Running January 16-19 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, the ninth Championship will see Welshman Jamie Donaldson face three of the world’s top 11 players – McIlroy, Rose and Donald – and the European Tour’s hottest young talent – Golf in Abu Dhabi Ambassador Manassero – when he defends the Falcon Trophy.
Rory McIlroy, the world number three; Justin Rose, the reigning US Open champion and world number five; Luke Donald, the world number 11, and Matteo Manassero, the world number 28, have all staked their claims on the coveted Falcon Trophy and US$ 2.7million prize fund – the richest purse on the Desert Swing, the European Tour’s trio of early-season, regional events.
The one-stop-shop ‘Golf in Abu Dhabi’ initiative offers a series of three-, five- and seven-night ‘Play, Stay and Watch’ packages for international spectators and tourists to take in the Championship. Those booking seven-night packages receive a complimentary VIP group clinic at the Championship with a world top 30 player.