Abu Dhabi turns ‘Golfistan’ as time for 2012 HSBC Golf Championship nears
With less than 24 hours remaining for the 2012 HSBC Golf Championship to get underway, excitement and exhilaration for the event has reached unprecedented levels.
The event, which is to kick off from tomorrow, features some of the biggest names in the sport.
In order to further fuel this level of enthusiasm among the audience, the elite of the golfing world, Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy, gathered together to entertain the people by showcasing their rather mediocre skills of handling and playing
traditional Arabic music (ayala).
Interestingly, the 14-time champion Major winner, Woods, will be making his debut in the Abu Dhabi open for the first time in his golfing career.
Providing him with a tough time are the major contenders of the event, which include World No 2 and 3, namely, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood, respectively.
Expressing his feelings on the pre-launching celebration of the event, Woods said: “That was pretty special, it’s my first time in Abu Dhabi and although as golfers we are used to travelling all over the world, we don’t usually get welcomes like that”.
He added, “It’s always fantastic to experience new cultures and traditions and I really got into the ayala beat, I’m not sure the canes would be too good on the putting greens this week though”.
This is the first time in the seven-year timeline of the event that the ayala dance, depicting the true colours of the Arabic tradition and custom, has been presented in the event.
According to experts, this year the competition is much more intense and cutthroat than those held in the previous years, primarily, because of the presence of Tiger Woods.
Other players festooning the line-up of Abu Dhabi Open comprise of triple and defending champion Martin Kaymer, face to face with Woods and his contemporaries, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy.
World’s No. 1 Luke Donald will also be seen hunting for the Falcon Cup this time, along with reigning major champion of US Masters Charl Schwartzel, KJ Choi, Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Ireland’s Padraig Harrington adding more to the zeal of the event.
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