Phil Mickelson To Compete At Abu Dhabi

Mickelson will make the trip in the Middle East for the first time next year

Three of the best four golfers are expected to compete for next year’s Abu Dhabi Championship. World number four Phil Mickelson will be there, as well, making his first presence in the Middle East. New world’s number one Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer are also announced for the $2.7 million tour which takes place between January 20 and 23. Along with Dubai Classic, Qatar Masters and Volvo Championships from Bahrain, Abu Dhabi tour became one of the richest competitions. The left-handed American, winner of four majors in his career, claimed that the Arabian Gulf plays now a very important role in the worldwide golf.

Now that three top players have announced their participation in EAU, two times winner in Abu Dhabi Paul Casey is expected to join the tour, as well. World’s number seven didn’t confirm yet his presence there. Meanwhile, former world champion Tiger Woods said that this week’s Australian Open will be the more important the tournament might end a very agitated year in which the American had been involved in his divorce, thing which seemed to have had bad influences on his playing if we take into account that he didn’t win any tour this season. Furthermore, Woods, who has just been overcome by Lee Westwood, is in Melbourne for defending his title. He is also expected to prove that he still is able to finish seasons first. His almost 300-week hegemony has been broken by the English about one month ago.

Robert Allenby, two times winner of the Australian Masters, claimed that he really foresees Woods hitting very well this year, too. “Tiger is likely to just come out this week and probably win. I know he’s hitting the ball really well. If he makes the putts around this golf course he is going to be very, very hard to beat. He’s very close. He is really, really close. He definitely showed signs of some really good golf last week in that final round a four-under 68,” he said. The Australian is next to 14-time major winner Woods and compatriot Brett Rumford.

Finally, McDowell is hunting Martin Kaymer in Singapore. The 31-year-old claimed the Andalucian Masters last month and is racing now also for Dubai. McDowell won the US Open this season and will also be part at the US PGA Tour in 2011. He would reveal though that he didn’t like the manner he won in Andalucia, claiming that he really didn’t play his best golf there. Nevertheless, he considers himself good enough for competing at any major tour though.11