It could have something to do with the fact that the last two Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championships have thrown up two surprise winners, but the event tagline this year is ‘Expect the Unexpected’.
So far, the preparation has gone exactly as expected. As has always been the case, the organization has been top-class and the field, despite the absence of Tiger Woods who has featured here the last two years, is something any tournament would be proud of.
Outside of the Majors and the World Golf Championships, it is rare to have four of the top-10 ranked players in the world teeing up.
Also expected were the brilliant facilities for the players, the fans and the media. The weather may have been slightly iffy in the UAE last week, but sun’s been shining and is expected to do so throughout the weekend, barring overcast conditions on Sunday.
The one main thing that was a gimme this week was the condition of the golf course. And from all accounts, it is in fantastic shape, with every player having nothing but praise for it.
The unexpected, if anything, is the presence of the heavy rough this year. It is so thick in places that there is a real chance of players losing their balls.
Whilst not disputing the importance of wielding a hot putter, the Abu Dhabi Golf Club has always favoured players who have had strong long games. In fact, the only winner who perhaps did not have the best of long games was Chris DiMarco, when he won the inaugural championship in 2006.
That long game will again be crucial to master the National course. Staying away from the rough is of paramount importance, as players’ estimate of the chip-out shots range from 50 to 70 yards at the most.
In such a scenario, one hopes Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson, who are paired together for the first two rounds, do not spray their drivers as they have done last season.
And that would also mean the other two players in the top-10 – Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia – will start with a slight psychological advantage because of the way they drove the ball towards the second half of last season.
Despite the presence of Mickelson, and a host of other proven performers on the Tour, the two biggest storylines of this year’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship revolves around Stenson and McIlroy. Just about every golf fan across the globe wants to see how these two players come out of their winter break.
Stenson, because he could do no wrong in the second half of 2013, and McIlroy, because he had slowly started doing the right things after a horrendous first nine months.
But like Robert Rock in 2012, and Jamie Donaldson last year, there’s always hope for those who bring their A game to the park.
There is too much danger lurking around, and the slightest mistakes could prove costly for anyone in the field, and that includes the star players.
Players need only look at the record of three-time champion Martin Kaymer to realise why they have a great chance. His three wins and a second place are sandwiched between two missed cuts. Tee it up!
