Kaymer, Donaldson, Pablo line-up for AD Golf Championship

The champions' return adds to the anticipation of this year's showpiece, which will see celebrations reflect on the stunning growth of the decade-long tournament and golf in Abu Dhabi.

Past winners of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship are set for a glorious return to Abu Dhabi Golf Club this January for the event’s 10-year anniversary showing.

Chris DiMarco (2006) Martin Kaymer (2008, 2010, 2011) Robert Rock (2012), Jamie Donaldson (2013) and Pablo Larrazábal (2014) will all shape up for another shot at the Falcon Trophy and a share of the $2.7 million prize purse, the richest in the region.

The champions’ return adds to the anticipation of this year’s showpiece, which will see celebrations reflect on the stunning growth of the decade-long tournament and golf in Abu Dhabi.

“We can reflect on the success of the event and the destination through the eyes of these champions,” said Sultan Al Dhaheri, Acting Executive Director Tourism, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), which owns and organises the Championship. “Ten years ago, Abu Dhabi Golf Club was the destination’s only championship course — there are now three — and the number of overseas rounds being played here is increasing year-on-year. At the same time, the destination has moved on dramatically over the past decade and it will be great to show Chris DiMarco the changes that have ensued since he lifted the Falcon Trophy.”

DiMarco was the first Abu Dhabi champion claiming the Falcon Trophy after a thrilling final day’s play. He carded a final round 67 for a 20 under par total of 268 and a one shot victory over the gallant Henrik Stenson, who pushed the American all the way to the final green.

The win was made all the more remarkable for the US Ryder Cup player DiMarco whose wife Amy acted as his caddie for the week.

The following year it was the turn of Englishman Paul Casey, the only Champion not to return in 2015, who claimed his eighth European Tour title with a one shot victory over Spain’s Miguel Angel Jiménez and Swede Peter Hanson. He repeated the effort in 2009 when he survived a late scare to secure his second Abu Dhabi win by a single shot from Martin Kaymer and Louis Oosthuizen.

Kaymer was aiming for back-to-back victories that year after success in the emirate in 2008, but he did not have to wait long, taking out the next two events in 2010 and 2011 to establish Abu Dhabi as his ‘home away from home’.

The big hitting German then unexpectedly missed the cut in 2012, and it was England’s surprise package Robert Rock who held off 14-time Major winner Tiger Woods and US Open Champion Rory McIlroy to claim a sensational victory.