Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know:

Background: The Team Cup (formerly the Hero Cup) was first played in January 2023, where Continental Europe, led by Francesco Molinari, defeated Great Britain & Ireland (captained by Tommy Fleetwood) 14½–10½. The format involves match play across fourball, foursomes, and singles matches over three days. Each player competes in all four sessions, and the team that reaches 13 points first wins. In case of a tie, a hole-by-hole foursome playoff decides the winner.

Captains: Francesco Molinari returns as the captain of Continental Europe, facing Justin Rose, the new captain of Great Britain & Ireland.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Golf Digest Middle East (@golfdigestme)

Teams: The 2025 competition features a mix of Ryder Cup veterans and emerging talents. Molinari’s team includes European players like Nicolai Højgaard, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, and Matthieu Pavon. Rose’s team has Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Wallace, and rising stars like Jordan Smith and Aaron Rai. A total of 13 players will make their debuts.

Continental Europe

Francesco MOLINARI (C)

Nicolai HØJGAARD

Rasmus HØJGAARD

Romain LANGASQUE

Matteo MANASSERO

Rasmus NEERGAARD-PETERSEN

Niklas NØRGAARD

Thorbjørn OLESEN

Matthieu PAVON

Antoine ROZNER

Great Britain & Ireland

Justin ROSE (C)

Laurie CANTER

Tommy FLEETWOOD

Tyrrell HATTON

Matthew JORDAN

Tom MCKIBBIN

Aaron RAI

Jordan SMITH

Matt WALLACE

Paul WARING

Update: Watch Tom McKibbin shut down rumours on move to LIV Golf

Venue: The National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort will host the event. The 7,648-yard, par-72 course has hosted the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship many times and is known for its challenging layout with plenty of water hazards. The course is set to play slightly longer than in 2023.

Format:

• Fourballs: Two-man teams play their own ball, with the best score on each hole counting for the team.
• Foursomes: Two-man teams alternate shots, with one player hitting the odd holes and the other the even ones.
• Singles: Each player competes individually against an opponent from the other team.

Each match is worth one point, with ties worth ½ point. The first team to 13 points wins the trophy, and in case of a tie, a foursome hole-by-hole playoff is used to determine the winner.

The event serves as a warm-up for the Ryder Cup in September, offering players a chance to showcase their skills in front of European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald, who will be overseeing the competition.

Main Image: Team Cup

The post Team Cup: Everything you need to know appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

According to Spanish media outlet TenGolf, McKibbin is the top contender to replace Kieran Vincent of Zimbabwe, who was relegated from Rahm’s team. If the deal goes through, McKibbin will join two-time major winner Rahm, England’s Tyrrell Hatton, and the USA’s Caleb Surratt.

READ: ‘Being compared to Rory, is something I have obviously heard for a while now’

McKibbin, who turned professional in 2021, has just secured a PGA Tour card after a standout performance on the DP World Tour in 2024, finishing among the top 10 players without a PGA Tour card in the Race to Dubai. However, his reported move to LIV Golf would see him forgo a debut season on the PGA Tour as he would be banned from playing on the PGA Tour, a consequence of joining the Saudi-backed LIV circuit.

Interestingly, McKibbin will also share the team room this week with England’s Jordan Smith at the Team Cup in Abu Dhabi. Smith is the player that McKibbin edged out for that final PGA Tour card… Could be a frosty reception in the desert!

Golf Digest Middle East exclusively spoke to McKibbin this morning at the Team Cup and the rumours circulating about his move to LIV Golf.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Golf Digest Middle East (@golfdigestme)

READ: Jordan’s journey to team glory

This move would also see McKibbin follow in the footsteps of fellow Northern Irish golfer Graeme McDowell, who joined LIV Golf in 2022.

Main Image: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

The post Update: Watch Tom McKibbin shut down rumours on move to LIV Golf appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Englishman started the day five clear but a one-over 73 left the door ajar for the chasing pack. Waring’s 18-under-par total leaves him one clear of Niklas Nørgaard, with Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, Thorbjørn Olesen and Sebastian Söderberg tied for third on 15 under.

