By Will Pearson, europeantour.com
in Abu Dhabi
As we this week celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, europeantour.com looks back at the rich history of a tournament which has rapidly become one of the most preeminent in The Race to Dubai.
For a decade now, the plush fairways of the gulf oasis that is Abu Dhabi Golf Club have hosted the opening event of The European Tour’s annual Desert Swing – a trio of multimillion dollar tournaments completed by the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, in nearby Doha, and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic just 150km down the road.
In a year which saw Italy win a fourth football World Cup, and the launch of social media giant Twitter, 2006 was also fittingly declared International Year of Deserts and Desertification as the eyes of the golfing world turned to the sun-soaked United Arab Emirates for the launch of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.
From an American to a Spaniard, from Chris DiMarco to Pablo Larrazábal, from three-time Falcon Trophy winner Martin Kaymer to double champ Paul Casey, it has been quite a journey over the last decade.
For starters, let’s look back at the first five years of action in Abu Dhabi…
“The First Falcon”: Chris DiMarco – 2006
Two-time American Ryder Cup star Chris DiMarco had been enduring a barren few years when he triumphed in the inaugural edition of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship nine years ago.
It was a victory made all the sweeter by his stand-in caddie for the week, too, as DiMarco’s wife Amy played bag-man for the week to great success as the happy couple became the first to hoist the famous Falcon Trophy.
Starting the final day one shot back from Henrik Stenson, the Floridian made a red-hot start reaching four under par through four holes and was never caught despite a tenacious bid from the Swede, who eventually finished second by just a stroke, and one further shot clear of Spain’s Sergio Garcia.
“This is four years to the month since I have been in the winner's circle,” said DiMarco. “Like I said on Wednesday, a win, anywhere is great and this was an unbelievable field this week. I think we had four guys in the top 11 in the world here, so we had a very good field. Henrik played great and obviously Sergio played real good today.”
“Smash and grab”: Paul Casey – 2007 (1)
After narrowly missing out on becoming European Number One to Padraig Harrington in 2006, England’s Paul Casey began the New Year with renewed vigour and determination, muscling his way to a one-stroke victory over Miguel Angel Jiménez and Swede Peter Hanson after battling the aforementioned Irishman for much of the final day.
Despite three-putting the last, Casey prevailed as an untimely bogey from Jiménez on the 17th proved costly for the popular Spaniard’s chances.
“This is first class, a quality field, a great golf course,” reflected Casey. “Last year was great but this was really polished. I think it’s wonderful that this Middle East Swing is going.
“I had a good holiday and then two weeks working very, very hard with Peter Kostis and I am very happy I put in all that hard work. I hit some shots today which I don’t think I could have done had I not put in that work with Peter in the off season, both in fitness and swing – strength training that I’ve done in the gym.”
“A First of Firsts”: Martin Kaymer – 2008 (1)
After displaying huge promise during a maiden campaign on The European Tour in 2007, when he claimed the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award, Martin Kaymer realised that potential in early 2008 by going wire-to-wire in Abu Dhabi.
Imperious rounds of 66, 65 and 68 handed the Dusseldorf native a six-shot lead heading into Sunday when he belied his tender years by holding off the experienced duo of Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood to eventually secure his first European Tour title by a four-shot margin.
“This is an unbelievable feeling,” said an elated Kaymer, at the time just 23 years young and the most youthful German winner in the history of The European Tour. “The back nine was tough especially with players like Stenson and Westwood chasing me. I was struggling a bit on the front nine but I just tried to stick to my game plan and hit fairways and greens.
“For those guys to catch me they had to make birdies and I really tried to stay patient and just try to make pars. It is not always an easy thing to do but I was very proud of the way I handled myself and I am thrilled the way today worked out.”
“Double Trouble” - Paul Casey – 2009 (2)
Two years after securing his first Falcon Trophy – and last European Tour victory, at this point – Casey survived a late scare to win in Abu Dhabi again in 2009.
The Englishman led by six shots at the turn on Sunday before a run of three bogeys in four holes from the 11th saw Casey’s lead slashed with defending champion Kaymer and a surging Louis Oosthuizen on the charge.
A nerveless, par-strewn finish proved enough, however, as the former Ryder Cup star sealed a one-shot win and a second Abu Dhabi title.
"That was a bit of a nervous one," exhaled a relieved Casey. "I started off great, but it was tricky coming in. The greens were exceptionally difficult to read and there were a couple of camera clicks which put me off.
"It feels very satisfying to get my hands on the trophy again. It felt great two years ago to win so early and then I really didn't follow it up with anything. But it feels very different this time. As you said, a bit of a weight off my shoulders, it feels great. It feels like a payoff for all of the worrying I've put in, certainly recently, the past couple of months.”
“Duel in the sun”: Martin Kaymer – 2010 (2)
It was an older, wiser and more trophy-laden Kaymer who trumped the pack to win a second title at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in three years back in 2010.
The German, who had picked up a further three European Tour titles in the intervening period since first triumphing in the shadow of the imposing Falcon clubhouse in 2008, had to use every ounce of that experience in besting England’s Ian Poulter by a single stroke as both men fired final day rounds of 66 in what was a thrilling last-ditch duel.
“I’ve been in contention a few times already in my career over the last three years. My first win was difficult and my second win in Germany was very difficult. Now it has changed a little bit,” said Kaymer, who would go on to win his first Major title later that year at the US PGA Championship en route to The 2010 Race to Dubai crown.
“My self confidence is bigger than two years ago and I think it has come from playing well all around the world. I played well in the last Major and I’m getting better in the World Golf Championships events.
“My goal for every year is to win two tournaments on The European Tour. I did it in 2008 and 2009 and I hope I can do it this year.”
To be continued…
