Thomas, McIlory commit to Abu Dhabi event

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland has committed on Wednesday to playing in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship next month. Photo: REUTERS/Ben Job

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland has committed on Wednesday to playing in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship next month. Photo: REUTERS/Ben Job

Published Dec 16, 2020

Share

ABU DHABI - Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy, two of the world's top four golfers, committed on Wednesday to playing in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship next month.

It will be the first European Tour event of 2021 and the first of four Rolex Series events on the tour's schedule in the next calendar year.

The event is set for January 21-24 at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates.

McIlory is expected to begin his year in Abu Dhabi, where he has finished as the runner up four times but hasn't played since 2018.

Also read: European Tour unveils 2021 calendar, boosts prize money for Rolex Series events

"It's always a great event for the players and it's the perfect place for me to start the 2021 season," McIlroy said in a release.

Thomas, 27, will be making his Abu Dhabi debut.

"I'm excited to play for the first time in Abu Dhabi," he said. "I've heard really great things about the course and with it being the first Rolex Series tournament of the year, I'm sure it is going to deliver a strong field. I enjoy new challenges, I like playing different golf courses around the world, and competing against the best players in the game."

Justin Thomas has committed on Wednesday to playing in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship next month. Photo: Charles Krupa/AP Photo

Thomas, ranked No. 3 in the world, has two wins in 2020 despite a limited number of events because of the coronavirus pandemic.

McIlroy, a 31-year-old from Northern Ireland, is ranked No. 4 and hasn't won an event since the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in November 2019. This fall, he finished in a tie for fifth at the Masters Tournament and in a tie for eighth at the US Open.

Field Level Media

Related Topics: