However, Sport360° has compiled a list of five golfers who have performed admirably in recent times and come into the tournament with a decent chance of upstaging the big guns at the Abu Dhabi Golf club.
Alvaro Quiros
Age: 29
Nationality: Spain
The long-hitting Spaniard loves the Middle East and has won every other tournament in the region, including a unique Dubai double last year when he won the Desert Classic and the Dubai World Championship. Abu Dhabi is the only place where he has not created any magic, and there is no reason why he should not do well this year. His prodigious distance off the tee is always a big help.
Charl Schwartzel
Age: 27
Nationality: South Africa
The reigning Masters champion arrives in Abu Dhabi as a new superstar of the game. To win a Major is obviously a humongous achievement, but to win it by making four birdies in his last four holes is just ridiculous. The South African is one of the few players in the field who comes in with the benefit of having played a tournament already, and that should have shaken off the rust.
Branden Grace
Age: 23
Nationality: South Africa
Don’t ask us who is Branden Grace. That is the name of the hottest golfer in the planet right now, having won in back-to-back weeks in South Africa before flying in to the UAE Capital. Starting the season outside the top-250 in world rankings, the South African, who qualified to play the Tour through Q-School this year, is now eyeing a strong finish in the Desert Swing to secure his Masters place. Winning momentum could do wonders for the 23-year-old.
Jason Day
Age: 24
Nationality: Australia
If there was one unsung superstar of 2011, it was Jason Day. The young Aussie was unlucky not to have won a big tournament after superb outings in almost each one of them. At world No.10, Day is the sixth top-10 ranked player in the field, and his strong overall game should suit the golf course. Coming from Australia, Day too has plenty of recent golf behind him to keep him razorsharp for the stunning field he faces.
Sergio Garcia
Age: 32
Nationality: Spain
The Spaniard is back in Abu Dhabi after a gap of two years and is evidently in a different mindset after a very encouraging 2011 which saw him win twice in back-to-back weeks and improve to world No.17. Garcia has repeatedly harped on the virtues of taking the right kind of break from the game, and refreshed after six weeks off, he would be motivated at the prospect of gaining a most cherished Ryder Cup spot later this year.
