HSBC Abu Dhabi Golf Championship - View from the Pavilion

Thanks to JT, who gave us her tickets for the Falcon Terrace or Championship Pavilion hospitality ... we had a fantastic Friday at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship over the weekend!


This was the view we had ... looking towards the 18th fairway and green, as well as well as the 9th green.

Oooh ... its Tim Henman (Tennis superstar, HSBC ambassador, and ex-British No. 1) and Retief Goosen (US Open major champ, 2001 and 2004). We also saw Rory McIlroy (He would go on to finish 2nd in the championship, 8 shots behind Martin Kaymer), Graeme McDowell (2010 US Open champ) and Ross Fisher.

I couldn't help grinning ... Getting Phil's autograph :-)

Phil 'Lefty' Mickelson ... my favourite golfer of all time. This was my moment!

Philip Alfred Mickelson (born June 16, 1970) has won 4 major championships and a total of 38 events on the PGA Tour. He has reached a career high world ranking of 2nd in multiple years. Majors to his name ... Masters (2004/2006/2010) and PGA Championship (2005).

Hello Monty! Yes, Colin Montgomerie signed our ticket too :-)

He has to his name, a World No. 2 ranking, 8 Order of Merit titles, 31 European tour victories, but unfortunately has the dubious distinction of being one of the greatest players never to have won a major! I think his best moment was in winning the Ryder Cup once again for Europe, this time as the captain, in October 2010.

And as we were leaving the rainy course on the Friday, we got a close-up look at Martin Kaymer, who would eventually go on to win his 3rd falcon trophy with a 24 under par total!

Abu Dhabi Golf Championship 2011 - Friday, Day 2

Some shots from Day 2 of the HSBC Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, taken with my Nikkor AF-S ED 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 G VRII and Nikon D80. We were sat above the 18th green in the corporate box, which also affords a view of the 9th green :-)


This is the National Course at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club ... fantastic!

Thongjai Jaidee, Thai superhero, who had a good tournament ... and Shiv Kapur of India.

Ian Poulter out of the sand!

Yes, World Number One ... Lee Westwood.

Martin Kaymer grimaces at a missed putt ... tricky 18th green!

Its Robert Rock.

Ex British Open champ, Todd Hamilton. .

And Ryder Cup champ, Francesco Mollineri.


Towards the end of the Friday, the rain started to come down ...

Poulter and Westwood :-) what a treat!

Martin Kaymer playing towards the 18th green ...

The eventual champion, Martin Kaymer. Three times a champion here in Abu Dhabi!

Martin Kaymer with the 2010 British Open champ, Louis Oosthuizen

ps - Our complimentary passes :-)

Hankook - Real korean food in Abu Dhabi

Area: Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi
Tel: +971 2 6423399
Near: Defense Road, near the row of Mobile Phone shops
Opening hours: 11:30am - 11pm
GPS: 24°28'39.1"N 54°22'35.9"E

From our previous experience here, we know that the babi is slightly over-rated .. so we stuck to a beefy dinner :-)


Lots of bits and pieces for starters ... typical Korean style eating :-)


Beef Kimchi hot-pot with a LOT of beef ... so full of flavour. The kimchi did not overpower too! Really good, even though it cost ... 100 AED!


Bulgogi ... The beef on sizzling plate was full of flavour, so delicious. And pretty good hot-pot rice aka Bibimbap too. Love the crunchy sound when you stir together the chilli-bean paste, vegetables and raw egg too!


Simply average ... 40 AED, Seafood omelette.

Shaw and Smith : Sauvignon Blanc - Adelaide Hills 2008

I like the Shaw and Smith vineyard, from Adelaide in Australia, but their wines are not the easiest to find. I picked up this bottle here in Abu Dhabi :-)

Snooth.com describes ...
Sauvignon Blanc is a refreshingly crisp white wine that offers citrus and tropical fruit flavors with very aromatic notes of green chilies, grass, herbs, asparagus and gooseberries commonly contributing to the bouquet. Sauvignon Blanc is generally unaoked allowing the fruit to shine and highlighting the delicacy of the grape.

A great way to spend RM$100 (African and Eastern, Abu Dhabi) ... crisp, not so dry, and bursting in flavour!

Previously, I also had the most divine ... Shaw and Smith - M3 Vineyard Chardonnay, 2002

Char Siew Soh - Home made with love in Abu Dhabi

What's perfect with a Nespresso?

Oooh ... bbG's baking some Char Siew Soh here in Abu Dhabi!

The filling ... and what it looks like just out of the oven!

Smells and tastes heavenly ... thanks, bbG :-)