Teeing off in 2006 and quickly becoming established as a favourite event for players and spectators alike, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship is now one of the biggest events on the PGA European Tour, regularly attracting some of golf’s most famous names.

Since its inception by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), it has been staged at the sublime Abu Dhabi Golf Club as part of the Tour’s Gulf Swing and with the emirate now boasting three championship ready courses, the championship’s future looks very bright.

Teeing off in 2006 and quickly becoming established as a favourite event for players and spectators alike, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship is now one of the biggest events on the European Tour, regularly attracting some of golf’s most famous names.

Since its inception by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), it has been staged at the sublime Abu Dhabi Golf Club as part of the Tour’s Gulf Swing and with the emirate now boasting three championship ready courses, the championship’s future looks very bright.

The Championship’s ongoing success is laying the foundations for Abu Dhabi’s emergence as an international golfing destination. Playing to a cumulative global television audience of 400 million, the championship is inextricably linked with the building of Abu Dhabi’s tourism profile as an international destination of distinction, and is integral in putting the emirate firmly on the international sporting map.

The Championship consistently attracts a world-class field of the game’s top international stars, including winners Chris DiMarco, Paul Casey and Martin Kaymer. Even Tour legend Gary Player has joined the Abu Dhabi field. In 2011, six of the world’s top ten competed, as well as all but one of Europe’s winning Ryder Cup team. Between the 2011 field the players held 15 Major titles, 340 European Tour wins and 42 Ryder cup wins between them.

In 2011, as part of a five-year partnership with HSBC, the world’s local bank, the event’s prize fund raised to US $2.7 million – an increase of US $500,000 – making it the richest purse of the Gulf Swing. The partnership ushered in a new era for the championship and golf in Abu Dhabi, and the ADTA is committed to hosting the event’s most impressive playing field. The authority also plans to mount its most expansive spectator offering of improved facilities and attractions.

In 2011, the championship drew close to 30,000 spectators over four days all of whom enjoyed off-course entertainment and a leisure experience to rival the breathtaking action on-course.

In 2012 the bar was raised even higher as the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship recorded its highest ever attendance figures, with more than 82,000 fans streaming through National Course gates over the event's four days.

With England's Robert Rock clinching an unlikely National Course victory, the Championship field included the world's top four players, six of the world's top ten, three current holders of Major titles and 14-time Major winner, Tiger Woods, making his Abu Dhabi debut. The tremendous depth of field saw the Championship named by the Official Golf Rankings as the strongest ever field at a Middle East tournament.

Abu Dhabi Golf Club is a world-class sporting facility and demonstrates the UAE capital’s ability to build top-tier venues for renowned international events. With enhanced spectator platforms to promote true ‘up-close viewing’, a substantially expanded championship village with even more attractions, restaurants, cafes and competitions, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship is one of the most fan-friendly competitions on the map.

THE FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP – 2006

Playing in his first European Tour event outside the Majors and World Golf Championships, Chris DiMarco claimed the €275,411 (£188,162) first prize after a thrilling final day’s play at the immaculately presented Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

DiMarco carded a final round 67 for a 20 under par total of 268 and a one shot victory over the gallant Henrik Stenson, who pushed the American all the way to the final green. The Swede began the day with a one shot lead but his closing 69 saw him finish one shot behind the American with a 19 under par total of 269.

Spain’s Sergio Garcia completed a star-studded top table at the prize giving ceremony when he took third place with a closing 66 for an 18 under par total of 270, but the day, and the plaudits belonged to DiMarco and his wife Amy, who acted as his caddie for the week, a fact which made the win all the sweeter for the US Ryder Cup player.

CASEY STEPS UP – 2007

Paul Casey launched 2007 with a renewed determination to capture The European Tour Order of Merit crown which eluded him so narrowly in 2006. And on the evidence of an eighth Tour victory – and a hard fought one at that – in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Casey’s near miss has whetted his appetite to go one better this season.

For much of a tense day in the Gulf sunshine, Casey was locked in combat with his main rival for the Harry Vardon Trophy last year, Padraig Harrington. But while the Irishman who claimed the title as European Number One at Valderrama slipped up over the back nine, Casey ventured forward with an intensity and focus which burned off all opposition.

