Colourful Poulter has designs on Abu Dhabi Golf Championship

With the championship entering its third year, the world's elite will descend on the UAE capital this January, as Poulter joins his compatriot and defending champion Paul Casey, and Swedish number one Henrik Stenson, in an ever expanding Abu Dhabi field chasing a share of the $2m prize fund.

Poulter, who recently launched his own clothing company, will compete in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship for the first time since the event's inaugural fixture in 2006, when he finished tied tenth.

'Abu Dhabi has been on the international golf map for a while now and it's a beautiful place which doubles as an amazing golfing destination,' said the 2000 Sir Henry Cotton European PGA Tour Rookie of the Year winner.

'It's the first big event of the year for most of us on the European Tour and I've got a hard winter training schedule set-up so hopefully I'll be ready to wrestle the title from Paul come January,' added Poulter.

Poulter, as well known for his extravagant hairstyles and stylish clothes - a reputation founded on the now infamous Union Jack trousers he wore at the Open at Royal Troon in 2004 - as for his sublime approach play and ability to hit greens in regulation, says he's looking forward to showing the Abu Dhabi crowds new apparel from his own collection.

'I'll definitely be wearing my own line at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship,' said the 30-year-old Englishman, who was part of the victorious European team which lifted the Ryder Cup 18 1/2 - 9 1/2 at Oakland Hills in 2004.

'The whole thing has just snow-balled since we designed the logo 14 months ago in New Orleans, and we've tried to produce something that will appeal across a broad range!'

The arrival of Poulter - who hit a 696 yard drive during Etihad Airways' 'Swing on a Wing' promotion in 2006 - was welcomed by His Excellency Mubarak Al Muhairi, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Golf Championship Organising Committee, and Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), which organises the championship.

'Ian is not just a great golfer but something of a showman as well and I am sure his style will be lapped up by the spectators in Abu Dhabi this January. Ian has been a staunch supporter of golf in Abu Dhabi since our first championship in 2006 and it is always fantastic to hear players of his calibre relishing the chance to come back to the UAE capital for another go at lifting the 'Falcon' trophy,' added Al Muhairi.

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.