Past winners set for Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry are both raring to go ahead of this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the first Rolex Series event of the season, at Yas Links Abu Dhabi.

The duo have both tasted success in this event, with Fleetwood winning back-to-back in 2017 and 2018 before Lowry followed suit by triumphing in 2019, and they arrive at Yas Links after both representing Great Britain and Ireland at last week’s inaugural Hero Cup.

The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is the season-opening event of the Rolex Series, which features five premium events on the DP World Tour in 2023, spread across four key points in the global golfing calendar, each event enhanced by a minimum US$9million prize fund.

HE Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, commented: ““Everyone is very proud to bring the first Rolex Series tournament back to Yas Links. 2022 marked the start of a new era for the Championship and we are excited to see a world class field return to this stunning course again. We’re thrilled to continue to give local stars and opportunity to compete among the world’s elite golfers. We’re committed to growing the game of golf in Abu Dhabi and opportunities like this are excellent incentives for our local talent. I would like to wish those competing good luck, and hope everyone attending enjoys the entertainment on and off the course.”

Englishman Fleetwood would become only the second player in the event’s history to claim the title on three separate occasions with a victory this week, while Ireland’s Lowry is hunting his third Rolex Series title following his win in Abu Dhabi in 2019 and his memorable success at last year’s BMW PGA Championship.

Tommy Fleetwood, said: "It's always in a lot of our plans to come out and start the year here. It's a perfect place really it be starting the season from weather facilities, the strength of the tournaments and the strengths of the fields I think it's a great way to get going in the year. And I think early doors in particular in a Ryder Cup year, if you like, a big part is having a big start to the year and the following week is a good way of getting right back into it.

It's good to get into that competitive spirit and that competitive mindset and see what's good and see what things we might be able to improve on coming into this week.”

The pair will be joined at Yas Links by their entire Great Britain and Ireland team from last week’s match play contest, including Ireland’s Séamus Power who will make his Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship debut this week, as will Austria’s Sepp Straka following his appearance for Team Continental Europe at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Defending Champion Thomas Pieters will attempt to join Fleetwood as a back-to-back winner, while New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, a three-time DP World Tour winner, will make his first start of the calendar year following a stellar 2022 during which he won twice – at the Ras al Khaimah Classic and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship – and finished second on the season-long Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex.

Get your free general admission tickets for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Ticketmaster.ae, with additional hospitality packages available to purchase.