Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship
Abu Dhabi GC, United Arab Emirates
Thursday Jan 21st - Sunday Jan 24th, 2016
by David Barwise
 |
| The 18th hole at the Abu Dhabi golf course Photo: timeoutabudhabi.com |
I normally prefer to focus on the PGA Tour, but this week
I’ll make an exception…
Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy face off for the first time
in 2016 at this week's Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. And they’re in the
same group. With Rickie Fowler. So get excited.
In fact, the entire field is made up of big names with big
games; according to the European Tour website, the field boasts 5 World Number
Ones, 6 European Tour Number Ones, 8 major winners and 87 European Tour
winners. Undeniably, the appearance money is flowing fast through the desert
this week. Every cringy photo-op and selfie with Spieth, Fowler, Stenson and
McIlroy reminds us of that fact.
 |
| Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler will be playing in the same group Photo: www.golfpost.de |
So which of these superstars is the defending champions this
week? Actually, it’s none of these. It’s World Number 136 Gary Stal. The
Frenchman pounced as Martin Kaymer self-destructed on the final round to yield
his lead and the opportunity to win the tournament an incredible 4th
time. Unsurprisingly, in the hope there will be another chapter to this story,
the two have been put in the same group.
Haydn Porteous will also be in the field, fresh of his first
European Tour win at the Joburg Open last week. Big things are expected from
the young South African, whose victory booked his place at the Open this July,
as he heads a new generation of talented SA golfers.
 |
| Can Haydn Porteous make it back-to-back wins on the European Tour this weekend? Photo: www.heraldscotland.com |
But let’s not get too far away from the obvious. The smart
money says that we’ll find this week’s champion in the Fowler/McIlroy/Spieth
group. Fowler, who finished an impressive 5th in the Hyundai
Tournament of Champions earlier this year, found victory in his last visit to
the European Tour in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open. McIlroy is
not only the reigning The Race To Dubai Champion but also the European Tour
Golfer of the Year. And as for Spieth? Well, his 30-under par at the HToC has
only been achieved once before on the PGA Tour – he’s the hot favourite for this
week.
I can’t see the little matter of this being his European Tour debut get in his way.
I can’t see the little matter of this being his European Tour debut get in his way.
No comments:
Post a Comment