ABU DHABI, Jan.14th, 2006 (WAM) -- Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority(ADTA) announced today that Miguel Angel Jim?nez of Spain will competeat this month's inaugural Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.
The tournament, which takes place from January 19 - 22 at the Abu DhabiGolf Club, has attracted a first class field with Jimenez lining up againstVijay Singh, Colin Montgomerie, Sergio Garcia, Thomas Bjorn, John Daly,Chris DiMarco and Ian Poulter for the US$ 2 million prize fund. With three victories under his belt in 2004, forty year old Jim?nez hasemerged as one of Spain's leading players in recent years. He began hisgolfing career working as a caddie in Malaga and did not take up the gameuntil the age of 15. He is known throughout the world of golf as "TheMechanic" due his love of high performance vehicles, especially his redFerrari. Jimenez turned professional in 1982 at the age of 18 and his first EuropeanTour win came in 1992 at the Piaget Belgian Open. Eight more EuropeanTour victories have followed since then. 1994, Heineken Dutch Open, 1998,Turespa?a Masters Open Baleares, Trophee Lancome, 1999, Turespa?a Masters- Open Andalucia, VOLVO MASTERS, 2003, the first victory by a Spaniard,Turespa?a Mallorca Classic, 2004, Johnnie Walker Classic, Algarve Opende Portugal Caixa Geral de Depositos and BMW Asian Open 2004 in China. Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authoritycommented, "We are very excited that another international golfing star,Miguel Jimenez, has confirmed his participation in the inaugural Abu DhabiGolf Championship. His presence will add stature to an already impressiveline-up of the world's best golfers." Commenting on his forthcoming visit to Abu Dhabi, Jimenez said, "It isgreat that the new destination on the European Tour has attracted allthe high ranked players for the inaugural event and I am looking forwardto playing at the tournament."The main sponsors of the event include Etihad Airways, Aldar, ADNOC, StandardChartered Bank, Al Masaood / Nissan, Rolls Royce, Airbus, Omega, Compass,MontBlanc, ITP Media and Gulf News.
