Defending Champion Pablo Larrazábal looking for secret formula ahead of the 10th Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship

Defending Champion Pablo Larrazábal says he has engaged a “secret” weapon who he hopes will help him to defend the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and lift more trophies this season. The Spaniard admitted his preparations were not as he had liked heading into the year, but did reveal he has a new adviser that he hopes will help lift his game to new levels.

“This person has a lot of world records and a lot of gold medals in Olympics, but it’s a secret.  And he has rings from the NBA and has done a lot of great things.
“This year, he’s going to take control of everything.  He’s going to not only be my secret, he’s going to be the guy who prepares me properly this season.”

Larrazábal lines up against four of the world’s top 10 players, including world number one Rory McIlory, but hopes his new-found source will help him be in the mix come Sunday afternoon at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
“He works with a lot of athletics, Spanish athletics, but in a secret way,” he said. “He’s a very special guy and he knows what’s going on in the world of sport but he doesn’t want you to know his name.”

The 31-year-old also has high hopes of performing in the majors this year.
“I’ve never played good in a major championship and I would love to, to be up there is tough, but to perform, it’s different.  To be able to play good and to play your game in a major championship, I would love to do that,” he added.