The Race to Dubai leader Eugenio Chacarra gets ready for his first round of the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship against Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed at Yas Links.
The Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, hosted by the DP World Tour and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, is the premier golf event in the capital and will take place at Yas Links from 5 to 8 November. The 70 top players in the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World will battle it out over four rounds to secure one of the 50 spots available for the season finale in Dubai, the following week. For the first time, groups will tee off in reverse order of their rankings for the opening playoff event of the season. Thus, the current leader Eugenio Chacarra will be first off tomorrow at 11.50am, followed by his nearest rivals, Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed, on the first hole.
Chacarra became the leader of the Race to Dubai last month after winning his third tournament of the season at the DP World India Championship. He was followed by Reed, who was leading for most of the year after his wins in Qatar and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Now, the 36-year-old is third in the standings as he tries to win his eighth Harry Vardon Trophy. Casey Jarvis is the only other player who could leave the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship as the leader of the Race to Dubai as he is paired with defending champion Aaron Rai and New Zealander Daniel Hillier. He will tee off one group ahead of the other players at 11.39am on the first hole. Chacarra had a practice round on the front nine of Yas Links earlier today and said that the greens are fast and the wind is calm, which means that there could be some low scores on offer.
Family Activities and Live Music Entertainment
Off course activities are planned to celebrate the UAE Year of the Family with the Future Falcons Kids’ Zone open to children 17 years and under with free golf lessons, trick shot shows, face painting, bubble shows and many more activities. The Family Weekend will take place on Saturday and Sunday and all tickets will grant access to the Future Falcons Kids’ Zone, located in the Championship Village, where there will also be a long putt challenge and roaming performers and stilt walkers throughout the week.
In the evening, after the last putt has been sunk, live entertainment will commence on the main village stage. Scottish singer/songwriter Greg Pearson will take to the stage on Thursday evening, with Speed Wagon performing on Friday evening. Indie cover band Wet Grass will entertain on Saturday evening with the weekend’s entertainment being brought to a close by Ollie Chapman on Sunday evening.