Worldwide Golf September 2020

T H E M I D D L E E A S T ’ S N O .1 G O L F M A G A Z I N E

EST

SEPTEMBER

1999

2020

SAM HORSFIELD

TAYLORMADE

Meet the European Tour’s latest young sensation

New P-Series irons unveiled

BACK IN BLACK Titleist T-Series irons and SM8 Vokeys receive a makeover

F E AT U R E

FOCUS

ANDY SULLIVAN

BACK SMILING AFTER A FIVE-YEAR WAIT FOR A WIN

ZENIA WIVOU

THE DUBAI-BASED FIJIAN IS READY TO MAKE HER MARK

+ THROW THE DART FOR A POWER-UP + DUBAI GOLF TROPHY + BRYSON’S FITNESS REGIME ST_Logo_Port_4C_OnLight.AW

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR

The golf ball must be scaled back to save classic courses

New breed of stars makes for compelling viewing Collin Morikawa’s breakthrough at the US PGA Championship against experienced opponents gave us a glimpse of the future, and I can’t wait to see how the current young crop continue to fare in the Majors.

W

e seem to be living in another world at the moment and although the European Tour and the PGA Tour are doing their level best to keep the show on the road, the unreal atmosphere of tournaments played to empty golf courses is taking a lot to get used to – both for players and viewers like myself watching from their homes on TV. It was certainly a wise decision to postpone this year’s Ryder Cup – one of the biggest sporting events in the world – to 2021. Europe’s Captain, Padraig Harrington, and America’s skipper Steve Stricker, both eventually came round to share the same opinion that without spectators The Ryder Cup simply wouldn’t be The Ryder Cup. Could you imagine a silent Whistling Straits Golf Club with no applauding nor any home fans chanting ‘USA-USA’ to support their players. They also explained that the validity of the traditional qualifying system for the team members had been compromised by the number of postponed or cancelled events this year, and if the matches would have gone ahead it would have been an impossibility to calculate it fairly.

Golf, as with all sports, is about competing, enthusiasm, determination and, of course, the sheer will to win. The staging of the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational at Memphis marked the second winning of the event in the past three years for Justin Thomas, whose three-shot victory took him to the top of the world rankings.

It was good to read that Justin was eager to praise the progress of Collin Morikawa, Matthew Wolff and Viktor Hovland, particularly the Californian-based Morikawa, who won the Barracuda Championship last year for his first PGA Tour event and this year’s Workday Charity Open at Muirfield Village.

I’d like to congratulate Collin on making his third PGA Tour triumph a Major at last month’s US PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, with a two-stroke victory over Dustin Johnson and Paul Casey.

Collin has a great swing and freely admits that he is inspired by competition and that improved consistency is his aim - even to the point where tossing a coin with his opponents becomes a serious battle for him. He has the determination to win in the most difficult circumstances and take on any challenge, especially against his friends, Wolff and Hovland.

Currently in the top five leading players in the world ranking, he thrives on being pushed to the limit to improve his game and I’m sure he’s going to continue pushing himself all the way to the top. I wouldn’t be surprised if Steve Stricker hasn’t already penciled him in for his Ryder Cup debut next year, in the unlikely event that he doesn’t qualify outright.

In these strange days of spectator-less international sport it seems that certain players actually prefer to play on empty golf courses because they feel that it reduces the pressure on them.

In my view, that’s the attitude of a defeatist. It’s got nothing to do with having the drive and determination to win golf tournaments, or any other sporting event for that matter. If you look at the record of the greats of our game you can see that they all have had to overcome adversity to succeed. Earlier in my career I had to cope with apartheid before I could produce my best golf and disregard any nerves and even physical violence.

We must not underestimate the importance of spectators on the golf course. If the galleries were not there to add atmosphere to the event, then, ultimately, professional golf would simply not exist.

I’d also like to praise a talented South African, Wilco Nienaber, who took full advantage of his late addition to the field at the English Championship at Hanbury Manor Hotel and CC by finishing fourth for his best-ever result on the European Tour. American John Catlin and his caddie were removed from the tournament by breaching the Tour’s Covid-19 protocol for visiting a local restaurant – outside the tournament bubble – prior to the event.

Catlin’s spot was given to Nienaber as first alternate and the young Springbok went on to card four rounds in the 60s – including a final round 66 – to vault up the leaderboard and collect 100 Race to Dubai points and a cheque for €46,125.

