DiMarco aiming for an encore

Abu Dhabi: American Chris DiMarco made a bold move to play and win the inaugural Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and end a four-year barren run.

The 36-year-old defending champion is back to tee off in pursuit of another $333,330 (Dh1.22 million) first prize money in the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority $2 million (Dh7.34 million) event.

But standing in his way are two exciting golfers making their Abu Dhabi debut and six of the victorious European Ryder Cup team.

DiMarco edged out Sweden's Henrik Stenson by one stroke in an exciting finish and the latter along with Paul Casey, Colin Montgomerie, Sergio Garcia and Robert Karlsson are the Ryder Cup heroes in the fray.

Padraig Harrington, another Ryder Cup hero, who is currently the top European Player and South Africa's exciting star Retief Goosen, winner of two US Open titles make their debut.

Danish number one, Thomas Bjorn, Spain's Miguel Angel Jiminez, who finished fifth here along with India's Jeev Milkha Singh, complete one of the most formidable line-ups for this hugely-popular European Tour event.

The line-up includes five of the top-15 players in the world rankings and 22 winners from the European Tour's 2006 International Schedule.

The star cast on one side, yesterday's surprise rain in the morning and the changes that have made the course more challenging all promise exciting golf over the next four days.

New bunkers on the first and 11th holes, new tees on the third and sixth, narrower fairways and longer rough grass are part of the changes the championship courser has undergone resulting in an increase in the length of the course by some 150 yards, to nearly 7,400 yards.

"It should be a great test of golf. It's (the course) in fantastic condition, which, obviously gives for better scoring," said Thomas Bjorn.

"There are a few holes out there, some of the par 5s, which were reachable (under regulation) last year, and now none of them I can reach. That's a massive change to last year," he said.

Each player will not only be vying for the first prize but also the chance to win free rooms for life at Emirates Palace Hotel and a Nissan 350Z - the prizes for making the Championship's first hole in one.

The luxury Abu Dhabi hotel and car manufacturer are among an elite list of event sponsors, which also includes Etihad Airways, Aldar, Standard Chartered Bank, Etisalat, Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Omega and Xerox.