Fuente: © PGA European Tour
http://www.europeantour.com/

PGA EUROPEAN TOUR: Daly to Play in Abu Dhabi Golf Championship

/noticias.info/ The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) have announced that American John Daly will play in next month’s inaugural Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, the first time he has played in the Gulf.

Daly will join Colin Montgomerie, The European Tour Number One, Danish Ryder Cup player Thomas Björn and Spain’s Sergio Garcia, ranked Number Six in the world, in the inaugural Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

With prize money of US$2 million, the Championship will be the first full field tournament of The 2006 European Tour International Schedule, one of 49 tournaments to be played in 24 countries.

HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, commented: “We are grateful to our sponsors for their support and we look forward to working with them in ensuring the success of this prestigious event that will play a key role in placing Abu Dhabi on the international sporting and tourist map.”

HE Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, said: “John Daly will be a significant addition to the team of world class players competing in the inaugural Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. We are proud that these top players will showcase the Abu Dhabi National Course and that their performance will be broadcast across sixty countries and reach more than 200 million households. “

Commenting on his forthcoming trip, Daly said: “I’ve never played in the Middle East before, and I’m really looking forward to the experience. I hear Abu Dhabi is a pretty neat place and I’m told the golf course should suit my game!’

Daly first came to the public’s attention with an incredible victory in the 1991 US PGA Championship, where he was called in as ninth reserve, drove to the venue the night before the tournament, and went on to win the title.

Famous for his prodigious length and silky putting touch, Daly showed that his first Major victory was no fluke, when he captured The Open Championship at St Andrews in 1995 after a play-off with Costantino Rocca.

Playing on The European Tour International Schedule in 2005, Daly tied for second and third places respectively in The Deutsche Bank Players Championship of Europe and the BMW International Open, both held in Germany, but perhaps his greatest chance to win in 2005 was at the WGC - American Express Championship where he lost in a play-off to Tiger Woods on the second extra hole.

The ADTA also announced the primary sponsors of the event: Etihad Airways, Aldar, ADNOC, Standard Chartered Bank, Al Masaood, Nissan, Rolls Royce, Airbus, ITP Media, Gulf News and Radio 2.

Abu Dhabi Golf Championship tickets are being sold at Virgin Megastore outlets across the UAE and online at boxofficeme.com and www.itptickets.com. For more information, please visit: www.abudhabigolfchampionship.com notas_de_prensa_archivo