The HotelPlanner Tour heads to Al Ain Region this week for the Abu Dhabi Challenge at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club. With plenty at stake at both ends of the Road to Mallorca Rankings, here are three players to keep an eye on…
Form Horse: Matthew Southgate
It was another strong week last time out in Portugal for Matthew Southgate, with rounds of 66-68-64-64 seeing him to a 22 under par total and a fourth place finish. It meant an eighth cut made in nine events for the Englishman stretching back to The 154th Open, where he finish in 46th – that finish broke a run of three missed cuts after his incredible eight-stroke victory at the Swiss Challenge. During this impressive recent run Southgate has also registered another top ten on the Road to Mallorca at the Irish Challenge, as well as a top 20 on the DP World Tour at the Nexo Championship, where he finished 16th.
The return to form has been crucial for the 37-year-old in his hope to return to Golf’s Global Tour, where he has made over 300 starts across his career. Following his maiden HotelPlanner Tour victory earlier this year, Southgate soared to eighth in the season-long Rankings, before falling out of the all-important top 15. Now, he is firmly back in the hunt, sitting in 11th, and will be hoping to continue his recent form in the Middle East.
Local Boy: David Horsey
Abu Dhabi native David Horsey is no stranger to the United Arab Emirates. With ties to the country for over 14 years, this week’s event in Al Ain Region will feel like a home tournament for the Englishman.
What’s more, the three-time HotelPlanner Tour winner arrives at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club with promotion in his sights. The 41-year-old, who holds the crucial 15th position on the Rankings, has five top tens to his name this campaign, including two third place finishes.
With seven professional victories to his name – most recently at the Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge last year – few can match Horsey’s winning pedigree. The Englishman challenging in familiar surroundings and reaffirming his promotion ambitions could be on the cards this week.
Outsider: Albert Boneta
The best performance of Spaniard Albert Boneta’s 2025 season came at last year’s Abu Dhabi Challenge in Al Ain, where four under par rounds of 64-68-69-65 saw the 24-year-old end the week in fifth position, three strokes back of eventual winner Renato Paratore.
Boneta has endured a difficult 2026 campaign and currently resides down the Road to Mallorca in 110th position. Yet, his most recent outing at the Open de Portugal should provide cause for optimism, where rounds of 68-68-65-65 saw him to a tenth place finish, his best outing of the year so far.
Having found a modicum of form, the Spaniard impressing on a track he enjoys could be in the offing.
