Golf Digest Middle East - December 2024 by Motivate Media Group

PIF Saudi International in Riyadh

Going places with Golf Saudi

A new-look Arabian Ranches

TALK OF THE TOWN

TYRRELL HATTON

Happy families

We prepare for the PGA Tour v LIV Golf exhibition match this month. Page 42

DECEMBER

4 The Mac is back?

There are parts he may want to forget, but Rory has deﬁnately had a year of positives.

BY HARRY GRIMSHAW

the starter

6 Inside the “Pearl of The Desert” Managed by Golf

Saudi, Riyadh Golf Club is going from strength to strength.

BY HARRY GRIMSHAW

features

28 Top Trump

Trump International

Dubai is a world-class golﬁng experience with awards to prove it.

30 A Season of Elite Golf

The International Series has delivered high drama throughout their 2024 season.

40 Going Places LET stars praise the Golf Saudi support.

42 Why Can’t We Be Friends?

How four stars plan to mend a broken pro game.

BY ALEX MYERS

50 Walking in a Waring wonderland

A career changing week for Paul Waring.

BY HARRY GRIMSHAW

how to play

14 Tour Intelligence

How to pick the right spot on the range.

BY MARK BLACKBURN

16 Plugged Lie?

If you take an unplayable, know your options.

BY RON KASPRISKE

18 Putting Zones

Try this new way to think about putting.

66 Q&A

With 7-woods all the rage, should 9-woods be next?

where to play

24 Business Resumes at The Ranch

Key changes to Arabian Ranches Golf Club.

BY JACK BALFOUR

AGF news

8 Journeys

BY ÁNGEL HIDALGO

WITH HARRY GRIMSHAW

10 The Fringe

For golf artist Aimee Smith, painting courses is not too diﬀerent from playing them.

32 Set For Saudi World’s top golfers are primed for the PIF Saudi International at Riyadh Golf Club.

36 One-on-one

Exclusive with Golf Saudi CEO, Noah Alireza and the Kingdom’s ambitions in golf.

WITH HARRY GRIMSHAW

51 Record-Breaking Rory Dubai-doubler McIlroy, can’t stop winning on the Earth Course.

BY HARRY GRIMSHAW

52 DIY Golf Lessons

You don’t need an instructor to ﬁx these common issues.

BY DAVID LEADBETTER

BY LUKE KERR-DINEEN

what to play

20 Size Matters

TaylorMade Qi10 Max

BY PETER MORRICE

22 Hot List Extra

Why more ball speed doesn’t always mean more distance.

BY MIKE STACHURA

62 Club News

All the recent news from within the Arab Golf Federation.

the gulf club

64 Club News

A gallery of just a handful of the local tournament winners in the amateur circuit from across the region.

The year of what if

Rory McIlroy grades himself a “B” for 2024, but sets himself up for a big 2025!

BY HARRY GRIMSHAW

IT WAS A FITTING CONCLUSION TO tournament golf in 2024 for Rory McIlroy, in which he claimed four victories worldwide, highlighted by his ﬁfth Hero Dubai Desert Classic title, third DP World Tour Championship and sixth Race to Dubai title.

Rory’s form throughout the year really can’t be overlooked. The Ulsterman pocketed eight top-five finishes in just 12 DP World Tour appearances, which included runner-up finishes at the Dubai Invitational, US Open, Amgen Irish Open, and BMW PGA Championship. A trophy even came stateside alongside close friend Shane Lowry in the team event of the Wells Fargo Championship on the PGA Tour.

Does this mean that “the Mac is back”?

Not really… It’s hard to not take into account the near misses that Rory had in 2024, mainly on the biggest stages and when it came down to crunch time. Where is the killer instinct from the Rory McIlroy we remember from 10 years ago? Yes, he still is picking up plenty of titles, but that major drought still needs to be sorted out.

The current World Number Three has always been open in how he feels mentally, and this year has been no diﬀerent. Potentially, that may be the catalyst as to why he has struggled to capitalise in the tighter ﬁnishes.

Upon winning his record-equalling sixth Race to Dubai title, (the Harry Vardon Trophy for our European golf loyalists) on the DP World Tour. This now puts him in the bracket beside Seve Ballesteros in second spot of all-time order-of-merit winners. Surely that counts for another huge positive to take from the year? The build-up of pressure, always present with McIlroy, was then released upon the realisation of equalling Seve in this act.

“It means a lot,” said an emotive McIlroy. “I’ve been through a lot this year professionally and personally. It feels like the ﬁtting end to 2024.

“You know, I’ve persevered this year a lot. Had close calls. Wasn’t able to get it done…So to be able to get over the line… It’s really cool.”

Very cool indeed. Well, hopefully with a nice (needed) break over the holidays, a refreshed Rory will be ready to hit the ground running in the Middle East in January when he looks to defend his Hero Dubai Desert Classic title and pickup his ﬁfth Dallah trophy at Emirates Golf Club.

Even without Rory’s presence, the bustle continues here in the Middle East into December as we have the ﬁnal event of the Asian Development Tour at Rolling Hills Golf Club in Saudi Arabia to look forward to, where the ﬁnal 10 guys on the order of merit will gain an Asian Tour card for the 2025 season.

With our attention then drawn towards the US $5 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers with the likes of Tyrrell Hatton, Dustin Johnson, Adrian Meronk and Cam Smith all bound to tee it up in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at Riyadh Golf Club. While not forgetting the LIV Golf Promotions event the very next week, where one lucky winner of the three-day tournament gets a spot onto the 2025 LIV Golf League!

Having been through the ringer this year, McIlroy still takes positives from it.

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the starter

Inside the “Pearl of The Desert”

Managed by Golf Saudi, Riyadh Golf Club was designed by Scottish architect, Duncan Thomson BY HARRY GRIMSHAW

OFTEN REFERED TO AS THE “Pearl of The Desert” Riyadh Golf Course features a single 18-hole layout, but its length is impressive, stretching over 7,434 yards from the back tees. Despite its substantial yardage, the course oﬀers wide fairways and a forgiving design, making it more accessible than its scorecard length might suggest. While some players ﬁnd the course challenging—especially due to its length and the strategically placed hazards—its overall design remains highly regarded. Created by renowned Scottish architect Duncan Thomson, the combination of natural elements and landscaping adds to the scenic beauty. Managed by Golf Saudi, Riyadh Golf Club has recently hosted the Aramco Team Series Riyadh on the Ladies European Tour and is poised to continue its rise on the global golf stage. In the coming weeks and months, it will welcome the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers in December, followed by the LIV Golf Promotions event, before then gearing up for the 2025 LIV Golf League’s season-opening tournament in February.

‘I’ve taken down Jon Rahm, now I can take on anyone’

Most people still don’t know my name, they only know me as “the guy that beat Jon Rahm” but that’s ok. BY

ÁNGEL HIDALGO WITH HARRY GRIMSHAW

TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO I was playing in Egypt on the Alps Tour, where you need to finish in the top five to not lose money. Then fast forward to now, my life has definitely changed. All the hard work has paid off and it’s good to be here.

My grandfather was a caddie in Marbella, and when all the wealthy people came to Marbella to play golf, he would “borrow” a few golf clubs for my dad, so that’s how he then got into golf. When I was born in ’98, I was immediately taken to the driving range close to my house.

●

ÁNGEL HIDALGO

DP WORLD TOUR

AGE: 26

LIVES: MARBELLA, SPAIN

When I was around 8 or 9 years old, that was when I had to decide between golf and football, because on the weekends you only really had time for one of those sports. My parents said “we know you love football, but it’s not fair for your football team that you are not 100% committed because you are splitting your time between this and golf.” Then for some reason I just chose golf in a split second decision.

●

Most golfers then decide to go to University in America and I actually signed up with one, but I didn’t go. I was so bad at studying at school that I literally failed most of my exams. I had originally signed with Memphis for my first year and then was planning to go onto Florida, but I kept failing the exams and thought by the time I get finished with University I will be in my mid 20’s. So I turned pro. My father supported me, my mother wanted to kill me!

●

I climbed the professional ranks pretty quickly. I came through the Alps Tour in 2021 and onto the Challenge Tour, now I’m finishing my second season on the DP World Tour which I think was crazy fast.

The Open de Espana in Madrid this year was a dream week. It was like the perfect movie. Madrid was like my second home growing up. I spent so much time there with the Spanish team and lots of my friends live there. Then finding myself playing the final round against Jon Rahm, who is probably the best Spanish player of the last 30 years including Sergio Garcia, was very special. That week at the Spanish Open was the first time I have even spoken to him in over 10 years.

●

Beating Jon in the playoff was what I needed. Winning your home Open, that energy you can only feel in either Majors or your home Open because your National Open is your National Open. It’s emotional for me thinking back to that win. I cried so much during and after, but that’s ok, it shows how much winning your home Open means. Now I’ve taken down Jon Rahm, now I can take on anyone. Yes, things had to be going my way on the day, like Jon not playing his best that week, but it was good to know that I can win on Tour, so why can’t I win everywhere.

●

Since then, the past few weeks have been amazing. Most people still don’t know my name, they only know me as “the guy that beat Jon Rahm” but that’s ok. But when you go somewhere and the people do recognise you, I love it. Especially juniors who want a signed cap or take a picture, I love it. I love it because I was in that place three years ago, so I know what it means for that kid. I even know that my results haven’t been as great since Madrid, but I’m not worried because I’m just enjoying this journey I’m on right now.

●

Obviously, the way global golf is going is still unknown. I guess in the next month or so we will see what the next 10 or 20 years may look for us all. Whether some players play in a big league or separately I don’t know, but something does need to happen. We need to play for the history, the tournaments, the spectators and the brands as they all are the ones that put the money forward for our job, so we need to stop fighting as it’s not helping the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and DP World Tour. I don’t know how to say it in English, but we need to live in the same place but not fight.

Strokes Gained

For golf artist Aimee Smith, painting courses is not too diﬀerent from playing them

BY ALEX MYERS

PATIENCE AND PLANNING are two words golfers at the highest level lean on when they play a golf course. For artists at the highest level, painting one isn’t much diﬀerent.

Aimee Smith has learned a lot about both of those activities in recent years. The Nashville-based artist had never stepped foot on a course until 12 years ago, but now she makes her living by creating them on canvases, a process that can take months and countless careful brushstrokes. In between, she discovered a true—albeit unexpected— love for the game.

“I’m a nerd, so I delved into it with the history of the courses and the architects,” Smith says. “I was fascinated by that aspect, and so it just made sense

to paint golf courses. I had a few friends reach out for some golf course paintings, and then I started doing them on my own.”

Smith was introduced to golf by her future husband Steven, who hails from the game’s birthplace, Scotland, and was still chasing a career as a tour pro in the Orlando area at the time. Aimee would join Steven on the Walt Disney World courses after getting oﬀ from work as a dermatology physician’s assistant. She immediately enjoyed being outdoors and eventually took up the game herself.

“The game of golf is addictive, but so is the world of golf,” says Smith, whose 5-year-old daughter is already hooked on the game as well. “There’s something for everybody, and it’s not as intimidating as I had once thought.”

While she still considers herself a beginner with clubs in her hand, that’s certainly not the case when she picks up a brush. Smith dreamed of being an artist while growing up and continued to take art classes in college while creating pieces for friends to make a few extra bucks. Things really took oﬀ during the pandemic, when she had more time out of the oﬃce and got more into golf and oil painting. After years of juggling her dermatology gig and side hustle, Smith quit her day job in 2022 to pursue her painting passion full time.

