Abu Dhabi Championship

January 22nd, 2010

The desert oasis that is the Abu Dhabi Golf Club welcomes the European Tour for the fifth playing of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. This event marks the start of the European Tour’s ‘Desert Swing’ a series of events which also sees the Tour visit Doha and Dubai over the coming weeks. This three-tournament swing has become more and more popular with the players over the years thanks to a combination of perfect weather, excellent golf courses and sizeable prize funds. For many, Abu Dhabi marks the start of the 2010 season and many of the world’s top players, including Pro V1 ball loyalists Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson and Titleist Ambassadors Rory McIlroy and Geoff Ogilvy are in the field. McIlroy is now undoubtedly one of golf’s hottest properties following a sensational 2009 season whilst Ogilvy, a new Titleist Ambassador for 2010, comes to Abu Dhabi having already claimed victory at the PGA Tour’s season opening SBS Championship.

Click here to view the slideshow.

Here is a full list of Titleist Ambassadors in the field this week:

Robert Karlsson
Geoff Ogilvy
Kenneth Ferrie
Gregory Bourdy
Rory McIlroy
Pablo Larrazabal
Michael Hoey
Tano Goya
Rick Kulacz
Soren Hansen
Martin Erlandsson
Mikko Ilonen
Brett Rumford
Paul Waring
Seve Benson

The aforementioned Rory McIlroy will be seen far less on the European Tour this season having committed to play more golf on the PGA Tour. That said however, he is in the field in Abu Dhabi this week as he gears up for the defence of his title at the Dubai Desert Classic in two weeks time. Rory is fast becoming one of the most consistent performers in world golf, a point emphasised by a remarkable 14 top-ten finishes in 2009, and he is once again in contention after two rounds in Abu Dhabi. Rounds of 66 and 69 have Rory well inside the top-ten at 9 under par just two strokes off the halfway lead at the time of writing. Rory comes into the event having made an equipment change with the new Titleist MB irons going into play. The MB is proving very popular on Tour and Rory joins the likes of Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Robert Karlsson in making the switch to the new irons.

Rory McIlroy

Model: Titleist MB
Composition: 3-PW
Shafts: True Temper Project X Rifle 6.5
Length: Standard (#6 iron @ 37.50”)
Lie: 1° Upright (#6 iron @ 63.5°)
Grips: Golf Pride Multi-Compund Black/Yellow (+1/64”)
Swingweight: D2

Two other Titleist Ambassadors looking to kick-start their seasons this week are Englishman Seve Benson and Argentinean Tano Goya. Both players are teeing it up for their first event of 2010 and both go into the tournament with a new flatstick following off-season visits to the Scotty Cameron Putter Studio in California. There are pictures of both putters in this week’s slideshow and the specifications are detailed below. As well as making high performance putters Scotty certainly knows how to make them look good; these two are bordering on works of art!!!

Seve Benson

Model: Scotty Cameron Studio Select Newport – Tour Issue
Length: 35”
Loft: 4°
Lie: 71°
Grip: Red Cameron Cord
Weighting: 10g (Heel & Toe)
Stamping: Seve (Heel), Benson (Toe), S.B (Face), Circle T (Face)
Paintfill: Studio Select Red

Tano Goya

Model: Scotty Cameron Studio Select Newport – Tour Issue Black
Length: 35”
Loft: 4°
Lie: 71°
Grip: Black Baby-T
Stamping: Tano (Heel), Goya (Toe)
Paintfill: Blue & White (Argentina Colours)

Final word in this week’s Blog goes to a name that will be new to many of you; Rick Kulacz. Rick joins the European Tour as a full-line Titleist Staff Ambassador and is embarking on his first full season after securing his card at European Tour Q-School back in November. A native of Perth, Western Australia, Rick has been playing on the Asian Tour since turning professional back in 2007 and, following success on the Asian Tour including a victory at the 2008 Brunei Open, Rick is now eager to test himself against the best that the European Tour has to offer. He has certainly made a more than competent start to his rookie season with a top-5 finish at the Africa Open in just his second event of the season. At the time of writing Rick’s form is getting better and better!! Following an opening round of 69 (-3), Rick has produced arguably the round of his life to post a stunning 63 (-9) and lead the event by a single stroke. The round included eleven birdies; seven of which came in the final nine holes of the round. The Titleist team would like to wish Rick all the very best for his debut season but judging from the start he’s made it doesn’t appear that he will need it!!! Way to go Rick!!!

Next week takes us to Doha for the Qatar Masters where another week of sunny skies is promised. One thing’s for sure, the players (and the Titleist Tour Team) will all be looking suitably tanned after three weeks in the desert. We’ll be back with the Blog (and a healthy suntan) at same time next week.

Entry Filed under: Uncategorized