Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship 2024 Preview, Picks & Analysis

Another thrilling season on the DP World Tour is almost over. This week sees the first of the two year-ending playoff events, with a star-studded field gathering for the Abu Dhabi Championship before it all reaches its climax at the DP World Tour Championship next week, when Rory McIlroy is set to be crowned as Race to Dubai champion for a sixth time.

McIlroy is in the field at Yas Links with an almost unassailable lead at the top of the rankings, which means he can enjoy the final two events of the 2024 season.

"It’s no secret that I love playing golf in the Middle East and having the opportunity to play in these two events back-to-back will be a great way to end the season," said McIlroy.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

The top 70 players in the rankings have qualified to play in Abu Dhabi, with some of the biggest names in European golf looking to deny McIlroy. At the end of the week, that will be whittled down to 50.

Among those in action this week is former winner Shane Lowry. The Irishman claimed the famous Falcon Trophy in 2019 just six months before winning the Claret Jug at The 148th Open.

Lowry will join fellow major winners Justin Rose and Adam Scott and Ryder Cup teammate Tommy Fleetwood in the field for the fourth Rolex Series event of the season.

The 37-year-old has enjoyed an excellent 2024 campaign, recording 13 top 20 worldwide finishes, including sixth-placed results at both The Open and US PGA Championship, as well as partnering McIlroy to victory at the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

"I’m excited to end my season in the UAE, starting with the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links," said Lowry. "It’s always nice to return to a part of the world where you have had success in the past, and I hope to end the year on a high."

Another looking for a big finish to the best year of his life is Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, winner of the Canadian Open and Scottish Open, and South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, currently ranked second on the Race to Dubai Rankings.

MacIntyre, who was a member of Europe’s Ryder Cup winning side last year, claimed the first Rolex Series victory of his career on home soil, holding off a world-class field at Renaissance Club to win the Scottish Open by one stroke. Victory in the co-sanctioned event gave him his second PGA Tour title of 2024 after winning the Canadian Open in June.

He said: "I’m looking forward to ending my season in the Middle East again. I have played well in the UAE in the past and I’d love to be in the mix on Sunday and try to get my hands on that famous trophy."

The Scotsman was the recipient of the Rookie of the Year Trophy in 2019 and currently sits ninth on the Race to Dubai Rankings.

Lawrence has enjoyed a consistent 2024 Race to Dubai, with five runner-up finishes to his name, and he recorded the best major championship performance of his career to date after finishing fourth at The Open. The South African won the Rookie of the Year Award in 2022 after recording two victories in his debut season. He has since won twice more, most recently at the 2023 BMW International Open, his fourth DP World Tour victory.

"I’m excited to return to the Middle East to finish the year," said Lawrence. "I also have some unfinished business with the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after I had to pull out of last year’s event due to injury. It’s a region I have always enjoyed playing in. I like Yas Links and I’m hoping to build on the form I’ve showed this year and finish my season strong."

Nicolai Hojgaard won the DP World Tour Championship last year and duly earned himself a PGA Tour card. He has played little golf in Europe in 2024 and started the recent Genesis Championship in South Korea in 78th place in the Race to Dubai, which would have meant missing out on a chance to defend his title. But three top-10 finishes in seven appearances in the Back 9 events, culminating in a final round of 66 in Korea, saw him climb to 67th place, which was enough to secure his place in this weeks field. He now needs another big week to make it to Dubai.

He said: "I really wanted to get to the Play-Offs. I played a really good final round under the gun at the Genesis and I'm just really pleased with it.”

His twin brother, Rasmus, has already secured his own PGA Tour card for 2025 after a strong and hugely consistent season. He will start the week in third place in the Race to Dubai and will be keen to emulate what Nicolai achieved last year.

And it is impossible to ignore Tyrrell Hatton. It has been well recorded that the LIV golfer has appealed against the fines and suspension imposed upon him for joining the rebel tour. He finished tied 18th at the British Masters and tied 10th at the Spanish Open before producing his very best golf to claim the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews and climb to 22nd place. He is a man in form and my tip to repeat his victory of 2021.

Tournament Winners:

It was won in 2016 by Rickie Fowler, in 2017 and 2018 by Tommy Fleetwood, in 2019 by Shane Lowry, in 2020 by Lee Westwood, in 2021 by Tyrrell Hatton, in 2022 by Thomas Pieters and last year by Victor Perez.

The Course:

Yas Links is a par 72 that measures 7,425 yards. Designed by Kyle Phillips and opened in 2010, it features plenty of water and many huge bunkers and rolling fairways.

Form Guide:

Tyrrell Hatton has played some fine golf on the LIV circuit this year and capped it all with victory at the Dunhill Links Championship. He is also a previous winner of this event.

Prize Money:

The total prize fund is $9m, with around $1.5m going to the winner, who will also collect 9,000 Race to Dubai points.

How to Watch:

Thursday, Friday, November 7 and 8, Sky Sports Golf, 3.30am, Saturday and Sunday, November 9 and 10, Sky Sports Golf, 4am.

To Win:

Tyrrell Hatton. The form player

Each Way:

Rory McIlroy. Certain to be in the frame

Each Way:

Shane Lowry. Loves this part of the world

Five to Follow:

Tyrrell Hatton. Has enjoyed a great 2024

Rory McIlroy. Heading towards another Race to Dubai crown

Shane Lowry. Wondrous short game

Tommy Fleetwood. Looking for second win of the season

Nikolai Hojgaard. Has a point to prove