By Will Pearson, europeantour.com
in Abu Dhabi
As we continue to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship this week, europeantour.com resumes its look 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.
After already looking back at the first five stagings of the sought-after event, let us now examine the four most recent years of action here in Abu Dhabi…
“Three-asy does it”: Martin Kaymer – 2011 (3)
Golf, almost as much as racing, often peddles the mantra “Horses for courses” but when it comes to Martin Kaymer and Abu Dhabi Golf Club the phrase could not be more apposite – as the German proved conclusively four years ago.
His affinity with the Peter Harradine-designed layout peaked in 2011, as Kaymer recorded a second win in succession in the gulf state and a third in four years – having also finished second in the interim event.
It was no ordinary win, either, as Kaymer swept to an eight-shot victory and a record 24 under par total, leaving Rory McIlroy a distant runner-up.
The triumph moved Kaymer to second in the Official World Golf Ranking behind only Lee Westwood meaning, for the first time in 18 years and since Sir Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer, Europeans occupied the top two spots.
“I think for Lee and me, it's a very nice position to be Number One and Two in the world,” said Kaymer.
“You can see how strong European golf became the last few years, and not only through The Ryder Cup, just if you have a look at the Major winners last year.
"It's just the perfect course for me. It was more difficult, but I hit a lot of fairways and my putting was amazing.”
“Taming Tiger”: Robert Rock – 2012
Robert Rock’s superb victory at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in 2012 marked the pinnacle of an astonishing ascent through the golfing ranks, a journey that had seen the Englishman go from a teaching professional to schooling Tiger Woods down the stretch in the UAE.
Rock, who was tied for the lead with the 14-time Major Champion heading into Sunday, kept his cool in a red-hot, pressure-packed final round as a two under par 70 proved enough for a one-shot victory for the Lichfield native over – yet again – Rory McIlroy and a further stroke clear of Messrs Woods, Thomas Bjorn and Graeme McDowell.
Crowds love an underdog story, and it seemed oddly appropriate that sections of the galleries belted out the “Rocky” movie theme tune towards the conclusion of the tournament, as the week had been scripted with the apparent flair of a Hollywood screenwriter with a keen eye for a far-flung Rags-to-Riches narrative.
“It hasn’t sunk in just yet,” said the affable Rock following his victory on 13 under par at a newly-tightened, thicker-roughed Abu Dhabi layout. “I think give me a few days to contemplate on winning this. It was such a good field and it's somewhere I've not really played well at before, so it's a surprise. But a lot of hard work [went into this win] so I’m very happy now.
“It's pretty hard to believe that I managed to win today, I’m very surprised. It doesn't get an awful lot harder than playing with Tiger Woods, so I guess barring a Major Championship, I know I can handle that again and that's nice to know. I was just determined to try and play the way I had been playing and hopefully without being too nervous, I could continue to hit some decent shots.
“But, he's such a good player that if he decides to play his very, very best, you're probably not going to beat him. I think it just didn't quite go his way [in the fourth round], and it was my day, thankfully for me.”
“London Buses”: Jamie Donaldson – 2013
In another electrifying finish, Jamie Donaldson endured a late wobble to capture his second European Tour title not long after finally entering the winner’s circle the season previously.
Donaldson’s victory at the Irish Open in 2012 had been his first in 255 European Tour events but it only took him 13 more to double that tally following a frantic finish in Abu Dhabi.
The Welshman went two clear with five birdies in his first 17 holes, but three-putted the par five last and bogeyed. That left overnight leader Justin Rose and Dane Thorbjørn Olesen in the final group needing a birdie at the 18th to force a play-off, but Olesen’s 15 foot effort slid by before Englishman Rose lipped out from 12 feet meaning joy for Donaldson.
“It’s pretty surreal really, I’ve played really good all week although I’ve got away with murder up the last,” said Donaldson. “I thought one of them would hole if not both, but when both putts slipped by it was my week.
“It’s like London buses isn’t it, it’s mad. I’m very happy to be stood here holding the trophy.”
“One for the grind”: Pablo Larrazábal – 2014
Since the Abu Dhabi course was significantly toughened before the 2012 edition of the event, only one stroke has separated the winner from the field and that was again the case here 12 months ago.
The story was ‘Desert Delight for Pablo’ last year, as the Spaniard returned victorious after holding off the fearsome duo of Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy, the latter of whom finished runner-up in Abu Dhabi for the third time in 2014.
Larrazábal started the day two shots off the lead but a flying 67 – including a birdie from five feet at the last – proved enough as Mickelson failed to hole the 50-foot eagle putt at the 18th which would have forced a play-off.
“It feels great,” said Larrazábal. “Only me and my team know how much we’ve worked during the last three years.
"The first win in France my brother says was the win of talent. I had 100 putts in 72 holes, not even the best Tiger Woods could have beaten me that week.
"The second win in Munich (in a play-off with Sergio Garcia) was one of belief. This is the win of hard work and team work. I worked so hard for the last two years and over the winter and I beat two of the three most talented guys in my era."
And for 2015? Watch this space…
