His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, has honoured English golfer Paul Waring as the champion of the 19th edition of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which was held over four days at the Yas Links course on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The event was one of two qualifying tournaments for the DP World Tour, and the fourth event in the Rolex Series this season.
The tournament was organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) and the European Tour, and saw 70 of the best players of the season competing, as the best 50 players in the Race to Dubai classification qualified for the DP World Tour Championship, which concludes the season next week in Dubai.
The coronation ceremony was attended by His Excellency Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation, Aref Hamad Al Awani, General-Secretary of ADSC, Abdulfattah Sharaf, Chairman of HSBC Bank Middle East, Mohammed Al Marzooqi, CEO of HSBC Bank UAE, Bilal Mostafa Al Khaled, General Manager of Mohammed Rasool Khoory & Sons, Eric Nicoli, Chairman of the European Tour Group, and Guy Kinnings, CEO of DP World Tour.
Englishman Paul Waring managed to score six strokes under par on the final day of the tournament, bringing his total to 24 strokes under par over the tournament’s four days, while his compatriot Tyrrell Hatton came in second place with 22 strokes under par. In third place with 21 strokes under par, were 3 golfers: Thorbjørn Olesen from Denmark, Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland, and Matt Wallis from England.
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, praised the successes of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. His Excellency said: “Once again, Abu Dhabi stands out as a global sports destination by hosting major international tournaments and organising distinguished events, thanks to the unlimited support of the wise leadership and its sound vision.
“Since its launch in 2006 and through 19 editions, the championship has contributed to the growth of the tourism sector in Abu Dhabi, by attracting thousands of visitors, supported by the huge infrastructure that enables it to attract various other sporting events, and other important elements, such as the availability of high-quality services, security and safety, and the values of tolerance, coexistence and peace on the land of the emirates.”
Aref Hamad Al Awani, General-Secretary of ADSC, expressed his gratitude to all sponsors, partners, the local organising committee, volunteers, and representatives of the European Tour, for their efforts in ensuring the success of the championship’s 19th edition, held for the third time on the Yas Links course.
Al Awani also congratulated Waring on his victory. Al Awani said: “Once again, the capital, Abu Dhabi, confirms its leadership in the global sports scene, after hosting the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, with the participation of an elite group of international golfers, in the fourth Rolex World Series tournament, and one of the two qualifying tournaments for the DP World Golf Tour.”
Al Awani also praised the large audience attendance at the tournament’s competitions over its four days, in addition to the millions who watched on television, emphasising ADSC’s commitment to furthering the growth of golf in Abu Dhabi and the Middle East by hosting international tournaments and implementing academic programmes based on their goal to incorporate sport into a daily lifestyle.
Paul Waring, Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winner, said: “I am happy to win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship for the first time, which is one of the strongest tournaments in the region ever, especially since the competition throughout the tournament was not easy among an elite group of the best golfers in the world.”
Waring took home the US$1.53 million grand prize with 1,500 Race to Dubai points, while Tyrrell Hatton took the $990,000 runner-up prize with 1,000 points.
