JOHNSON HEADLINES ABU DHABI LINE-UP
▶ World No 1 wants to go ‘one better’ at the National Course in January after missing out to Fleetwood this year
World No 1 Dustin Johnson will return to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA in January as he headlines another star-studded field in the capital.
The American, who finished runner-up on debut earlier this year, has been confirmed for the January 18-21 event, with four-time major champion Rory McIlroy, newly crowned Race to Dubai champion Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Matt Kuchar also committing. Second at the British Open in July, Kuchar will be making his first appearance in Abu Dhabi. Other players announced yesterday include two-time champion Paul Casey and 2016 British Open champion Henrik Stenson.
Johnson will be one of the favourites for the tournament, in its 13th year, especially following his performance in the emirate in January. The 2016 US Open champion, then the world No 3, missed out on victory by one shot to Fleetwood.
“Abu Dhabi is great, it’s a fun course to play and I felt I played really well during my first appearance there, aside from my first day troubles with the putter of course,” Johnson said.
“I am sure this year I’ll put myself in a good position to compete and hopefully I can go one better than 2017. “Aside from the majors, 2017 has been a really good year for me winning a multitude of titles and hopefully Abu Dhabi can act as the perfect springboard for me in 2018.”
Johnson looks likely to tee it up at the National Course as the world’s best golfer. His 17 professional wins include this year’s Genesis Open and the Northern Trust Open in August, the opening tournament in the FedEx Cup play-offs.
Much like Johnson earlier this year, Kuchar will make his Middle East debut in Abu Dhabi. He comes into the tournament off the back of a characteristically consistent season, particularly in the majors, in which he finished tied-fourth at the Masters, second at the British Open and tied-9th at the US PGA Championship. He is ranked 15th in the world.
“I have heard so many good things about the Championship from my friends on the tour,” said the veteran American, 39. “I am very excited to finally be playing in Abu Dhabi and experience everything it has to offer.”
McIlroy, meanwhile, will contest the Falcon Trophy after missing this year’s tournament through injury. The Northern Irishman, 28, has finished second in Abu Dhabi four times: 2011, 2012, 1014 and 2015. Last year, he was third.
Another regular to the UAE, Stenson will continue his streak of participating in every Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship since the tournament’s inception in 2006.
The Swede, a former Dubai resident, is seeking to capture the one trophy that he is yet to win on the European Tour’s Middle East swing.
“I am hoping 2018 will finally be my year,” said the 2006 and 2008 runner-up. “I know the UAE well having lived there for almost 10 years and think the course is magnificent, particularly the 18th hole, Par 5, whose green is surrounded by the grandstand. Having played every year, the inaugural Championship will always live long in the memory having come so close to winning the title.” Rose will be another player with victory on his mind come the opening tee shot on January 18. On Sunday, the Englishman fell short in his late bid to win the Race to Dubai, finishing tied-fourth at the DP World Tour Championship. Thus, he missed out on a second Order of Merit, to Fleetwood by €58,821 (Dh255,000).
Rose has competed in Abu Dhabi twice before, finishing runner-up in 2013 and then 12th two years ago. Compatriot Casey won the Falcon trophy twice in three years from 2007. However, now based primarily in the United States, he has not played the event since 2014.