Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship 2021

[MattyO1984]

Figured that there might be enough of an interest to start a thread for this one this week. The first Rolex Series event of the season on the European Tour.

 

 

 

Abu Dhabi GC

Par 72

7,583 yards

 

Pretty decent field assembled:-

Justin Thomas

Rory McIlroy

Tyrell Hatton

Tommy Fleetwood 

Matt Fitzpatrick

Shane Lowry

Lee Westwood

Ian Poulter

Bernd Wiesberger

Henrik Stenson

Danny Willett

Martin Kaymer 

[Hawkeye77]

Lots of interest here! One of my favorite events.

[Christosterone]

One of my favorite 21st century style swing...

This swing is a thing of beauty, tempo and power...

 

 

[golfortennis]

I love the 17th at this place.  Drivable par 4 but lots of risk for the reward.

[Langlands]

Always enjoy these events on the European Tour, and a strong field to kick the year off. Looking forward to the coverage. 

[Rob G 89]

Serious question can Thomas wear anything he wants or since he is a highly visible player can a company send a cease and desist and say don’t wear our clothes on tv?

[Langlands]

1 hour ago, Rob G 89 said:

Serious question can Thomas wear anything he wants or since he is a highly visible player can a company send a cease and desist and say don’t wear our clothes on tv?

I suppose it depends on the contract wording. He's probably still wearing it due to his other sponsors logos being on the shirt and hasn't had time to have replacements made and shipped to him. 

[gvogel]

Rory's playing.  I'll be watching.

[cardoza]

27 minutes ago, Langlands said:

I suppose it depends on the contract wording. He's probably still wearing it due to his other sponsors logos being on the shirt and hasn't had time to have replacements made and shipped to him. 

 

I was curious too, looks like he's still in the RLX gear.

 

[ThinkingPlus]

6 minutes ago, cardoza said:

 

I was curious too, looks like he's still in the RLX gear.

 

Interesting.  I expected all the homeless in the Jupiter area to be stylin in RL polos by now.

[MattyO1984]

13 hours ago, Rob G 89 said:

Serious question can Thomas wear anything he wants or since he is a highly visible player can a company send a cease and desist and say don’t wear our clothes on tv?

 

I am not sure that there is anything that they can do to stop them wearing the clothes. If the clothes are available to purchase on the free market then it doesn’t matter whether you are golfer who uttered a remark or the worst, most horrible person on the planet if you can buy it, it is yours. That said, I was sure that the RLX logo would be gone by the time the tournament started and if you look at the press pictures from today, he was wearing an unbranded polo shirt save for the Citi logo on his arm.

[Hawkeye77]

3 hours ago, MattyO1984 said:

 

I am not sure that there is anything that they can do to stop them wearing the clothes. If the clothes are available to purchase on the free market then it doesn’t matter whether you are golfer who uttered a remark or the worst, most horrible person on the planet if you can buy it, it is yours. That said, I was sure that the RLX logo would be gone by the time the tournament started and if you look at the press pictures from today, he was wearing an unbranded polo shirt save for the Citi logo on his arm.

Patch with "this space available, call _________" by start of 1st round.

[golfortennis]

1 hour ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Patch with "this space available, call _________" by start of 1st round.

 

Hawkeye, you are such a cynic, and you are way off.

 

People email or text these days.  Get with the times, old man!!  🤪🤣

[golfortennis]

sorry, double post.

Edited January 19, 2021 by Bluefan75

[MattyO1984]

Some pretty good groupings for the TV.

 

JT, McIlory and Westwood should be a good one to watch.

[Hawkeye77]

18 minutes ago, Bluefan75 said:

 

Hawkeye, you are such a cynic, and you are way off.

 

People email or text these days.  Get with the times, old man!!  🤪🤣

I'm stuck in the good old days! Look what you can do with your outfit!

 

Edited January 19, 2021 by Hawkeye77

[cardoza]

17 hours ago, cardoza said:

 

I was curious too, looks like he's still in the RLX gear.

 

 

Maybe JT got a call from Polo after Monday, no more RLX.

 

[bscinstnct]

27 minutes ago, cardoza said:

 

Maybe JT got a call from Polo after Monday, no more RLX.

 

Looks like he got the call Tuesday an hour before that pic and bought a shirt in the hotel lobby.

 

Look, it’s still got creases in it!

 

😂🤣😂

[golfortennis]

2 hours ago, Hawkeye77 said:

I'm stuck in the good old days! Look what you can do with your outfit!

 

 

Careful, you'll get Charles Martin after you. Or at least get fined.

[tbowles411]

23 hours ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Lots of interest here! One of my favorite events.

Mine too.  I would LOVE to actually play this course and lose a couple dozen balls!

[orbless]

Seems a bit odd that Reed chose to play The American Express as opposed to this. Being a Euro tour member and Rolex series / higher prestige tourney. 

[tbowles411]

Just now, orbless said:

Seems a bit odd that Reed chose to play The American Express as opposed to this. Being a Euro tour member and Rolex series / higher prestige tourney. 

I believe you get points for both events.  I don't think he's losing anything.  Could be wrong.

[golfortennis]

3 minutes ago, tbowles411 said:

I believe you get points for both events.  I don't think he's losing anything.  Could be wrong.

 

Wouldn't that mean the American Express being co-sanctioned by the ET?  I don't believe it is.  I think he is missing out on points/money, but maybe he wants to focus on the FCG this year?  

[bscinstnct]

Rip off

 

 

[GolfTurkey]

38 minutes ago, bscinstnct said:

Rip off

 

 

 

Fog in the desert???

 

That's like the British Open being delayed due to bright sunshine.

[GolfTurkey]

Rory with a lazy 184 mph ball speed on 11 (his second hole).

[elwhippy]

Go Rory. 

[MattyO1984]

Terrible start for JT! Hasn’t looked with it all day so far. Distance control with the irons is way off and barely a putt looking like it even has a chance.

[Jonesy]

Rors played alright in that first round... 😆

 

Love seeing him up there, the swing looks good, hope he keeps it going this week

[GolfTurkey]

Smooth 64 from Rory. Not sure if his pink shirt was a subtle dig at JT, but JT looked unsettled and was spraying it like a blind graffiti artist off the tee.