THE THINKER

“My journey has been unbelievable,” says Smith, who credits Steven, the director of health and wellness at Troubadour Golf and Field Club, for convincing her that she was making the right career choice. “My sister doesn’t play golf, and she’s saying, ‘Why are you traveling all over?’ But for people that do play golf, they can understand that it’s very much a pinch-me moment.”

Before brush hits canvas, Smith meticulously plans each painting.

Smith’s largest pieces—on canvases of ﬁve feet by six

feet—can take up to three months to ﬁnish after researching and selecting photos, sketching them, and finally, a long layering painting process. She sometimes visits the courses that she has been commissioned to paint to take her own reference photos. Those include some of the world’s most famous tracks, from St Andrews to Royal Dornoch to Cruden Bay. She also works with courses to create paintings that sell directly to people through her Instagram and her website, aimeesmithstudios.com. Many of these paintings range in price from $1,000 to $8,000. In addition, Smith also sells prints and oﬀers live event painting. “Having that badge of honor saying you’re a full-time artist still sounds bizarre to me,” Smith says, “but I’m thankful for it.”

learning opportunities. “It’s like learning things as a golfer,” Smith says. “You think you master your swing and then the next day you show up you’re like, Wait a second.”

CENTER CUT

Smith’s 3-by4 of Pebble Beach’s finish immerses viewers.

When it comes to oil painting, Smith says she feels like a golfer in that she’s always discovering new things and looking to improve. She recently ﬁnished a workshop with one of her idols, Dawn Whitelaw, that made her “brain hurt” but took her art to another level. Smith says her style is in the realism arena, but she’s been trying techniques involving more paint and thicker brushstrokes. Smith doesn’t fear making mistakes as much as she once did and now uses them as

Smith is proud to be following the brushstrokes of other great golf artists like Linda Hartough, Graeme Baxter and Lee Wybranski. She’s also glad to be part of what she describes as a “supportive community” on Instagram, where she shares photos of her work and videos of her process, but there can be a downside to that as well. “I think we all have to be careful on Instagram. Even golfers are like, I’m not doing as well as someone else,” says Smith, who lists John Singer Sargent and Rembrandt as her ultimate painting idols. “Then you get that imposter syndrome.”

Smith currently does a 50/50 mix of commissioned pieces and passion projects. However, the line between the two continues to get blurred, especially as she has discovered that drawing courses has the power to soothe the soul and provide beneﬁts that go well beyond earning a cheque. “I love that this career has created space to give back,” Smith says. “I’ve blocked oﬀ a few weeks this year to paint for a few causes that are close to my heart.”

Although Smith enjoys painting on the course, she mostly paints in her home studio. She says the easiest

part about painting courses is that she knows golfers will ﬁ nd meaning with the subjects she chooses. Nothing makes her happier than knowing her work brings others joy. “It’s my favourite thing,” says Smith, who prefers to hand deliver her larger paintings to buyers. “I’m a nervous wreck until they get it. I love hearing back from collectors that they like it. It just makes my heart so happy.”

So what does she want her clients to experience when they see her paintings? “You feel like you can walk into it, and it makes you want to play golf,” Smith says. “My goal is to get the viewer to say, ‘Oh, I need to go back.’ ”

All golfers should have something on display in their home that elicits that kind of response. Surely most do already, but what if you don’t have the wall space for golf art? Or what if you’ve been told by your spouse that you’ve already reached your quota in that area?

“There have been so many studies that show if you have art up in your home and you look at it and you enjoy it, it lures the cortisol in your system,” Smith says. “If it produces that calming eﬀect, even a little bit, it still has beneﬁts. . . . If it’s bringing you joy, it’s doing a lot more than you realise. I think that’s invaluable.”

Thanks, Aimee. Hopefully, that helps the cause. Hey, you can’t argue with science.

how to play

EDITED BY RON KASPRISKE

“The entry point for a bunker shot is behind the ball, but set up so the bottom of your swing arc is in front of the ball, or just behind your sternum. Stay relaxed and let the club swing through from this setup. You’ll splash it out every time.”

—DAVID

ARMITAGE,

ONE OF GOLF DIGEST’S BEST TEACHERS IN FLORIDA

How to Pick the Right Spot on the Range

Tour pros are very particular about it. You should be, too

BY MARK BLACKBURN

AT A PGA TOUR EVENT, very little a player does is left to chance, especially when it comes to a preround warm-up. Unless the range is completely packed and there are no options, a player is going to do whatever he can to set a stage that lets him get his preparation done fully and comfortably. For example: Virtually every player would prefer to hit into the wind in a warm-up, because doing so provides faster feedback on how the ball is ﬂighting and curving. If the predominant breeze is across the range, the goal becomes getting to the side of the tee that lets the player hit his preferred shot shape—so it curves into that wind as much as possible.

If there’s no wind, the priority is to favour the side of the range that allows for the preferred shot shape to curve away from a boundary. That provides a fuller set of targets for aiming, and more

visual cues about what the ball is doing relative to what the player expects to see.

SPOT ON Don’t just search for nice turf. Consider the wind.

The takeaway for you is that if you tend to hit a certain shot shape, pick the side of the range that allows for the wind to soften some of your curve. Change your process away from hitting a bunch of the same shots in a row and instead hit each shot to a speciﬁc target. It sounds cumbersome, but if you can incorporate your pre-shot routine into each warm-up shot, that’s an even better way to transfer what you’re doing before you play into what happens when you’re on the course.

—WITH MATTHEW RUDY

MARK BLACKBURN is No. 1 on Golf Digest’s 50 Best Teachers in America list. He has worked with several tour pros including Collin Morikawa and Max Homa.

Plugged Lie?

If you take an unplayable, know your options

BY RON KASPRISKE

TH EY SAY BUNKERS ARE intended to add a halfstroke penalty to your score. Perhaps, but not all bunker lies are of the half-stroke variety. You might hit a high wedge or a skulled iron into a green that embeds in the sand like it landed in pudding. A fried-egg lie

or a ball that is nearly completely buried might give you pause as to what to do next, especially if you have a high lip in front of you. One option, you might wonder, is can you take an unplayable lie, add a penalty stroke, and drop outside the bunker using Rule 19?

The answer is no . If you take an unplayable (and a stroke penalty), you must drop in the bunker on backon-the-line relief or lateral relief. The simplest thing is to find a good spot within a two-club-lengths relief area, no closer to the hole, and drop. You also can go back and replay from the previous spot (stroke-anddistance penalty), but that likely will sting more. DEEP

However, if you’re willing to absorb a two-stroke penalty, you can take backon-the-line relief outside the bunker. We’ll explain how.

Picture an imaginary line that extends from the hole through the point where your ball plugged in the bunker. Now extend that line away from the hole behind the bunker as far back as you want and drop anywhere on it. The spot where the ball first touches the ground when dropped creates a relief area one clublength in any direction, so it doesn’t have to stay perfectly on the line.

Why would you go with this costly option? In match play, you probably wouldn’t unless your opponent is in big trouble, too. In stroke play, it might save you from trying to repeatedly hack out of a steep-faced bunker.

Try This New Way to Think About Putting

This logical and effective method will give you an edge on your opponents (and it’s how the pros navigate the greens)

BY LUKE KERR-DINEEN

WHAT DO PRO GOLFERS

think about when standing over a putt? Well, frankly, it depends on the putt. Just like the bull’seye illustration above, you can expect their mind-set and approach to be determined by what ring their ball is in. I call them “putting zones,” and one of pro golf’s most respected putting coaches, Stephen Sweeney, will explain how to adjust your goal depending on what sector you’re in.

OUTERMOST SCORING CIRCLE

“Tour players are more likely to threeputt than one-putt around the 30-to-35 foot mark, so speed control out here is the top priority,” says Sweeney, who works with many tour players including Collin Morikawa and Shane Lowry. “Err on the side of overreading putts. It will leave you closer to the hole than underreading because the slope will pull the ball to the hole. I often tell my players that every putt has to start uphill relative to its fall line. Find the highest point between you and the hole. That’s where your attention should be: Putt your ball uphill toward that spot, then let the slope bring it back.”

MIDDLE SCORING CIRCLE

“Between 30 feet and about eight feet, you can’t rely on making too many of these, but you’d like to have a chance. A lot of golfers think they should hit theses putts firm, but gravity has a greater effect the slower the ball is moving. That means the effective size of the hole gets bigger. When the ball is moving slower, lip-outs become lip-ins and misses become tap-ins.”

INNERMOST SCORING CIRCLE

“At eight feet, flip the importance from speed to start line. It’s way more important to have a clean start line that matches your read. Lots of pros put a line on the ball and use it exclusively to get their start line right. They’ll also spend a lot of their putting practice trying to get that ball rolling endover-end. Most of players’ technical practice comes on these putts, too, making sure they’re delivering a square putterface at impact from this length, because every degree left or right matters from here.”

BULL’S EYE! Got a makeable short putt? Focus on the start line.

what to play

EDITED BY PETER MORRICE

Size Matters

More than four decades ago, the first steel drivers like the so-called “Pittsburgh Persimmon” from TaylorMade were barely the size of today’s hybrids. Today, the TaylorMade Qi10 Max is nearly four times the size, its forgiveness has tripled and much of its face trampolines balls faster than deadsolid hits did a generation ago. Still, after all that Brobdingnagian growth, tour players are less likely to hit a fairway than they were when drivers were made of wood. Such is progress.

Photograph by Yousef Al Harmoodi

Clock

Galbraith

Rivoli DIFC Mall, Dubai

Rivoli Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi

Painting by Faisal Abdul Qader

The Secret to Distance is Ball Speed, Right?

What Hot List testing showed us about picking a driver

BY MIKE STACHURA

IN DRIVER FITTI NG, THE GUIDing principle is that ball speed is the most important factor. This seems pretty obvious: Make the ball go faster, and it’s always going to go further. Generally, this should be your mantra, but although ball speed might be fundamental to producing distance, it’s not everything. Some results from our Hot List driver testing show players getting more distance from shots that didn’t yield the highest ball speed. What gives? Well, overall distance is ultimately about the right combination of three ball-flight and swing characteristics: Ball speed is first, but launch angle (higher rather than lower) and optimal spin rate for a given launch angle are the key secondary contributors. In effect, they allow you to maximize

EFFICIENCY RATING

Maria Fassi averaged 277.5 yards in 2024.

your potential for a certain ball speed. Get those last two conditions right, and you’ll have a more efficient ball flight that might produce longer tee shots than with your fastest hits.

Let’s take a look at some Hot List player testing results with various drivers as captured by the Rapsodo MLM2Pro launch monitor during the Hot List Summit at the Reunion Resort in Orlando. Specifically, three players at three different ability levels and swing speeds demonstrated how their most efficient tee shots featured the optimal blend of ball speed, launch angle and spin rate, not merely the fastest speed off the clubface.

EXAMPLE 1

98-MPH CLUBHEAD SPEED

First up is Gary Abbott, a 13-handicapper with a 98-mile-per-hour clubhead speed with the driver. Of the 18 driver models he hit, six produced more distance with less than his fastest ball speed. With one driver, Abbott hit a shot with 7.5 mph less of ball speed that still yielded a total distance that was five yards longer than the shot that had the higher speed (see chart). How? Well, the longer shot featured a launch angle that was 7 degrees higher (13 degrees versus 6) and a spin rate that was more optimal, specifically in the low 2,000s in revolutions per minute (rpm) versus the low 1,000s. (Although we often think lower spin is ideal for distance, too little spin means the ball won’t stay in the air long enough.)

