Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood shot a stunning 7-under par 65 on the final day to win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA. His overall score of 22-under par saw him lift the Falcon Trophy, two shots clear of his compatriot, Ross Fisher.
The 27-year-old delivered when it mattered most on The National Course, clawing his way back into contention by posting a back nine which included six birdies – one on the 18th – to secure a winner’s purse of US$ 500,000.
Fleetwood, who completed his final nine holes in 30 shots, sealed the title with a magnificent 40-yard chip shot onto the 18th green, before calmly holing from four feet for a closing birdie and successful title defence.
“I just really wanted to win this one. I know everybody has been talking about it, and just backing it up is the next big thing, really. So to keep it going and defend, it’s a weird feeling coming back to try and retain a trophy because it’s yours and you don’t want to give it away. So keeping a hold of it for another year is very nice,” said Fleetwood, whose affection for Abu Dhabi is clear for all to see.
Having now started 2018 off with victory at the Championship as he did the previous year, the importance of what he’d achieved began to dawn on Fleetwood: “I feel a lot more emotional, actually, than last year. I had the year of my life last year.”
The Englishman, reunited with the Falcon Trophy in the presentation ceremony on the 18th green, went on to explain his thought process whilst standing ahead of his defining third shot on the 18th.
Fleetwood explained: “Then the 18th, I mean the up-and-down was one of the best up-and-downs I ever made. So happy days.”
On the morning of the final day the leaderboard was incredibly tight, with 19 players at 11-under or better, making Fleetwood’s victory even more remarkable. With plenty of world-class golf being played, the iconic Falcon Trophy remained up for grabs late into the afternoon as a pack from the UK fought it out down the closing holes.
The much-fancied McIlroy displayed huge promise despite his recent 100-day break from the game, but he fell just short despite a birdie finish, ending up in third place with an overall 18-under par:
“I’m really happy with how I played. It could have been a little bit better today but overall this gives me confidence going into not only next week but the few months ahead, as well. My game is in really good shape and I saw some really, really positive signs,” said the 28-year-old.
He continued: “I felt like I got a lot out of Abu Dhabi, and yeah it felt great to get another tournament under my belt. It’s a great start to the year. I have no complaints. My body held up really well. My game was probably better than I expected it to be. So I’m really happy with the week.”
Fisher, who started atop the leaderboard, seemed determined to get his hands on the Falcon Trophy, as he opened up with an eagle on the second hole, followed up by two birdies in an outward nine of 32 (-4). He would go on to shoot a three-under par round of 69 after falling away towards the latter stages of his round, perhaps succumbing to the pressure of not having won a European Tour title since 2014.
“It was always going to be tricky. I think I might have been a couple ahead maybe, so I figured, right, I need to knuckle down and play a good, solid back nine, and unfortunately wasn’t quite solid enough,” said the 37-year-old.
Fisher added: “So hats off to Tommy. I don’t feel like I’ve lost a tournament. Tommy’s gone out there and shot 65 and he’s won it, so all credit to Tommy.”
Speaking after a remarkable 13th edition of the event, His Excellency Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said: “We have just seen first-hand another captivating week of golf at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA and I would first like to offer congratulations to the deserved 2018 champion and two-time Championship winner, Tommy Fleetwood. Over the past four days, the world’s best golfers have battled for our coveted Falcon Trophy, and we were spoilt today by having such a tight leaderboard before play had even begun.
“With the joint partnership of HSBC and EGA, the Championship has firmly placed itself as one of the premier golf tournaments in the world. This past year we have all been working incredibly hard to secure strong, local support for the Championship, allowing us to expand its reach and further bolster our efforts to boost the game of golf here in the UAE.
“The sights spectators were treated to this week were second to none. Whether it was on the stunning National Course here at Abu Dhabi Golf Club or in the Championship Village, the hugely dedicated fan base who have visited the tournament year after year have been treated to a wealth of offerings.
“The countdown to 2019 has already started and I assure you the Championship will continue to go from strength to strength, attracting the game’s biggest names. At Abu Dhabi Sports Council, we remain committed to bringing world-class events to this emirate and promoting the benefits of a healthy lifestyle to all our residents. I can confidently say this year’s Championship has come together better than ever before and remains the jewel in Abu Dhabi’s sporting crown.”
David Kotheimer, Deputy CEO and COO UAE, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited added: “Congratulations to Tommy Fleetwood who put in another astonishing performance this week to win again here in Abu Dhabi. At the end of another stellar Championship and our eighth year of our sponsorship, it is satisfying to reflect on another superb week of sporting action. I’d like to thank the Abu Dhabi Sports Council who continue to make this Championship bigger and better every year through the breadth and depth of their work and the traditions they continually uphold. Tommy’s win today is exciting and will only help strengthen the event’s profile further, driving the game forward here in the UAE and inspiring a new generation of golfers.”
The recently renamed tournament is thanks to EGA taking up its first year of sponsorship with the 2018 Championship. The deal means that EGA is now backing both key UAE championships on the early-start Desert Swing – the other being the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. EGA is the only company to sponsor both events.
Reflecting on the company’s first-year of sponsorship, Abdulla Kalban, Managing Director and CEO of EGA, said: “This was the first time this great Championship was presented by EGA, and as always the golfing action didn’t disappoint, delivering world-class competition to golfing fans in Abu Dhabi, proving the Championship as being the jewel in the crown of Middle Eastern golf. I am already looking forward to next year and I expect the 2019 Championship will once again bring together many in the Abu Dhabi community as well as putting a global spotlight on the capital.”
The 2017 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA grew its social media following by more than 65%. The HD TV coverage, with a potential reach of almost half a billion viewers, allowed a global audience to watch the world’s best vie for the coveted Falcon Trophy and a share in the US $3 million prize purse.
