Fleetwood Eyeing History In Abu Dhabi

Tommy Fleetwood (10/1 Abu Dhabi Championship outright) has the opportunity to join an elite group of players if he can seal the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship for a third time in a row.

The 27-year-old lifted the title at the Abu Dhabi event in 2017 after claiming a one stroke victory over Dustin Johnson and Pablo Larrazabal, while he enjoyed a more comfortable charge to the crown in 2018 – holding off compatriot Ross Fisher by two strokes.

Only Tiger Woods, Sir Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and Ernie Els have won the same European Tour event three times in succession.

Fleetwood is hoping to join that illustrious group by the end of play on Saturday in the $7million curtain-raiser, although the Southport native insists he will just take it one day at a time.

“Yeah, that would be cool wouldn’t it? You’re talking about the cream of the sport, there, players I’ve always looked up to,” Fleetwood said.

“Obviously, you never want to get ahead of yourself, but any time you are being mentioned with names of that caliber you know it could be very special. Tyrrell [Hatton] came close at the Dunhill [Links] to emulating them and that shows how hard it is. Well, it’s no surprise is it? Winning any Tour event once is hard enough.”

Brooks Koepka (10/1 Abu Dhabi Championship outright), who has the opportunity to leapfrog Justin Rose into the world number spot, has to be regarded as a serious contender.

The American defender his US Open title and also added the PGA Championship to his CV last term and he will be eager to continue that momentum at the Rolex Series event.

Meanwhile, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson (14/1 Abu Dhabi Championship outright) is a multiple runner-up and finally appears to have put his injury woes in the past.

Odds subject to change