Martin Kaymer, the reigning Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship title holder, sent out a clear message to his rivals as he led his amateur team to victory in the pre-Championship Pro-Am at Abu Dhabi Golf Club on Wednesday.

Matteo Manassero, the European Tour’s reigning Rookie of the Year and an official Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) golfing ambassador, has congratulated the emirate’s leading courses and institutions on efforts to continue prioritising the game at the grass roots level.

Speaking on the eve of the 2011 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, England’s Lee Westwood declared he is ready to fight off any challenge to his recently-acquired world number one status, with a commanding performance in the UAE capital a must.

Organisers of the US$2.7 million Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship have introduced a specialist annual award which will debut at this week’s event. ‘The Spirit of the Championship’ accolade will honour an individual who has delivered outstanding commitment to the tournament.

The world’s number one golfer, England’s Lee Westwood, sets course for major success at this week’s new-look Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, as he takes on the event’s strongest-ever line-up.

Emirati golfer, 21-year-old Khalid Yousuf, will go toe-to-toe with the world’s best golfing talent at next week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, after clinching a wild-card entry into the European Tour-backed 2011 season opener.

Since it was established in 2006, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship has become a firm favourite with players and spectators alike, welcoming the world’s best golfers to the sublime Abu Dhabi Golf Club and its famed Falcon Clubhouse, to kick off the gulf swing of the European Tour.