Henrik Stenson, Rory McIlory, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald, Martyn Kaymer, Matteo Manassero: these are just some of the champions on the field in Abu Dhabi, where the first tournament of the so-called Desert Swing kicks off today, a small and rich circuit that in the Emirates.
After Abu Dhabi, the golf circus will move to Qatar next week, while the Desert Classic will be played in Dubai from 30 January to 2 February, where Tiger Woods will also arrive. In 2013 the champion had chosen Abu Dhabi and skipped the final round, but this year the organizers have decided to go big, to properly celebrate the 25th anniversary of their trophy and have also "engaged" the world number one .
The matches in the Emirates are rather loved by the players, even by the American ones or by the Europeans who play permanently on the US circuit. In fact, the season in the States has not yet come alive, while in the oil mecca in this period there is a good climate, perfect fields and 7,7 million dollars up for grabs, over the 3 comparisons: 2,7 million in Abu Dhabi, 2,5 million in Doha, 2,5 million in Dubai. In essence, these are some of the richest tournaments in the European championship.
The HSBC Championship kicks off this morning with a real parterre de roi, which includes eight major winners, seven Race to Dubai winners and our four Italians: Manassero, Edoardo Molinari, Andrea Pavan and Matteo Crespi. Matteo is coming off a strong performance at the Volvo Golf Champion, last week in Durban, South Africa, where the title was won, for the second consecutive year, by Louis Oosthuizen. Manny finished tenth, continuing his 2013 standings (ninth).
The favorites are, of course, the leaders of the ranking, starting with Stenson. The Swede, number three in the world, already has two of the three Desert Swing trophies on his case, he really misses Abu Dhabi and wants to give it a try. “It would be a nice object to add to my collection” he jokes. The Emirati fields suit the 37-year-old who lived in Dubai for 10 years before moving to Florida. “I feel at home – says Stenson – it's nice to be back here and set off on a new challenge”.
For many Europeans, Abu Dhabi is also one of the first testing grounds to qualify for the Ryder Cup squad. Sergio Garcia currently tenth in the world rankings, should already have his place secured for the seventh time; Luke Donald on the other hand, former world number one, is 19th today and especially in 2013 he finished 43rd in the Race to Dubai, so he must try to make up ground.
For Phil Mickelson the Abu Dhabi tournament represents the first round of the season. “I'm happy to be here – says Lefty – on a world-class course and in impeccable shape, where you can easily understand how you are playing”. The 43-year-old from San Diego obviously has a priority goal in 2014: to win the US Open, the only major he lacks to complete the grand slam. And his race towards this mirage, which could become reality in mid-June, begins here.
Rory McIlory is the other great protagonist of this edition and in Abu Dhabi he almost never dropped below eleventh position. The 2013 season was disappointing for the former world number one, but in the Cesarini area he managed to win the Australian Open. A final shot that allows Rory to arrive in the Emirates with a greater load of confidence, on a field that seems perfect for a long and imaginative player like him, who wants to test his new drive. “It's the ideal place – says McIlory – to start my season”.
Jamie Donaldson defends 2013 title and "can't wait" to give it a try. In short, a great fight and four days of entertainment, which can be followed on Sky sport two starting at 10 in the morning (summary in the evening). Early morning tee times on the first day for Manassero, Kaymer, Garcia (7,30 local time) and for Mickelson, McIlory and Donaldson (7,40); more comfortable departure for Stenson, at the 1st tee with Donald and Bjorn at 12,05.
