Abu Dhabi: With the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship less than a week away, Indian ace Jeev Milkha Singh says he is refreshed and can’t wait to take on the world’s best in the showpiece from January 16-19.
A long-time stalwart of the event, Singh says he is feeling vibrant and ready to tee-off his 2014 season with a falcon-style swoop on the Championship which has become one of his favourites on the European Tour.
Singh said: “I’m looking forward to giving it everything I’ve got in Abu Dhabi, a place where I’ve thoroughly enjoyed opening my season for a number of years now. I know the course well and I’m determined to use that experience to my benefit this week. I feel as good as ever and can’t wait to get the season underway.”
Singh, whose Abu Dhabi-career best place is 24th, turned professional in 1993. He has since smashed several home-country records, becoming the first Indian to qualify for the European Tour in 1998 and owning the title of most successful Indian on tour with four wins to his name.
The 42 year-old was the first Indian to break into the Official World Golf Ranking top 100 in October 2006.
His most recent victory came in 2012 when he clinched the number one spot at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, one year before Phil Mickelson, who is also playing in Abu Dhabi, won in 2013 and then went on to win the Open Championship at Muirfield.
Jeev’s best result of the 2013 season came in the UAE at last year’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic where he came 10th, and he hopes to recapture some of that magic in Abu Dhabi next week.
“I nailed in my only top-10 result of 2013 in the UAE last year with a particularly strong third round, even despite the rare outburst of rain!
“It is a region in which I have experienced plenty of highs and after some rest over the New Year I’m feeling refreshed and confident about my chances in Abu Dhabi.”
Singh joins a hotly contested field at next week’s Championship including Race to Dubai and FedEx Cup winner Henrik Stenson, world number five and five-time Major winner Phil Mickelson, world number six Rory McIlroy, former world number one Luke Donald, Abu Dhabi’s record-breaking ambassador Matteo Manassero, crowd favourite and world number 10 Sergio Garcia and reigning Champion, Welshman Jamie Donaldson. Three-time Abu Dhabi champion Martin Kaymer also returns for his fourth shot at the title.
The Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship is organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.
Tickets and packages are available via the event’s official website www.abudhabigolfchampionship.com and Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.ae). Tickets are Dh50 for a daily pass and Dh150 for a four-day pass.
Guests staying at any Abu Dhabi hotel over the Championship period enter free, as do Emirates Golf Federation members.
