McIlroy and Stenson eye that elusive Falcon Trophy but DJ now has unfinished Abu Dhabi business too

By Kent Gray
Dustin Johnson headlines a PR-manufactured “Magnificent Seven” for the Desert Swing opener but it’s Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s famous fives that are more likely to occupy the American’s mind when he saunters back into the UAE capital.

A year after finishing a frustrating shot shy of Tommy Fleetwood in his first attempt to snare the Falcon Trophy, we’re still officially flabbergasted by Johnson’s relative lack of success on The National’s four eminently reachable par 5s.

For all his power (Johnson was third in par 5 scoring on the PGA Tour last season), the world No.1 was only able to better par three times in 20 attempts on the par 5s. Johnson’s collective -5 total was bolstered by a pair of eagles, the second of them on the 72nd hole, while he bizarrely drew a birdie blank on the 2nd and 10th holes. Compare that to Fleetwood who was a combined -10 on the par 5s and birdied the 18th each of the last three days, the Sunday gain sealing victory by one from Johnson and Pablo Larrazabal and setting in motion the most unexpected year of his career.

I am sure this year I’ll put myself in a good position to compete and hopefully I can go one better than 2017.  – Dustin Johnson

“Abu Dhabi is great, it’s a fun course to play and I felt I played really well during my first appearance there, aside from my first day troubles with the putter of course,” said Johnson who ascended the summit of the world rankings with victory at the Genesis Open a month after Abu Dhabi and cemented his position with back-to-back WGC triumphs and victory in the first of the FedEx Cup playoff events, The Northern Trust.

“I am sure this year I’ll put myself in a good position to compete and hopefully I can go one better than 2017. Aside from the majors, 2017 has been a really good year for me…hopefully Abu Dhabi can act as the perfect springboard for me in 2018.”

Of course, Johnson isn’t the only one with unfinished business at the $3million European Tour event which has lured all three medallists from golf’s return to the Olympic Games at Rio – Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson and Matt Kuchar – and seven players in the world’s top 20.

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Abu Dhabi is the only traditional Desert Swing title to elude Stenson (pictured) who has played every event since its inauguration in 2006, incidentally the year he came closest after falling a shot short of American Chris DiMarco.

Rory McIlroy is scheduled to make his 2018 bow in Abu Dhabi as he eyes the U.S. Masters and another shot at a career grand slam sealing Green Jacket after an injury-interrupted 2017.

“I am looking for a strong start in 2018 and Abu Dhabi is the perfect place to open my season’s campaign. Having come really close here on more than one occasion, I will be completely focused on trying to win the Falcon Trophy and getting myself back into the winners’ circle – that would be a real confidence boost to start the New Year.”

Fleetwood will want a decent defence to prove his Race to Dubai title was no one season wonder, Rose will hope to continue his rich run of form at the tail end of 2017 while the likelihood of the uber consistent Kuchar, T-4 at the Masters and famously edged by Jordan Spieth at last summer’s Open Championship, contending seems as inevitable as him being asked to revisit Royal Birkdale in his pre-tourney presser.

The return of Paul Casey is the other intriguing Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship subplot.  The 2007 and 2009 champion has more than September’s Ryder Cup on his mind too.  “Abu Dhabi is an incredibly special place for me, having won the championship twice,” said Casey who finished 6th at The Masters and enjoyed a strong finish to the PGA Tour season to finish 11th in the FedEx Cup standings.

“I’m confident heading into the championship and know what it takes to get the job done. It would be great if I could equal Martin’s [Kaymer’s’] record there.”