Local knowledge could help Bjorn in Abu Dhabi

United Arab Emirates resident Thomas Bjorn believes local knowledge could help him scoop the first prize at this week's $2 million Abu Dhabi Championship.

"It's a highly competitive field brimming with the world's top players but I have a significant advantage...which might just swing it," the 35-year-old Dane told the tournament's official Web site.

"As a UAE resident, whatever I can do to help raise the profile of the game in my adopted home is a massive incentive for me."

Bjorn, restricted by a foot injury when he tied for 24th place in 2006, will need to be at his best this week to eclipse the likes of world number eight Retief Goosen, ninth-ranked Padraig Harrington and number 11 Sergio Garcia.

Britain's Paul Casey and Colin Montgomerie, Robert Karlsson of Sweden and American Chris DiMarco will also be chasing the first prize of $333,330 in the second edition of the tournament.

The biggest sporting event held in the UAE capital was won last year by DiMarco.

Playing in his first European Tour competition outside the majors and World Golf Championships, the New Yorker shot a closing 67 to edge out Sweden's Henrik Stenson by one stroke.

The big-hitting Stenson will bid to go one better when he returns to the Abu Dhabi Golf Club for Thursday's opening round.

Harrington, who topped last year's European order of merit, is looking forward to his debut appearance in the tournament.

"I missed the inaugural event but the feedback was that Abu Dhabi was a lush, green environment quite at odds with common perceptions of desert landscapes," said the Irishman.

"It will be a great way to start my year."

World Match Play champion Casey and eight-times European number one Montgomerie will also be making their first competitive outings of 2007.

American Notah Begay III, who earned his European Tour card at qualifying school in November, returns to the circuit proper for the first time since 2000.

Begay was a room mate of Tiger Woods during their days at Stanford University.

January 16, 2007