After the Hero Cup show, which represented a Ryder Cup dress rehearsal for European players, the DP World Tour stays in the United Arab Emirates for the first event of the 2023 Rolex Series, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
The event, which offers 9 million dollars (1,530,000 the first coin), will see three Azzurri compete: with Francesco Molinari and Guido Migliozzi, among the drivers (both came out unbeaten from the match) of the Europe team Edoardo Molinari, vice-captain of the Europe team at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome, will also be continental in the challenge against the Great Britain & Ireland team during the Hero Cup.
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, statements
On the course of the Yas Links Abu Dhabi, the show is guaranteed. In an appointment that will also see the return to the circuit – for the first time since he was relieved of his role as captain of the Europe team at the 2023 Ryder Cup, because he moved to the separate golf league, the LIV – of the Swede Henrik Stenson.
With him in the field other former European golf loyalists who have chosen the Arab Super League, from the English Lee Westwood (who won this event in 2020) and Ian Poulter to the Austrian Bernd Wiesberger. But that’s not all: the American Patrick Reed is also in the field.
For a challenge, therefore, beyond the result. Belgian Thomas Pieters will defend the title won in 2022. Among the past winners, moreover, the English Tyrrell Hatton (2021) and Tommy Fleetwood (2017 and 2018). And again: the Irish Shane Lowry (2019), the Spanish Pablo Larrazabal (2014) and the Welsh Jamie Donaldson (2013).
Chicco Molinari, who recently declared in an interview with ANSA that his big dream this year “is to play the Ryder Cup at home”, will be among the most awaited players of the tournament. In the first two rounds, he will be alongside the Polish Adrian Meronk (the one who made, during the Hero Cup, the putt that sanctioned the arithmetic victory of the Continental Europe team) and the South African Thriston Lawrence.
In the field also all the current staff of the Europe team at the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup. From captain Luke Donald to his deputies: Edoardo Molinari, Thomas Bjorn and Nicolas Colsaerts.
