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“As a UAE
resident, whatever I can do to help raise the profile of the game in my
adopted home is a massive incentive for me and I’m hoping I can improve
on my finish last year,” said Bjorn.
The nine-time European Tour event winner joins an elite field for this
month’s Championship – the biggest sporting event in the UAE capital.
A wide breadth of field includes defending champion and one of the USA’s
top 10 golfers, Chris DiMarco; eight-time European Tour Order of Merit
winner, Scotsman Colin Montgomerie; Championship newcomer and current
World Number 8, South African Retief Goosen; and Spanish duo Sergio Garcia,
now 11th in the official world rankings, and Miguel Angel Jiminez, one
of Spain’s all-time great players; Australia’s number three Nick O’Hern,
Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and India’s number one Jeev Milkha Singh.
“It’s a highly competitive field brimming with the world’s top players,
but I have a significant advantage over the others in that I have invaluable
local knowledge of the course, which might just swing it on the day -
you never know,” said Bjorn.
“Bjorn’s well-rounded game of big hitting and accurate approach play is
complemented by his reputation for steady putting – all the attributes
needed to stand-out in the modern game. Having consistently been in the
world’s top 50 during the last eight years, Bjorn’s consistency could
be a key factor in his pursuit of the Abu Dhabi trophy,” said Mubarak
Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, which owns
the tournament.
A total prize fund of US$2 million and unique facilities make the Abu
Dhabi Golf Championship one of the most attractive tournaments on the
European Tour schedule ensuring even more world-class players will compete
for the first prize of US$333,330.
The Abu Dhabi Golf Championship 2007 will begin with the Al-Masaood Pro-Am
and Awards Gala when sponsors and their guests have the chance to play
and socialise with some of the world’s best professionals.
The Abu Dhabi Golf Championship 2007 has attracted a high profile sponsorship
line up including: Etihad Airways and Aldar as Diamond Sponsors; Emirates
Palace, Etisalat and Standard Chartered Bank as a Platinum Sponsor; Nissan,
Airbus, Rolls Royce, Omega and Xerox as Gold Sponsors, Gulf News as the
Official Newspaper and Middle East Golfer as the Official Magazine.
Tickets for the Championship are available via the official website -
www.abudhabigolfchampionship.com
- online at www.timeouttickets.com,
via the ITP toll free hotline 800 4669 or for international clients +971
4 210 8943 and at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Tickets are priced at AED 125
for a daily pass and AED400 for a four-day pass though preferential rates
of AED100 and AED300 respectively apply to UGA members. Children under
18 will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Car parking will
be free during the Championship.
For further information:
Barbara Saunders, MCS/Action.
Tel: +971 50 6253327
Fax: +971 4 390 8161.
Email: barbara.s@actionprgroup.com
Or visit the tournament online at:
www.abudhabigolfchampionship.com
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