Paul McGinley’s team of international professional golfers won the 2017 Abu Dhabi Invitational yesterday at Yas Links Golf Club.
The event, played in a Ryder Cup matchplay format, saw McGinley’s side beat Peter Schmeichel’s Celebrity All-Stars 13-6. The tournament saw 19 pros and 19 celebrities each paired with a VIP guest. All competitors played from the back tees with the professionals playing off a +5 handicap.
Among the stars lining up in the field for the tournament were football legends Peter Schmeichel, Ruud Gullit, Dwight Yorke and Roberto Di Matteo, cricket heroes James Anderson, Brian Lara and Jacques Kallis and rugby union World Cup winners Mike Tindall and David Campese. Pop sensation Ronan Keating also starred.
That A-list group took on some of the biggest names in European golf. Captained by Ryder Cup legend Paul McGinley, the professional team included Ian Poulter, Thomas Pieters and Matt Fitzpatrick, as well as Ahmed Al Musharrekh, the first Emirati golfer to turn professional, and Ladies European Tour stars Amy Boulden and Kelsey MacDonald.
McGinley said: “It has been a great pleasure playing alongside so many talented men and women today, on such a wonderful course. I would like to thank Abu Dhabi for welcoming us so warmly. I look forward to returning next year for another great tournament.”
His Excellency Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council: “Both on and off the course the new format Abu Dhabi Invitational has been a resounding success. We were honoured to have such an incredible group of celebrities and sporting stars competing against a great line-up of professional golfers. A special thank you to all our VIP guests, who have flown in from all around the world for this unforgettable Abu Dhabi experience, and to our amazing tournament host Yas Links.”
Howie Roberts, General Manager of Yas Links said: “It was an absolute pleasure to host the Abu Dhabi Invitational for another year and witness the great feedback we have had from some of the world’s greatest names in sports about the course and the incredible golfing experience at Yas Links.”
It was an action-packed weekend at Yas Links. The Saturday saw the Amateur Championship, where the celebrities got to grips with the course in a fun-filled day, followed by a gala dinner at the Shangri-La Hotel, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Sports Council was also using the occasion to launch Sport in Abu Dhabi, an initiative to showcase and promote the Emirate’s role in the world’s sporting landscape.
*Abu Dhabi Invitational Final Scores
| PROS | W/L | CELEBRITIES | Score |
| Ahmed Al Musharrekh | Lost to | Mike Tindall | 3&1 |
| Callum Shinkwin | bt | David Campese | 6&5 |
| Sam Brazel | bt | Ian Walker | 2up |
| Niclas Fasth | Lost to | Roland Schoeman | 2down |
| Eduardo de la Riva | bt | Ronan Keating | 1up |
| David Horsey | bt | Dwight Yorke | 3&2 |
| Thomas Pieters | Lost to | Ruud Gullit | 2down |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | Lost to | James Anderson | 1 down |
| Ian Poulter | A/S | Heikki Kovalainen | A/S |
| Paul McGingley | bt | Peter Schmeichel | 3&2 |
| Kelsey Macdonald | bt | Matthew Pinsent | 3&2 |
| Amy Boulden | bt | Hasan Salihamidzic | 2up |
| Matthew Southgate | bt | Sandrine Testud | 1up |
| Paul Waring | A/S | Jacques Kallis | A/S |
| Adrian Otaegui | bt | Roberto Di Matteo | 2&1 |
| Steven Tiley | Lost to | Brian Lara | 2&1 |
| Gary Stal | bt | Ronald de Boer | 3&2 |
| Thongchai Jaidee | bt | Liam Brady | 2up |
| Dominic Foos | bt | Schalk Brits | 5&4 |