European Tour Power Rankings: Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
By Matt Coles
In his Rolex Series debut, American Patrick Cantlay will be looking to make a big impression, having made his move up to World No.6, his highest ever Official World Golf Rankings spot.
Not only will it be Cantlay’s debut in a Rolex Series event, but it will be his full debut on the European Tour, minus majors and World Golf Championships events, which cover both the PGA TOUR and European Tour.
The American has continued a steady rise into the top ten following his return to professional golf in 2017, following almost three years out with a back injury he sustained whilst playing on the PGA TOUR in late 2013.
He finished runner-up at the Valspar Championship three years ago, pushing up nearly 1,200 spots in the rankings, and he ended the year with a win at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
Since then, the American has only won once, but it was the victory that pushed him inside the top ten on the Official World Golf Rankings, as he took the win at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide in May of last year.
Could there be “beginner’s luck” for Cantlay this week in Abu Dhabi, as he makes his European Tour debut? As World No.6, there will be expectations on his shoulders, with just one man in the field sitting above him in the OWGR.