Jason Norris was the feel-good story of 2017 and the popular Fiji International winner will begin to enjoy the spoils of that victory in earnest when takes his place on his biggest stage to date at this week’s Abu Dhabi Championship.

The likeable South Australian endured a miserable end to 2017 when a recurring back injury saw him miss the cut in all three of his European Tour appearance after winning in Fiji but he will be highly motivated when he joins six other Australasians at the Abu Dhabi GC this week.

Norris tees up alongside fellow Tour winners Wade Ormsby, Scott Hend, Andrew Dodt and Sam Brazel with Jason Scrivener and New Zealand’s Ryan Fox also in the field.

The US$3,000,000 prize pool is the biggest Norris has competed for and with a guaranteed place in the following week’s Dubai Desert Classic field he has the chance to build some momentum ahead of a busy 2018 season.

While Norris is looking to climb the Race to Dubai standings, Wade Ormsby will be trying to retain his place at the top of the rankings after his emotional maiden win at last year’s Hong Kong Open.

He backed up that sterling effort with a top-10 at the Australian PGA Championship at RACV Royal Pines Resort and while he hasn’t played in any of the three European Tour events staged since, he has not been overtaken.

His play in Hong Kong will have boosted both his confidence and expectations and 2018 promises much for the 37-year-old.

This week will be Ormsby’s sixth appearance at Abu Dhabi where he has missed the cut twice and posted a best result of T26.

Andrew Dodt’s T17 in 2013 is the best result of the seven players.