Phil Mickelson announced on Tuesday that he would be starting off the 2014 season in January at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. The Open winner will join
Rory McIlroy,
Justin Rose and
Luke Donald as they compete for a lucrative purse worth $2.7 million USD.
“To play Abu Dhabi in the early part of the year is a great opportunity,” Mickelson said in a statement. “I've wanted to return since my first time there in 2011. The golf course and facilities are outstanding and the quality of the field and the good weather make it a great place to start my season.”
Just last week the Callaway player announced he would be scaling down his 2014 schedule to be better prepared and rested in an effort to capture his final major win, the U.S. Open. A decision backed by fellow golfer
Tiger Woods.
“I don't blame him (for cutting down), I don't blame him at all,” said Woods. “I just think it's important to be fresh, it's important to be ready for the major championships, the World Golf Championships, the Players Championship.”