The Englishman, who was voted European Tour Golfer of the Year for his 2006 exploits, claimed his eighth European Tour title with a closing round of 65 for a 17 under par total of 271, and even a three putt at the 18th for the second day in a row was not enough to halt the Casey juggernaut in full flight.

Casey finished one shot ahead of Spain’s Miguel Angel Jiménez and Swede Peter Hanson with Harrington in a share of fifth behind defending champion Chris DiMarco after a last hole bogey.

ROOKIE COMES OF AGE – 2008

He went close in Wales and Sweden during the 2007 season but Martin Kaymer finally realised the joy of becoming a European Tour champion when he won his maiden title in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

The 23 year old German – winner of The Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year on The European Tour last season – led from the first day and indeed began the last round with a six shot lead. He finally closed out the title and the €225,421 (£170,135) winners’ cheque with a final round 74 for a 15 under par total of 273.

In the end the winning margin was four shots from the experienced duo of Sweden’s Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood of England who closed with respective rounds of 71 and 70 for an 11 under par total of 277, the victory seeing Kaymer move up to fifth on The European Tour Order of Merit.

It also saw the talented young man move into the top 35 on the Official World Golf Ranking and also take the record as the youngest German winner in European Tour history, his victory coming at age 23 years and 24 days, 14 days younger than Bernhard Langer was when he won the 1980 Dunlop Masters.

ABU DHABI SPURS CASEY’S RETURN TO FORM – 2009

Paul Casey survived a late scare to secure his second Abu Dhabi Golf Championship by a single shot from Louis Oosthuizen and Martin Kaymer.

The 31 year old Englishman led by six shots at the turn but his form with the putter deserted him on the back nine and the South African’s brilliant 64 left Casey needing to par the last two holes.

Defending champion Kaymer eagled the last for a round of 67 – which would have seen him into a play-off had recently married Casey not held his nerve to two putt from 12 feet on the 18th green, eventually posting a two under par 70 for a tournament total 21 under 267 – the lowest winning score in the history of the event.

Coasting to victory, or so it seemed, when he led by six with only eight holes to play, Casey then bogeyed three of the next four.

However, The Ryder Cup star, whose last win came in the same event at the start of 2007, parred the closing stretch for a 70 and took the €245,122 first prize.

KAYMER MAKES IT TWO IN THRILLER – 2010

After winning his maiden title in Abu Dhabi in 2008 with a nervous four shot wire-to-wire victory, Martin Kaymer of German needed every ounce of experience gained from adding three wins since to edge out Ian Poulter by a single stroke.

Overnight leader Kaymer, who also finished second last year, birdied the final hole at Abu Dhabi Golf Club to card a bogey free final round six under par 66.

Poulter produced a valiant effort to play his part in a thrilling duel as The Ryder Cup ace matched Kaymer’s final round, but it was not enough to erase the one shot overnight deficit as he untimely paid the price for a wayward final hole tee shot.

Martin Kaymer gets the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship trophy for keeps after third triumph in 2011

Martin Kaymer displaced Tiger Woods as the World Number Two after winning the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship for the third time in four years by a thumping eight shot margin over Rory McIlroy.

With Woods overhauled, top man Lee Westwood needs to be on his guard with Kaymer seemingly on the march towards the World Number One spot.

The German needed only a top-seven finish to depose Woods, but won at a canter from a field which included the other three current Major champions, and also Westwood, who ended up 64th, out-scored by a massive 26 strokes.

The last time a pair of Europeans filled the top two positions in the Official World Golf Ranking was Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer 18 years ago - and Woods will start his season at Torrey Pines in California this week down in third spot for the first time since October 2004.

ROBERT ROCKS ABU DHABI!

Solid Englishman Holds Off Woods & Co. to Clinch Second European Tour Win.