Waring found a bunker with his opening tee shot and had to scramble par from eight feet at the first, but looked to have settled down as he birdied the par-five second and hit his tee shot to eight feet at the short fourth.

However, he ran his birdie attempt five feet past and missed the return, before missing birdie putts at the next nine holes. Finding sand off the tee at the 14th proved costly as he failed to save par from 15 feet.

Waring had produced the shot of his life with a fairway wood to inside four feet at the last on Friday, but 24 hours later ended up in a greenside bunker and had to settle for a 15th par of the day.

Nørgaard dropped his first shot of the week at the ninth in his round of 69, and admitted that he now feels at home in events of this stature as he chases his second DP World Tour title and first on the Rolex Series.

It was a mixed bag for Fleetwood, who recorded four birdies and three bogeys in his round of 71, as he aims to take a third Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship title following his victories in 2017 and 2018.

Major winner and 2019 Champion Lowry got off to a fast start with an eagle on the second and was was six under at the turn before recording seven consecutive pars and finishing bogey, birdie to sign for a 66.

Meanwhile Thomas Detry recorded the low round of the day, opening with six birdies in a row and adding four more after the turn in his round of 62, one short of Waring’s course record on Friday.

Main Image: Getty Images

The post Paul Waring holds on to Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship lead appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Over 15 children staying in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) part of Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), were not only treated to a visit from the 2013 Masters Champion, but also enjoyed entertainment from golf trickshot specialist Geoff Swain – also known as one of the Trickshot Boys – who displayed his skills and encouraged patients to take part in a fun putting competition.

Scott, the current number 11 on the DP World Tour Race to Dubai rankings, said: “It’s been a real privilege to spend time with these amazing kids today. Their strength and positivity is truly inspiring, and if I’ve brought even a little bit of joy to their day, it means the world to me. Sometimes, the best moments in life aren’t about winning tournaments, but making a difference to someone’s day.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Golf Digest Middle East (@golfdigestme)

The young patients in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City were also treated to live musical performances from talented students from several schools, along with appearances from fan favourite mascots from Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, delivering joy and excitement to the children.

Such initiatives are vital in fostering a supportive and encouraging environment for children receiving care at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. Together with its partners, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City strives to create lasting memories that inspire hope and positivity.

Eng. Mohamed Juma Al Hameli, Acting Chief Operations Officer in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City said: “At Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, we believe in the power of positive experiences to uplift our young patients during difficult times. The visit from golf star Adam Scott, organised in partnership with Miral not only brought joy and excitement but also highlighted our commitment to enhancing the patient experience through unique and memorable interactions.”

Main Image: Getty Images

The post Adam Scott makes memories at children’s hospital in Abu Dhabi appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The non-attendance of six eligible players—Billy Horschel, Ludvig Aberg, Jon Rahm, Matthieu Pavon, Zander Lombard and Aaron Rai—means the 70-strong field contains those ranked 71-76 on the Race to Dubai. But perhaps the biggest downside to the $9 million event is an almost total absence of suspense when it come to the destination of the Harry Vardon Trophy that will go to the man who eventually tops the season-long rankings.

As things stand, Rory McIlroy has amassed 4,532.33 points in the 10 DP World Tour events in which he has participated this season. As a mark of just how well the Northern Irishman has played in pursuit of what will surely be his sixth Race to Dubai rankings victory, his nearest challenger this time round is Thriston Lawrence. The burly South African has 2,959.04 points from 24 starts. In third place is Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard, who has 2,612.05 points from his 21 starts.

In other words, McIlroy, who will equal the record of the late Seve Ballesteros should he pick up his sixth title and trail only Colin Montgomerie’s eight Race to Dubai titles on the all-time list, has outperformed his fellow competitors by an almost ridiculous margin. While the four-time major champion has won only once—at the Dubai Desert Classic in January—on the DP World Tour in 2024, he has four second-place finishes (the U.S. Open finish counts in the total), as well as owning two other top-five showings. Only twice, at the Masters and the recent Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, has he finished outside the top 20. And only once, at the Open Championship, has the 35-year-old missed the cut. Overall, his level of performance has been outstanding.

