World No3 Rory McIlroy will get to warm up for his Dubai Desert Classic title defence in the best possible manner, competing against a quality field at Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Invitational in Yas Links.
McIlroy will play the tournament – which is a mix of pro-am as well as individual event with a purse of Dh1 million for the professionals – in the company of his father, Gerry, and will form the final fourball of the day (10:50am).
The event, which is backed by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, is sanctioned by the European Tour. It will feature 58 men and ladies pros, including the only Emirati professional golfer, Ahmed Al Musharrekh.
Great to see @CGI_Golf support the @DDFIrishOpen at The K Club in May. Tickets available at, https://t.co/Mw3m6zBQhj pic.twitter.com/w8uRwRlzih
— Rory Mcilroy (@McIlroyRory) January 28, 2016Europe’s latest Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup captains, Carin Koch and Paul McGinley, will also be seen in action. Other female professionals joining Koch are Carly Booth, Amy Boulden and Emma Cabrera-Bello.
The tournament, which was won by South African Darren Fichardt last year, will benefit the Emirates Red Crescent this year.
Several celebrities from other sports and business leaders will pair up with the professionals for the pro-am tournament.
Among the sporting celebrities are football greats Roberto di Matteo (playing with Alexander Levy at 10:15am), Andriy Shevchenko (with Matthew Fitzpatrick, 10:40am), cricket legend
Brian Lara (with 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman, 9:55am) and four-time Olympic rowing champion Matthew Pinsent (Thorbjorn Olesen,10:40am).
Meanwhile, in the Saturday’s amateurs-only event, nine-handicap Texan Robert Hissom took the top honours. He fired a seven-over par round of 79 to claim victory with a score of 38 Stableford points.
The highlight of his round was an eagle at the par-5 seventh hole, where the 51-year-old hit a three-wood to six feet and made the putt.
The London-based Hissom, owner of Aspen Capital Partners and currently member at Queenwood club, said: “This is the third or fourth time I’ve played in this event, and it’s just a great setup. Look, we’re playing in shorts and shirts in January!”
Professional David Horsey fired an impressive five-under-par 67, which included holing out for eagle at the par-four ninth hole. As a pro, the Englishman was not officially eligible for yesterday’s competition, but his round certainly sounded a warning ahead of today’s pro-am and individual professional contest.
