Stenson teed up for Abu Dhabi Golf Championship

The big-hitting Swede, past winner of the Qatar Masters and the Dubai Desert Classic, will be looking to complete his collection of 'Gulf Swing' titles when the $2m Abu Dhabi Golf Championship is played at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club's National Course January 17 - 20, 2008.

Having finished second and eighth in the first two Abu Dhabi Golf Championships, Stenson - the current world number 15 - will be endeavouring to add his name to the to the coveted gold and silver 'Falcon' trophy to become the third winner behind Chris DiMarco and Paul Casey.

'The Abu Dhabi Golf Championship is now rightly regarded as the European PGA Tour's first key event of the year,' said Stenson, member of the winning European Ryder Cup Team in 2006.

'As a UAE resident, I am aware of Abu Dhabi's campaign to expand its international credibility as a world-class tourism destination, and how important the Championship is in this strategy. The players always speak so warmly about Abu Dhabi.

'Historically Abu Dhabi has always been special for me. My second place finish there in 2006 pretty much assured me of my Ryder Cup spot at the K Club, a hugely significant moment in my career, and it is the one remaining Gulf Swing event that I have still to win,' added the Swede, who is tipped as a future Major winner by his fellow professionals.

Stenson's enduring commitment to the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship confirms the Championship's elevation as a major destination on the European Tour.

'Henrik is an extremely popular player the world over but particularly here in the UAE where he has made his home. His participation will prove a huge draw for spectators many of which, I suspect, will strongly support his Gulf Swing ambitions,' said Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA).

Stenson joins defending champion Paul Casey as the first two star players to confirm for the 2008 Championship, where an elite field of 120 professionals will chase a first prize of $333,330.

With all four days of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship being covered on live TV and reaching a global audience of over 140 million in key markets around the world, 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 and Cutter & Buck as Official Merchandise.