EXAMPLE 2

86-MPH CLUBHEAD SPEED

Next is Alejandra Bedoya, a former college golfer who is now a 5-handicapper with an 86-mph driver clubhead speed. Of the 15 driver models she tested, the 10 longest hits for each model came from shots with less than the fastest ball speeds. Like Abbott, Bedoya’s most efficient combinations of ball speed, launch angle and spin rate yielded the most distance. In one particular example, Bedoya gave up one mph of ball speed but combined it with an extra degree of launch and 250 rpm less spin. That combo led to nine more yards in total distance.

EXAMPLE 3

110-MPH CLUBHEAD SPEED

As we move to a player with a faster swing and more consistent centre-face contact, though, we saw that ball speed more often than not won the day. Of the 18 driver models hit by Jack Bingham, who swings 110 mph, only twice did he record the most distance with a ball speed that was not the fastest for that driver. But in one scenario, he gave up more than four mph of ball speed, but because his launch angle was 5 degrees

lower and his spin rate was more than 400 rpm higher, the shot with the lower ball speed still produced three yards more in total distance.

When you look at these three examples, it’s important to focus on the shots that have an ideal marriage of distance and tighter dispersion. If you think of PGA Tour players as having not only the most ability but the most dialed-in drivers, it’s telling that they miss the centre of the fairway by an average of

speeds more than PGA Tour players, who can get away with less optimised conditions (like a negative angle of attack and a lower launch) because of their higher swing speeds. Meanwhile, LPGA players are hitting up on the ball and launching their drives 2 degrees higher with the same spin rate as their male counterparts. It’s why some LPGA players use drivers with less loft more effectively than PGA Tour pros who swing 30 mph faster.

Optimal launch conditions are tied to how fast you move the club and the way your swing delivers the clubhead to the ball.

only 22 feet. Percentage-wise, in the past 15 years, they’ve improved that stat a lot more than they’ve improved their driving distance. (Driving distance has increased 4.6 percent since 2009; distance from the centre of the fairway has improved 13.3 percent.)

Efficiency of launch conditions no doubt is part of that increase and, in many cases, more important than ball speed (and swing speed). Traditionally, LPGA players, like Maria Fassi (previous page) optimise distance for their swing

To be clear, more ball speed is usually going to yield more distance, as long as you’ve got the launch conditions dialed in optimally. That word “optimally” is important. It isn’t a fixed set of conditions. The optimal launch conditions are tied to how fast you move the club and the way your swing delivers the clubhead to the ball. If your swing is more of a downward strike on the ball, there is a different set of optimal conditions than if you create an upward strike.

The numbers on a launch monitor are a critical part of fitting, but they are best when they are the most consistent. After all, total distance doesn’t lie; neither does accuracy. As Ping’s Chris Broadie, head of fitting science, writes in a recent post on the company’s Proving Grounds blog, “Instead of trying to force all golfers into a positive angle of attack with high launch and low spin, we should customise our fitting methods to identify each player’s optimal launch and spin—and keep unlocking distance.”

EDITED BY HARRY GRIMSHAW

where to play

What are the changes made to Arabian Ranches back nine?

BY HARRY GRIMSHAW

ARABIAN RANCHES GOLF

CLUB has reopened its back nine holes with major renovations having been completed over the last ﬁve months.

Business resumes at the ranch

After the significant rainfall that hit the UAE back in April, the damage caused by the ﬂooding created an opportunity to repair and enhance not only the ﬂooded areas but also parts of the course that had historically experienced groundwater issues.

During the closure of holes 10 – 18, the club has undergone signiﬁcant enhancements to improve the playing experience for all, and after seeing them in person, I go into further detail on those alterations, as it welcomes back the UAE’s golfers to its full 18 holes.

TEE BOXES

Firstly, all the tee boxes on the back nine right from the red tees at the front, to the black championship tees at the back, have been entirely resurfaced and rebuilt. All have been laser graded, levelled and resurfaced with new paspalum.

The tee boxes on the front nine will be a work in progress over the next 12 months to match those on the back nine.

CART PATHS

The second modifications are the raising of the cart paths in key areas where they were prone to ﬂooding.

With any amount of rain, these were areas where accessibility became a problem. Whether it’s maintenance vehicles or golf carts, the ﬂooded parts caused a problem for anyone getting around the golf course. So, now with the new raised paths, that risk is signiﬁcantly lower.

It also beneﬁts the maintenance vehicles getting access to the course quicker and more easily after a potential storm, and get golf carts around more quickly.

ISOLATED AREAS

HOLE 15

There were some isolated problem areas which needed to be addressed. The main one being around the front right section of the short par four risk-reward 15th hole. This area short right of the green was an area always renowned for sitting in the water table and leading to having poorer quality turf because the root base was below the water table. That meant, the turf health was negatively affected by that.

That area has now been raised higher, and as a result, the turf will be much healtheir going forward and still being able to keep the original design intent of the golf course retained.

HOLE 10

The biggest damage experienced on the 10th hole was around the green. At times of heavy rainfall, the green would get completely flooded. The forward section of the opening hole on the back nine has now been raised between 30 to 40cm in places. Still keeping in mind the original design with it’s contours and topography, it’s a very similar green in terms of slopes, but just slightly higher than it previously was to now protect it from any future flooding.

Additionally, parts of the 10th fairway, particularly on the forward half of the hole in the 100 yard range, has been raised by up to 40cm to guarantee that the turf is as healthy as possible by ensuring it is out of the flood line. This also allows the agronomy team to ensure better drainage on the hole overall. When it does rain again the water will drain off into the desert areas and into the hollows around the grass in the fairway, rather than lying on the actual surface on the fairway and causing damage.

The par five 13th was the biggest challenge of the whole project.

Very similar procedure to hole ten, in that the fairway on the approach from approximately 150 - 170 yards out all the way up to the front of the green, was raised in areas up to 70cm. Historically, this was one of the biggest problem holes just because of the water table.

Now that forward part of the fairway, where in the past was prone to flooding

THE FUTURE

even in times when it wasn’t raining, has now has been raised up.

So similar to the drainage on the 10th, it will be much better going forward. The water won’t lie on the fairway. It’ll drain into the lower lying desert areas around and because the root base of the grass is now out of the standard water table, the turf health improves dramatically.

All of those areas were re shaped and are now following the “grow-in” period now.

Going forward, a big part of the project at Arabian Ranches is essentially around detail work.

The surrounding desert areas are quite overgrown, primarily because of the good water that they’ve been receiving. After all the rain and the ground water being higher than usual, as well as the warmer conditions through summer, it has all come together to make prime growing conditions.

All of the fire grass, rough and shrubbery, around the desert areas, has become slightly overpowering and very difficult to manage. So now as we enter the winter, the growth slows down and the agronomy team will be able to get it under control and effectively make the golf course more playable.

Additionally, the team will continue to work on those details to make sure that the visual appeal of the golf course is as good as possible.

When standing on the tee boxes, you can already start to see on some of the holes, where they’ve been doing some work. The hard edge is now more defined down the side of the fairways and there is now a clear line that visually frames the fairway for you

It’s a concept and theme to tie throughout the entire golf course going forward. Once it all comes together, it means a lot less lost golf balls on the highvolume play areas, but still delivering a golf course that suits the eye and is more visually appealing for the club going forward.

HOLE 13

Top Trump

Trump

International

Golf Club Dubai clinches two honours at the 2024 World Golf Awards

Trump International Golf Club Dubai has once again proven its presence in the golfing world, taking home two esteemed honours at the 2024 World Golf Awards: the title of World’s Best Par 3 Golf Course and the Best Golf Course in the United Arab Emirates.

These are a testament to the club’s unwavering commitment at offering a world-class golfing experience, while reinforcing its place as a top-tier destination for both local players and international visitors.

The award ceremony, held in Madeira, Portugal, celebrated the best in golf tourism, with Trump International Golf Club Dubai standing out as a top contender on the global stage. With a voting panel consisting of travel professionals, industry leaders, media, and golfers worldwide, these titles shine a light on the club’s unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of excellence.

Philip Waine, General Manager of Trump International Golf Club Dubai, expressed his pride in the achievement:

“We are delighted to win these prestigious awards this year for the Gil Hanse-designed Par 3 and Championship courses on both regional and international stages. This accomplishment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Trump management team, who consistently maintain and present both courses at an exceptional level throughout the year.

We extend our gratitude to our ownership, DAMAC Properties, for their vision in delivering and developing world-class facilities since the club’s opening in 2017. Each year, the competition becomes increasingly fierce, given the high caliber of golf clubs nominated in these categories. We look forward to enhancing our facilities further and defending these titles in 2025.”

What Makes Trump International Golf Club Dubai Stand

Out?

TRUMP GOLF DUBAI BOOKING APP

The new Trump Golf Dubai Booking App offers a seamless way to manage reservations, book tee times, explore upcoming events, and stay up-to-date with promotions. The app also features integrated wallet functionality, simplifying access to memberships and passes, ensuring a smooth and efficient user experience.

GOLF COURSES & NIGHT GOLF FEATURES

The Championship Course, crafted by renowned architect Gil Hanse, offers a rewarding challenge for golfers of all abilities. Its links-style design, features rolling fairways with a sprinkling of water hazards to ensure a top test of skill while still allowing for an enjoyable round. For those looking to hone their game, the Par 3 Academy Course provides an excellent practice environment, ideal for beginners or experienced players working on their short

game. With immaculate lighting across both courses, Trump Golf Dubai’s night golf offers a premium experience during the crisp, clear winter evenings.

GRAB A BITE

PRATO: Offering a sophisticated Italian menu with stunning views of the golf course, PRATO has become a favourite spot for both golfers and visitors seeking an upscale dining experience in a relaxed, elegant setting.

71 Sports Bar: A lively sports bar where casual dining meets the excitement of sports viewing. Multiple screens keep guests engaged, while the menu offers hearty pubstyle dishes, making it the perfect spot for post-game drinks and bites.

Caddy Shack: Positioned at the Par 3 Academy Course, Caddy Shack is a laid-back spot for quick snacks and refreshing drinks. It’s an easygoing environment where players can unwind before, during, or after their rounds.

GROUP LESSONS & PROGRAMS

(From 11th January)

Ladies Group Program: This 10-week program is designed for women of all skill levels, offering weekly one-hour sessions, with lessons on both the Par 3 and Championship courses. Women receive eight practice facility vouchers, one complimentary drink per session, plus a discounted midweek green fees on the Par 3 course. Beginners Program: Perfect for beginners, this engaging and beginner-friendly 10-week course covers the basics of golf in a relaxed, small-group setting. Participants receive eight practice facility vouchers, and those who wish to take their game further can of course progress to the next level with personalised guidance from the welcoming PGA professionals on hand.

Junior Development Program: Designed for young golfers, this 10-week program focuses on skill development, fitness, and learning the fundamentals of golf etiquette. Participants also have the option to take part in two-hour on-course sessions, where they’ll gain valuable experience in scoring, course management, and the rules of competition.

Trump Golf Dubai continues to lead the way in both exceptional course design and creating an inviting atmosphere for golfers of all levels. With a diverse selection of golf programs, world-class facilities, and a variety of dining options, it easily stands out as one of Dubai’s top golfing destinations.

