Move to Yas Island heralds new era for Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the European Tour on Monday announced that the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship will move to Yas Island for the first time next year when Yas Links Abu Dhabi hosts the opening Rolex Series event of the 2022 season.

Designed by Kyle Phillips and recently ranked 48th in Golf Digest's global Top 100 courses, Yas Links will herald a new chapter for the prestigious event as it moves to one of the world’s fastest growing leisure and entertainment destinations in Abu Dhabi from January 20-23, 2022.

First staged in 2006, the tournament has been played at the iconic Abu Dhabi Golf Club for 16 consecutive years and, having built a strong legacy in the Middle East, the move to Yas Island highlights Abu Dhabi as an international sports hub with the season ending F1 Championship and Ultimate Fighting Championship also taking residency at the world-class venue.

Yas Island is Abu Dhabi’s premier leisure, retail and entertainment hub, leading the way in supporting the emirate’s Economic Vision 2030.

The new venue offers a unique blend of stunning views, first-class hospitality and a diverse range of award-winning leisure and entertainment attractions, enhancing the experience for fans, whether they attend in person or watch from around the world.

Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said: “We are proud of all our sports facilities that host various events and support our plans for further success.

“By moving this award-winning tournament to Yas Links for the first time, we will add more excellence to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and present an exceptional event, especially as it is being held at one of the world’s finest and most magnificent golf courses, and on one of the world’s leading leisure and entertainment destinations, Yas Island.

“We are looking forward to another fantastic Championship to kick off an exciting year of sport in the UAE.”

Keith Pelley, CEO of the European Tour, added: “As one of our Rolex Series events, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and Yas Links offer our players and fans an experience like no other. Yas Island is synonymous with major sporting events in the UAE  and we are delighted our first Rolex Series tournament of the year will be highlighted on the global stage.”

Tyrrell Hatton produced a dominant performance to win his fourth Rolex Series title and make the perfect start to the 2021 season at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January. The Englishman went toe-to-toe with four-time Major winner and Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIlroy throughout the week and eventually finished four shots clear of the stellar field to kickstart his year.

The 17th edition of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship will be the first of back-to-back Rolex Series events in the UAE with tournaments in Abu Dhabi and Dubai part of the traditional ‘Desert Swing’ attracting golf’s leading players.