2014 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship Preview: Leaderboard

Rory McIlroy 595 Syd

RORY MCILROY, PHIL MICKESLON and HENRIK STENSON headline an impressive line-up as the 2014 European Tour begins its three week “Desert Swing” in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

The star trio will be joined by the likes of the in-form Sergio Garcia, three time Abu Dhabi champion Martin Kaymer, Luke Donald and Aussies Marcus Fraser, Brett Rumford and Richard Green.

This week marks the ninth staging of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, with the field including four of the world top ten, eight Major Champions, 79 European Tour winners and seven European Tour Number Ones.

McIlroy is one of those itching to get going for the new year after finishing strongly with his Australian Open win over Adam Scott at the end of last season (not to mention the fact that he became engaged to girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki in Sydney on New Year’s Eve.)

The 24 year old has finished outside the top 11 only once in six appearances at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, finishing runner up twice in 2011 and 2012.

“I feel like I’m much better prepared heading into the first event of the season than I was last year,” he said. “My swing is in a much better place.  I’ve done some really good work on that, at the end of last year, and in the couple of weeks that I’ve had here leading into this tournament.

“So things are really looking good.  I’m in a really good frame of mind and I feel like I’ve built a lot of momentum at the back end of last year and I’m going to try to continue that into this season.”

Australian TV Times

Live coverage on Fox Sports begins Thursday 8pm to midnight.

2014 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship Leaderboard

2014 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship Leaderboard

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