Khalid Yousuf to compete for coveted 2011 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship title

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.

After dominating the local junior golfing scene, Yousuf, a member of the Emirates Golf Club, has established his credentials as one of the Gulf’s leading players. He has already recorded impressive performances in several worldwide tournaments, including The Pan Arab Junior Golf Championship in Tunisia, The World Amateur Team Championship in Buenos Aires, The GCC Golf Championship in Bahrain and the Dubai Desert Classic.

And even with the Abu Dhabi event boasting its strongest-ever line up – including six of the world’s top 10, as well as, for the first time in the region, all current Major winners – Yousuf is confident he can make the cut when he takes to Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s National Course, 20-23rd January.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for me to be playing at this tournament and a wonderful feeling to know that I am representing my country,” he said. ”I never thought I would be playing against so many legends of the game at the age of 21.”

For the first time ever outside the United States, all four Major winners from one year will appear at the same Championship – Phil Mickelson, this year’s Masters champion, Graeme McDowell, the U.S. Open winner, Louis Oosthuizen, who won the Open, and Martin Kaymer, both the PGA champion and current Abu Dhabi title holder.

Current world number one Lee Westwood, double Abu Dhabi champion, Paul Casey, Pádraig Harrington, who holds three major titles, and flamboyant Englishman Ian Poulter will also feature on the leader board.

“It is very important for us to nurture Emirati talent, and in Khalid Yousuf we have a star for the future. We all wish him well in what will be a fantastic experience for him and for UAE golf,” said Faisal Al Sheikh, Events Manager, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), organiser of the championship.

Off the course, ADTA is planning a substantially expanded Championship Village in 2011, with more attractions, restaurants, cafes and competitions, to accommodate an increased number of spectators. The ‘away from the course’ initiative is part of ADTA’s intention to consolidate Abu Dhabi’s mounting credentials as a golfing and leisure destination of distinction.

Over the past year the emirate’s golfing facilities have expanded significantly, with Abu Dhabi now boasting three world-class, championship-ready facilities. The championship takes the emirate’s name across the world to golfers who can book holidays through the increasing number of international and local tour operators who are packaging the sport in the emirate.