DP World Tour: Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Tee Times
Twenty of the European Tour players were already in Abu Dhabi last week for the Hero Cup at the Abu Dhabi GC, and have now been joined in the UAE by most of the other regulars for the kick off to the 2023 season on the Yas Links course.
Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry and Thomas Pieters are the feature group in the early wave, Rory McIlroy doesn't begin his season until next week at the Dubai Desert Classic.
Both of these tournaments are the new full blown Rolex Series with a $9,000,000 prize fund.
I see some of the old faithful who have jumped to LIV and are still awaiting a judges decision about their eligibility next month have shown up. Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson who not only joined but gave up the captaincy of the Ryder Cup squad, Lee Westwood and Patrick Reed are all in limbo.
Ryan Fox has kissed the wife and kids goodbye and flown in from New Zealand after his wildly successful 2022.
Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald has his hands firmly on the rudder as he continues his process of gathering what will be a new look European Ryder Cup squad, which he began in earnest at last week's team building Hero Cup.
Canada's Aaron Cockerill is in the last pairing of the day at 13.15 local time with Denmark's Oliver Hundeboll and Freddie Schott from Germany.
Aaron is fully exempt this year after ending 2022 in the top 117 players, so he has planned his schedule in advance over the Christmas holidays home in Winnipeg with expectant wife Chelsea.
He has signed nice contracts with Titleist and Foot Joy to play their ball and wear their shoes and gloves. He has also joined Corey Conners and Adam Hadwin amongst others as a brand ambassador for Levelwear, a Canadian clothing manufacturer.
Bryan Angus
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