WGC golfer Tom Lewis

WELWYN Garden City golfer Tom Lewis will tee-off tomorrow (Thursday) at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship among what is the strongest field ever assembled for the event.

Of the 129 players on show, 97 have tasted victory on the European Tour, including Lewis at last year’s Portugal Masters.

There are 12 Major Championship winners in the field who have amassed 28 Major titles.

While six of the world’s top 10 players will play, these are Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Charl Schwartzel and Jason Day.

Lewis started 2012 by finishing 22nd at the Volvo Golf Champions tournament in South Africa on Sunday.

The 21-year-old began his first competitive event of the year in style shooting 68 to tie in third place after the first day’s play.

However, subsequent rounds of 74, 77 and 73 saw him slide down the leaderboard.

His total of 292 saw him complete the course on par and ahead of the likes of Matteo Manassero, Miguel Angel Jiménez and Colin Montgomerie.

The event was won by South African Branden Grace on Sunday following a play-off against his fellow countrymen Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.