2020 European Tour: Recapping the start of the season
By Matt Coles
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA
The fifth event of the new season was also the stage for the first Rolex Series tournament, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA, held at the spectacular Abu Dhabi GC. It would be a veteran that took the victory, and with it, a brand new record on the Tour.
Englishman Lee Westwood was the man to take the spoils in Abu Dhabi, and with the win, he became the first player in the history of the European Tour to win events in four different decades, having taken his first win on the Tour back in 1996.
He was one of just two men to post sub-70 rounds for the entirety of the week, shooting 69, 68, 65, 67 across the four days to win the event by two shots.
Despite being one of the oldest players in the field, the 46-year-old was able to show his class to win, his 35th victory on the European Tour, and one of the biggest of his career to date.
With the win, Westwood moved well clear at the top of the Race to Dubai, de-throning Grace, who spent just a week at the top. The three men who finished in a tie for 2nd at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship all moved into a tie for 3rd on the Race to Dubai list, with Tommy Fleetwood, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Victor Perez occupying those spots.
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA Leaderboard:
1 (-19): Lee Westwood (ENG)
T2 (-17): Tommy Fleetwood (ENG), Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG), Victor Perez (FRA)
Race to Dubai Standings (after 5/46 events):
1: Lee Westwood (ENG) – 1,165.0
2: Branden Grace (RSA) – 565.3
T3: Victor Perez (FRA) – 522.6
T3: Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) – 522.6
T3: Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) – 522.6