Harrington aims for one better in 2008 championship

Harrington - the 2007 Open Champion who finished top of the European Tour's Order of Merit in 2006 and has finished in the top ten seven times - is poised to resume his friendly rivalry with Englishman Paul Casey, following the pair's titanic battle in the closing round of the 2007 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

"I'm gearing myself up for Abu Dhabi which will be my first event of the year. As the first event of the year, I am flying my whole team out as with the great weather and excellent facilities it is the perfect place to jump-start my year. I know I'll have a huge Irish following as the UAE capital is now on the Irish map since the launch of Etihad flights to Dublin. This year was great, everyone was so friendly and hospitable and I'm really looking forward to coming back," said Harrington.

"It was a tough Championship earlier this year, especially after starting the final round in the lead, but Paul played great and was a deserving winner.

After his tied 5th finish in 2007 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, Harrington's form went from strength to strength. The popular player shot a final round of 67 to become the first European to lift one of golf's four majors in eight years when he won The Open Championship at Carnoustie after a four-hole play-off with Spain's Sergio Garcia.

"Winning my first Major at Carnoustie was amazing. As a youngster I dreamt about winning the Claret Jug and to do so really has been the highlight of my career so far," he added.

"I would also love to become the first Irishman to win in Abu Dhabi so look forward to kicking my year off with a great performance there in January."

Harrington has played for Europe in four Ryder Cups, with fellow 2008 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship comrades Casey, Colin Montgomerie and Henrik Stenson, and been on the winning teams in 2002, 2004 and 2006.

"Padraig was unlucky this year as he so nearly took the trophy back to Ireland but he proved to be an excellent competitor and very popular with the crowds. We wish him all the best in his challenge this January and believe he will attract a strong following from throughout the Gulf," said HE Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, which organises the Championship.

With all four days of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship being covered live on TV, reaching a global audience of over 140 million in key global markets, the 2008 championship formally begins on Wednesday, January 16 with the Al-Masaood Pro-Am and Awards Gala when sponsors and their guests will play and socialise with some of the world's best professionals.

The Abu Dhabi Golf Championship 2008 has attracted a high profile sponsorship line up including: Etihad Airways and Aldar as Diamond Sponsors; Etisalat, Standard Chartered Bank and Emirates Palace as a Platinum Sponsors; Nissan, Airbus, Rolls Royce, Omega and Xerox as Gold Sponsors, Gulf News as Official Newspaper, Radio 2 as Official Radio Station, Middle East Golfer as Official Magazine, AME Info as Official Media Partner and Cutter & Buck as official merchandise.