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Jose Maria Olazabal © Gallo Images

Olazabal joins Abu Dhabi line-up



Europe's Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal on Monday became one of the beneficiaries of a decision to increase the field for this week's Abu Dhabi Championship from 126 to 129.

The Spanish former two-time Masters winner was listed as second reserve, but then received the news that he, German Alex Cejka and Swede Niclas Fasth were all in.

The 45-year-old will compete against Tiger Woods and Europe's world top four Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer.

Invitation places went to Woods, Sweden's Henrik Stenson, Australian Jason Day, Korean KJ Choi, China's Liang Wen-chong, England's Challenge Tour winner Tommy Fleetwood and England's Stuart Fee, who last month won a qualifying event.

Stenson is making a late decision whether to play following knee surgery late last year and now it is England's Sam Little, winner of three Challenge Tour events last season, who is on stand-by.

The Abu Dhabi field size was 120 from the inaugural event in 2006 through to 2009, then was enlarged to 126 and now become 129.

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