Abu Dhabi to stage $2m PGA Tour event

The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) unveiled a $2 million Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in January 2006, which will be part of the 2006 European Tour.

Some of the world's top players led by current world No 6 Sergio Garcia, Colin Montgomerie and Thomas Bjorn will be seen in action in the four-day championship to be held from January 19-22.

The Abu Dhabi event will also kick-start the 2006 European Tour and is the 36th tournament on the Tour that is expected to visit 24 countries.

The event is being held under the patronage of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Addressing a press conference at the Emirates Palace, Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, ADTA Chairman, said, "The inaugural Abu Dhabi Golf Championship will be a very prestigious international sporting event, ever staged in Abu Dhabi, heralding a new era in the emirate's development as a world-class sporting venue.

"Golf is not just a spectator sport, it is a major tourist attraction. This championship will provide us with a flagship event for our promotional activity."

The Championship will be telecast by Premiere Sports (Germany), The Golf Channel (USA), Viasat (Sweden), Sky Sports (UK) and Showtime (UAE).

"With the championship broadcast likely to reach 300 million homes in 60 countries and an estimated live broadcast time of 700 hours, we are confident the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship will play a key role in ensuring Abu Dhabi secures its rightful place on the international sporting and tourist map," said Shaikh Sultan.

The ADTA have signed up IMG to manage and stage the Championship.

"The Abu Dhabi Golf Championship will be played over 72 holes with a maximum of 120 players participating.

"They will comprise 112 players from The European Tour and eight invites," said Greg Sproule, Managing Director, IMG Middle East.

"As a gesture to the recent victims of the earthquake in Asia, we have decided to donate all gate collections of the final day, Sunday, January 22," the IMG officials said.

Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi, ADTA Director General, said, "This prestigious event represents an important milestone in the development of Abu Dhabi.

"We believe that the international publicity that the Championship will generate will be a vital first step in establishing Abu Dhabi as a top class international golfing resort."

In a statement, George O'Grady, Executive Director of the European Tour, said, "Each season on the European Tour brings a keen sense of expectation and anticipation of the challenges which lie ahead, especially when the year features a new and exciting destination.

"Abu Dhabi is the 36th country the European Tour has visited and the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship will help get the 2006 European Tour International schedule off to a flying start," he added.