Washington, DC
16 January 2008
More than one-third of the world's top 25 golfers have arrived in the United Arab Emirates to tee off in the third annual Abu Dhabi Championships on Thursday.
Boasting the strongest playing field to date and a revamped Par 72 course, the tournament kicks off the 2008 European PGA Tour season.
World No. 8 Adam Scott of Australia is the top-ranked player at the event and is hoping to turn things around after a sub-par 2007 season.
Other top players in the 120-man field include British Open champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland and defending champion Paul Casey of England.
Also in the hunt for the $330,000 top prize are Northern Ireland's Ryder Cup hero Darren Clarke, Colin Montgomerie of Scotland and Henrik Stenson of Sweden, who finished second and eighth in the first two Abu Dhabi Golf Championships.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.