All of which only adds to the notion that this thing is all but over. Still, undaunted, the DP World Tour website this week details a series of possible scenarios whereby McIlroy’s 1,572.39-point lead might just disappear. Statistically, as many as 36 players still have a chance of ending the season as European No. 1. Perhaps the only certainty, however, is that Lawrence and Hojgaard must stay within 2,000 points (which will go to the winner of next week’s DP World Tour Championship) of the leader going into the final tournament.

Elsewhere, the website details a series of almost comical possibilities. For example, fifth-placed Tommy Fleetwood needs to earn at least 541.93 points this week to stay in what might loosely be called “contention.” Sixth-placed Matteo Manassero requires at least 568.91 points. And the man in seventh spot, Niklas Norgaard, has to earn a minimum of 580.91. All those from 15th-placed Romain Langasque down to Sam Bairstow in 37th have to win this week on the 7,425-yard Yas Links course to keep their almost invisible hopes alive.

Here’s the clincher though. All of those requirements are dependent on one more crucial result: McIlroy finishing last this week. Chances are, that ain’t going to happen.

Main Image: Andrew Redington

The post In a year of disappointing finishes for Rory McIlroy, here’s a title that looks impossible to lose appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

As a PGA Professional at Yas Links, having played the course numerous times, they never fail to deliver high drama. Here are three key holes that I believe will shape the tournament this year on the DP World Tour.

Hole 2

The Risk Reward

The second hole is one of my personal favourites and an early settler, if tackled correctly.

A visually striking par five at 534 yards, it dares the bold to go for the green in two but requires accuracy and good decision-making off the tee, especially with the prevailing left-to-right wind.

The risk, however, is ever-present. An ideal drive up the left-hand side over a mound may leave you unable to see your tee shot finish.

Too far left, and you’re in trouble in wasteland territory. This strategy though takes the danger of the bunkers and raging rough up the right side out of play. A lay-up to the right-hand side will open up the green for you, last year England’s Tyrrell Hatton made birdie from a 70-yard pitch shot on this hole. Then again, being brave and reaching it in two with the right line will give you a putt for eagle.

The green itself is incredibly undulating, with several levels clearly visible on approach. At 46 yards deep, positioning your ball perfectly on this green is important to give yourself the best opportunity for birdie.

This hole is thrilling, luring players into making decisions that could either cost or favour them early in the round.

Hole 9

The Turn

Yas Links Abu Dhabi Hole 9. Harry Grimshaw

The ninth hole is a 450-yard par four that looks picturesque, but often reveals its teeth when players least expect it.

The fairway runs along the coastline, with the wind frequently sweeping in from the Arabian Gulf, adding an unpredictable element. From the tee you can see a narrow fairway bunker hugging the right side, with another on the left. This forces players to be accurate with their tee shots. Unless it’s downwind, players might try to bite off a little more, but the risk is significant. Mistakes here are costly, but birdies can be incredibly rewarding.

Nestled close to the shoreline, it requires pinpoint accuracy on approach shots. The green slopes away to the back, so favouring the left-hand side on your approach is your best bet—just get it on the dance floor!

During a practice round last year, one of the pros mentioned how this hole keeps them on edge every time, and it’s easy to see why.

In 2023, several players capitalised on the favourable conditions with birdies, while others paid the price for the wind’s unpredictability.

Hole 17

The Penultimate Challenge

Yas Links Abu Dhabi Hole 17. Harry Grimshaw

The 17th hole has a way of turning steady nerves into frayed ones, and last year was no exception. I saw several top DP World Tour players’ chances unravel here with errant shots into the water, while others took advantage of calmer conditions to stick their approaches close.

At 201 yards, this monster of a par three is nerve-wracking. The hole plays entirely over water and is surrounded by bunkers, with a dramatically undulated green. The swirling wind from the nearby mangroves can shift directions at any moment, making this hole even tougher.

