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Brooks Koepka Image Credit: AFP

Abu Dhabi: World No. 1 Brooks Koepka will be joined by European Tour stars Bernd Wiesberger and Matthew Fitzpatrick in the first Hero Challenge of the 2020 season, hosted at Yas Marina Circuit on January 14, ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship next week.

Four-time Major champion Koepka will make his debut in the innovative shoot-out at the F1 racing circuit, where 5,000 spectators will watch six of golf’s biggest stars battle it out for the title in an exciting head-to-head format for the first time in Abu Dhabi.

The American Ryder Cup star is making his return to competitive golf at the opening Rolex Series event of the European Tour’s 2020 Race to Dubai in Abu Dhabi, having been sidelined by a knee injury last October and he believes the Hero Challenge is the perfect way to start his season.

“The Hero Challenge will be a great way to start my first tournament week of the season and I’m looking forward to getting involved in the fun,” said Koepka. “I’m a competitive guy when it comes to most things and I’m sure this will be no different once we get going, and it’s pretty cool to have the chance to play golf at such an iconic location like Yas Marina.

“It’s a spectacular place, especially when you see it on TV with the Formula One cars racing around, so I am sure it will be a fun night in Abu Dhabi,” he added.