European Tour greats Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood have become the latest names to be added to the line-up for the 2019 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA, organisers confirmed on Wednesday.
Former world No 1 Westwood has been in fine form in recent weeks – winning last month's Rolex Series Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa for his 24th European Tour title. The 45-year-old Englishman has come close in Abu Dhabi, finishing runner-up alongside Henrik Stenson to Martin Kaymer in the tournament's third edition, in 2008.
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When is the Abu Dhabi Championship? Lowdown on the 2019 tournament
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“Looking ahead to my 2019 season after winning in South Africa is pretty exciting," Westwood said. "It felt great to finish the season with a win, and now I can’t wait to get back out on Tour in January and try to continue where I left off in 2018.
"It’s the perfect place to play golf in January and I’m thrilled to be heading to Abu Dhabi feeling like I am in with a really decent chance of featuring on the leaderboard come Sunday afternoon.”
Poulter, a perennial crowd favourite and 12-time winner on the European Tour, returns to Abu Dhabi having played a part in Europe's Ryder Cup win over the United States last year. The 42-year-old Englishman returned to the winners' circle last season after a five-and-a-half-year absence, claiming the PGA Tour's Houston Open in April.
“I can’t wait play the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA. From the immaculate greens to the world-class hospitality, it is my favourite tournament in the Middle East.”
The 2019 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA takes place January 16-19 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club's National course. This year's tournament will also be the first since being upgraded to Rolex Series status.
Among the high-profile players confirmed for this year's tournament include two-time defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, world No 2 Brooks Koepka, world No 3 Dustin Johnson, and former British Open champion Stenson, who will maintain his perfect record of competing in every Abu Dhabi tournament since its inception in 2006.
