Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) announced today that the President’s Cup star and current world number ten, American Chris DiMarco, will compete in the upcoming Abu Dhabi Golf Championship to be held at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, January 19 – 22, 2006.
With prize money of US$2 million on offer, the Championship will mark the first visit of the European Tour to Abu Dhabi and has now attracted four of the top 10 players in the world. World no. 2 Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia, world no. 6, Colin Montgomerie, world no. 9 and now Chris DiMarco, world no. 10. Other international stars include Thomas Bjorn, world no. 22 from Denmark and the incomparable American John Daly, world no. 29.
Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority commented, “We are thrilled that Chris DiMarco, has confirmed his participation in the inaugural Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. His decision to come to Abu Dhabi emphasises the stature of the field, and from a player who seldom ventures outside the US Tour, gives a great vote of confidence to our Championship.
Chris DiMarco was born in Huntingdon, New York, has had three US PGA Tour victories since turning pro in 1990 and although he did not quite win in 2005 it has been his best year on Tour finishing seventh on the Tour Money List with over US$3.5 million in prize money. Even so, 2005 could have been so much better for the 36 year old who finished 2nd no less than three times. Losing to David Toms in the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. Forcing Tiger Woods into a play-off for the US Masters, only to lose out to Wood’s birdie on the first sudden-death hole. And finally, three months later finishing the WGC-NEC Invitational one shot behind Tiger Woods again. But those disappointments didn’t stop him being the hero of the winning US President’s Cup Team by clinching victory over Stuart Appleby in the final day’s single’s matches.
Chris DiMarco is one of golf’s gentlemen, but a tenacious competitor and, with his famous ‘claw’ putting technique, one of the best putters in the game today.
Commenting on his participation in the forthcoming Championship, Chris said: “As you know I haven’t travelled outside the US that often, but I’m really looking forward to coming to Abu Dhabi. With so many good players, we are going to have a great tournament and I’m really looking forward to it.”
In all, 120 players will start the Championship on Thursday, January 19. After the second round, the field will be reduced to the leading 65 players and those tieing for 65th who will play the final two rounds on Saturday and Sunday, January 21 and 22.
All four rounds will be televised live to over 25 countries world wide.
Tickets for Abu Dhabi Golf Championship are being sold at Virgin Megastore outlets across the UAE and online at www.boxofficeme.com and www.itptickets.com.
For more information on Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, go to www.abudhabigolfchampionship.com
About Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)
The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), established by Ruler’s Decree in September 2004, is a statutory body with wide ranging responsibilities for building the Emirate’s tourism industry. Its Chairman is HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan. Director General is HE Mubarak Al Muhairi.
The ADTA’s mandate covers three main areas: destination marketing, infrastructure and product development and regulation, and, licensing and classification. While the ADTA assumes a leadership role in the international promotion of Abu Dhabi, it also represents the interests of, and coordinates with, a wide range of stakeholders – including the hotels, Etihad and other airlines serving Abu Dhabi, the destination management companies, exhibition and conference venues, golf courses, the retail trade, Government ministries and departments etc.
Owing to a thoroughly modern infrastructure of highways, telecommunications systems, five-star hotels, restaurants and entertainment complexes, Abu Dhabi has become an active tourist centre. Traditional Arab hospitality, inviting weather, well established infrastructure and crime-free environment have also contributed in recent years to creating an ideal atmosphere for the development of business and leisure tourism.
About IMG
IMG was founded by Mark H. McCormack in the early 1960s. The company is the world’s premier sports and lifestyle management and marketing firm, with an international staff of approximately 2,200 people in over 60 offices in more than 25 countries. TWI, IMG’s television division, is the largest independent distributor and producer of televised sports, managing a library of more than 150,000 hours. TWI annually produces and distributes 6,500 hours of original programming to more than 200 countries covering 200+ sports, as well as being a global leader in digital sports and entertainment.
IMG’s experience in golf and golf tournaments is unique. In addition to managing the top two men players in the world and the top woman player, IMG has been staging golf events for forty years and currently runs over twenty professional golf tournaments in ten different countries. IMG opened a regional office in Dubai in November 2005. Establishing a presence in the Middle East reflects the company’s strong commitment to the region.