A Season of Elite Golf

THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL SERIES HAS DELIVERED HIGH DRAMA IN A SEASON THAT HAS SO FAR SEEN ELITE-LEVEL GOLF PLAYED OUT ACROSS SOME OF THE WORLD’S FINEST COURSES IN OMAN, MACAU, MOROCCO, ENGLAND, THAILAND AND INDONESIA

THE ELEVATED ASIAN TOUR EVENTS, which form an established pathway onto the LIV Golf League, have brought together starstudded fields featuring LIV Golf superstars, the cream of the Asian Tour, top prospects and golfing talent from all over the world.

At the end of the season, The International Series Rankings champion will earn a place on the LIV Golf League for the 2025 season, with another 32 eligible players from the top 40 earning a place on the seasonending LIV Golf Promotions event where they will be able to battle it out for a golden ticket onto the roster for the 2025 season, and ten exemptions from the 2025 calendar of events on The International Series.

international series oman Ortiz Triumphs, Oosthuizen Close

The season got underway in February with Interna tional Series Oman, where Carlos Ortiz showcased his undoubted talent to secure a hard-fought victory at the stunning Al Mouj Golf in Muscat.

CARLOS ORTIZ

The Mexican golfer, a member of the Torque GC team on LIV Golf, was in sensational form and held off a strong challenge from 2010 Open Championship winner Louis Oosthuizen.

Ortiz rose to the occasion with a stunning seven-under-par 65 in the final round to finish on 19-under, four shots clear of the South African Stinger GC player. international series macau presented by wynn Catlin and Puig go low in thriller

The International Series Macau presented by Wynn at Macau Golf and Country Club was next up in March, and the new addition to the series delivered fireworks like no other. In near-perfect scoring conditions, John Catlin made history on day three by posting a sensational round of 59, becoming the first player to break 60 on the Asian Tour.

MJ MAGUIRE

international series morocco

Campbell claims spoils from in-form Catlin in play-off

International Series Morocco returned to the calendar in July and the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam’s Red Course in Rabat witnessed one of the most remarkable finishes of the season.

New Zealand’s Ben Campbell staged an extraordinary fightback to claim the title, with an eagle-birdie finish to overcome a stunned Catlin, who had led from the opening round.

Campbell showed incredible composure to claw his way back into contention and forced the play-off with an eagle on the par-four 17th and a birdie on the last to tie Catlin on 15-under.

Carrying that momentum into the sudden-death play-off, Campbell sank a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-five 18th to win on the first time of asking.

international series england Uihlein underlines class with dominant display

black mountain championship Maguire roars into rankings race

The series headed to Thailand for a two-week swing in October, and the iconic Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin played host to some of the best in the world.

In the end, classy Catlin made his third play-off of the season, but just like in Morocco, he was on the losing end. Surprise package MJ Maguire of the US carded a 65 to tie with overwhelming favourite Catlin, and he claimed a stunning victory on the second play-off hole.

international series thailand

Lee stuns Uihlein in Bangkok Battle

The sixth event of the series was played out at the Thai Country Club on the outskirts of Bangkok.

For much of the tournament, International Series England champion Uihlein looked sure to add to his victory in the summer.

But it was the talented Chinese-Taipei star Lee Chiehpo who claimed the spoils, with two closing birdies giving him a final round of 63 and a 21-under total, edging him past the American who had led all day but finished

In-form Canadian Lee finally lands victory

Red-hot Richard T. Lee recorded a stunning wire-to-wire victory at Royale Jakarta Golf Club in the seventh event on

The Canadian came into the tournament in great form with a T9 and T2 over two weeks in Thailand, and he stepped things up with a superb showing in Indonesia.

The 34-year-old led from day one with a stunning 62, and further rounds of 67, 66 and 70 to secure a comfortable victory of a four-shot cushion over nearest challengers Phachara Khongwatmai from Thailand and Chang Wei-

the international series rankings

With seven tournaments complete, The International Series Rankings race is shaping up for an exciting conclusion. Catlin, with his win in Macau and strong showings in Morocco and Hua Hin, has a healthy lead on 900 points but in-form BNI Indonesian Masters champion Richard T. Lee is his nearest challenger, after a T2 and T9 in Thailand in the two weeks leading up to his win in Jakarta.

International Series England winner Peter Uihlein sits third ahead of Morocco winner and Link Hong Kong Open defending champion Ben Campbell, with International Series Thailand victor Lee Chieh-Po and Black Mountain Championship winner MJ Maguire well placed in fifth and sixth.

RICHARD T. LEE

Set for Saudi

The World Number 16 headlines a glittering field assembled for Riyadh

An in-form Tyrrell Hatton heads the field for the upcoming US$5million PIF Saudi International, powered

by SoftBank Investment Advisers, taking place between 4 and 7 December at Riyadh

Golf Club.

In a field awash with major champions, Hatton is currently ranked No 16 on the world rankings. He recently triumphed at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championships on the DP World Tour, having won LIV Golf Nashville in June. Now looking to close out his year in style, Hatton recently commented, “I am really excited to visit Riyadh for the first time and to be part of the Asian Tour’s season-ending event. I’ve been playing really well the last couple of months as my results are showing, so I really want to keep the momentum going through to the end of the year. I finished tied 6th when I played in PIF Saudi International in 2021, so I am hoping to be able to improve on that and finish my season on a high.”

Becoming the first player to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship three times, Hatton shared how special the week was to play alongside his father in the unique pro-am format and seal the victory, “It’s been awesome. We are pretty fortunate. This is the third time we’ve been able to play this tournament together, and I think finally this year, my dad sort of settled down and he actually played some good golf. He played unreal yesterday, which was nice to see. I know that it made it more special if we were able to win the team event, as well, but ultimately these are memories that neither of us will ever forget, and for me to win today the individual event, that’s the first time that I’ve won with my dad at a tournament. That makes it more special, and it was pretty cool that he had a front row seat for it.”

ship every year that I’ve had my tour card. Winning today secures my spot there. I’m really excited that I can compete in those two events at the back end of the year.”

Hatton took a well-earned break following his October triumph in Scotland, before returning to competitive golf

HOT

comes into the Asian Tour finale with two titles already in 2024.

With a win under his belt in Nashville earlier in the summer, Hatton was delighted to have been able to carry the momentum on to his return to the DP World Tour, explaining, “It feels amazing. My last win was Abu Dhabi ‘21 on the DP World Tour. So that was a long time ago. And I knew when I came back to play the British Masters and the Spanish Open last week, that I really wanted to earn enough points to be able to play in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from a World Ranking points perspective, a Ryder Cup points perspective. I’ve been fortunate to play the DP World Tour Champion-

I am really excited to visit Riyadh for the first time and to be part of the Asian Tour’s season-ending event.

– TYRRELL HATTON

HATTON Tyrrell

in the Middle East during the DP World Tour’s Play-Off events as he builds up to the PIF Saudi International, powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. Playing in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, he finished runner-up and sixth place respectively and is now looking to seal a final win of the season before his winter break against another stellar line-up in Riyadh.

His challengers will include defending champion Abraham Ancer, 2022 champion Harold Varner III, winner in 2019 and 2021 Dustin Johnson, and 2022 Open Champion Cameron Smith, along with Major winners Patrick Reed and Graeme McDowell, the 2020 champion as the tournament makes its debut in Riyadh after five successful years at the acclaimed Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City.

Other stand-out names include Adrian Meronk, a fourtime winner on the DP World Tour, David Puig, currently ly-

FAN ZONE

PIF SAUDI INTERNATIONAL

• Virtual Reality Golf

• The Line Putt

• Water Refill Stations

• Photo Opportunity

PARTNER ACTIVATIONS

• GIB Games E-Gaming, including Rocket League, FIFA and PGA Tour

• Aramco Long-Putt

• SNB Table Maze

GENERAL ACTIVATIONS

• Basketball Ultimate Court Clash

• Cricket Sticky Wicket

• Kids Zone

• Go Golf (Golf Saudi development initiative)

ENTERTAINMENT

• Main Stage (showing live golf)

• Music Artists, DJ, Traditional Arabic Bands

• Live Mix FM Radio

FOOD & BEVERAGE

• Coffee

• Food trucks

CAM’S COMING

The 2022 Open Champion is making his debut in Riyadh.

ing seventh on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, Joaquin Niemann, winner of the 2024 LIV Golf event at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City earlier this year, Peter Uihlein, winner of the recent International Series England in August and Dean Burmester, champion at the 2024 LIV Golf Miami.

Also set to compete are all of the winning members of the Ripper GC team who claimed the 2024 LIV Golf Team Championship: Lucas Herbert, winner on the PGA and DP World Tour, and Matt Jones, a two-time PGA Tour Cham-

Looking at the design and reputation of the course, I reckon it is going to provide us with a real test.

– CAMERON SMITH

Opened in 2005, Riyadh Golf Club is home to Golf Saudi and is the Saudi capital’s premier golf course. Its par-71 championship course is set across 7,434-yards of undulating fairways and has played host to many of the Kingdom’s leading tournaments.

pion, Marc Leishman, six-time PGA Tour winner and the aforementioned, Cameron Smith.

Smith is another star player looking to end the season with a win. When asked at Troon earlier this year, how he had changed after winning the 2023 Open Championship, he was thoughtful in his response explaining, “I think the person is the same. I think my old boy would give me a clip around the ears if he was any different. I think as a golfer, I think I’m actually a better golfer now than what I was last year. I think the stuff that I had to clean up is progressing. It’s still a little bit of a work in progress.”

Whether it’s defending his Open title or trying to win for the first time in Saudi Arabia, Smith explained fans can always expect the same approach, “I’m determined to try my best every week and just try and be a better golfer than I was last week. I never really expect too much of myself. The thing I expect are doing everything 100 percent, ticking all the boxes early in the week, making sure I’m prepared, and then just go out there and give it my all. That’s all I can really do. I think I’ve done that fantastic this year and especially last year. It was such a good year last year, you almost expect to win. I think that’s not really a good way to look at golf. Just expect to do all the things that you’re meant to do 100 percent and then go out there and give it a crack, and if you win, you win.”

Of the week ahead in Saudi Arabia, the Australian added, “I am really looking forward to visiting Riyadh for the first time. From what I have read, there is so much going on there with some great sports facilities for grassroots and professionals being put in place. We have also heard lots of good things about the Championship course at Riyadh Golf Club. Look-

ADRIAN’S AIM

The Dubai-based pro has four titles on the DP World Tour, as he looks to end his season on a high.

ing at the design and reputation of the course, I reckon it is going to provide us with a real test as we try to stay both out of the water and out in front of what will be another worldclass field at the PIF Saudi International.”

Having moved from the beginning of the year into the season-ending tournament slot for both the Asian Tour and The International Series, there is so much to play for and no end of storylines to whet the appetite of the many regional and international fans expected to flock to watch so many of the world’s best players in Riyadh this year.

Tickets are still available for purchase at saudiinternational.com

THE TEST Awaiting the global stars is Riyadh Golf Club.

ONE-ON-ONE

WITH GOLF SAUDI CEO, NOAH ALIREZA

“In Saudi Arabia we don’t want to just be playing catch-up, we want

to be playing leapfrog.”

We have an incredible opportunity with a relatively empty canvas to be able to innovate. In Saudi Arabia, we don’t want to just be playing catch-up, we want to be playing leapfrog.

This comes across not only in the sports sector, but across all sectors, and golf is one of those. So, we’re lucky to have the support and we’re lucky to have the vision in a country that inspires all of us by its leadership and we’re excited for what’s to come.

I think everyone is very excited to see that. Do you feel a sense of pride knowing that you’re such a key part in this development of golf in both the professional side and participation across the whole Kingdom. Without question. It’s a true motivator. It enables a new type of thinking in golf.

