Matthew Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Rafa Cabrera Bello and Chris Wood are the latest additions to the Abu Dhabi Championship line up, staging its 12th edition, January 19-22 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
The group will provide more superb pedigree to the field, with Fitzpatrick, Hatton and Cabrera Bello all securing top ten finishes in last season’s European Tour money list. Wood followed in 11th place, aided by the biggest win of his career at the PGA Championship in May.
They will tee it up in the capital alongside Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Danny Willett and defending champion Rickie Fowler, as well as the likes of Ryder Cup prodigy Thomas Pieters and three-time Abu Dhabi winner Martin Kaymer.
Englishmen Fitzpatrick and Hatton both enjoyed a ‘coming of age’ during the 2016 season, clinching three titles between them and finishing sixth and fourth respectively in the Race to Dubai, while Fitzpatrick also made his Ryder Cup debut at Hazeltine in September.
Currently sitting at No.30 in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), the 22-year-old certainly won’t be going into the new season under the radar, and the Brit is looking forward to returning to the region on the hunt for more glory.
Rickie Fowler after his dominating victory in last year’s tournament. (Credit – Getty Images)
Fitzpatrick said: “I am really looking forward to competing in Abu Dhabi again. Winning the end of season European Tour event in the UAE in November was the best moment of my career so far and I hope I can build on that in 2017.
“The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship has a great reputation amongst the players and it is great to have Dustin and Rickie at a European Tour event.”
Hatton, 25, finished his 2016 season strongly with four top-ten finishes, including his maiden professional win, in his last six European Tour starts.
“I just want to continue where I left off,” he said.
“It is going to be a massive test to compete in such a strong field but I want to add more titles this season. I love playing in the Middle East and really enjoy the set up at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, so hopefully I’ll be contending on that final day.”
