HSBC extends its sponsorship of Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship for five years

The global banking giant began sponsoring the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in 2011, helping make it one of the most popular events on the European Tour. It takes place in Abu Dhabi every January, reports John McAuley.

Gary Stal of France celebrates winning the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club on January 18, 2015 in Abu Dhabi. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

HSBC has extended its sponsorship of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship for another five years, part of the bank’s renewal of three main events in its extensive golf portfolio.

The announcement was made on Tuesday at the 2015 HSBC Golf Business Forum in Shanghai, ahead of this week’s World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions at the Sheshan International Golf Club.

HSBC have also renewed the Shanghai event’s backing for five years, while they confirmed a three-year extension to the HSBC Women’s Champions, the LPGA Tour event in Singapore. The global banking giant also underwrites The Open. Financial terms of the new sponsorship deals were not disclosed.

“In the last decade we have been involved in 45 tournaments and brought world class golf events to China, Singapore and the UAE,” said Giles Morgan, global head of sponsorship and events at HSBC. “Today we are re-stating our commitment to golf in Asia and the Middle East.

“Here in China, our flagship World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions event has proved to be the perfect stage for golf in Asia to come of age; in Singapore, HSBC Women’s Champions has become an annual highlight of the LPGA Tour, whilst the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship has cemented its reputation as the jewel in the crown of Middle Eastern golf.”

HSBC began sponsoring the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in 2011, helping make it one of the most popular events on the European Tour. Taking place at Abu Dhabi Golf Club's National Course every January, the tournament was introduced in 2006 and regularly attracts a star-studded field. It kick-starts the circuit's Middle East Swing, which also includes the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. The 2016 event runs from January 21-24.

Martin Kaymer, the former world No 1 and two-time major champion, has been Abu Dhabi's most successful participant, winning the Falcon Trophy three times. This year, the German finished runner-up to Gary Stal after surrendering a 10-shot lead on Sunday.

Aref Al Awani, general secretary at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, welcomed the renewed partnership with HSBC, saying: “HSBC has greatly contributed to the Championship since coming on board in 2011. With its support we have strengthened the field, significantly enhanced the spectator offering and hugely expanded our messaging outreach. Through this partnership the Championship has become stronger year-on-year and we believe that will hold true for the coming half decade.”

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