Three former Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winners are looking forward to returning to Abu Dhabi Golf Club's National Course next week as part of the inaugural Hero Cup team event.
Tyrrell Hatton, Shane Lowry, and Tommy Fleetwood all savoured success at Abu Dhabi Golf Club during its 16-year hosting of the DP World Tour's Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. The tournament relocated to Yas Links last year, but a new team event will take place on the National Course from January 13-15.
The Hero Cup pits two 10-player teams against each other, with Team Great Britain & Ireland captained by two-time Abu Dhabi champion Fleetwood and Team Continental Europe led by former Open champion Francesco Molinari. European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald was primarily responsible for selecting the 18 players.
The tournament will take place over three days with one session of fourballs on Friday, two sessions of foursomes on Saturday, and one session of singles matches will take place on Sunday. All 20 players will take part in each session.
Fleetwood, who secured successive Abu Dhabi titles in 2017 and 2018, will hope the success he has had on the course will provide an advantage to himself and Team GB&I at the Hero Cup.
“I feel very at home on the National Course,” said the Englishman, ranked 23rd in the Official World Golf Rankings. “The crowds help create a very special vibe too with a great mix of local support and fans from all around the world and of all ages. I’ve grown to love playing in Abu Dhabi and I think that shows in my results.”
Hatton was the last victor at Abu Dhabi Golf Club after a dominant performance saw the Englishman finish four shots clear in 2021 to secure a fourth Rolex Series triumph.
“It was an amazing day,” said Hatton, the world No 26. “It was very special to win here at such an amazing tournament. I love starting my sea-son out here in the Middle East and it obviously holds a special place in my heart.”
Hatton will team up with another former champion of the first Rolex Series event of the season in the form of Lowry, who birdied the 72nd hole at the 2019 edition to seal a one-stroke triumph. The Irishman carried that form and confidence through to the summer and into his remarkable win at the Open Championship.
"I couldn't really have envisaged what happened," said Lowry on his 2019 season. "It was obviously really nice to get off to an unbelievable start in Abu Dhabi, winning one of the biggest events on Tour.
“Anybody who plays this game knows that a lot of it is built on confidence, a lot of form is built on confidence and that's what I gained from here with my victory in 2019.”
Fans hoping to witness the drama live and to see who makes their claim for a spot in Rome can register for free general admission tickets via Ticketmaster.
Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
Scoreline:
Everton 4
Richarlison 13'), Sigurdsson 28', Digne 56', Walcott 64'
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Formula One top 10 drivers' standings after Japan
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 306
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 234
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 192
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 148
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 111
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 82
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 65
9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 48
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 34
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Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
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