As a lifelong golfer, having had the privilege to see and experience golf in diﬀerent countries, I think there’s an important element that we want to introduce in Saudi Arabia and the golf landscape, which is ﬁrst and foremost, authenticity.

SINCE ITS FORMATION IN 2018, Golf Saudi has created opportunities for more people to experience the beneﬁts of golf. Closing in on his two-year anniversary as CEO of the newest powerhouse in global golf, Golf Digest Middle East was given the opportunity for an exclusive one-one-one with one of the world’s most engaging CEOs, Noah Alireza.

It’s coming up to a couple of years since we’ve caught up in person Noah, how has the journey for Golf Saudi been in what is a relatively young lifespan? It’s been incredible. It’s an honour and a privilege to be serving Saudi Arabia and doing so while doing something I truly love, which is golf. So, these two intersecting makes the job a lot easier on a personal level.

I think that the passion for golf is starting to grow, even though we are at I would say, a humble base, right now in terms of where we are with participants. But the plans are big.

The second element is innovation. We want to invite the world and the best minds to help us deﬁne innovation within the game by using Saudi Arabia as a canvas and to deploy what future golf will be like.

This comes in all of its aspects, whether it’s golf course design, agronomy, the way a player experiences a round of golf or on the practice facility and everything that comes with it.

I guess it helps being a fan of golf. How much do you love it? Immensely. And I’ve been playing, less and less as I am busier and busier. That’s because I’m falling in love with other aspects which I never took note of before. Such as agronomy, design, respecting the immense operation of what it takes to get a golf event ready and really appreciating that. I have to say, it’s helped my own game, because the less you play, the less you think. But there’s so many exciting aspects to this job.

How was it that you fell in love with golf? I was super lucky to have hit my ﬁrst ever golf shot at the driving range at

Pebble Beach in California. It was with my father, my mother and us seven siblings, and by the end of the hour, there were only two of us left… me and my father. And as is the case with golf, if you catch the bug, it becomes an obsession, a chase and a pursuit for perfection. Which for a long time, when you have bad round and a bad shot, you say, why am I wasting my time?

But then you realise later on, when you connect the dots backwards, you’ve learned so much from this journey. Patience, resilience, determination, these are all important seeds in anybody’s character development and I’d like to contribute a lot of what I’ve learned in life from rounds of golf.

Again looking back, golf as a game helped me in my life, and I truly feel that that resonates with almost everybody that plays the game. I think it’s a game for the hardheaded in a positive way.

When you meet a young golfer, they’re often beyond their age because they experienced so much from golf and that’s

how I started golf. It’s a lifelong game as we all know and it gives you an advantage to play late into your life, so as long as I’m standing on two feet, I’ll hopefully be swinging a club!

As we brieﬂy touched on, away from the professional side of the game, it seems to be that there are numerous strategies and developments being put in place for golf here in the Kingdom? 100%. Everything that we are doing now, is in one word “access”. I recall in my ﬁrst interview for Golf Digest Middle East that “access” was the main focus, and it still is the main focus.

We are building a viable and sustainable golf economy. As we all know, golf is an economy.

In the US both directly and indirectly the annual golf market is a $225 billion dollar market. It’s sustainable and driven by the private sector and it’s commercially viable. Our goal at Golf Saudi is to achieve just that: commercial viability and sustainability. In these early stages we are acting as a catalyst, an incubator and an accelerator for the various components

of the golf value chain. We want to enable all diﬀerent stakeholders to become participants in the creation of this viable ecosystem and we know in the beginning there are a lot of things we need to do ourselves to help create a vibrant, multistakeholder, ecosystem. That includes the private sector, the public sector, local investors, global investors, real estate developers, the whole lot.

Everything that we are doing links up to the overall vision of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. We are currently ﬁnalising our strategy where we quantify all of our initiatives, contribution to GDP, job creation, participation, quality of life, the environment and sustainability and hopefully in another interview down-the-line I can reveal those numbers to you of what we will be contributing in our goals by 2030.

We recently announced a partnership with Topgolf in Saudi Arabia where we are launching three facilities, one in Riyadh, one in the Eastern Province and one in Jeddah. Topgolf, as

we’ve seen around the world, is a major contributor to any golf economy. 10% of new golfers in the US come from Topgolf.

If you look at it all as steps in creating the ecosystem, Topgolf is at the beginning of demand creation.

We’re also working in parallel on other types of driving ranges and chip and putt facilities, so things that are accessible to inner city people.

I don’t think the rest of the world realises what the scale of the plans are for Saudi Arabia? Exactly! There are things that I would love to be talking about that we’re working on too, but until they’re at the stage of going from ideation to near creation, I can’t reveal just yet.

But what I could say is that we are using as much as possible from available technologies, to make the game of golf much more enjoyable, not for only the local population but also on a global level too.

What role does the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Aramco’s sponsorship play in elevating the game of golf? They play a massive role, both across the sports sector in general and more speciﬁcally golf.

They’ve been incredible partners in all of the events that we have conducted, locally and globally. We continue to foster the relationship and ensure that this relationship is also reciprocal.

We’ve introduced recently in the Aramco Team Series a business to business platform, by linking up with the Future Investment Initiative at all of our events, as well as with the Saudi Ministry of Investment.

We have taken this from the US to the UK to China as well as to Korea and we’ve had important stakeholders attend these events to give speeches and talks.

There’s an uncaptured element for inward and outward foreign direct investment. We hear anecdotally of deals being made as a result of an introduction from one of our golf events. And we’re able to play that role.

We are truly making golf live up to its status as a connector and as a bridge for business, culture, sports and for the environment. These components are great for all our supporters, whether it’s Aramco, PIF or the rest of our partners.

Is there a dream for Golf Saudi, or are we living it now? What does the end look like? In this journey we have a certain clarity on the destination, but the most important part of it is to be thinking diﬀerently and building diﬀerently.

Going back to the leapfrog concept, it’s important as an organisation and ecosystem to make sure that everything that we do is challenging the current status quo and bringing about innovation along the way. Again, just to tie it in with the two important factors authenticity and innovation, where we’re sitting today at Riyadh Golf Course and hosting this international event, we’ve just gone through a 90-day transformation of the clubhouse and the infrastructure.

I’m super proud and honoured to be working with a team that was able to do this from start to ﬁnish. From the interior to the exterior architecture to the landscaping to the agronomy. It was all done by Saudis. And for us to be able to develop and execute that should give you a glimpse of what we are able to achieve in the future.

“THEY’VE REALLY PIONEERED AND PUSHED FORWARD IN GROWING THE GAME”

Going places with Golf Saudi

AS THE 2024 SEASON CLOSES its curtain on another successful year for the Ladies European Tour’s Aramco Team Series, it was Golf Saudi Ambassador Charley Hull who shone the brightest in Riyadh, as she took the spoils for her ﬁrst victory since 2022.

After a near ﬂawless week, England’s Hull signed for a tournament winning ﬁnal score of 18-under-par, a victory that inspired not only Charley, but hopefully a movement that will be felt across the Kingdom.

“The work that Golf Saudi continue to do in introducing more women and girls to the game through these events and beyond is inspiring,” said Charley. “The legacy they are creating is one I’m incredibly grateful to be a part of. The sport has grown leaps and bounds here,” she observed. “Last year, we saw the move of the tournaments to Riyadh which I think really shows the Kingdom’s increasing passion for the sport, with more and more fans coming to watch us.”

Golf Digest Middle East caught up with Charley’s fellow ambassadors, American Alison Lee and France’s Pauline Roussin-

Bouchard, on how pivotal the Golf Saudi run tournaments have been for them both on and oﬀ the course at ﬁrst hand , and what an inspiration victories like Charley’s can make.

“It’s amazing, for Golf Saudi to partner up with the Ladies European Tour and have all these Aramco Team Series events,” said Lee, the former Number One Ranked World Amateur Golfer.

“There are not really any other companies out there investing so much into women’s golf, it’s just really great to see and it’s cool to be part of this movement.

“I feel like a lot of big companies have been writing big cheques and supporting female professional sports but not delivered. With Golf Saudi and the Aramco Team Series, they’ve really pioneered and pushed forward in growing the game for us and giving a lot of us girls what they deserve.”

Roussin-Bouchard agreed, “It’s honestly massive,” said the 2023 Aramco

Team Series Singapore champion. “Financially it’s huge and it really makes a difference because we (Golf Saudi Ambassadors) can actually focus on golf and not have any financial pressure.

“What Golf Saudi are doing in Saudi Arabia with golf and the image of golf, just takes it to another level.

“I think it’s just freaking amazing that they can do this and that they’re supporting so many women to grow the game. They are able to give so many opportunities and I’m really lucky to be a part of it with these women ambassadors.

“I’m really proud to wear their logo and play these tournaments where they’re so important.”

Both Alison and Pauline have tasted success on the Aramco Team Series stage, Alison a two-time champion at Sotogrande in 2021 and more recently in 2023 in Riyadh. While Pauline got her hands on her maiden Aramco Team Series silverware in Singapore last year when she held off major-winner Danielle Kang in a four-shot victory to earn her biggest title to date.

“My Aramco Team Series win in Singapore was really cool because my boyfriend was on the bag at the time and it was a great win,” said the 24-year-old.

“I just love Singapore, everything about it is great – the place, the food, the people, the crowds and the vibrant atmosphere to these tournaments I just really enjoy. It’s great to open up the world to golf and see the different countries in honestly the best run tournaments that we actually play.

“I think a lot of all the other tours should learn from these tournaments! These Aramco Team Series events are world class tournaments and they’re amazing to play.”

Away from the professional side of the game, Golf Saudi has numerous initiatives in supporting the growth of the game of golf across all ages and skill levels. Alison has seen this impact in person with her own eyes, this now being her fifth time visiting the Kingdom.

“I heard a statistic that when we had our first professional ladies’ event here in Saudi Arabia, around 1000 women signed up to be part of the “ladies first” initiative. That’s super cool and that’s what we want to do, that’s the whole point of us travelling over here and playing these events.

“Since becoming a Golf Saudi Ambassador, I’ve heard that the number of participants has grown in the last few years and hopefully it continues to grow even more.”

“Since becoming a Golf Saudi Ambassador, I’ve heard that the number of participants has grown in the last few years and hopefully it continues to grow even more.

“For me, when I was a little girl, I started playing golf at the age of five and I feel like I’ve learned so much because of golf. I feel like it’s allowed me to learn so much about myself and allowed me to travel to really interesting places and meet a lot of really cool people. I would really love to have other people start at a young age.

“You learn patience, you learn etiquette, you learn sportsmanship, you learn how to deal with other people and I think it just overall makes you a better person. I would love for more women everywhere to learn how to play golf, especially at a place like here where traditionally not very many people play.”

I think it’s safe to say that Golf Saudi is paving a way for a healthy future in golf.

REUNITED Bryson

a televised match in December.

DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler are set to play

By Alex Myers

BY MICHELLE WATT

Why Can’t We Be Friends?

Four stars and their plan to mend the broken pro game

PHOTOGRAPHS

“it’s great looking in your eyes,” a posing Koepka said to DeChambeau.

“It’s my favourite thing,” DeChambeau deadpanned, the camera clicking and strobes firing.

“We’ve definitely been around each other too much the past few days,” a laughing Scheffler interjected.

