Abu dhabi: With less than a month to go until the DP World Tour Play-Offs return to the UAE for their second edition, reigning Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winner Paul Waring was among those in attendance to mark the countdown at the official launch event at Louvre Abu Dhabi.
According to Emirates News Agency, following a successful inaugural Play-Offs last year-comprising the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the DP World Tour Championship-course records were broken at Yas Links and record crowds gathered at Jumeirah Golf Estates. Once again, the golfing world will turn its attention to the UAE next month.
The action begins with the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, celebrating its 20th edition from 6th to 9th November, where the leading 70 players on the Race to Dubai Rankings will compete for the Falcon Trophy. The field will then be reduced to the top 50 players for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, taking place from 13th to 16th November, where the DP World Tour’s season-long Race to Dubai champion will be crowned.
The launch was also attended by Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, General Abdullah Alhashmi, President of Emirates Golf Federation (EGF), Daniel Van Otterdijk, Chief Communications Officer, DP World, and Richard Bunn, Chief Revenue and Content Officer, DP World Tour.
Aref Al Awani expressed his delight in welcoming the world’s best golfers to Abu Dhabi and Dubai as part of the DP World Tour Play-Offs, emphasizing the events as a platform for elite golfers globally. He highlighted the 20th edition of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as a testament to the growth of golf in the UAE and its success in hosting international tournaments, reinforcing the Emirate’s status as a global sporting destination.
General Abdullah Alhashmi remarked on the longstanding collaboration with the DP World Tour, expressing pride in the achievements over more than 30 years. He noted the launch of the DP World Tour Play-Offs last season as a reflection of the trust placed in the UAE, with this year’s event set to deliver two weeks of world-class golf showcasing the country globally.
Tom Phillips, Director of Middle East, DP World Tour, expressed enthusiasm in bringing back two of the region’s prestigious sporting events on consecutive weekends. He highlighted the unique Play-Offs format as creating a compelling finale to the season, merging world-class golf with the excitement of the UAE.