Bangkok--22 Jan--Total Quality PR Ryder Cup hopeful Luke Donald’s preparations for this week’s Abu Dhabi Golf Championships (ADGC) have been given a helping hand by diamond sponsor Etihad Airways. The European star golfer was given a birds’-eye view of the challenging course when he took the controls of an Etihad flight simulator and “flew” over the tournament venue, Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Under the guidance of Etihad Airways’ Captain Nazmi Zainuddin, Donald piloted the Airbus A330 around the city and over the championship course, before finally descending into Abu Dhabi airport and landing safely. Delighted at completing his maiden flight, Donald said: “This experience of “flying” Etihad’s plane was fantastic. Getting a chance to fly over the golf course that I’m going to compete on later this week certainly ranks as one of the more unusual ways of preparing for a major tournament.” The advanced databases installed on the Etihad simulator provided Donald with the exact specifications and conditions for landing and take-off at Abu Dhabi. Captain Nazmi Zainuddin said: “If Luke drives the ball as well as he flew our simulator I’m sure he’ll have every chance of winning this week’s Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. I just hope that he will be able to pass on a few tips to help me improve my golf.” As the diamond sponsor and official airline for the 2008 ADGC, Etihad is involved in a series of promotional activities surrounding the tournament as well as flying the players, officials and their equipment to the UAE.