Scheffler was referring to the quality time this formidable foursome had enjoyed working on a film project, which on this day mixed with other promotional video work as well as this Golf Digest portrait session led by fashion photographer Michelle Watt. Other than McIlroy, who was a couple of weeks out from defending his Race to Dubai title on the DP World Tour, this was offseason for this group. The next meaningful time these four will peg it is The Showdown, the first of a new exhibition golf series that will take place at Shadow Creek Golf Course on Dec. 17 and air on TNT Sports.

The sun was setting at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, call-time had been predawn and fatigue was setting in. Even two-time U.S. Open champions like DeChambeau are not immune to getting “hangry,” but it was hard to spot any animosity among the four. Even the well-chronicled feud between the two LIV guys seemed more softened than the catered guac on set.

“It was nice to see an overall brotherly candor among them and hear them crack a few dirty jokes with each other,” said Watt, who staged the shoot hoping to produce timeless images befitting the quartet’s “mythic status” in the sport. “You can feel a sense of togetherness in the portrait.”

Of course, the divide continues. As of this writing, negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (LIV’s financial backer)—to flesh out the infamously stale “framework agreement” and bring the game’s biggest names back together in competition more often—have

One by one, four of golf’s biggest stars took their assigned places in a driving range teaching bay cramped by photo equipment and an anxious crew. At the risk of offending any of these titans, each worthy of top billing, we list them in alphabetical order—Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. They had assembled to take a familystyle portrait, but the spectacle of seeing them together was a reminder that pro golf has been anything but one big happy family these past few years.

not produced a reunited schedule. Despite rumors of a bigger cash infusion to placate golfers who stayed loyal to the PGA Tour, any agreement will still be subject to approval by the U.S. Department of Justice. LIV Golf isn’t going away anytime soon. For now, Hollywood magic is extending beyond the camera, with long days on set helping to forge better relations.

“When we see each other on tour or at majors, we’re in our little world, our little bubble. Here, you’re just cutting up, hanging out pretty much the whole time,” Scheffler said. “It’s always fun getting to know guys in a more relaxed environment. That’s what’s fun about the team events.”

As for the aforementioned one-day team event in Las Vegas, Scheffler and McIlroy will represent the PGA Tour against the LIV duo of DeChambeau and Koepka. The 18-hole clash will essentially be three six-hole matches using the three formats familiar from the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup: four-ball, foursomes and singles, with McIlroy squaring off against Koepka and Scheffler taking on DeChambeau. McIlroy has played in two editions of The Match, another made-for-TV golf series on TNT, but senses a different vibe this time.

“There is a bit more buzz because of what’s happened in golf the last two years,” McIlroy said. “It’s more competitive and doesn’t feel as gimmicky.”

That’s what Bryan Zuriff, longtime producer of The Match and executive producer of The Showdown, is going for as well.

“This is intense, real golf,” Zuriff said. Ever since LIV’s inception Zuriff has thought about a new con-

cept to pit the two rival leagues. The first major step to making it a reality was a conversation this past January with McIlroy’s manager Sean O’Flaherty at the Dubai Invitational. Zuriff’s producing credits include “Ray Donovan,” and like that show’s eponymous lead character, he relishes playing the role of a fixer in pro golf’s messy landscape. Originally, Zuriff pitched an individual battle for major tally supremacy between the four-time major winner McIlroy and five-time major winner Koepka, but after the former’s heartbreaking U.S. Open loss to DeChambeau at Pinehurst, expanding seemed more sensible.

With the game’s biggest stars competing together only at the four major championships, it is no surprise the PGA Tour and LIV Golf are battling troubling TV ratings. The final round of LIV’s individual championship in September, won by former World No. 1 Jon Rahm, drew only 89,000 non-streaming viewers on the CW. Even a Rahm-Koepka showdown at The Greenbrier in August produced half the ratings of pickleball on Fox that Sunday. The PGA Tour’s new series of signature events with limited fields playing for eye-popping purses saw an initial bump in 2023, but in 2024 big tournaments like the Phoenix Open and Arnold Palmer Invitational were down more than 30 percent in viewership. The final round of the tour’s flagship event, the Players Championship, was down 15 percent despite Scheffler

FIGUREHEAD

Rory’s stance on tour politics has been strong, thoughtful and evolving.

closing with a 64 to edge three top-10 players. Even Sunday at the Masters was down 20 percent, with Scheffler continuing his historic run and beating LIVers like DeChambeau and Cam Smith. Are golf fans growing tired of both sides?

“The longer things drag on without clarity, the more a wounded tour is at risk of losing its crowd,” Golf Digest’s Jaime Diaz recently wrote. “Worse than being frustrated and angry, exhausted fans could simply stop caring and move on.”

NBA legend Charles Barkley, who will be a part of the TNT broadcast, put it more bluntly.

“I wish these fools would quit screwing around, LIV and the PGA Tour,” Barkley said during an October appearance on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio. “I don’t know what the hell they’re doing. They’re so

stupid. These guys are so idiotic. They need to be playing against each other [in more than] the majors. It would be beneficial for both tours.”

DeChambeau is optimistic the two sides will figure things out soon. He also thinks an event like The Showdown can bridge the gap between regular tour events and the YouTube golf audience, with which he is heavily engaged, and be a catalyst for the pro game to emerge even stronger.

“Anything that’s a disruptor is ultimately a net positive,” DeChambeau said. “There’s an opportunity to showcase the greatest golfers together, finally, for the first time in a long time.”

While DeChambeau, McIlroy and others have loudly called for unity at the game’s highest level, this Sin City match still stands to have a West Side Story Jets-Sharks feel, even if the four competitors have overlaps in sponsors, hometowns and agents, even if they’re business partners in this made-for-TV series and even if a deal gets done between the PGA Tour and LIV before future iterations. For now, and some time going forward, there’s sizzle.

“It’s a them-versus-us sort of mentality,” DeChambeau said. “We’ve been waiting on a grudge match like this for a while.”

One irony is that DeChambeau already played a grudge match against Koepka in the fifth edition of The Match. Koepka won that 12-hole match in convincing fashion to cap a couple of years in which the two sent multiple jabs (including one viral eye roll during the 2021 PGA Championship) at each other regarding everything from slow play to who had better abs. Now their newfound partnership (friendship?) seems genuine.

“It’s fun to pair up with somebody that, you know, somebody that ...” DeChambeau said, pausing to find the right words. “We had a tough relationship in the past. We’ve come together and said, you know what, it’s time to show them who we really are.”

“I think they’re businessmen, and I think they see the power they have with Bryson’s YouTube following and Brooks’ coolness,” Zuriff said. “If they work together, they’re more valuable than being against each other, so they help each other.”

Of course, there’s little choice but for golfers to help one another when they are trying to survive a carwash of video stations and photo sets on a hectic driving range buzzing with multiple drones, agents and producers haggling in the background. Even a naturally compelling concept like The Showdown needs marketing assets. In a video challenge filmed by The Bleacher Report, Koepka coached a blindfolded Bryson into nearly making a 30-foot putt. “You nailed it, bro!” Koepka said, giving DeChambeau a big fist bump. “I gotta tip my cap. That was impressive.”

Moments later, they shared a laugh when Koepka pointed out one of the few regular golfers at the course that day who had driven his buggy too close to a marshy area and got stuck. Hey, you can’t blame someone for rubbernecking at seeing four of the best players on the planet at his home club.

When asked to describe DeChambeau, Koepka didn’t hesitate. “Quirky, opinionated, but very passionate, very driven and very hard-working.” Careful, Brooks, you’re going to make Bryson blush!

“Hard worker, too, by the way,” DeChambeau pointed back at Koepka. “It’s funny, we have some of the same practice routines after a round. I’ve seen him hit golf balls for two hours.” Shhh, Bryson!

You’re going to ruin Brooks’ reputation!

BROTHERS?

Bryson and Brooks say they’ve put their public feud behind them and are ready to play together as partners.

Surprisingly, The Showdown will be Scheffler’s debut in a made-for-TV golf event. The 28-year-old Texan is a heavy favourite to win PGA Tour Player of the Year for the third consecutive season, and now he has the opportunity to show he has the type of personality to also be one of the game’s top draws. “I think it’ll be fun,” Scheffler said. “I feel like when I’m playing and competing on tour, I don’t love to be distracted, but with this being mic’d up and us talking more to each other than we would in a typical tournament, this will be more interactive, more relaxed, more like what I do at home.”

When asked why they’d win, Koepka quickly noted his team’s higher major championship total, then added a sharp dagger, although out of earshot of McIlroy, that the three younger players involved have won all nine of their majors since Rory won his last a decade ago.

On this day, however, McIlroy earned the biggest win, exploding a water balloon some 30 yards away in a different TNT challenge with a stinging iron shot on only his second attempt. “Brooks and Bryson couldn’t do it,” McIlroy snickered. “I told you we were going to win.”

“It’s a them-versus-us sort of mentality. We’ve been waiting on a grudge match like this for a while.”

The easiest aspect of The Showdown to forecast is that the four golfers involved will be incentivised for it to be a success. Putting aside possibly affecting pro golf’s splintered situation, they are all partners creating a new franchise as well as building upon their own personal brands. Regardless of which team comes out ahead on Dec. 17, both sides hope those watching will win as well.

“The public deserves this. They’ve been waiting for a long time,” DeChambeau said. “This isn’t just going to be a one-and-done sort of thing. This is about bringing the game back together.”

Say cheese, everyone.

The Best Iron Players Will Win at Shadow Creek

A statistical analysis of The Showdown

BY EDOARDO MOLINARI

IT IS A FUN BUT BUSY LIFE BEING A PLAYER AND a coach. I keep a full tournament schedule and serve as analytics advisor to many of the same guys I’m trying to beat. Recently, I partnered with Arccos Golf to track my game and use the Arccos platform to enhance what I’ve built. With so much information available these days, game tracking is the key to uncovering insights that can help any golfer score better. None of the players in The Showdown are individual clients, but I have access to shot data for all rounds they played in 2024 on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LIV Golf and the majors. Golf Digest asked me to provide a statistical preview of the upcoming made-forTV match, which will pit Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler against Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau in three six-hole matches of fourball, foursomes and singles match play. Because the 2020 CJ Cup was held at Shadow Creek, there is adequate data to see how elite players fare on this layout. What jumps out to me most is the importance of middle to long irons on approaches from 175 to 225 yards.

Shadow Creek’s fairways are slightly tighter than the typical PGA Tour venue, and there is a high penalty for missing them. There are only three holes (Nos. 6, 14, 18) where it truly pays to be aggressive off the tee. Overall, it’s a course that doesn’t reward long hitters because there are many tee shots where you are either forced to lay up to a certain number or where the fairway gets very narrow past 320 yards. As such, there are more shots than usual from 175 to 225 yards, and a player can separate himself because of how the greens are shaped and framed by trouble. At 2,000 feet above sea level, the ball will be flying, and distance control could become a greater challenge. Putting is always of top importance, especially in match play where you need to

make a lot of birdies, but the stats suggest this showdown will come down to iron play.

SNAPSHOTS

Scottie Scheffler: Scheffler hands down is the best player in the world right now, though he’s been a little off the boil since The Open Championship. He’s the top iron player, and off the tee he’s a little longer than average with incredible accuracy and a great ability to avoid penalty shots. The reigning Masters champ is not only the hottest player of the four, his game is best fitted to Shadow Creek.

Rory McIlroy: McIlroy is at his best when he’s swinging freely and making lots of birdies.

Scheffler could be the ideal partner for him, providing steady cover when McIlroy’s aggressive play doesn’t work out. Will McIlroy get into a longdriving competition with DeChambeau? Rory is the only one in the group with the firepower to challenge Bryson.

