Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship 2019: Power Rankings

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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JANUARY 14: Tommy Fleetwood of England poses during a photocall for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club on January 14, 2019 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /

Why go with anyone else for the No. 1 slot? It’s not as if a middle of the road player has struck gold by winning the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in back-to-back years. Tommy Fleetwood is for real. This show is worldwide, and this week will likely be no exception.

Half of the 27-year-old Englishman’s wins have come at this event, but he’s poised to reel off more as he enters his prime.

Fleetwood put together his second straight impressive year in 2018 by winning once, picking up two runner-ups and eight more top-10s against two missed cuts while splitting time between the PGA Tour and European Tour.

Before taking December off, Fleetwood closed 2018 with his 10th straight worldwide top-25 (a T14 at the Hong Kong Open.

Fleetwood’s first win in Abu Dhabi in 2017 saw him reach 17-under to edge Dustin Johnson and Pablo Larrazabal by one. He outdid himself last year by reaching 22-under to beat Ross Fisher by two. That was the tournament’s second lowest winning score with Martin Kaymer’s 24-under mark in 2011 the record.

Fleetwood’s hit a staggering 128 of 144 greens in Abu Dhabi the last two years, leading the field in that category each time.

He held up well in windy conditions last year and I envision the same again in 2019.

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