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The first leg of The European Tour’s exciting three-week ‘Gulf Swing’ kicks off with World Number Two and Race to Dubai leader Sergio Garcia is joined by current Major Champions Padraig Harrington and Trevor Immelman as the headline acts in a high profile production for the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Not surprisingly, the lucrative Abu Dhabi Championship has attracted a top-class field with three of the world’s top-10 ranked pros teeing-up – plus a host of other big names including 2007 champion Paul Casey, defending champion Martin Kaymer, eight time European Tour Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie – making the 2009 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship a genuine blockbuster.
The 11-year-old course is flat, exposed and with water hazards coming into play on nine holes. However, it is likely to bring its fair share of birdies, with previous winning scores here being 20, 17 and 15 under par respectively.
Day One update
Swedes Johan Edfors and Mikael Lundberg led the way on six-under-par after a weather-affected first day of golf. Hailstorms meant play was held up for over two hours and as a consequence nearly half the field were unable to complete their first rounds by the time a halt was called to proceedings shortly before nightfall.
End of day 1 leaves Oliver Fisher an impressive T3, one shot behind the lead on five-under-par.
