Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship makes long-awaited return

World-class golf returns to UAE shores tomorrow with the eagerly anticipated Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, one of the DP World Tour’s elevated Rolex Series events

The tournament is typically held every January, but following its promotion to a Play-Off event alongside the DP World Tour Championship, fans have had to wait nearly two years to see stars like Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood back in action at Yas Links.

Here, we cover everything you need to know about the penultimate tournament on the 2024 Race to Dubai schedule.

Who’s in the field?

This week’s edition is headlined by World No.3 Rory McIlroy, who is determined to secure his first victory at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after several close calls.

The Northern Irishman has come heartbreakingly close, finishing as runner-up four times and taking third place on four other occasions - all at the tournament’s previous venue, Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

In his only professional appearance at Yas Links, McIlroy - who leads this season’s Race to Dubai Rankings - finished tied for 12th in 2022. Reflecting on the event’s new venue to years ago, he described the challenging, windy conditions at Yas Links as “different” from what players were used to just ten miles away at the tournament's former home.

McIlroy will tee off at 09:23 AM alongside Thriston Lawrence and Rasmus Højgaard, who rank second and third in the season-long Race to Dubai standings.

Joining the trio in the star-studded field are Dubai resident and two-time tournament champion Tommy Fleetwood, 2013 U.S. Open winner Justin Rose, 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott, 2019 Open Champion Shane Lowry and other top players such as Tyrrell Hatton, Min Woo Lee, Adrian Meronk and Robert MacIntyre.

Who missed out?

This year’s tournament, now part of the inaugural DP World Tour Play-Offs, has a limited field of only the top 70 players from the Race to Dubai Rankings. That cutoff has left defending champion Victor Perez watching from home, as the Frenchman ended his season ranked 142nd.

Other star names who missed out include two-time DP World Tour Championship winner Matt Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland and Ryan Fox.

Meanwhile, last year’s Masters champion Jon Rahm did make the top 70 after returning to DP World Tour action at the close of the 2024 LIV Golf season. However, he has opted to skip this event, likely due to the recent birth of his third child with his wife, Kelley, last month.

Whether the Spaniard will compete in next week’s DP World Tour Championship remains uncertain, though he is the event’s most successful player with three season-ending titles.

What’s at stake?

In addition to the prestigious Falcon Trophy and a $9 million prize fund, players this week are vying for a spot in next week’s DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

Only the top 50 players on the Race to Dubai Rankings will secure their place in the season finale, with last year’s champion Nicolai Højgaard currently in danger of missing out. The Dane sits 67th in the standings, meaning he needs a strong performance on the Kyle Phillips-designed course to keep his hopes of a title defence alive.

Similarly, Dubai resident Thomas Detry (66th), Bahrain Championship winner Dylan Frittelli (61st) and eight-time DP World Tour winner Bernd Wiesberger (52nd) face the same pressure to break into the top 50.

Beyond the Race to Dubai points, players are also competing for valuable Ryder Cup points. As a Rolex Series event, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship offers a whopping 2000 points, giving European players a chance to boost their rankings for a potential spot on Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup team next September at Bethpage, New York.

The top eight players at the close of the qualification period next August will secure an automatic place, with an additional four selected through Donald’s Captain’s Picks.

Who can still win the Harry Vardon Trophy?

With just two events remaining this season, McIlroy is in pole position to match the legendary Seve Ballesteros' record of six Harry Vardon Trophies, awarded to the No.1 player on the Race to Dubai Rankings.

The reigning Race to Dubai champion began his 2024 campaign with a runner-up finish at the Dubai Invitational, followed by a successful title defence at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. He then delivered strong performances at the year’s first three Majors, narrowly missing out on a win at the U.S. Open.

Two consecutive runner-up finishes at Royal County Down and Wentworth Club further cemented his position atop the season-long standings. His closest competitor is South Africa’s Lawrence, trailing by over 1,500 Race to Dubai points and aiming to mount a challenge as he also prepares to gain dual membership with the PGA TOUR.

Rasmus Højgaard sits in third, just under 2,000 points behind McIlroy, after clinching his fifth DP World Tour title at the Amgen Irish Open in September.

Technically, 37 players still have a chance to win the Harry Vardon Trophy, though that scenario hinges on McIlroy finishing last in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai next week.