Winning your first Rolex Series title in style @v_perez2 pic.twitter.com/wXyxdTQv16

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) March 1, 2023

Last year, I stood to the right of the 17th green in line with the bunker when Victor Perez stepped up to the tee with the championship on the line. He had been playing solid golf all day, but the pressure of this moment was palpable. Needing to stay aggressive to maintain his lead, Perez chose a bold line over the water and his tee shot, carried by the wind, finished in the greenside bunker. However, he managed to hole his bunker shot for birdie, a moment that ultimately secured his victory. The roar from the crowd, myself included, was deafening—a testament to how skill, nerve, and timing came together perfectly.

Not every player had such success on this daunting hole, as it became a turning point for many. Several contenders faltered under the same pressure, finding the water or deep bunkers, effectively ending their championship hopes. But Perez’s birdie here on Sunday stands out as a prime example of how champions rise to the occasion.

A Look Ahead

The second, ninth, and 17th holes will undoubtedly be where dreams are either realised or crushed. Having witnessed last year’s drama up close, I can’t wait to see how these holes shape up at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship this year. Whether it’s a perfectly executed drive on two, a gutsy second shot on nine, or a clutch tee shot on 17, these moments will define the champion of 2024.

Amy Condon is a PGA Professional at Yas Links Abu Dhabi

Main Image: Yas Links Abu Dhabi Hole 17. Harry Grimshaw

The post The Key Holes: What to look out for at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

A true links course should have the true defence from the natural elements of the wind. However, this year we will be able to present the course with more challenging areas for the players.

Jack Balfour – Senior Assistant Golf Course Superintendent at Yas Links Abu Dhabi

The thing is, it’s a real challenge to get the golf course to play as a true style of links golf, but we are fortunate with the grasses on the golf course being platinum paspalum, this can be cut super low to get the course to play firm and fast. A true style of links.

All golf courses are tough to maintain, and every course has its own unique challenges. For us growing turf in extreme conditions and looking after the staff is the real challenge, especially for this tournament as most of the preparations have been done through the hottest summer months.

There are some key changes to Yas Links, on the basis of the feedback at the DP World Tour, and they are mainly to holes 16 and 18.

The par 4 16th has had the blind bunker in the landing area reduced and is now more of a small pot bunker. As well as this the fairway has been extended on the left to encourage a risk reward style of tee shot, welcoming more of an aggressive play.

The 18th landing area extended on the left. Harry Grimshaw

The par 5 18th has had all the ice plant removed on the left (Tyrrell Hatton will be pleased) and the fairway extended further out to the left to open up the tee shot and allow the aggressive play down the left hand side of the fairway. This has included a tee extension in doing so to give more options for the tournament setup.

Yas Links continues to evolve as a golfing destination for which our agronomy team persists to look to improve the golf course. Multiple changes continue to be tweaked with enlarging greens and reshaping of the fairways and its surroundings, which continues to enhance the true links aspect of the golf course.

It’s such a special place for many reasons, but mostly due to how passionate the agronomy team are about the golf course. They really feel it is theirs to protect and nurture it.

With this passion, it means they are able to create great surfaces and a great golf course that challenges the best golfers in the world. We can’t wait to welcome the DP World Tour back once again!

Jack Balfour is the Senior Assistant Golf Course Superintendent at Yas Links Abu Dhabi

Main Image: Harry Grimshaw

The post Maintaining a desert links: Key changes to Yas Links Abu Dhabi appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 19th Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship will be held at Yas Links on Yas Island from November 7-10 and the Rolex Series event is now the first of two tournaments in the new season-ending DP World Tour Play-Offs. It will feature the leading 70 players on the Race to Dubai Rankings in partnership with Rolex, with the top 50 at the end of the tournament qualifying for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. The two Play-Off events in the United Arab Emirates will have a combined prize pool of $19 million.

Victor Perez celebrates with his caddie James Erkenbeck after he had holed his second shot from the green-side bunker for a birdie en route to victory at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. David Cannon

Speaking about the new agreement Jonathan Castleman, Global Head of Brand at HSBC, said: “We are thrilled to continue our long-term partnership with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and DP World Tour as the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship returns to Yas Island for the third consecutive year.