Bryson DeChambeau: DeChambeau played great on big stages in 2024, winning the U.S. Open and nearly winning the PGA Championship. His driving and putting are outstanding. When he’s inconsistent, his approach play is his weakness. In his favour at Shadow Creek is that he is better with longer approach shots than he is with wedges and short game. He will not be able to take full advantage of his driving here.

Brooks Koepka: Koepka’s five major wins are the envy of this foursome and are testament to his ability to rise to the occasion. He didn’t have his best season in 2024, mostly because of his putter, though Shadow Creek is a great course for him as his approach play has been solid. He just needs to warm up the putter and then he could easily be at the same level as the other guys in this group.

SITTING ON TOP Scottie’s game is in the best form heading into The Showdown in Las Vegas.

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU

RORY MCILROY

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER

BROOKS KOEPKA

Walking in a Waring wonderland

The 39-year-old claimed the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship along with a tasty PGA Tour card. WITH HARRY GRIMSHAW

DUBAI-BASED PAUL WARING held oﬀ four-time Rolex Series winner and current LIV Golfer Tyrrell Hatton, Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy and a host of the world’s best golfers to win the 2024 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links Abu Dhabi.

The Englishman not only collected his largest pay check to date, (over 1.4 million euros) but the 39-year-old earned one of the 10 lucrative PGA Tour cards up for grabs for 2025, all part of the Strategic Alliance between the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR, as he displayed the coolest of emotions in the Abu Dhabi heat.

“I’ve been knocking on the door a few times,” said the Liverpudlian. “I had a few seconds. I’ve been in and around a few times. To get over the line again is fantastic, and to control it the way I have as well, especially today. I thought I might have let it slip yesterday.”

If you didn’t know, Waring took control from the off in the first of two DP World Tour Play-Off events with a course-record 61 on Friday, reaching 19-under-par at the halfway mark to total the lowest in relation to par in DP World Tour history.

But he was brought back down to earth with a bang in the third round as he saw his five-shot halfway lead reduced to one as he posted a 73 on moving day.

“To keep a lead yesterday the way I was playing, I knew I

wouldn’t have two days in a row playing like that (on Friday), and today I always felt -- I felt like I had another gear that I needed. I was hitting into the middle of a lot of greens. Not taking too much on.”

His closing, bogey-free 66 on Sunday was highlighted with back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18 to get him to 24-under-par and his hands on his second DP World Tour title, his only previous one coming at the Nordea Masters more than six years ago. McIlroy had the chance to further extend his lead in the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex, but his Sunday 64 meant the Race continued into the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The Ulsterman with one eye on his closest challenger Thriston Lawrence who recorded two eagles and four birdies in his round of 64 to get to 20 under and a tie for sixth alongside Dubairesident and two-time Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winner Tommy Fleetwood.

“I’ll be looking forward to next week, actually,” continued Waring. “It’s my home course now. Got a lot of really good friends there. I can’t wait to see them all, at least tonight.

“I’ll have a lot of support and there will be a real buzz around the place and I can’t wait for next week now.”

A life-changing week for Paul.

THE DUBAI DOUBLE

MCILROY CLAIMED HIS THIRD DP WORD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP AND SIXTH RACE TO DUBAI TITLE, EQUALLING SEVE BALLESTEROS

RORY MCILROY secured his sixth Race to Dubai crown, matching Seve Ballesteros’ record, with a hard-fought victory at the DP World Tour Championship, defeating Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard by two strokes.

The final round at Jumeirah Golf Estates mirrored the pairs dramatic back nine showdown at the Amgen Irish Open just two months prior. Where on that occasion, Højgaard emerged victorious. But this time around, McIlroy held his ground.

Producing a brilliant approach shot into the par four 16th hole to set up a tap-in birdie, before closing with another birdie on the 18th to seal the deal with a threeunder 69, 15-under-par tournament total in what has been a choppy year for the World Number Three.

“It means a lot,” said McIlroy. “I’ve been through a lot this year professionally, personally. It feels like the fitting end to 2024. You know, I’ve persevered this year a lot. Had close calls. Wasn’t able to get it done… So to be able to get over the line… It’s really cool.”

McIlroy’s previous wins in the event came in 2012 and 2015, and on both those occasions, he also claimed the season-long Race to Dubai. This victory marks his sixth Race to Dubai title, with Colin Montgomerie’s eight titles now in his sights.

“It’s really cool (to win a sixth Race to Dubai). I think everyone know what Seve means to European golf and to Ryder Cup players.

“In the European Ryder Cup locker room, all we have are quotes of Seve. We had a changing room with Seve’s shirt from ‘95, the last Ryder Cup he played. He means so much to European golf and for me to be mentioned in the same breath, I’m very proud.”

While South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence was the only player with a chance to deny McIlroy the Race

RORY’S RECORD AT THE EARTH COURSE

DP World Tour

Championship

Titles:

• 2012

• 2015

• 2024

Race to Dubai

Ranking Crowns

• 2012

• 2014

• 2015

• 2022

• 2023

• 2024

to Dubai crown, Lawrence finished tied for 30th at one-under-par, 14 shots behind the winner.

Højgaard’s runner-up finish was enough to move him into second in the final Race to Dubai standings, earning him one of the coveted PGA Tour cards — a spot he narrowly missed out on the previous year.

As for McIlroy, it was a fitting conclusion to a stellar 2024 season, in which he claimed four victories worldwide, and his fifth Hero Dubai Desert Classic title. His consistent form included eight top-five finishes in just 12 DP World Tour appearances, which included runners-up finishes at the Dubai Invitational, US Open, Amgen Irish Open, and BMW PGA Championship.

PGA Tour Memberships Secured

The top 10 players in the Race to Dubai standings also earned dual PGA Tour membership for the 2024-25 season. Alongside Højgaard, the players securing PGA Tour cards are:

• Thriston Lawrence (3rd)

• Paul Waring (5th)

• Jesper Svensson (10th)

• Niklas Norgaard (11th)

• Matteo Manassero (12th)

• Thorbjørn Olesen (13th)

• Antoine Rozner (15th)

• Rikuya Hoshino (16th)

• Tom McKibbin (18th)

We wish them all luck state side!

And don’t worry, there’s no need to wait long for the 2025 DP World Tour season to begin, as the Opening Swing is well underway already in the southern hemisphere!

YOU DON’T NEED AN INSTRUCTOR (LIKE ME) TO FIX THESE COMMON ISSUES GOLF

BY DAVID LEADBETTER

YOU MIGHT BE wondering why a person who makes a living teaching golf would want to show you how to play better without needing one of my lessons. Good question. Ideally you would come visit me or one of my academy instructors when problems arise, but I know a lot of times that’s not practical. So in a bit of the payingit-forward spirit, I wrote a book that addresses 72 of golf’s most menacing issues from tee to green and explains how to fix them without me—or any other teacher for that matter. My new book—Fix It Yourself—is very much a self-help troubleshooting guide. In this article, I’m going to give you a sample of some of the common issues addressed in the book and teach you how to teach yourself. Let’s get started. — WITH RON KASPRISKE

Adapted from the book Fix It Yourself, by David Leadbetter, with Ron Kaspriske, St. Martin’s Press, $30

NO DISTANCE OFF THE TEE? ‘SNAP’ THE CLUBHEAD

If you’re struggling to maximize your distance potential with the driver, the problem could be from misunderstanding what you need to do to generate good clubhead speed. The first mistake is thinking you need to grip the club harder to hit it further. The second is starting your downswing with everything you’ve got. In both cases, it’s wasted effort. Let me explain why.

When you grip the club too hard, you can’t utilise the suppleness of your hands, wrists and arms to provide a snap-like action into the ball. That “snap” really generates a lot of power. When you start down from the top as fast as you can, there’s a good chance your clubhead will be slowing down when it gets to the ball. Like I said, it’s wasted

energy. Instead, your grip pressure should feel relaxed and the start of your downswing unhurried. You want your driver moving its fastest through the hitting area. You don’t hit at the ball, you swing through the ball A time-honoured drill to get a feel for this snap is to flip the club upside down and grip the shaft at its neck. Now make practice swings creating a whoosh sound as the grip end passes over the ground where your teed ball would be sitting (above). Keep the grip pressure light and let speed build. If you hear the sound halfway into your downswing, you’ll know you’re still gripping too hard and swinging too fast at the start. Try to create that sound much later. When you go back to hitting drives, you’ll be out of “hit” mode, and your swing should feel much more free.

STILL NOT SATISFIED WITH YOUR DRIVES?

SYNC YOUR ARMS AND BODY

Another common power leak comes from making a weak backswing. Sometimes you get short and armsy out of fear of missing the ball. Sometimes it’s simply not correctly blending the swinging of the arms, hands and club with the body’s pivot. Let me teach you how to sync those things up with my push-palm drill, and I promise you’ll get longer off the tee. Get in your address posture without a club and place your right hand under and against your left so they’re pressed against each other (above, right). Now mimic a backswing while keeping pressure against the back of the hands. The upper part of your left arm should be linked to your chest as your upper body coils against your right leg (middle, right). Meanwhile, your right arm should remain a touch higher than your left as you reach the top of the backswing (bottom, right). Hold this position for a few beats and feel how your left side is pushing while your right side is pulling. By exaggerating the push-pull action, you are linking your arm swing with your body pivot. That’s crucial. This is the feeling of synchronicity you need to make a good backswing that creates and stores energy you can use to hit the ball further. As a bonus, this drill also is great for flexibility.

HITTING SLICES AND PULLS?

ADJUST YOUR SWING PATH

A common swing-path mistake is often described as “coming over the top.” It means the club is swinging into the ball crossing over the top of the track it went back on. It’s caused by starting the downswing incorrectly with the upper body, putting the club on a steep, out-to-in path in relation to the target line. The result is a pull (straight shot left of your target) or a slice (a curved shot right of it). If you want to banish those misses, you need to stop coming over the top.

To groove a swing into the ball that comes from inside the target line, try this side-step drill: Grab a 7-iron, and with your feet nearly together, address a ball two inches closer to the target than your front foot (above, right). Now swing. As you transition down, step toward your target with your left foot (middle, right), plant it so that it’s now closer to the target than the teed ball and then swing through (below, right). Don’t worry if the shot wasn’t good. Just get used to making this weight shift forward.

You’ll soon realise that stepping toward the target helps unlock the natural chain of motion, releasing your coil from the ground up. When you feel pressure in that left foot, you’ll acquire the lower-body motion needed to allow your club to swing down into the ball on a path inside the target line. That’s how you stop hitting those slices and pulls.

NOT COMPRESSING YOUR IRON SHOTS? LEARN HOW TO LAG

Ask pros what their favourite lie is for hitting iron shots, and they’ll say, “The tighter the better.”

Ask most amateurs, and they’ll likely describe that cushy quarter-inch high cut of grass just off the fairway. Why? Many amateurs “cast” the clubhead down into the ball. It’s a term that comes from its resemblance to the action required to cast a fishing line into the water. The surest way to hit bad iron shots is to start the downswing with the hands and arms. To compress the ball, you need your lower body to lead the way.

The clubhead path down into the ball should trail the movement of the feet, legs and hips—which push down and then rotate toward the target. This trailing action is known as lag, and it’s the key to pure iron shots. In fact, it’s the reason

pros often hit their 7-irons as far as you hit a hybrid or fairway wood. The lag delofts the clubface into impact, and it allows better players to pinch the ball off the turf powerfully.

