Abu Dhabi: In-form Swedish star Henrik Stenson, who has dominated this year’s European Tour and US PGA Tour, is aiming for more success in the UAE after confirming he’ll contest next month’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.
Stenson will arrive in the UAE for the January 16-19 event with the opportunity to win a unique career ‘Gulf Slam’ following previous career victories in Dubai and Qatar, in addition to last month’s Race to Dubai success.
Stenson finished his 2013 season in style in November, with a crushing six-shot victory to win the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates and with it the European Tour’s season-long Race to Dubai money list honours.
That was the last leg of what he termed the “double-double”, winning both tours’ orders of merit as well as the season finales in each. He also posted top three finishes in The Open and at the PGA Championship Majors.
Now Stenson is targeting a maiden victory at Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s National course. “2013 finished on a high in the UAE and it would be great if 2014 started on a high in the UAE,” said Stenson, who lived in the country until early 2012.
“The country was a fantastic home for us for eight years and I’ve always enjoyed playing here. Abu Dhabi is a growing, cosmopolitan city and the galleries at the championship always give the players a wonderful welcome to the season.”
Stenson has been ever-present at the championship since 2006. After finishing second in 2006 and 2008 — and holding the championship course record with a 62 during his 2006 near-miss — he is ready to take the next step and finally lift the Falcon Trophy.
“There’s a Falcon-sized gap in my trophy cabinet that I’d dearly love to fill — not just because of the 2006 and 2008 near misses, but so I can become the first player to complete the sweep of Gulf titles,” he said.
“The National course gets a bit tougher each year and the championship has become one of the most coveted on the Tour, so it would be great to tee off the season in style.”
Stenson joins an impressive Abu Dhabi Championship line-up that also includes US Open title holder Justin Rose, five-time Major winner Phil Mickelson, former world number ones Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald, Abu Dhabi’s record-breaking ambassador Matteo Manassero, crowd favourite and world number 10 Sergio Garcia, and the reigning champion, Welshman Jamie Donaldson. Three-time Abu Dhabi champion Martin Kaymer also returns for his fourth shot at the title.