A fast finish to 2015 has been followed by a slow start to 2016 but Scott Hend will be looking to turn things around at this week’s Dubai Desert Classic.

Hend’s power game is perfectly suited to the Emirates GC where the list of recent winners reads like a who’s who of long hitters.

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods are both multiple winners of the tournament in the last decade with Henrik Stenson and Alvaro Quiros also hoisting the trophy in that time.

Despite being in his 40’s, Hend remains one of the longer hitters in the game though is yet to find his rhythm in two starts this season.

Poor driving saw him miss the cut last week in Qatar but Hend is one who often turns things around quickly and he has some good memories of the Emirates GC course.

In 2008 he opened with a 67 to share second behind Tiger Woods after one round and while he slipped to eventually finish T14 he knows he has the game to score on the layout.

Hend is one of six Australians teeing up this week and all will have a tough assignment to overcome a strong field.

World Number Two and two time winner Rory McIlroy is one of four world top-20 players in the field, Henrik Stenson, Louis Oosthuizen and Danny Willett also making the journey to the Middle East.

Of the Australians in the field Marcus Fraser has the best record in Dubai, a T5 in 2013 his best finish in nine starts.

Brett Rumford has played the event 12 times though is yet to crack the top-10 while Wade Ormsby has made the cut in all four of his appearances for a best finish of T20.

Andrew Dodt has never played the weekend in three attempts while Nathan Holman makes his debut after playing some promising golf in Qatar.