KOEPKA, Brooks USA -6

Yesterday was a timely reminder of why this is one of the best weeks in the sporting calendar. We were lucky enough to witness an incredible start to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA; Brooks Koepka, world No.1, got his tournament o to a strong start with a brilliant round of six-under par with Australian Jason Scrivener also registering a 66. Spaniards, Rafa Cabrera Bello and Sergio Garcia, also begun the tournament in fi ne form with a pair of 67’s. The best round of the morning, however, came from Italian Renato Paratore who put together a spectacular round of eight-under par. The best of the a ernoon play came from South African Shaun Norris who matched Paratore’s 64 and registered an incredible nine birdies over the course of the round.

The Championship Village, a staple of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA, is focussing on family-fun and wellbeing this year and was full of spectators enjoying the experience. Whether it is watching the world-famous Trick Shot boys, tackling the formidable obstacle course or trying your hand at VR golf, there is truly something for everyone in this year’s Championship Village. One of the highlights of the day

His Excellency Aref Al Awani

General Secretary, Abu Dhabi Sports Council

two activities will be the E-Tour competition that start at 10am. As part of the inaugural season long E-Tour, eight competitors from around the world are set to do battle at World Golf Tour (WGT) by Topgolf for an incredible $10,000 prize.

The HSBC Future Falcons, an initiative that aims to educate, engage and inspire youngsters in a bid to unearth the next generation of golfi ng talent, were out in full force on day one. Initiatives like this are extremely valued by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council as we continue our commitment to growing the game and to bring world-class events to the capital, while also demonstrating the benefi ts of sport and an active lifestyle to our residents.

The tournament would not be possible without all our partners whom I would like to thank, including HSBC, Emirates Global Aluminium, Rolex, Etihad Airways, Nike, Lincoln Motor Company and the wonderful Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri. Their constant support enables us to ensure that guests have an unforgettable experience, from the intimate spectator experience to the exceptional activities at the Championship Village. Enjoy your day with us!

Welcome to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA, and what a treat we have in store for you this weekend. We’re just one round in, but we’ve already seen some of the best players in the world displaying their incredible talent to an enthusiastic crowd of UAE golf fans. With the likes of world No.1 Brooks Koepka putting on quite the show yesterday, the leaderboard is fascinatingly poised heading into round two.

We are incredibly proud that this year the tournament enters its 15th year overall and second as part of the prestigious Rolex Series. The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA always brings together a strong fi eld of talented golfers from all over the world and this year is no di erent. The phenomenal fi eld you’ll see on the course today includes major winners Brooks Koepka, Shane Lowry and a returning Sergio Garcia, alongside Ryder Cup stars Ian Poulter and Bryson DeChambeau, and the unmistakable Tommy Fleetwood – the two-time Falcon trophy winner who is hunting for a third.

With all this golfi ng talent at our fi ngertips, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to ask six of the best of them about their forecasts for the future of the game. And

Abdulfattah Sharaf

Chief Executive O cer of HSBC UAE

we were not disappointed with their responses! Brooks Koepka predicted that Rory McIlroy would dominate the Majors this decade, while the subject of slow play set pulses racing, including Bryson DeChambeau who admitted that a round of golf should take no longer than 3hrs 30mins. Joining the stars at the launch event were members of the HSBC Future Falcons Junior Golf programme. Standing shoulder to shoulder with some of their sporting heroes and helping them measure up for the next decade of golf, these future stars of UAE golf had a once-in-a-lifetime experience and it was a privilege to be able to make that a reality.

Activities like these are a key part of bringing our partnership with the tournament to life in a way that is fun and open, helping to encourage the growth of the sport. We are committed to supporting the development of golf in the region and we are proud to work alongside our partners, The Abu Dhabi Sports Council and The European Tour, to make sustainable growth of the sport a reality.

I want to wish all those competing out on the course today good luck – especially our defending champion Shane Lowry – who has made a great start and looks well placed to challenge once again.