“The new format DP World Tour Play-Offs sees the tournament entering a new era, and HSBC has been supporting growth ambitions and opportunities across the UAE since we first opened our doors for business here more than 75 years ago. We can’t wait to welcome fans old and new to Yas Links in November.”

Max Hamilton, Group Commercial Director of the DP World Tour, added: “HSBC’s excellence in partnership activation, honed by supporting the game of golf for many years, has been pivotal in building the tournament into what it is today. The event’s new November slot within the DP World Tour Play-Offs will further elevate its profile as world-class golfers descend on Yas Links once again.”

Main Image: Andrew Redington – Getty Images

The post HSBC to remain as Title Partner of the Abu Dhabi Championship appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

A keen golfer, with over 10 million followers on Instagram, smooth-swinging Steve has been a regular visitor of Abu Dhabi after visiting the country six years ago.

He loves it so much, that he even hosts his own annual pro-am in the capital, where he brings some of the hottest celebrities from around the world to play in a star-studded lineup alongside UAE investors. That could be why he was getting some early reps in prior to this year’s edition, despite it being his wife’s 60th birthday yesterday!

Harvey is a big advocate for the Middle East, especially the UAE, Abu Dhabi and it’s golf!

“I found this place to be absolutely fascinating,” Harvey has previously said. “I’ve done nothing but try to expose other people to this region, in this area so they can discover what I discovered about this place, how special of a place it is.

“There’s so much misinformation about the Middle East that you get it confused. This is a very, very peaceful place, very warm place, open to business, international, local and all that.

“Abu Dhabi focuses mostly on culture and family and I think that’s important,” he added.

“I wanted to bring it here because they have so many things that need to be exposed like Yas Island, the marina, the beaches and Saadiyat [Island], I just thought it would be great here. I got great partnerships here in Abu Dhabi, great friendships, great business relationships; so it was an ideal place for me.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Steve Harvey (@iamsteveharveytv)

After his round at Saadiyat Beach, Steve and his family were out celebrating his wife Marjorie’s 60th birthday celebrations in Abu Dhabi.

Main Image: Saadiyat Beach Instagram

The post Steve Harvey sneaks out for a few holes at Saadiyat Beach….during wife’s 60th! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Marc will manage teams of PGA professionals across the three Viya Golf courses in Abu Dhabi are Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Yas Links Golf Club and Yas Acres Golf & Country Club.

Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Abu Dhabi

No stranger to the Middle East, Marc began his first international coaching role in August 2017 as a PGA Teaching Professional at The Royal Golf Club, Bahrain. In 2018, he then travelled to the UAE to become Head Teaching Professional at Al Hamra Golf Club in Ras Al Khaimah, the host of the Challenge Tour Grand Final in 2019 and part of the DP World Tour schedule in 2023 and 2024.

Yas Links Golf Course, Abu Dhabi

“I am delighted to be given this opportunity to manage the Viya Golf Academies in Abu Dhabi”, Marc said. “I have been extremely lucky during my time overseas to work with some of the best people in the golf industry and I now look forward to a new challenge and working closely with the teams at Yas Links and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. I would like to thank Viya for giving me this opportunity and all their help and support during my time with the company.

“We have some exciting plans for 2025 and I am thoroughly looking forward to building and developing the academies. We have a fantastic team of golf professionals with a wealth of knowledge and experience, and they are extremely dedicated and passionate when it comes to growing the game and coaching all ages and abilities.”

Yas Acres Golf Club, Abu Dhabi

In February 2022, Marc returned to Abu Dhabi to continue his professional development, joining the team as Senior Golf Professional at Yas Acres Golf & Country Club. Marc is dedicated to working with the team of golf professionals at the Academy to provide the highest standard of golf instruction to all ages and abilities.

“Our academies here in Abu Dhabi play a crucial role in introducing and nurturing new golfers, driving the continued growth and participation of the sport in the UAE.”

“We have recently appointed three new golf professionals who will bring their own unique ideas and concepts to the academies, and they are looking forward to introducing new coaching programs and meeting all the members and guests at the golf clubs” added Marc.

Main Image: Viya Golf

The post Viya Golf appoints Marc Arnold as new Director of Instruction appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.