Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship
26th January to 29th January 2012
Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship
Result 2012
275 Robert Rock 69 70 66 70
276 Rory McIlroy 67 72 68 69
277 Tiger Woods (USA) 70 69 66 72, Graeme McDowell 72 69 68 68, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 73 71 65 68
278 Matteo Manassero (Ita) 73 65 71 69, George Coetzee (Rsa) 71 72 65 70
279 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 74 67 66 72, Paul Lawrie 70 69 68 72, Thorbjorn Olesen (Den) 70 67 71 71, Keith Horne (Rsa) 71 71 68 69
280 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 68 71 69 72, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 71 69 71 69
281 Romain Wattel (Fra) 74 69 69 69, Anders Hansen (Den) 71 70 72 68, Gareth Maybin 68 70 72 71
282 James Kingston (Rsa) 72 69 67 74, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 70 70 72 70, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spa) 72 74 65 71, Mark Foster 75 67 69 71, David Lynn 74 70 67 71, Simon Dyson 72 72 68 70, Lee Westwood 72 72 68 70
283 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 75 70 67 71, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 67 72 72 72, Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 70 71 70 72, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 71 71 70 71, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 69 75 71 68, Jaco Van Zyl (Rsa) 75 70 68 70
284 Richard S Johnson (Swe) 71 72 70 71, Richard Finch 68 71 71 74, Jamie Donaldson 74 68 67 75, Graeme Storm 74 69 68 73, Johan Edfors (Swe) 70 71 70 73
285 Peter Hanson (Swe) 74 69 64 78, Anthony Wall 70 75 71 69, David Drysdale 70 72 71 72, Stephen Gallacher 72 72 70 71, Marcel Siem (Ger) 72 74 70 69, Lorenzo Gagli (Ita) 72 73 67 73, Padraig Harrington 71 69 72 73
286 Ross Fisher 73 72 68 73, Peter Whiteford 73 73 68 72, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 72 69 70 75, Joost Luiten (Ned) 71 71 73 71, Markus Brier (Aut) 72 71 74 69, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 70 70 74 72
287 Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 72 70 72 73, Richie Ramsay 69 71 77 70, Ben Curtis (USA) 72 71 70 74, Gary Boyd 73 73 68 73, K J Choi (Kor) 71 75 68 73, Luke Donald 71 72 73 71, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 76 70 71 70, Michael Hoey 70 76 69 72
288 Soren Hansen (Den) 72 73 69 74, Andrea Pavan (Ita) 73 72 69 74, Rhys Davies 75 71 70 72, Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (Ind) 74 72 74 68, Bradley Dredge 73 71 72 72
289 Joel Sjoholm (Swe) 73 71 72 73, Alexander Noren (Swe) 73 72 74 70
290 Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 72 73 71 74, David Horsey 75 70 69 76, ichard Green (Aus) 75 71 72 72, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 71 74 69 76, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 71 71 73 75, Oliver Fisher 71 71 75 73
295 Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa) 72 74 78 71
Results 2011
Martin Kaymr wins the Abu Dhabi HSBC with a score of -24 winning by eight clear shots from second Rory Mcilroy - 16
1 KAYMER, Martin -24 18 -6 67 65 66 66 264
2 MCILROY, Rory -16 18 -3 71 67 65 69 272
T3 GOOSEN, Retief -14 18 -8 70 71 69 64 274
T3 MCDOWELL, Graeme -14 18 -5 66 70 71 67 274
T5 MAYBIN, Gareth -12 18 -3 71 67 69 69 276
T5 LYNN, David -12 18 Par 69 68 67 72 276
Teeing off in 2006 and quickly becoming established as a favourite event for players and spectators alike, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship is now one of the biggest events on the PGA European Tour, regularly attracting some of golf’s most famous names.
Since its inception by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), it has been staged at the sublime Abu Dhabi Golf Club as part of the Tour’s Gulf Swing and with the emirate now boasting three championship ready courses, the championship’s future looks very bright.
The championship’s ongoing success is laying the foundations for Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a international golfing destination. Playing to a cumulative global television audience of 400 million, the championship is inextricably linked with the building of Abu Dhabi’s tourism profile as an international destination of distinction, and is integral in putting the emirate firmly on the international sporting map.
The championship consistently attracts a world-class field of the game’s top international stars, including winners Chris DiMarco, Paul Casey and Martin Kaymer. Even Tour legend Gary Player has joined the Abu Dhabi field. In 2010, eight of the world’s top 14 players competed, and Ryder Cup winners such as Sergio Garcia, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood have all participated.
Now, as part of a five-year partnership with HSBC, the world’s local bank, the event’s prize fund rises to US $2.7 million – an increase of US $500,000 – making it the richest purse of the Gulf Swing. The partnership ushers in a new era for the championship and golf in Abu Dhabi, and ADTA is committed to hosting the event’s most impressive playing field. The authority also plans to mount its most expansive spectator offering of improved facilities and attractions.
