Tommy Fleetwood has just enjoyed a sensational couple of months on the course and is now relishing the opportunity of maintaining that run at this week's Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
The hugely popular Englishman finally secured his long-awaited maiden win on the PGA Tour at the 164th attempt in August, scooping the Tour Championship crown as well as the $10 million FedEx Cup first prize.
From there it was on to New York where he played a key role in Europe sealing back-to-back Ryder Cup victories after the United States were beaten 15-13 at Bethpage Black.
Then last month, the Dubai-based player secured victory at the inaugural DP World India Championship which guaranteed his place for the tournaments at Yas Links in Abu Dhabi and the season-ending World Tour Championship at Dubai's Jumeirah Golf Estates.
“It's not finished,” insisted Fleetwood, 34, when asked how much he would rate his 2025 out of 10. “I'd rather rate it after the next couple of weeks. But yeah, it's been great.
“The last few months have felt unbelievably rewarding and quite a lot of special moments in there that I feel very lucky and grateful for. Yeah, it's been a great year.
“Obviously, would rate very highly with still a couple rounds to go that could make it even better.
“There's been some amazing highs, there really, really has. But I still feel motivated with two events to go in the season.
“My game has been in a great place and I've been working really well and I've been working really hard. I always look for the opportunity of what can come next.”
Abu Dhabi will always hold an important place in Fleetwood's heart – and career. Back in 2017, the then 26-year-old sealed the biggest win of his career when he held off the challenge of major champions Martin Kaymer, Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson to win at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
It ended a 1,247-day wait for his second European Tour triumph and Fleetwood admits he sees it as a “big milestone” in his golf story.
“Yes, they changed courses a few years ago [to Yas Links in 2022] but I look back to 2017 and where my game was halfway through 2016, there's definitely an epic personal story there where I felt like I had to find my way back,” he said.
“I was in a very dark place game-wise in 2016 and [it] could have gone either way. When I won this event, which was the first of the year in 2017, I always see it as a big milestone in my career.
“I felt like I got my game back to where it was and it was a massive step for me. I won it again the year after. But yeah, I always look at this event as a real big moment in my career.”
Fleetwood's links to the UAE are well established with his family having moved to Dubai in 2022 and the academy he set up at Jumeirah Golf Estates has been a roaring success.
And he confirmed that the Tommy Fleetwood Academy is set to spread it's wings to the capital – and specifically to Yas Links.
“I feel pleased that I get to bring the game to as many people as possible and also help people strive for their dreams or create dreams, whatever they may be, through the game of golf,” said Fleetwood, who tees off at 8.01am on Thursday alongside fellow Ryder Cup winners Shane Lowry and Rasmus Hojgaard.
“Being able to open here at Yas Links, as well, I'm so proud of the community that we've built, and the fact that we can open another one is a great sign of that.
“I'm lucky with the coaches that we have, the ecosystem that we've built and the people that have supported it.
“Yeah, to have another one and continue to build in this region which means so much to me and that has been such a success means an awful lot to me. I know this is going to be amazing from a professional standpoint in golf.
“The UAE has been so good to us, as pros, but the more people that get into golf the better, and you can see that's been huge for us.”
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
More from Aya Iskandarani
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
Company%20profile
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Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Samaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
RESULTS
Dubai Kahayla Classic – Group 1 (PA) $750,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Deryan, Ioritz Mendizabal (jockey), Didier Guillemin (trainer).
Godolphin Mile – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Dubai Gold Cup – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (Turf) 3,200m
Winner: Subjectivist, Joe Fanning, Mark Johnston
Al Quoz Sprint – Group 1 (TB) $1million (T) 1,200m
Winner: Extravagant Kid, Ryan Moore, Brendan Walsh
UAE Derby – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Dubai Golden Shaheen – Group 1 (TB) $1.5million (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zenden, Antonio Fresu, Carlos David
Dubai Turf – Group 1 (TB) $4million (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord North, Frankie Dettori, John Gosden
Dubai Sheema Classic – Group 1 (TB) $5million (T) 2,410m
Winner: Mishriff, John Egan, John Gosden
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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Champions parade (UAE timings)
7pm Gates open
8pm Deansgate stage showing starts
9pm Parade starts at Manchester Cathedral
9.45pm Parade ends at Peter Street
10pm City players on stage
11pm event ends
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
