American duo Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler sent Europe a warning shot, at the start of a game-changing year for golf, as they beat Europe’s Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson with the help of some GolfBoards at a promotional stunt to tee off the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.
The four global golfing superstars went head-to-head in HSBC’s 'Rider Cup', at the ocean-front Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, combining Texas scramble golf and revolutionary GolfBoards in a race to complete the hole first.
Will be having a few clashes with these boys this year! The race has started at #ADGolfChamps #AnyonesGame pic.twitter.com/xGkw3XyzHu
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) January 19, 2016
The USA team showcased their speed credentials to finish just seconds ahead of their European counterparts.
In a year which sees the return of golf to the Olympics for the first time in over 100 years and of course The Ryder Cup, every advantage counts.
It took the players less than 2 minutes to complete the hole as they raced down the fairway under the Abu Dhabi sun, courtesy of the latest innovation to take the sport by storm. Co-created by surfing legend and extreme sport pioneer Laird Hamilton, GolfBoards are part of HSBC's efforts to innovate golf.
Rollin with the boys @henrikstenson @JordanSpieth @McIlroyRory pic.twitter.com/bqEcMnXGJx
— Rickie Fowler (@RickieFowler) January 20, 2016
“Jordan nearly took me out!” Rory said, adding: “When HSBC get us together they always do something fun and it was actually quite competitive this year.”
After proving such a hit with the superstar four ball, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, which owns the Championship and its headline sponsor, HSBC launched a social media competition for the chance to win one of the GolfBoards, signed by Jordan, Rory, Henrik and Rickie. Fans can enter the prize draw by sharing and retweeting the ‘Rider Cup Desert Challenge’ video on the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Facebook and Twitter pages.
