The ‘Giants of Golf’ avoided any serious trouble on the opening day of the US$2.7million Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, setting up a tantalising ‘Fan-tastic Friday’ at the PGA European Tour event today (Friday 27 January)…
Inevitably, the marquee grouping of Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy and Abu Dhabi debutant, Tiger Woods, drew the vast majority of spectators, with a gallery in its thousands watching McIlroy, the reigning US Open champion, make the early running.
The Ulsterman carded seven birdies – and two bogeys – to reach the clubhouse tied with Sweden’s Robert Karlsson for the overall lead at five-under par. “I always enjoy those sorts of pairings. I feel like there’s a little more atmosphere and it makes you focus. I’m very pleased with today and hopefully I can keep it going,” said McIlroy.
Karlsson, who carded the same birdie-bogey ratio as McIlroy, praised the quality of the National Course greens: “I don’t think we are going to play many tournaments this year that will have a stronger field than this. We have one, two, three and four in the world, so it’s a pleasure to play here. I don’t think I’ve ever seen greens quite like this. The speed is nice, but they are so true.”
With the Championship enjoying its best-ever first day attendance figures, Faisal Al Sheikh, Events Manager, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), the Championship organiser, predicted even higher gates for the second day.
“What an absolutely amazing start to the Championship,” said Al Sheikh. “To have all our ‘Giants’ in with a fighting chance after the first day is the best possible result for the tournament and for our fans – we are expecting record crowds to flock to Abu Dhabi Golf Club as the Championship battle unravels.”
Amid the star-studded field, only defending champion and three-time Abu Dhabi winner, Martin Kaymer, suffered on a sun-drenched day at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The German, who has torn the National Course apart on four previous visits, finished the opening round at five-over par after a disappointing round of 77.
Woods, however, wowed galleries with a bogey-free round en route to a two-under par round of 70. “I hit the ball well all day long,” said the 14 Major winning American. “I controlled my ball and just had a hard time getting a feel for the greens; I think my speed was off because I just didn’t have it right.”
Among the other star contenders, US Masters champion, Charl Schwartzel, is tied with Woods at two-under par, while world number one, Luke Donald, and Korean sensation, KJ Choi, are primed to attack at one-under par. Lee Westwood, the world number two, and Darren Clarke, the reigning Open champion, both finished the day on level par.
Elsewhere, Sergio Garcia’s recent return to form continued as the swashbuckling Spaniard fired the 2012 tournament’s first hole in one – a 193-yard, seven iron into the Par 3 12th hole. For his stroke of genius, Garcia won an annual three-night stay – valid for life – in a Grand Room at the Emirates Palace hotel, the Championship’s official hotel partner.
In what must be one of the biggest understatements in global golf history, Garcia – who went on to finish the day at one-under par – recalled his hole in one moment: “I hit the ball better than I probably expected; I hit it fairly good.” Amazingly, Garcia’s compatriot, Jose Manuel Lara, also aced the same hole later in the day, albeit with a six iron.
Home favourites, Ahmed Al Musharrekh, the only Emirati in the field, and local professional qualifier, Stuart Fee, both had days to forget, carding rounds of nine-over par and 15-over par, respectively.
