Golf: No McIlroy But Field Still Strong For Abu Dhabi

Golf: No McIlroy but field still strong for Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Jan, 2017 ) - World No3 Dustin Johnson and No4 Henrik Stenson will headline a quality field at the $2.7 million Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the opening leg of the Desert Swing of the European Tour.

The tournament gets under way Thursday and will miss world No2 Rory McIlroy, who was scheduled to play before pulling out on Monday with a stress fracture in his ribs. But there are plenty of big Names in field, including Masters champion Danny Willett, defending champion Rickie Fowler and world No10 Alex Noren.

American Johnson is the highest ranked player in McIlroy's absence, but he was categorical in assessing that it did not make the tournament any easier to win.

The US Open champion who is known for making quick starts to his seasons on the PGA Tour, said: "No, if you look at the field, it's got a great field here.

Obviously, Rory is a great player and no one wanted to see him pull out, including myself." "I still think it's going to be a great tournament. It's going to be very tough to win." The 7,583-yard course has favoured good drivers in the past, and that is the cornerstone of Johnson's game.