The European Tour, now titled the DP World Tour, kicks off its 2022 season with two Rolex Series events in Dubai, starting this week with the 17th edition of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in the United Arab Emirates.
The tournament, contested at the Yas Links Golf Club, is one of four consecutive events in the Middle East to kick off the European Tour’s 2022 calendar year.
The field of 128 players is headlined by PGA Tour superstar Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland, and Rory McIlroy, among others.
The Skinny
Tournament: Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
Dates: Jan. 20-23, 2022
European Tour Debut: 2006
European Tour Week: 2nd (of 45)
TV Network: GOLF Channel
Course: Yas Links
Where: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Distance: 7425 yards, Par 72
Architect: Kyle Phillips, 2010
Field 128 players
Format: 36-hole cut, 72-hole stroke
Purse: $8,000,000
Win Share: $1,333,000
OWGR Points: 46
2021 Champion: Tyrrell Hatton
How to Follow the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
TELEVISION: Thu-Sun: 2-8 a.m. ET (GOLF Channel)
CONTENT FEED: EuropeanTour.com
LINKS: Website | Facebook | Instagram
History
Then called the Abu Dhabi Championship, the tournament was first contested in January 2006 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, which has hosted the event since its inception.
The creation of the tournament was part of the European Tour’s effort to expand into Asia, and is part of a fivesome of Tour events played in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, alongside the Dubai Desert Classic (founded in 1989), the new Ras al Khaimah Championship in the UAE, the Qatar Masters (founded in 1998), and the DP World Tour Championship (founded in 2009).
HSBC became the title sponsor in 2011, with EGA added as the presenting sponsor in 2018.
The prize fund for each of the first five editions was $2 million (USD), and grew to reach $3 million in 2018. In 2019 it became part of the Rolex Series, which identifies it as one of the European Tour’s premier events, offering an $8 million prize fund.
With the support of title sponsor HSBC and the local organizer, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, it has historically had one of the strongest fields on the European Tour due to “appearance” money paid to top golfers.
Despite its limited history, the champion’s list is quite impressive, headlined by three-time winner Martin Kaymer (2008, 2010-11), two-time champ Tommy Fleetwood (2017-18), Rickie Fowler (2016), Shane Lowry (2019), Lee Westwood (2020) and Tyrrell Hatton (2021). It’s runner-up list may be even more stout, with major winners such as Rory McIlroy (four times), Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson, Henrik Stenson, Louis Oosthuizen and Phil Mickelson.
History: Recent Winners
2021: Tyrrell Hatton
2020: Lee Westwood
2019: Shane Lowry
2018: Tommy Fleetwood
2017: Tommy Fleetwood
2016: Rickie Fowler
History: Records
Wins: 3 – Martin Kaymer (2008, 2011, 2012)
72-hole Score: 264 (-24) – Martin Kaymer (2008)
The Field: Overview
The field this week in Abu Dhabi is headlined by a trio of top-10 ranked stars in Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland and Rory McIlroy.
They will be joined by a bevy of big names who sit inside the top-50, including the four most recent winners in Abu Dhabi: Tyrrell Hatton, Lee Westwood, Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood.
Other marquee names include Adam Scott, Ian Poulter, Robert MacIntyre, Bernd Wiesberger, Charl Schwartzel, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Henrik Stenson and Danny Willett.
Full Field & Odds
Top-5 Betting Favorites
Book Rank-Player (Odds)
1. Collin Morikawa (7-1)
2. Rory McIlroy (7-1)
3. Viktor Hovland (10-1)
4. Tommy Fleetwood (20-1)
5. Tyrrell Hatton (20-1)
Yas Links | Abu Dhabi, UAE | Jan 20-23, 2022
Credits: European Tour Media, Getty Images