I’m still concerned about The Masters Tournament. The controversy of Bryson DeChambeau deliberately putting on weight to gain added distance to his drives is going to make certain traditional golf courses redundant. I played golf recently with an American footballer who was regularly hitting the ball 450 yards. If the manufacturers don’t act now to limit the distance of the golf ball, then courses like Augusta National and the Old Course at St. Andrews will become redundant. ■

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EDITOR’S LETTER ALEX GALLEMORE

Middle East essential lifeline for the European Tour

O

nce The 2020 Ryder Cup was cancelled, the best-known secret was that Dubai Duty Free Irish Open would fill the vacated date. The only items that were left unannounced were the venue and the prize fund. It may no longer be a Rolex Series event with a $7 million prize fund but the event itself has provided the European Tour with a major boost as they piece together a second and more lucrative UK Swing.

The second section of the Swing has already enticed some of the ‘money mercenaries’ back from America as a number of players will have failed to qualify for the final stages of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup. The main issue the European Tour will have to resolve with these headline events are the weather and crowd uncertainty. In the UK right now, Summer is proving even more unpredictable than usual and the rain has returned with a vengeance. Schools are gradually reopening and the fear of a second Covid wave is looming.

The likelihood is that all three events will remain closed door tournaments or at best a limited number of tickets will be released.

Watching the big names play the Scottish links of the Renaissance Club on the Golf Coast and at the traditional home of the BMW at Wentworth will give golf fans a sense that normality is returning.

If some form of crowd presence can be allowed to provide a live atmosphere to the television coverage, that final feeling of homeliness will greatly increase.

With uncertainity surrounding players travelling to China to play in the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, the European Tour have added two more tournaments to their schedule in Cyprus. The Tour’s first visit to the country makes perfect sense with the great weather on offer along with Cyprus having one of the lowest numbers of

confirmed COVID-19 cases in Europe. The big names will no doubt return to America and prepare for the Masters Tournament in the second week of November, while the majority of players will head to Africa for the Kenyan Open that also takes place during Masters week.

Crystal Ball Following that tournament, the European Tour aren’t scheuled to play again until early December following the cancellation of the NedBank Golf Challenge at Sun City.

So where does the European Tour go? Where Covid is being controlled and the weather is fine. The obvious answer is the Middle East in general and the UAE in particular. With the MENA Tour struggling to fill their calendar at the back end of the season could this be an opportunity for the European Tour to co-sanction a series of smaller events leading up to the DP World Tour Championship in December?

There will be no rest for the European Tour once the eventful 2020 season concludes at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The pressure will then be on to release a provisional schedule for 2021. This is where the Middle East Swing events are crucial. With the Far East looking uncertain, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia will give the European Tour the secure platform they need to fulfil television obligations, provide established events in ideal weather for their members and provide time to piece together the next series of events.

The Ryder Cup may be the main lifeline for the Europeans but the Middle East is equally as important these days.

ISSUE No.227 SEPTEMBER 2020 • Published by: Worldwide Sporting Publications Ltd • Published in Dubai by: Prografix • PO Box 24677 • Dubai, UAE (Tel) +9714 340 3785 Editor-in-Chief: Mike Gallemore • Executive Editor: Gary Player • Editor: Alex Gallemore (alex@wspglobal.com) Publisher: Mike Gallemore (mike@wspglobal.com) • General Manager Dubai: Richard Bevan (rick@wspglobal.com) • Editors: Todd Staszko, Scott Grayston, Thomas Wragg, Ashraf Ahmed, Jordan Smith • Production/Design Editor: Thameem Rayyan • Editorial Panel: Gary Player, Mike Gallemore, Alex Gallemore, Richard Bevan, Todd Staszko • Photography: Getty Images • June 2009 SSN 1- 46805671 • Approval UAE National Media Council: Ref.816 30/5/2007 Trade Licence No. 1/104375/15280 • Worldwide Golf specifies that post-press changes may occur to any information given in this publication and takes no responsibility for goods or services advertised.

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CONTENTS 12

COLUMN

COLUMN

42

COLUMN

44

45

Starter

Pete Cowen

David Howell

Adri Arnaus

All the latest news from around the global game and we look ahead to the second men’s Major of the season at the US Open at Winged Foot.

Master PGA Professional Pete Cowen believes more events in Dubai to end the season might entice more big names to the region.

European Tour stalwart David Howell is happy to be back playing – but can’t wait for the crowds to come back.

The Dubai-based Spanish ace reflects on a busy summer after returning to Europe following a brief stint competing in the United States.

24

John Daly There might be a new ‘Wild Thing’ in town soon with the emergence of John Daly Jr. The son of the two-time Major champion has been making waves, and at the age of 17 can already drive it past his old man... look out!

28

20

36

Andy Sullivan

Sam Horsfield

Zenia Wivou

After ending a five-year wait for a Tour title, Andy Sullivan is back smiling again. We chat with the engaging Englishman as he looks to end the season strongly and get back in the Ryder Cup fold once again.

