Two-time Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA winner Tommy Fleetwood comes into the first Rolex Series event of the year relaxed and ready to go after the Englishman revealed he had enjoyed his time away from golf following a strong finish to the 2019 Race to Dubai.
The former Race to Dubai champion finished second in last year’s Rankings following a terrific November in which he defeated Marcus Kinhult in a play-off to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge, before pushing Jon Rahm all the way at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship where he eventually finished second.
“It was very easy to put the clubs down following the DP World Tour Championship,” said Fleetwood. “I finished the year so strong, so it was nice to be able to do nothing and know that you had finished the year with a lot of satisfaction. Let your mind rest, really. It would have been harder if I had not played well. Last year had been so good in a lot of ways, but disappointing in others. I’ve learned from it for sure. You put so much emphasis on what you don’t have, and I hadn’t won a tournament for however long it had been. It was like a weight off my shoulders but I knew it shouldn’t have been in a way.
“I had done so many good things, but at times people had played better than me, or maybe a couple times I may have given it away, and that played a big part in winning because I had learned from the bad experiences. I played great at the DP World Tour Championship but it just so happened that Jon who has played amazing for a few years played better, and he was the guy that deserved to win that week and win the Race to Dubai.”
Fleetwood will be searching for a third Falcon trophy this week after winning the tournament back-to-back in 2017 and 2018. The 2018 Ryder Cup star has fond memories of the tournament despite missing the cut in his first four appearances and believes it’s the ideal way to start the New Year.
“I really enjoy coming out to play in Abu Dhabi. I think as an event, when so many people are starting the year out, it is pretty much the best way to start the year. I’ve always enjoyed it. I’ve always thought it throws you in at the deep end, a really tough test. The hotel is amazing, you feel great. I’ve been lucky enough to have a couple of really good years here, and I think it catapulted me on for the rest of the year.” – Tommy Fleetwood.
