After giving us a great show during the DP World Tour Championship and now a life member of the DP World Tour, Collin Morikawa has confirmed his presence at the first sanctioned Rolex Series tournament: the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. The Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy will also be part of this tournament which is well established in the European calendar.

© Getty image

© Getty image

New DP World Tour number one Collin Morikawa will make his 2022 DP World Tour season debut at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. The American will be joined by the quadruple winner of Major Rory McIlroy on the superb Yas Links of Abu Dhabi which will have the honor of hosting the first tournament of the season of the DP World Tour 2022 sanctioned Rolex Series.

Last month, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council announced that the prestigious tournament will take place for the first time at Abu Dhabi's Yas Links on Yas Island, opening a new chapter for an event that has long been a part of it. of the European Tour and which continues to attract some of the biggest stars in our sport.

Collin Morikawa ended a stellar year with a victory in the DP World Tour Championship, his first Rolex Series title, and will begin the 2022 campaign as the defending DP World Tour Rankings champion after beating, among others, fellow American Billy Horschel.

In addition to this victory in Dubai, the world number two added to his record a victory at the Open Championship 2021 - his second victory in major - then a title at the World Golf Championships at the WGC - Workday Championship at The Concession in February.

“I can't wait to return to the Middle East and compete in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship for the first time,” said Morikawa. “I've heard great things about the event and it always attracts a world class peloton year after year, but I know this year will be very special at Yas Links for the first time. It's a course which I know is extremely popular and I'm delighted to start my season as the defending DP World Tour Rankings champion there. "

McIlroy, meanwhile, returns for a 12th appearance at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, hoping to snag a first victory. The Northern Irishman was often involved but he always failed a few shots from first place. The 32-year-old has four second places as well as four third places.

The four-time majors winner ended his 2021 campaign with a sixth place in the DP World Tour Championship and finished his season in eighth place in the Race to Dubai.
McIlroy won the CJ Cup @Summit on the PGA TOUR last month and with Morikawa securing their first victory in the desert, the impressive duo will face off again to kick off their 2022 season in the Middle East.

McIlroy added: “I have many happy memories of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and once again look forward to starting my year in this wonderful tournament. Yas Links is a spectacular course and will offer a new challenge, which all players will enjoy. "

“Obviously, I've come close to victory a number of times in the past, and I hope I can have a chance to win this trophy for the first time on Sunday. "

First held in 2006, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship was held at the iconic Abu Dhabi Golf Club for sixteen years and, having built a strong legacy in the Middle East, the move to the island of Yas makes Abu Dhabi an international sports center with the end of the F1 championship season and with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Yas Island is Abu Dhabi's premier leisure, retail and entertainment hub, paving the way to support the emirate's economic vision for 2030. The new location offers a unique blend breathtaking views, first-class hospitality and a diverse range of award-winning leisure and entertainment.

We will meet Collin Morikawa and Rory McIlroy at this Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship from January 20 to 23.