Stenson hoping to add a Falcon to his ever increasing trophy cabinet

World number three Henrik Stenson, who’s returned to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship for a ninth consecutive year, says he’s determined to get his hands on the coveted Falcon Trophy.

The Super Swede set the golfing world alight in 2013 and is ready to tee-off his season with a win that he’s hoping will set him on course to becoming the world’s number one player.
Stenson was based in the United Arab Emirates for almost 10 years and has lined up in Abu Dhabi since the Championship’s first year in 2006, finishing second on two occasions. Following time in Stockholm earlier this week, where he picked up accolades in the Swedish sports award, Stenson is back in the UAE capital ready to continue his stunning form.
“It’s the one tournament in this part of the world that I haven’t won,” said Stenson. “I managed to win in Dubai in November, won the Desert Classic in 2007 and I won in 2006 in Qatar. “It would be a nice one to add to the collection.”

Stenson won’t have it easy. Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy are also back in Abu Dhabi, along with a host of Major winners and previous Abu Dhabi title holders who are all looking for a slice of glory.
The FedExCup winner says he will stick to the game plan as he begins his 2014 campaign and sets his sights on the world’s number one slot.
“I will just keep on playing the way I have been and I should hopefully challenge for it,” he said.
“My focus has to be on my game and doing the right things, and hopefully the results will continue to keep coming our way; and if they do, I hope I’ll be in with a chance to firstly get to world number two and hopefully get to world number one.
“I think it would be a lovely achievement and something to look back at the end of one’s career and say that at some stage, I was world number one.”

The Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship is organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.  Tickets and packages are available via the event’s official website www.abudhabigolfchampionship.com and Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.ae). Tickets are AED50 for a daily pass and AED150 for a four-day pass. Guests staying at any Abu Dhabi hotel over the Championship period enter free, as do Emirates Golf Federation members.