2024 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship: Top 5 Names Missing From the 70-player field

We all know there is never a shortage of thrills in the golf world. And what better way to kick it off than with the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship? From November 7-10, 2024, the world's top golfers will descend upon the breathtaking Yas Links, each vying for the coveted title. The tension is palpable, folks! With a whopping €7,580,000 purse up for grabs, the competition is bound to be cutthroat! This tournament promises to deliver thrilling action and jaw-dropping shots as one of the premier events on the DP World Tour.

While a lot of great golfers like Rory McIlroy , Tommy Fleetwood, and Justin Rose are indeed present in the player's list, there are quite the big names missing from the field.

Jon Rahm Yes, Rahm will not be participating in the upcoming event. Rahm absolutely crushed it on the 2024 LIV Golf League scene! He took home the Individual Championship title with a stunning 4-under 66 performance at LIV Golf Chicago. And that wasn't all – he also won the LIV Golf Chicago event with an impressive 69-64-66 score at Bolingbrook Golf Club. But what really set the tone for his year was his first LIV tournament win at LIV Golf UK back in July.

Rahm's major tournament run was a rollercoaster ride, though. He came agonizingly close to Olympic glory, tying for 5th place at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Unfortunately, the Masters and PGA Championship didn't go as planned as the golfer finished T45 in the Masters and missed the cut in the other major. To add to that, Rahm's 2024 season was marred by setbacks which included withdrawals from the LIV Golf Team Championship (flu-like symptoms) and U.S. Open (toe infection), and a missed cut at the PGA Championship. We hope it's clear that Abu Dhabi will not be seeing Rahm anytime soon, per European Tour.com.

Ludvig Aberg Ludvig Åberg's 2024 golf season was marked by impressive performances. He made his major championship debut at the Masters Tournament, considered a favorite to win. At The PLAYERS Championship, Åberg secured 8th place in Strokes Gained: Total (11.126) and 9th place in Strokes Gained: Approach (5.759).

2024 wasn't exactly a banger year for this talented golfer, but don't count him out just yet! Despite racking up an impressive eight top-10 finishes on Tour, he narrowly missed the winner's circle, with only three T3 placements to show for it. So, what happened? Well, it turns out our Swedish sensation, just 24 years old, suffered a tough setback in May – a torn meniscus in his left knee that required arthroscopic surgery. Talk about a curveball! Given the challenges he faced, those top-10 finishes are actually pretty remarkable. Åberg missed the Zozo Championship as well which ended a few weeks ago and needless to say, the golfer is set to miss this one as well.

Viktor Hovland Viktor Hovland's 2024 season was unfortunately cut short due to injury, but he still managed to leave his mark on the golf world. Before his untimely exit, Hovland delivered some impressive performances. At The PLAYERS Championship in March, he ranked 13th in Strokes Gained. He also excelled at The Memorial Tournament in June, ranking fifth in Strokes Gained. Additionally, Hovland showed his putting prowess at The Sentry in January, ranking 17th in Strokes Gained.

Hovland's promising season was sadly derailed by injury and withdrawals. He unexpectedly pulled out of the WM Phoenix Open, despite being a top contender. He also withdrew from the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and the RBC Heritage after missing the cut at the Masters and is now on his way to skip the Abu Dhabi event as well.

Billy Horschel Yes, Billy Horschel is set to miss the Abu Dhabi Championship this year. After having an incredible 2024 golf season, the golfer is resting his clubs and recharging himself for other things. This year, he brought the heat to several tournaments by showcasing his impressive skills. At the Wells Fargo Championship, he ranked 8th in Strokes Gained, Off-the-Tee with a solid 2.650. He also crushed it at the Cognizant Classic, ranking 21st in Strokes Gained, and at the Texas Children's Houston Open, where he ranked 8th in Strokes Gained. Plus, his putting game was on point at the WM Phoenix Open, ranking 9th. And let's not forget his thrilling win at the Corales Puntacana Championship! But that's not all – Horschel made history as the first American to claim back-to-back BMW PGA Championship titles, first in 2021 and the other in 2024.

Aaron Rai Aaron Rai absolutely crushed it in 2024! The biggest moment of his season? Winning his first PGA Tour event at the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina, and taking home a cool $1.422 million! Rai's TaylorMade Qi10 5-woods proved to be a game-changer, helping him sink eagles on the 15th hole in both rounds. But that wasn't all – he also rocked the Rocket Mortgage Classic with a second-place tie, and delivered top-four finishes at the Genesis Scottish Open and THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson in Texas.

And let's not forget his impressive final-round 5-under 67 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, landing him in the 16th place. What. A. Year! However, Rai has said bye to the game for now and is not on the Abu Dhabi Championship player list.

So, who among all these players are you going to miss the most? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!