AASHTAR MAGAZINE- the temple of all magazines
Scots Expat wins play-off for place among the greats at
Abu Dhabi golf championship

A Scottish expatriate has qualified for a place alongside the greats of golf at next month’s Abu Dhabi Golf Championship after a dramatic play-off finish in the UAE PGA Order Of Merit tournament at the Arabian Ranches Golf Club.

Craig Martin, 26, from Greenock in Scotland, who’s not attached to a local club, beat Simon Payne, of Dubai Country Club, in a sudden-death play-off on the 18th hole after each finished ahead of the 23-strong field for the Championship qualifier with a one under par 71. Payne, who had won all four of his previous play-offs this season, missed a four foot put in windy conditions to give Martin his first professional win with a par four on the 18th.

The Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, at Abu Dhabi Golf Club from January 18-21, will be Martin’s first European Tour event, but it won’t be the first time he has been to the tournament. At this year’s inaugural championship, Martin was there in a very different capacity: staffing a promotional stand for his company, Golf Plus, which sells GPS systems for golf courses.

“It will be good to see what it’s like on the other side of the ropes,” said Martin. “I’m not sure if the company is going to have a stand at the event, but if we do I’m sure we’ll find someone else to look after it.” Martin, who carried an injury to his pelvis throughout the qualifying event, will line-up alongside a glittering field for the January Championship.

Among the stars confirmed for Abu Dhabi are Retief Goosen of South Africa, currently ranked six in the world; Sergio Garcia of Spain, the current world number 11; Dubai-based Henrik Stenson of Sweden, currently world number 12; Scottish Ryder Cup legend Colin Montgomerie, ranked 17 in the world; Australia’s Order of Merit winner Nick O’Hern and defending champion Chris DiMarco, one of America’s top 10 players and currently at 20 in the world standings. More star names are expected to be announced by tournament owner Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) in the coming weeks.

“I’d be happy to play with any one of them. The bigger the name the bigger the crowd is going to be,” said Martin, who has been based in the UAE for two years. Commenting on the dramatic finish that earned him the ADTA Championship invite, Martin said, “I was lucky to squeeze by. Simon has had a few play-offs this season and won them all, and I’ve been at the chiropractor on five of the last 10 days for an injury to my pelvis I picked up at a previous event. I’ve been relying on Deep Heat and paracetamol throughout. So it was good to win. I’ll take it easy for a while and let the back heal before getting some practice in for Abu Dhabi.  “The Abu Dhabi Golf Championship is really something to look forward to. I’ve played the Abu Dhabi course before, but not since the changes have been made to it.”

Gary Constable, media officer for the UAE PGA, said, “I’m sure Craig will prove a worthy representative for us at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and we wish him all the best.” A total prize fund of US$2 million and unique facilities make the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship one of the most attractive tournaments on the European Tour schedule, ensuring a world-class line up of players will compete for the first prize of US$333,330. The 2007 Championship will begin with the Al-Masaood Pro-Am and Awards Gala, in which sponsors and guests have the chance to play and socialise with some of the world’s best professionals.

The high profile sponsorship line up for the Championship includes Etihad Airways and Aldar as Diamond Sponsors; Emirates Palace, Etisalat and Standard Chartered Bank as a Platinum Sponsors; Nissan, Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Omega and Xerox as Gold Sponsors; Gulf News as the Official Newspaper; and Middle East Golfer as the Official Magazine.

Tickets for the Championship are available via the official website, www.abudhabigolfchampionship.com, online at www.timeouttickets.com, via the ITP toll free hotline 800 4669 or for international clients +971 4 210 8943 and at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Tickets are priced at AED 125 for a daily pass and AED400 for a four-day pass, though preferential rates of AED100 and AED300 respectively apply to UGA members. Children under 18 will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Car parking will be free during the Championship.