Last year, the championship drew close to 30,000 spectators over four days all of whom enjoyed off-course entertainment and a leisure experience to rival the breathtaking action on-course.
Abu Dhabi Golf Club is a world-class sporting facility and demonstrates the UAE capital’s ability to build top-tier venues for renowned international events. With enhanced spectator platforms to promote true ‘up-close viewing’, a substantially expanded championship village with even more attractions, restaurants, cafes and competitions, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship is one of the most fan-friendly competitions on the map.
THE FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP – 2006
Chris DiMarco was the first to have his name etched on the iconic Falcon Trophy in 2006. The American delivered a sensational performance to finish 20-under par, one shot ahead of runner-up, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson.
CASEY STEPS UP – 2007
Twelve months later, Paul Casey joined Abu Dhabi’s winner roll call. The powerful Englishman pulled out all the shots in his diverse repertoire to become the first European to win the Falcon. Casey blazed monster drives, struck fine irons and rolled in the putts to win by one stroke over Sweden’s Peter Hanson and enigmatic Spaniard, Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Off the course, Abu Dhabi Golf Club was significantly upgraded as befitting a top-tier golfing destination. Improvements included a new gatehouse, enhanced signage, a revamped approach road and extensive landscaping with some 120 palm trees and 16,000 square metres of planting.
ROOKIE COMES OF AGE – 2008
In 2008, a cadre of the world’s top professionals lined up for the championship’s third edition. With HRH Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, among the record-breaking galleries, several leading sports journalists and commentators from both sides of the Atlantic praised the championship, declaring pros would ‘rather be in Abu Dhabi’ than anywhere else.
Yet it was one man who dominated the on-course action. Under the watchful stare of Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s falcon-shaped clubhouse, Martin Kaymer – 2007’s Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year – led from wire-to-wire to claim his maiden Tour win. Amid rapturous scenes, the young German carded rounds of 66, 65, 68 and 74, as he defeated nearest challengers Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson by four shots.
ADTA also ensured golfing enthusiasts across the country didn’t miss a single stroke of action, by introducing ‘Championship Radio’ – a specific FM radio channel delivering live ball-by-ball commentary, player interviews and analysis from an international broadcast team.
Also, to ensure the excitement continued long after the day’s last shots were played, ADTA also staged the free-to-attend ‘Jazz under the Stars’ concerts. Three of the most well respected names in
jazz, rhythm and blues lit up the stage with four breathtaking shows after daily play ended – setting an entertainment precedent that remains a championship highlight.
ABU DHABI SPURS CASEY’S RETURN TO FORM – 2009
Abu Dhabi Golf Championship winner Paul Casey returned to the UAE capital in the early days of 2009 ranked 42nd in the world. His Abu Dhabi attendance marked the beginning of an impressive run of form for the dynamic Englishman that saw him climb 39 places to number three in the world rankings – his highest ever standing.
Casey’s second Abu Dhabi win spurred further victories on both sides of the Atlantic at the Shell Houston Open in the USA and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, UK. Casey’s success clearly showed how important an early win in Abu Dhabi can be for a player’s season.
For 2009, organisers developed a totally new practice range together with new practice putting and chipping greens. In addition, sponsors were bowled over by the newly designed 18th green Hospitality Pavilion which was the largest to date. The world’s press also enjoyed a new Media Centre with improved communications facilities.
KAYMER MAKES IT TWO IN THRILLER – 2010
In a breathtaking final day, Martin Kaymer reigned once more, lifting the Falcon Trophy with a tournament record-equalling 21-under-par. Having shot three consecutive rounds of 67, the young German was forced to raise his game on the final day as England’s Ian Poulter pushed him to the very last stroke.
The championship looked like it was going to a play-off until Kaymer pulled out a fairway wood on the final hole to make the mammoth drive to the green, as Poulter had to lay-up. A solid 30-foot put from the colourful Englishman on the last – which would have forced the playoff – went agonisingly close but didn’t drop, allowing Kaymer to take the plaudits for a magnificent winning performance.
Off the course, the championship village, which was a fifth larger than in previous years, was revitalised to create a true spectator experience, allowing seasoned golfers and those new to the game a chance to connect with the European Tour-backed event.
With a host of prizes up for grabs, from business class tickets to Tokyo to cutting-edge iPhones, in addition to top-class dining and refreshment hideaways, fans continued to flock to the dedicated entertainment centre.
In addition to enhanced spectator viewing platforms, the championship also went online with the launch of a dedicated iPhone application, allowing fans to stay up-to-date with all the news and action from anywhere in the world.