Golf fan? Listen up, as the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is back this month and there are some top names heading to the capital to look out for.
Leading golfers including Lee Westwood and Rory McIlory will be heading to Abu Dhabi to compete for the Falcon Trophy at the tournament, which takes place from Thursday January 21 to Sunday January 24 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
European number one Lee Westwood will be heading to the UAE capital to defend his Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship title. The British golfer has 25 European Tour wins under his belt, and his win last year was a second Rolex Series title for him.
Other former winners including Tommy Fleetwood, Martin Kaymer and Shane Lowry will also be taking part in the event, which is the first in the 2021 Race to Dubai season. Westwood won the Race to Dubai last year, and became the oldest golfer to do so – at 47 years old – by finishing second at the DP World Championship in Dubai in December.
“Winning the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship was a very proud moment for me and set the tone for what would be an extraordinary 2020 season,” said Westwood. “Not just winning my second Rolex Series title but also proving to myself that I still have what it takes to win at the highest level on the European Tour. It was the perfect start to a memorable year.
“I’m excited to come back to Abu Dhabi Golf Club and defend such a prestigious title, and with Ryder Cup points to play for, I know the competition will be fierce and we will have some of the best players in the world coming to this iconic golf course.”
Shane Lowry, who picked up the trophy in 2019, added: “To win a Rolex Series event was very special. It gave me a lot of confidence going into the rest of that season and set the platform for what happened at Royal Portrush just a few months later. It’s a fantastic golf course and the facilities re-ally are world class.
It’s an iconic venue and an iconic championship, I’m really looking forward to coming back.”
2018 winner Tommy Fleetwood said: “I have very special memories of this tournament. Abu Dhabi has so much to offer us as golfers, both on and off the course, and I always love spending time with my family here to start my season.”
Also joining the line-up are Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas. McIlroy returns to the UAE capital for the first time since 2018 and is looking to start the year on a high with his first win in Abu Dhabi.
“I’m looking forward to coming back to Abu Dhabi,” said McIlroy. “It’s always a great event for the players and it’s the perfect place for me to start the 2021 season.
“Abu Dhabi Golf Club is a world-class golf course, one that I have come close to winning on several times over the years, so hopefully I can do well again and be right up there contending come Sunday.”
There is no general admission for the championships this year, though there are hospitality packages at the golf club.
Who will take home the spoils? We can’t wait to find out.
Jan 21-24. www.abudhabichampionship.com.
