Business & Money | Thursday 21 January, 2016 10:59 am |

Competition winners have enjoyed a unique once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play with the world’s top golfers at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

The amateurs, all based in the UAE but hailing from different corners of the globe, teed off with their heroes in the Pro-Am at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, where the likes of world number one Jordan Spieth and four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy are bidding for Falcon Trophy glory.

It was a day the competition winners – selected through traditional and social media platforms - will never forget, as they rubbed shoulders with, and learnt a few tips and tricks from, the game’s golfing elite.

One lucky winner was Harrison Liddle, who, as part of his prize, invited his close friend Bob Regan from Bath in the UK to be his caddie for the day – with the flight thrown in courtesy of the Championship’s official airline Etihad Airways.

“I couldn’t believe my luck. I never win anything and when they told me I could fly a friend out to be my caddie, it was even better. 

“I won the spot for the Pro-Am and immediately phoned my retired friend Bob and asked him if he fancied a game of golf. His response was to say that he couldn’t, as the golf course was flooded, so I said how about coming and joining me to play in Abu Dhabi!”

Bob last visited Abu Dhabi in 1987 and relished the opportunity to secure a round at Abu Dhabi Golf Club for the first time. Harrison and Bob played with Frenchman Gregory Bourdy, describing him as a “true gentleman”.

Bob said: “It was great to meet such a professional and he was able to give some tips which has already proved very helpful. It was a very special day that we will never forget.”

The Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship runs from today until Sunday 24 January, and is owned and presented by Abu Dhabi Sports Council.  Tickets are available via the event’s official website www.abudhabigolfchampionship.com and on the gate at AED50 for a daily pass and AED150 for a four-day pass. Guests staying at any Abu Dhabi hotel over the Championship period enter free.