Kakko joins stellar AD C’ship line-up with victory in qualifier

Roope Kakko has secured his qualification for the 2020 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA, having been crowned winner of the tournament qualifier that was held on Sunday at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. Kakko recorded a final score of two-under par to seal victory by one shot and confirm his participation in the prestigious tournament later this week.

Taking place Jan.16-19 at the iconic Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Kakko will line up against some of the world’s best golfers including Major champion and World Number one, Brooks Koepka, last year’s winner, Shane Lowry, and two-time winner, Tommy Fleetwood.

This year’s pre-qualifier tournament was played over one round with 39 players battling it out for the opportunity to take part in the 2020 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA.

Having taken two months off to work on his fitness, Kakko only entered the qualifier at the very last minute and in difficult conditions shot a confident round of 70 to fend off compatriot Linus Vaisanen and England’s Matthew Jordan.

Discussing the unexpected victory, Kakko commented: “I was practising in Dubai last week with the Finnish Olympic team and I got an email and thought ‘Why not? I’ll play’.

“Conditions were tough today, but they suited me. Hopefully they will continue for the main tournament, although knowing Abu Dhabi that is unlikely. It is a great course.

“You have to drive well and hit the fairways. The greens are perfect so you can make a lot of putts. If players are doing both well, it can really separate the field.”

The true test for Kakko is yet to come with a formidable list of players lining up for Thursday’s main event. In a field that includes multiple Major winners and former champions is rising star, Viktor Hovland.

The Norwegian starlet enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2019, having previously won the 2018 US Amateur Championship and securing a tied-12th finish at the US Open.

Local favourite and former-winner, Martin Kaymer, returns to the Abu Dhabi Golf Club looking to add a fourth win to his collection.

Victories in 2008, 2010 and 2011 respectively means the German holds the record for most victories at the tournament, narrowly ahead of two-time champions Tommy Fleetwood and Paul Casey.

Other established names set to descend upon the desert this January include the likes of Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen, Masters winner Danny Willett, 24-time European Tour winner Lee Westwood and Ryder Cup captains Padraig Harrington and Thomas Bjorn.

South African Oosthuizen boasts the 2010 Open Championship amongst his nine European Tour titles and will make his Hero Challenge debut as 5,000 fans watch six of golf’s biggest stars battle it out for the title in the exciting head-to-head format.

He said: “The Hero Challenge looks like a lot of fun, and especially this time round as we’ll be playing in such a cool location in Yas Marina. I can definitely say that it will be a first for me to play golf at a Formula One track and I’m looking forward to going up against the guys in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.”

Englishman Willett returns to the Hero Challenge after coming close to getting his hands on the trophy in the final edition of the 2019 season in Dubai last November. The 2016 Masters champion will arrive in Abu Dhabi looking to continue the form that saw him secure his seventh European Tour title - and his second on the Rolex Series - at last season’s BMW PGA Championship.

Hovland is one of golf’s most promising young stars, and the 22 year old Norwegian will join Oosthuizen and Koepka in making his Hero Challenge debut at the Yas Marina Circuit next week. The former World Amateur Number One won the low amateur honours at both the Masters and the U.S. Open in 2019, before impressing on his first professional start on the European Tour with a tied 11th place finish at Wentworth.

Ahead of the tournament, Suhail Al Areefi, Events Director in Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said: “The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA is almost upon us and, like all golf fans here and around the world, I’m hugely excited for the world-class action to get underway.