Issa Abou El Ela won the Abu Dhabi Amateur Championship last week at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club to secure his place at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship from January 19-22, the opening Rolex Series event of the DP World Tour season at Yas Island.
Abou El Ela will tee it up at Yas Links alongside defending champion Thomas Pieters, and past winners that include Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton and Shane Lowry, following his four-stroke victory.
As part of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s commitment to growing the game of golf in the region, this is the third consecutive year that the winner of the Amateur Championship has earned a place at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Fans will be able to attend for free at Yas Links and can secure their tickets now via Ticketmaster.ae.
“I am thrilled with what was an unforgettable week, winning the Abu Dhabi Amateur Championship against such a strong field,” said Issa Abou El Ela “It is a fantastic opportunity to receive an invite for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and it hasn’t quite sunk in yet, but I’m looking forward to January where I still need to pinch myself to be lining up with some of the world’s best golfers. Thank you to Abu Dhabi Sports Council for the opportunity and for their continued support in the game of golf.”
Issa Abou El Ela fended off 72 other participants to claim their spot at Yas Links, and it is testament to rising interest in golf in this region, after the R&A announced record numbers are playing golf worldwide - up 5.6 million to 66.6 million. Asia experienced one of the largest rises with participation up 2.4 million.
Mohamed Ahmed Al Remeithi, International Events Section Head said: “Congratulations to Issa Abou El Ela on a fine performance and well-earned victory. We’re delighted to offer a place at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January. It is important we show there is a clear pathway for promising stars of the future of our game. Issa Abou El Ela will join some of the world’s best golfers at Yas Links in Abu Dhabi and we wish him the best of luck.”
The successful move to Yas Island in 2022 heralded a new chapter for the tournament which highlights Abu Dhabi as an international sports hub, with the season-ending F1 Championship and Ultimate Fighting Championship also taking residency at the world-class venue.
The 2023 tournament will be the second of four events forming the Middle East swing, as Abu Dhabi prepares to host two weeks of world class golf across multiple venues.
Yas Island is Abu Dhabi’s premier leisure, retail and entertainment hub offering a unique blend of stunning views, first-class hospitality and a diverse range of award-winning leisure and entertainment attractions, enhancing the experience for fans, whether they attend in person or watch from around the world.
Get your free general admission tickets for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship via Ticketmaster.ae, with additional hospitality packages available to purchase.
