Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton may both be former champions of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, but the opportunity to enhance already memorable campaigns this week is motivating them at Yas Links.
The English duo – both eight-time DP World Tour winners – have lifted the Falcon Trophy on three occasions between them, but each time that was prior to the event moving to its new venue in 2022.
Fleetwood won the title back-to-back in 2017 and 2018, with Hatton celebrating success in 2021, by which time it had been elevated to the Rolex Series and in the final year it was staged at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
While Hatton finished runner-up to Paul Waring last year, Fleetwood has enjoyed mixed fortunes at Yas Links, but he did finish in a tie for sixth 12 months ago.
After a long-awaited breakthrough title on the PGA TOUR, coupled with an away Ryder Cup triumph at Bethpage and DP World Tour success in India, Fleetwood is intent on producing a strong performance in Abu Dhabi ahead of the season reaching its climax next week at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
“It's been a great few months. Really nice I guess being rewarded for all the hard work in terms of getting some wins on the board,” said Fleetwood.
“I feel like I've built a lot of momentum. So that's been great. I feel like I've played great. I think this is a great opportunity for me again. It's going to be my last two events of 2025 and would I love to finish strong."
Since earning his DP World Tour card for the first time through the HotelPlanner Tour in 2011, Fleetwood has played in every edition of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
"It's always nice when I see a trophy that's actually got my name on it," he added.
"You take the positives from that and you look at your positive experiences of playing in the region and playing in this tournament and doing well. I think even if I would look back at last year, I wasn't that far away.
"But this course is a different challenge to me. Back at Abu Dhabi National, I feel very, very comfortable. I see a lot of great shots around there, and this course has proven tricky for me. I had a great first round last year.
"But this course seems to demand, it just has a different look to it on the eye, the way certain holes sit for me. I've just never quite mastered this course yet. So it's more difficult in that sense. But I love the challenge. I love getting ready. I love preparing for the tournament. I actually love this time of year playing golf.
"I feel like if you can get to this part of the year and feel fresh and feel motivated, it's a real positive, which I do. So I'm looking forward to playing. I take the positives from what I've done in the past, even if it's a different venue."
Fellow Ryder Cup-winning team-mate Hatton arrives for the first event of the DP World Tour Play-Offs in third place on the Race to Dubai Rankings, having begun his year with victory at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
This week, the 34-year-old is not only hoping to go one better than last year at Yas Links by claiming a record sixth Rolex Series title but also improve his bid for a career-best finish on the Race to Dubai Rankings.
“It's nice to be back here,” said Hatton. “I've played well in this tournament in the past.
“So, it would be nice to finish the season strong, and I think my best finish on the Race to Dubai is fourth in the ten to 12 seasons I've played. It would be nice to improve on that.
"It's always a special event. I think it's one of those events on Tour that is one of the iconic events, and it's special for me that I've been able to win it in the past. Although it was on a different golf course, it still brings good feelings."
