Dustin Johnson finished runner-up on his Abu Dhabi debut earlier this year. Tannen Maury / EPA
Dustin Johnson finished runner-up on his Abu Dhabi debut earlier this year. Tannen Maury / EPA
Dustin Johnson finished runner-up on his Abu Dhabi debut earlier this year. Tannen Maury / EPA
Dustin Johnson finished runner-up on his Abu Dhabi debut earlier this year. Tannen Maury / EPA

Dustin Johnson hoping to go 'one better' at 2018 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as star-studded line-up announced


John McAuley
  • English
  • Arabic

World No 1 Dustin Johnson will return to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA in January as he headlines another star-studded field in the capital.

The American, who finished runner-up on debut earlier this year, has been confirmed for the January 18-21 event, with four-time major champion Rory McIlroy, newly crowned Race to Dubai champion Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Matt Kuchar also committing. Second at the British Open in July, Kuchar will be making his first appearance in Abu Dhabi. Other players announced on Wednesday include two-time champion Paul Casey and 2016 British Open champion Henrik Stenson.

Johnson will be one of the favourites for the tournament, in its 13th year, especially following his performance in the emirate in January. The 2016 US Open champion, then the world No 3, missed out on victory by one shot to Fleetwood. Having never before competed in the Middle East, Johnson finished in a tie for second alongside Spain's Pablo Larrazabal. Before departing Abu Dhabi, he said he planned to come back for the 2018 event.

“Abu Dhabi is great, it’s a fun course to play and I felt I played really well during my first appearance there, aside from my first day troubles with the putter of course," Johnson said. "I am sure this year I’ll put myself in a good position to compete and hopefully I can go one better than 2017.

"Aside from the majors, 2017 has been a really good year for me winning a multitude of titles and hopefully Abu Dhabi can act as the perfect springboard for me in 2018.”

Johnson looks likely to tee it up at the National Course as officially the world’s best golfer. Three weeks after his runner-up finish in the emirate, he won the Genesis Open to ascend to the top of the rankings for the first time. Johnson then won on his next two starts, both of which were World Golf Championship events.

An injury sustained on the eve of the Masters ruled the 33-year-old American out of the year’s first major in April, with Johnson struggling for form upon his return. However, he secured his fourth victory of the year at the Northern Trust Open in August, the opening tournament in the FedEx Cup play-offs. On his most recent start, Johnson finished tied-second at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai. He has 17 professional wins to date.

_________________

Read more:

_________________

Much like Johnson earlier this year, Kuchar will make his Middle East debut in Abu Dhabi. The veteran American, 39, comes into the tournament off the back of a characteristically consistent season, particularly in the majors, in which he finished tied-fourth at the Masters, second at the British Open and tied-9th at the US PGA Championship. He is ranked 15th in the world.

McIlroy, meanwhile, will contest the Falcon trophy after missing this year’s tournament through injury. The Northern Irishman, 28, has finished second in Abu Dhabi four times: 2011, 2012, 1014 and 2015. Last year, he was third.

Another regular to the UAE, Stenson will continue his streak of participating in every Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship since the tournament’s inception in 2006. The Swede, a former Dubai resident, is seeking to capture the one trophy that he is yet to win on the European Tour’s Middle East swing.

Tommy Fleetwood has had a memorable year on the UAE's golf courses. Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images
Tommy Fleetwood has had a memorable year on the UAE's golf courses. Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images

Stenson, 41, has previously prevailed at the Dubai Desert Classic, the Qatar Masters and twice at the DP World Tour Championship – the circuit’s season finale. The world No 9 has not triumphed since last year’s British Open. His best finish in Abu Dhabi was runner-up in 2006 and 2008.

“I am hoping 2018 will finally be my year," Stenson said. "I know the UAE well having lived there for almost 10 years and think the course is magnificent, particularly the 18th hole, Par 5, whose green is surrounded by the grandstand. Having played every year, the inaugural Championship will always live long in the memory having come so close to winning the title.”

Rose will be another player with victory on his mind come the opening tee shot on January 18. On Sunday, the Englishman fell short in his late bid to win the Race to Dubai, finishing tied-fourth at the DP World Tour Championship. Thus, he missed out on a second Order of Merit, to Fleetwood by €58,821 (Dh255,000). Rose has competed in Abu Dhabi twice before, finishing runner-up in 2013 and then 12th two years ago.

Compatriot Casey won the Falcon trophy twice in three years from 2007. However, now based primarily in the United States, he has not played the event since 2014.

Aref Al Awani, general secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said: “Today’s announcement continues our tradition for attracting the best names in world golf.”

RESULTS

Mumbai Indians 181-4 (20 ovs)
Kolkata Knight Riders 168-6 (20ovs)

Mumbai won by 13 runs

Rajasthan Royals 152-9 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 155-4 (18.4 ovs)

Kings XI Punjab won by 6 wickets

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Yabi%20by%20Souqalmal%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMay%202022%2C%20launched%20June%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAmbareen%20Musa%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20u%3C%2Fstrong%3Endisclosed%20but%20soon%20to%20be%20announced%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E12%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eseed%C2%A0%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EShuaa%20Capital%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Friday (UAE kick-off times)

Borussia Dortmund v Paderborn (11.30pm)

Saturday 

Bayer Leverkusen v SC Freiburg (6.30pm)

Werder Bremen v Schalke (6.30pm)

Union Berlin v Borussia Monchengladbach (6.30pm)

Eintracht Frankfurt v Wolfsburg (6.30pm)

Fortuna Dusseldof v  Bayern Munich (6.30pm)

RB Leipzig v Cologne (9.30pm)

Sunday

Augsburg v Hertha Berlin (6.30pm)

Hoffenheim v Mainz (9pm)

 

 

 

 

 

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
Analysis

Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.

The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement. 

We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment. 

 

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
A new relationship with the old country

Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates

The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.

ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.

ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.

DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.

Signed

Geoffrey Arthur  Sheikh Zayed

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BLACKBERRY
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Matt%20Johnson%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Jay%20Baruchel%2C%20Glenn%20Howerton%2C%20Matt%20Johnson%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Inter Milan v Juventus
Saturday, 10.45pm (UAE)
Watch the match on BeIN Sports