Ian Poulter hopes it will

be third time lucky for

him in Abu Dhabi

England’s Ian Poulter, one of golf’s most charismatic names and current world No 26, has confirmed he’ll be in the field for next month's Abu Dhabi Championship.
Returning to Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s National Course following his tied tenth and tied ninth finishes in 2006 and 2008 respectively, Poulter’s style has won him a keen following among the Abu Dhabi galleries who’ll be backing his third attempt at the coveted Falcon Trophy.
It won’t be easy for Poulter in 2009, as world number two Sergio Garcia, triple Major winner Padraig Harrington, world No 8 Henrik Stenson and reigning Masters champion Trevor Immelman are all set for a January 15-18 National Course showdown.
“This is certainly the toughest field I’ve seen assembled in the two years I’ve played Abu Dhabi,” said Poulter, pictured above at a World Cup Press Conference in China last month.
“This reflects how more top players are looking to go to places like Abu Dhabi at the start of the year to compete in excellent conditions and contest ever-improving fields – it’s the future of the game,” added the seven-time European Tour winner.
“It’s fair to say I’m confident in my ability and I have played some excellent rounds on the National Course before. I’ve shot 67s and 68s so I know it is well suited to my game. I’ve not won in the Middle East and I’ll be looking to change that come January.”
The Championship organiser’s Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority has welcomed confirmation of one of the game’s most high-profile names.
“Ian is one of the sport’s star attractions and his involvement is bound to be a crowd-puller,” said Faisal Al Sheikh, Major Events Division Head, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.
“He has twice finished inside the top ten here and I’m sure everyone - both spectators and fellow pros – will be keeping a close eye on Ian in January,” Al Shaikh added.
All four days of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship will be covered live on high definition TV, reaching a global audience of more than 140 million in many of Abu Dhabi’s key global tourism markets.

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