Abu Dhabi, UAE. Sunday 29th January, 2012: Having started the day as joint overnight leader, England's Robert Rock kept his cool on a sun-soaked afternoon in the UAE capital to hold off 14-Major winner, Tiger Woods, and win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

Rock, playing alongside Woods and Sweden's Peter Hanson in a crowd-pulling final grouping, displayed nerves of steel to keep a 10-strong chasing pack - which included Major winners Woods, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell - at bay.

After serving notice of his title intentions with a pair of birdies on holes two and three, Woods' challenge wilted courtesy of consecutive bogeys on the fourth and fifth. He pulled one back on the ninth but another bogey on ten - followed by eight straight pars – ended the American's quest for glory on his maiden Abu Dhabi appearance.

Having matched Woods' birdies on two and three, Rock then birdied the sixth, 14th and the 16th – he dropped shots on eight and 13 – as the largely unheralded Staffordshire-born 34-year-old held steady in front of pulsating Abu Dhabi galleries.

By the time the final grouping reached the last tee, Rock had a two shot cushion on McIlroy, who was already in the clubhouse. Showing the first sign of nerves, Rock drove into hazard down the right but a sensible drop to ensure a bogey was enough to see him claim his second - and biggest – career victory.

"This win is special," said Rock. "It's such a big tournament, with a huge field and to play with Tiger today was something that I'll never forget. It's pretty hard to believe that I managed to win; I'm very surprised. It's difficult playing with Tiger – you expect almost every shot to threaten to go in. I felt a lot of pressure and couldn't afford any lapses in concentration at all. It was a lot of work, but I am very happy now."

Rock was presented with the new 'Falcon' trophy in front of packed grandstands by His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA). Officials from the Authority also revealed the Championship had exceeded its target by welcoming 82,000 spectators – more than double the record set last year.

"What a thrilling end to a fantastic Championship – we have seen true drama in the desert," said Faisal Al Sheikh, Events Manager, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. "We promised the giants of golf and fans have certainly seen massive performances from the game's biggest names. Today, we add another giant to our pantheon – well done, Robert, you stood up to the test and are a thoroughly deserving champion.

"We've also had perfect weather at a stunning venue and the crowds just kept coming and coming. They've been rewarded with the closest, most dramatic Championship yet."

After taking the outright lead on the fourth, Rock kept his nose in front despite a raft of sub-70 rounds from players in the chasing pack.

McIlroy capped another powerful Abu Dhabi performance with a three-under par 69 to take second place for the second year running. The fans' favourite was left ruing a two-shot penalty on Friday, as he finished just one shot behind Rock.

At least the Ulsterman consoled himself by winning two Diamond First Class Tickets to any destination on the Etihad Airways network, after he fired a field-leading 22 birdies over the Championship's four days.

After shooting 72 to secure his place in a three-way tie for third alongside Denmark's Thomas Bjorn and McDowell, Woods praised Rock's performance and lamented his own missed chances. "Robert played great today; he was solid, consistent and he didn't do anything wrong," said Woods, adding: "I'm pleased at the progress I've made so far. Today was a day where I putted beautifully; I just didn't give myself enough looks."

McDowell's sensational back nine saw him nail a hole-in-one on 12 and birdie 13, 17 and 18. His birdie-birdie finish, helped by a lucky bounce off the stands onto the green on 18, helped him to five-under for the last nine holes and 11-under over all.

"It was certainly an eventful last seven holes with a hole‑in‑one and a nice ricochet off the grandstand at the last," said McDowell. "I've been playing golf a long time and I've never seen a ball coming off the grandstand to six feet like that. But it was a lot of fun and I always enjoy this tournament."

McDowell's hole-in-one was the third seen by Championship fans on the 12th, after Sergio Garcia and his compatriot Jose Manuel Lara both aced the same hole on Thursday. Emirates Palace, the Championship's official hotel partner, kindly extended its prize of an annual three-night stay in a Grand Room, valid for life, to all three.

Italian prodigy Matteo Manassero went the extra mile in his role as a golf ambassador for ADTA, carding a three-under 69 to finish in joint sixth - his best Abu Dhabi finish to date. The 18-year-old played well beyond his years to post a third straight sub-par round - a bogey on 10 the only blemish, as he notched birdies on eight, nine, 15 and 16.