally end the agony was frankly embarrassing.

But the counter argument is that Woods does not turn up anywhere unprepared and he will have put the graft in without question.

“I wouldn’t read anything into what happened Saturday at Torrey Pines,” Woods said Tuesday after an 18-hole exhibition for past winners of the Dubai Desert Classic.

Woods was the defending champion at the Farmers Insurance Open when he sent seven straight holes making bogey or worse - including consecutive double bogeys for the first time in more than two years, on his way to a 79 as he missed the 54-hole cut.

“It was just one of those days that happens, and it was one of the trains I just couldn’t get off,” said Woods, who was speaking for the first time since the third round in San Diego on Saturday Woods said he spent Sunday at home in Florida working on his putting before heading to Dubai.

He is a two-time champion of this event and has finished no worse than fifth all but one time in six appearances. That was in 2011, his worst year as a pro.

“I went home and had a nice day off,” Woods said. “Worked on putting a bit in the backyard and that was it. I am not that far off. It’s just that I had one bad day, and that happens.” In the pre-tournament challenge on Tuesday Henrik Stenson, who won the FedExCup title and Race to Dubai last year, and Rafa Cabrera-Bello of Spain, each had 66. They tied for first and each earned $250,000. Rory McIlroy and Alvaro Quiros tied for third at 68.

This week’s tips: European Tour : Peter Hanson each-way at 40/1 or Henrik Stenson at 10/1 PGA Tour : Bill Haas at 25/1 Get ready for 2014 - Free Fitting at Enniskillen Golf Club Why not avail of our PGA fitting team at Enniskillen Golf Club, we will fit, advise and teach you how to improve your game for the year ahead.

For all the latest offers check www.thegolfcabin.co.uk Liam Mc Cool, PGA Club Professional Enniskillen Golf Club, Castlecoole 028 66325250 Winter Sales starts this Saturday