To feel how to properly sequence movement in the downswing—lower body first, then upper body, arms and finally the club—make a fully wound backswing with your wrists nicely hinged, your left arm pinned across your chest and the club’s shaft feeling loaded up. From this spot, mimic the start of your downswing, but pump a couple of times up and down with your ankles and knees (above) before unwinding into the ball. This dynamic drill subconsciously trains you to get that lower-body activity going ahead of your torso, arms and club. It’s key to the lag you need to compress your irons. You can even hit shots with this pump drill.

STRUGGLING WITH HALF-WEDGE SHOTS? PERFECT YOUR PIVOT

When facing a short shot that requires less than a full swing, many amateurs mistakenly try to regulate distance with their hands and arms. There’s very little body movement. When the hands and arms take over, it’s tough to hit the ball solid, and distance control is all about quality of contact.

Your focus on these half-wedge shots should be on blending the movement of your hands and arms with the rotation of your torso—the pivot. Think of pitch shots as a mini version of your full swing, and in the full swing, it’s your body that governs the action, not your hands.

A great drill to help improve your pivot action is to grab a bath towel and trap it under your arms and across your

chest as you get into your address posture with a wedge. Now make practice swings (no ball at first) while keeping the towel in place. Feel how your arms and body are unified as you swing back and through. It should feel simple and economical, with the upper part of your left arm moving across your chest in the backswing and the right arm moving along with it in the through-swing. Feel how your hands and arms are guided by the movement of your rib cage.

Once you know how to pivot, you can use some wrist action, hinging and unhinging them to add touch to your shots. Then progress to hitting shots (above). Focus on making quality contact swing after swing. You’ll achieve that if you keep your body pivoting well past impact.

CAN’T GET OVER THE BUNKER LIP?

SKIM YOUR BALL UP AND OUT

When standing in a greenside bunker with a high lip between you and the green, a common mistake is to try to help the ball out with some body English. To get the ball up quickly, I see players rising up or hitting off their back foot or trying to scoop the ball out of the sand with a flick of the wrists—all sorts of bad moves that are likely to leave the ball anywhere but on the green. If you struggle with bunker play, you need to trust your sand wedge to do the work.

A great visual for how your body, hands and club should operate in a bunker swing is to visualise skimming a stone across a pond. The way your body rotates and your arm folds and shallows toward the ground to get the stone to hop is very similar to how your right arm should control a bunker swing. In fact, next time you’re practicing, make some sidearm throws down range with a golf ball and feel how you time the throwing motion with your body rotation. Then employ that action in a bunker.

Another way to get a feel for this blending action is to make one-arm swings in the bunker, rotating your body toward the hole as your arm skims through the sand. When you go back to hitting bunker shots, remember this skimming action and keep the clubhead moving well past the time it strikes the sand. When you finish, the clubhead should be looking back at you (bottom, right).

HATE CHIPPING OFF TIGHT LIES?

GO WITH YOUR HYBRID

Tour pros love hitting chips off razor-cut fairway lies, but I bet you prefer a little cushion of grass under your ball. Trying to play a standard chip shot with your sand or lob wedge from a tight lie leaves very little margin for error. Unless you’re practicing these greenside shots a lot, you’re probably better off going with an easier option.

This is especially prudent if you don’t have to get the ball airborne for your next shot, like when it’s resting just short of the green in a fairway or in a collection area on the side of the putting surface. What you want in these scenarios is the play that gives you the best chance of getting the ball close to the hole—considering your skill level. Don’t forget that last part. It’s much easier for average golfers to execute a chip-and-run shot with a hybrid (left). Assuming the lie is clean, this shot is especially useful for longer greenside shots or when there’s a steep bank between you and the pin.

To chip with your hybrid, think of the shot more like a long lag putt. Stand taller than your normal putting posture and open your stance a little. These adjustments will help free your stroke. Also, grip down on the handle a little for control. To make good contact, play the ball a little behind your sternum (left), and set up so that the shaft is more upright with the heel of the club just off the ground. With all these setup adjustments in place, all you need to do is make a good lag putting stroke. Keep your lower body still as you swing your arms and rotate your body a touch toward the hole. The club will collect the ball and get it rolling through the grass around the green with enough momentum to keep it tracking toward the cup once it’s on.

COMING UP SHORT ON LONG PUTTS?

FLIP YOUR STROKE

A common mix-up is that the putterhead should be accelerating as it meets the ball. Why is this flawed? If the putter is gathering momentum and accelerating into the ball, the energy of the collision makes distance control difficult to regulate. When analysing the strokes of the best putters, there is little or no acceleration at impact. The putter is actually moving its fastest in the transition from backstroke to through-stroke. This notion of speeding up through the ball causes many golfers to make a short backswing and a long follow-through— especially on those big lag putts. I’ve already mentioned what this does for distance control, but a jerky stroke like that also can cause an off-line putt, because it’s harder to keep the face square to your intended path.

Instead, you want to make a stroke with an even one-two tempo. The putter should move at the same pace no matter if it’s a four-footer or a 40-foot putt. Also, make a longer backstroke and shorter follow-through (photos, right). That’s a key adjustment—and it’s likely the opposite of what your instinct tells you to do, but this long-short action eliminates the temptations of steering the putterhead or putting too much pop into the strike. Most importantly, it ensures you don’t speed up into the ball.

AGF news

Charley Hull

said

a win was coming. Three days later she was holding a trophy

Golf Saudi Ambassador Charley Hull warned that this was coming. “I feel like a win is just around the corner,” the carefree, 28-year-old Englishwoman said Wednesday on the eve of the Ladies European Tour’s Aramco Team Series event at Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia. Hull shot 65-67-66 on Saturday and walked away with the trophy, her ﬁrst anywhere in more than two years. She ended at 18-under-par total, three clear of Nicole Broch Estrup. It’s her fourth LET victory. Hull’s last victory anywhere came in October 2022 at the LPGA’s Volunteers of America Classic.

Oman Golf makes it a triple threat

There are further gains for Oman Golf as they now have a third golfer having entered into the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR). The Oman Golf Association has recently celebrated the addition of Mohammed bin Saif Al Busaidi into the WAGR, making him the third Omani golfer to enter the global list. He now joins the rankings alongside Azzan bin Mohammed Al Rumhy and Ahmed Khalil Al-Wahaibi.

UAE take medal haul in Pan Arab Championships

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Under 16 Girls Team have successfully defended their gold winning medals at this years Pan Arab Golf Championships in Tunisia. Eleven countries are taking part in the Pan Arab Golf Championship with contestants from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Tunisia, and the UAE.

Golf Saudi’s Kipp Popert

wins

G4D Tour Series Finale @ DP World Tour Championship

Kipp Popert (r) enjoyed the perfect climax to his season as the Golf Saudi Ambassador won his 11th G4D Tour title at the G4D Tour Series Finale in Dubai. The two-day seasonending tournament at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth course featured a gross event and a net event as part of a revamp to reinforce the G4D Tour’s status as the most inclusive Tour in golf.

Red Sea Global appoints Jon Brook as General Manager for Shura Links in

Saudi Arabia

Red Sea Global, the developer behind regenerative tourism destinations The Red Sea and AMAALA, has announced the appointment of Jon Brook as General Manager of Shura Links, the 18-hole golf course on Shura Island.

Meet this 66-year-old from Lebanon who saw bombs dropping from the sky during his ﬂight to compete in the Asia-Paciﬁc Amateur

For over 15 years the soul of Asia-Paciﬁc Amateur Championship has been the journey its competitors have taken to get here. And boy, have there been some journeys. That the winner is aﬀorded starts in the Masters and Open Championship are just the cherries on top—as life-changing as those major experiences are.

Saudi Arabia’s Khalid Attieh making strides on The International Series stage

Khalid Walid Attieh continued his impressive form on The International Series at the Black Mountain Championship, making the cut for the second time this year a er his historic achievement in Oman where he became the ﬁrst Saudi amateur to do so in a pro tournament.

To read more, visit golfdigestme.com/agf-news

the gulf club

Orient Travel Monthly Medal Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club

Dehan Orient

OMA Emirates Medalford in Association with Unique Holding Jumeirah Golf Estates

Adam Hodgkins

Dubai Spurs Supporters Club Arabian Ranches Golf Club

Tommy Fleetwood Academy Junior Medal Series by DP World Jumeirah Golf Estates

Jameel Choudryt

Grand Final Jumeirah Golf Estates

With 7-Woods all the Rage, Should 9-Woods be Next? Q:

I SEE A LOT OF PGA TOUR PLAYERS USING 7-WOODS. I HAVE ONE, TOO, AND IT’S TERRIFIC. GIVEN THAT, SHOULD I LOOK AT A 9-WOOD TO REPLACE MY 5-IRON, WHICH I HAVE TROUBLE HITTING CONSISTENTLY?

My friend, you have come to the right place. One of us recently made that very switch and has been extremely pleased with the results. The 9-wood is easier to hit, goes way higher and powers through the rough. It’s also a club you can use from the tee on at least one par 3. However, what makes a 9-wood easier to hit?

For starters, a 9-wood imparts more spin than an iron or hybrid. This allows the ball to fly higher and can help you hold a green from longer distances. It performs the same way from the rough, and this is vital because playing out of the rough reduces launch and spin.

Golfers with average to slower swing speeds often benefit from more spin to help keep the ball in the air. Another benefit is forgiveness. A 9-wood is larger than a hybrid and much larger than an iron, making it more forgiving with a moment of inertia (which increases stability and mitigates ball- speed loss on mis-hits) that is significantly higher.

The longer shaft should generate additional clubhead speed, and the bulge and roll on the face of a 9-wood (compared to an iron with a flatter face) produces a gear effect that brings toe and heel hits back toward the centre of the fairway—always a bonus

A handful of players at the U.S. Women’s Open carried 9-woods. Although that doesn’t appear to be a significant number, the more telling stat is that roughly 20 percent of the field started their iron set at the 6- or 7-iron. This is our suggestion for everyday golfers, and the 9-wood should be considered as an iron-replacement option.

Q: I’M A HIGH-HANDICAP PLAYER AND WAS TOLD BY A FRIEND THAT A “REMINDER GRIP” MIGHT HELP ME. WHAT IS IT, AND WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

FLY HIGH Tommy Fleetwood is among the handful of pros that use a 9-wood.

Reminder grips have long been used by tour players. Ben Hogan, in fact, was known to place part of a wire hanger under his grips to promote a weak grip to avoid the hook. Manufacturers also make them for the masses. Reminder grips feature a narrow rib on the underside of the grip that fits into the crease of the fingers to “remind” players to grip the club properly. Today, these grips appear to be an underutilised tool. According to industry leader Golf Pride, about 15 percent of all grips are ribbed, with the company’s ALIGN grip accounting for about two-thirds of that 15 percent.

“The level of knowledge about reminder grips is fairly low,” says Greg Cavill, an engineer at Golf Pride. “The diehards know they exist, but even they are not fully aware of the benefits of repeatable hand placement.”

That’s unfortunate. “More players should consider reminder grips, especially higher handicappers,” says Woody Lashen, a Golf Digest 100 Best Clubfitter at Pete’s Golf in Mineola, New York . “Middle to high handicappers would benefit from positioning their hands on the club the same way all the time.”

Reminder grips eliminate a variable. If you struggle getting your hands in a comfortable, consistent position, you should give them a try. Plus, the barrier to entry can be as low as one re-grip. Try re-gripping your driver with a reminder grip and see how you like it. You can always go back to what you had. Answers by Golf Digest’s equipment experts, Mike Stachura and E. Michael Johnson.