This month’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship had a little more stardust sprinkled upon it on Monday, with news that another four leading European players have confirmed. Here are the details.
Formidable quartet
The January 19-22 event, already well stocked with talent, has signed up 2016 European Ryder Cup participants in Matthew Fitzpatrick, Rafa Cabrera Bello and Chris Wood, while fast-rising Englishman Tyrrell Hatton has also been added to the field. Both Hatton and Fitzpatrick enjoyed fine 2016 seasons in particular, finishing fourth and sixth in the Race to Dubai, respectively.
Strengthening a stellar line-up
This year’s tournament boasts big-hitting American Dustin Johnson, the PGA Tour’s player of the year for 2016, who makes his Middle East debut. The reigning US Open champion, the world No 3, will be joined by world No 2 Rory McIlroy, world No 4 Henrik Stenson and defending champion Rickie Fowler. Danny Willett, the current Masters champion, is also competing at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Emirates expertise
Fitzpatrick, a three-time winner on tour, will be looking to pick up where he left off on his last visit to the country, when he clinched the 2016 DP Tour World Championship. “I am really looking forward to competing in Abu Dhabi again,” he said. “Winning the end-of-season European Tour event in the UAE in November was the best moment of my career so far and I hope I can build on that in 2017. The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship has a great reputation amongst the players and it is great to have Dustin and Rickie at a European Tour event.”
Staying in the groove
Hatton also finished last season strongly, posting four top 10s in his final six tournaments, including victory at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship - his first professional win. “I just want to continue where I left off,” he said. “It is going to be a massive test to compete in such a strong field, but I want to add more titles this season. I love playing in the Middle East and really enjoy the set up at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, so hopefully I’ll be contending on that final day.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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