Abu Dhabi The 39th Men's Abu Dhabi Open Golf Championship — which takes place over Friday and Saturday — will see a new winner crowned as back-to-back champion Ross Bain has expressed his inability to defend his title at the Al Ghazal Golf Club.
Top UAE professionals will battle for the Dh15,000 purse on offer in the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) sponsored event, while playing alongside an array of amateur players.
The open championship continues to be one of the most popular events on the UAE's golfing calendar and is an Emirates Golf Federation Order of Merit event.
Bain, the 2010 and 2011 winner, said: "Unfortunately I cannot defend my title at Al Ghazal this year, but I would like to wish all this year's competitors the best of luck in what I'm sure will be a keenly contested weekend of golf."
Al Ghazal's own head professional Mark Ireland will be playing besides the club's rookie playing professional Joel Neale. Among the amateurs, AGGC's Calum Mills will be in action, along with his father John, who was last year's best amateur. Other amateur hopefuls include past champion Alex Charawani, Dino Varkey, Michael Harradine and David Gray.
"NBAD is proud to have sponsored the Abu Dhabi Ladies Open for the past 28 years and this year will be the fifth time we are sponsoring the Abu Dhabi Men's Open," said Michael Tomalin, the group chief executive of NBAD. "We are delighted to continue this sponsorship as part of our contribution to the social and sporting life of a very special place.
The action begins at 7.30am Friday and spectators are welcome to come and watch it as it unfolds.
