European stars looking to shine at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Séamus Power will make his Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship debut alongside former winner Tyrrell Hatton, three-time DP World Tour winner Ryan Fox, 2018 Open Champion Francesco Molinari and rising star Sepp Straka at Yas Links from January 19-22, 2023.

The two-time PGA TOUR winner will make the trip to Yas Links after teeing it up alongside Hatton for Team Great Britain and Ireland at the Hero Cup, while Straka will make his tournament debut alongside 2018 Open Champion Molinari, the Continental Europe Captain for the new match play contest who will play in the event for the first time since 2013.

 

Free entry details 
Abu Dhabi Sports Council has confirmed free general admission tickets for all tournament days, giving fans in the UAE the opportunity to witness the world class field in person for free, including Major Champions Molinari and Shane Lowry, as well as defending champion Thomas Pieters. Tickets are available via abudhabichampionship.com

Power has Ryder Cup focus

Irishman Power, who will finish 2022 Number One on the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Rankings, will make his first appearance in the Rolex Series event at the beginning of a year which he hopes will deliver a Ryder Cup debut for Team Europe.

 

“The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is one of the highlights on the DP World Tour schedule and I am really excited to make my debut next month,” Power said.

“I have heard great things about the event and I am relishing the chance to take part in it. I’ve played well on the PGA TOUR this year so hopefully I can bring my game to Abu Dhabi next month and take a step closer to that team at Marco Simone in September.”

 

Hatton knows how to win in the UAE

Englishman Hatton, who won his fourth Rolex Series title when he secured the coveted Falcon Trophy in 2021, said: “I am looking forward to returning to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, it’s a tournament I have a good record in.

“The win in 2021 is one of my greatest memories in golf and it is always an enjoyable experience to begin the year with such a big event in Abu Dhabi.”

Fox, whose best Rolex Series result to date was a second place in Ireland in 2018, said: “The events in the Middle East at the start of the year are always great fun, so I can’t wait to get over to Yas Links in January.

“I’ve played some really good golf over the last 12 months so hopefully I can continue that in the new year and compete for a Rolex Series title.”

 

Straka is a proven winner on the PGA TOUR

Austrian Straka won his first PGA TOUR title at The Honda Classic earlier this year and made his Rolex Series debut in July’s Genesis Scottish Open.

“I loved my first taste of a Rolex Series event last year and I am eager for more at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

“Getting the opportunity to spend two weeks in Abu Dhabi at the start of the year and having the opportunity to test my game in a different location is really exciting.”

 

Fran could be the man

Molinari will return to the event for the first time in nine years, one week after leading the Continental Europe team in the Hero Cup, and is another man with his sights on securing a memorable home appearance at next year’s Ryder Cup.

“I haven’t played in Abu Dhabi for a long time so I’m looking forward to getting back there and trying out a new venue.

“I’ve got a pretty good record in the event so I’m hoping to resurrect some good memories when I get back there and try to challenge for the title.”

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