AR
By John Tully-Jackson
The 10th tee will serve as the launch pad for six of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ in their quest for the Falcon Trophy on Thursday.
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson has been grouped with Rory McIlroy and Abu Dhabi and Race to Dubai defender Tommy Fleetwood in the marquee group at 7.40am.
Preceding two of the longest hitters in the game is another mouth-watering prospect at 7:30am when Justin Rose will look to continue his hot streak playing alongside his Ryder Cup cohort Henrik Stenson and the convivial American Matt Kuchar.
Paul Casey, the seventh member of the PR-fuelled Magnificent Seven, already has two Falcons in his aviary and after a strong 2017 he’ll be looking to complete the hat-trick alongside countrymen Lee Westwood and Tyrrell Hatton off the 1st tee from 11:55am.
McIlroy will be seeking a fast start to his 2018 campaign after a 3.5 month sabbatical. The former World No.1 has been the bridesmaid in Abu Dhabi four times and intends on using this week as a
springboard to the ownership of a rather exclusive green jacket in April.
Rose is in fine form, winning the WGC HSBC Champions and Turkish Airlines Open in November while Stenson holds the course record – a 10 under 62- around The National but still hasn’t netted the famed Falcon. Will it be 13th time lucky?
After his impressive second place at the Open last year, Abu Dhabi debutant Kuchar certainly has the potential to make an impression.
Following the two headline groups are other notable luminaries of the golfing world. Former Masters champion Danny Willett will be looking for a return to his best golf when he tees off with Dubai-based Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello and Australian Wade Ormsby at 7:50am.
They are followed by another interesting prospect with 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell playing alongside Kiradech Aphibarnrat – the Thai led the field in putts per round last year – and American Bryson DeChambeau, ‘The Golfing Scientist’, at 8am.
European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn pegs it up with Matt Fitzpatrick and ‘Mr Ryder Cup’ Ian Poulter at 12:05pm.
Another Ryder Cup legend and three time Abu Dhabi champion Martin Kaymer follows at 12:15pm with Bernd Wiesberger and Branden Grace.
One of the all time greats, Ernie Els, brings his tantalising tempo to the tee 10 minutes later at 12:25pm. Playing with him is the rising Chinese star Li Haotong, no doubt hoping to continue his rise through the sport after a valiant third pace at the open last year and a solid EurAsia Cup campaign in Malaysia last week, and Frenchman Alexander Levy.
For golf fans of a carnivorous persuasion, Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston will follow The Big Easy, teeing off at 12:35pm. The fan favourite is guaranteed to be an entertaining watch.
