When it was announced the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship would be moving across the E11 to Yas Links from its traditional home on the National Course back in October, it did not take long for Eddie Pepperell to see the humour in it.
The Englishman quipped on Twitter that he had just seen Martin Kaymer crying about the news. After all, the German was the king of Abu Dhabi Golf Club, right?
There was a time when that was unquestionable. Kaymer seemed more or less invincible in the capital by the time he had won the Falcon Trophy three times in four years, up until 2011.
In recent times, it has felt like Tommy Fleetwood has assumed that mantle, especially having won there in successive seasons in 2017 and 2018.
Yet it is also possible to argue the most consistent force in the capital has been a player who has — bizarrely, enough — never actually had his name inscribed on the trophy.
Rory McIlroy has had nine top five finishes in his past 10 trips to Abu Dhabi. In that time, he has been runner up four times, and finished third three times, just as he did last year.
If anyone might feel put out by having to get used to a new set up this time around, perhaps it should be him.
The Northern Irishman sees it another way, though. A change of scenery might in fact bring that little change of luck needed to get over the winning line, he suggests.
“I played really well at the other golf course for a long time. Maybe this is what's needed to end up winning this thing at the end: a change of golf course,” McIlroy said.
“It's always been a great place to start the year for me. I've always played pretty well and hopefully I can continue that trend this week.”
The world No 8 will be joined in the showpiece match of Thursday’s opening round by Lee Westwood and Tyrrell Hatton, the defending champion. They will go off from the 10th tee at 7.30am.
As his record in Abu Dhabi attests, McIlroy is general given to fast starts at the beginning of the year.
Given his disposition ahead of the start in Abu Dhabi, he is refreshed and revived ahead of the new campaign.
McIlroy felt he turned a corner after the disappointment of the Ryder Cup in September. He won on the PGA Tour the following month, and might have done similar in Dubai in November had the closing holes worked out differently.
Although his last trip to the UAE ended in him tearing his shirt in frustration at that finish at Jumeirah Golf Estates, he appears in far cheerier mood now. He is looking ahead with optimism.
“I used to sit down on the flight here and write down, like: I want to win five times, I want to win a major; I want to win The Race to Dubai; I want to win the FedExCup; I want to do this or that,” he said.
“Of course I want to do all those things. I'd love to win six times in a season. I've never done that before. I've won five.
“All those things are great goals and they are things to try to work towards. But I think the biggest thing for guys at the level that we're at is, I want to hit over 60 per cent of my fairways.
“I want my proximity inside 150 yards to be a certain number. I want my strokes gained putting to be a certain number.
“I think [it is about] having goals that are more objective and more that I'm in control of. I can't control if I win five or six times a year. There's so many other variables in there.”
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
SCORES
Yorkshire Vikings 144-1 in 12.5 overs
(Tom Kohler 72 not out, Harry Broook 42 not out)
bt Hobart Hurricanes 140-7 in 20 overs
(Caleb Jewell 38, Sean Willis 35, Karl Carver 2-29, Josh Shaw 2-39)
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Rocketman
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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8.
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Australia
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9.
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Saudi Arabia
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10.
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South Korea
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