European Tour Power Rankings: Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
By Matt Coles
The World No.1 returns to professional golf for the first time since October after having knee surgery, and he is bound to be among the favourites this week at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, despite having not played in over three months.
The four-time major winner had stem cell treatment on his left knee at the end of August, before returning to the PGA TOUR for the season opener in Las Vegas six weeks later. However, he then re-tore his patella tendon in South Korea the next week, only to then be sidelined ever since.
No matter, form is temporary, class is permanent, as the saying goes. Koepka will be looking to find his best form once again this week, as he aims to start his 2020 with a bang.
Before the injury, current World No.1 won the WGC-FedEx St.Jude Invitational to extend his lead at the top of the Official World Golf Rankings, having also won the PGA Championship for a second time earlier last year.
There is no doubt that before the injury, Koepka was the best golfer in the world, and by some margin, but will he be able to come back straight away and perform at his best this week in Abu Dhabi. You just can’t bet against the man doing so, and he is, without doubt, in the hunt for the crown this week.