All four Golf Major trophies on show for first time in Middle East

Visitors to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, which runs at Abu Dhabi Golf Club until Sunday night, can see all four Major trophies on show together for the first time in the Middle East.

The prestigious quartet has been specially brought to the UAE capital to celebrate the fact that the four current Major winners are taking part in this week’s European Tour, Desert Swing opener.

On display in the middle of the impressive Championship Village, which offers a wide range of family activities, the trophies are set around Abu Dhabi’s coveted Falcon Trophy.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be able to see all four trophies. It’s amazing that they are on display here in Abu Dhabi. Being American I am really excited about watching Phil Mickelson in action at the Championship over the next three days,” said Scott Wynkoop from Abu Dhabi.

Andrew Robinson from the UK was equally impressed. “It is fantastic that the trophies are on display for us this week. We are spoilt here in Abu Dhabi with so many world class events, and the strength of the playing field really confirms just how big the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship is.”

Former world number one golfer, Phil Mickelson, who lifted the Masters Trophy for the third time last year, is making his Middle East debut in Abu Dhabi this week.  Introduced in 1961, the unusual silver trophy is a model of the clubhouse of the Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters and the year’s first Major.

In June 2010, Northern Irishman, Graeme McDowell, won the US Open at Pebble Beach and made history by becoming the first European golfer to lift trophy for 40 years. The current US Open Trophy is a full-size replica of the original two-handled trophy, which was destroyed by fire in 1946.

Also on view is the famous Claret Jug, which is currently held by Louis Oosthuizen from South Africa. Dating back to 1872, this trophy is presented to the winner of The Open Championship – oldest of the four Majors and also known as the British Open.

Rounding off the visiting quartet is the legendarily heavy WanamakerTrophy, which is held by the winner of the PGA Championship. It is named after Rodman Wanamaker who, in 1916, was instrumental in the formation of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA), and who donated the trophy.  The current champion, Martin Kaymer, is also the reigning Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship title holder.

The 2011 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), takes place at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club until 23 January and features a stellar line up, including the world number one Lee Westwood, all four Major champions and six of the world’s top 10 players.

Tickets for are AED125 for a daily pass and AED400 for a four-day pass. Preferential rates of AED100 and AED300, respectively, apply to EGF members. Children under 18 will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult, while HSBC card holders can also get in free by presenting their card on arrival this Sunday. All car parking is free.
 
Tickets are available via the event’s official website, www.abudhabihsbcgolfchampionship.com, as well as online at www.timeouttickets.com and www.itptickets.com. Phone bookings can be made through the ITP toll-free hotline 800 4669, or for international visitors, +971 4 210 8943.