Press release - Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority

Luke Donald tees off in Abu Dhabi’s Liwa Desert

The world’s number one golfer, Luke Donald, will have no fears about playing out of the sand at Abu Dhabi Golf Club at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, after he successfully tackled the world’s biggest ‘bunker’ – a mammoth dune in Abu Dhabi’s Liwa Desert.

In Liwa, Donald was joined by triple and defending Abu Dhabi champion, Martin Kaymer, as the awe-struck pair stood among 250-foot sand dunes at the entrance to Rub Al Khali (Empty Quarter) - the world’s largest uninterrupted sand mass.

Kaymer and Donald headline an Abu Dhabi field that is the strongest ever assembled at a Middle East tournament. Other contenders for the $2.7million, PGA European Tour event include Abu Dhabi debutant, Tiger Woods, world numbers two and three, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy respectively, as well as reigning Major champions, Charl Schwartzel (US Masters) and Darren Clarke (The Open), Australian hot-shot, Jason Day, Korea’s top ranked player, KJ Choi, Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Ireland’s Padraig Harrington.