With two victories in three weeks on the European Tour, we talk to young starlet Sam Horsfield about his journey so far and what he hopes to achieve in the game.

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We caught up with Fiji’s first ever female pro golfer – Dubai-based Zenia Wivou, who is raring to go after recovering from a knee injury which took five months to heal and make her mark on the Australian Ladies Professional Golf Tour.

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CONTENTS 38

34

MENA Tour set for October return After being one of the first sports organisations to shutdown operations due to the Covid-19 ourbreak in early March, the MENA Tour is gearing up to return with multiple events in Jordan.

Becoming Bryson We talk to Allister Parlane, Director of Fitness at the Claude Harmon Performance Academy, about the incredible body transformation Bryson DeChambeau has undertaken.

GEAR

46

TaylorMade P-Series Irons TaylorMade have added more firepower to their ‘Players’ iron range with the P7MB; P7MC and P770 – we get to the bottom of their different characteristics.

48

Titleist – Back in Black We take an in-depth look at the new T-Series Black Irons from Titleist and the Jet Black SM8 Vokey Wedges. There’s also the all-new Tour Speed ball which is set to hit the shelves soon.

Throw the Dart Gain more power and accuracy with this simple drill by Alastair Brown, Head Golf Professional at Emirates Golf Club.

50 INSTRUCTION

How to play the 18th hole on the Earth course (Jumeirah Golf Estates) Michael Sweenie, Teaching Professional at Jumeirah Golf Estates, talks us through how to play the dramatic closing hole at the home of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

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MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF RETURNS TO WINGED FOOT

THE COURSE WINGED FOOT GOLF CLUB THIS historically difficult course will test the very best as the second Major of the men’s season gets undeway on Sept 17

T

HE West Course at Winged Foot will welcome back Major Championship golf for the first time since 2006 when the great and the good roll into New York to contest this year’s US Open.

Located 20 miles north of downtown Manhattan, the club was founded in 1921 with two courses – the East and the West – designed by renowned architect A. W. Tillinghast and both have hosted some of the biggest events in the sport.

Winged Foot’s history within the game could have been a completely different story had it not been for an intervention from Mother Nature.

In 1929 it hosted its first US Open and the tournament was set to be held on the East course. However a storm ripped through the area, which caused so much damage that the tournament had to take place on the West. That year Bobby Jones won the title and the club has since hosted five further US Opens on the West Course, while the East has welcomed the US Women’s Open on two occasions and the US Senior Open.

This year’s championship won’t technically be an ‘Open’ as qualifying events were scrapped due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead the field is largely made up of exempt players because the USGA believe “conducting hundreds of qualifiers across the United States was not seen as a viable option.”

A European qualifier is usually held at Walton Heath and back in 2005 Michael Campbell qualified and went on to win his first Major at Pinehurst. This year the top ten players on a mini-Order of Merit after the first five events of the European Tour’s UK Swing will earn a place at Winged Foot.

A score of 5-over-par saw Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy win his only Major title at Winged Foot 14 years ago.

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STARTER

“It’s one of my favorite courses I’ve ever played.

Everything is just right there in front of you. It’s not tricked up. Nothing is hidden. You just stand on the tee and you’re about 490 yards away and you have a really narrow fairway and a pretty severe green – there’s a lot of holes like that.”

– Justin Thomas

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SPIN BACK

US Open 2006

“I just can’t believe that I did that. I am such an idiot.”

Mickelson and Monty fall at the final hurdle

– Phil Mickelson

T

HE final hole of the 2006 US Open at Winged Foot produced arguably two of the most horrifying Major melt-downs since Jean Van de Velde’s calamity at the 1999 Open at Carnoustie.

High profile stars Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie were the victims this time, with both carding double bogeys on the relatively benign par-4 to fall one shot behind eventual champion Geoff Ogilvy.

Montgomerie had leaped into a share of the lead with the most unlikely 75-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole and then calmly launched a drive straight down the 18th fairway.

Too relaxed However, as playing partner Vijay Singh took a ruling ahead of his second shot the Scot chose to wait, and when he was finally ready he quickly changed clubs before taking his shot. Only 171 yards from the pin, he elected to take a 7-iron, thinking the adrenaline of the moment would give him an extra boost. As it was, the almost ten-minute delay saw him become too relaxed and the shot came up short – at least a club short – to the right of the green in thick rough. He hacked out to the far side of the green and proceeded to three-putt for a double bogey.

It was his last top ten in a Major and haunts him to this day. “If there was one shot in my career I could take again – and have taken again a million times in my mind’s eye – it would be my 7-iron from the 18th fairway,” Montgomerie later wrote in his autobiography that his double bogey left him at 6-overpar and he trudged into the clubhouse thinking what might have been.

Mickelson, who was in the final pairing, stood on the 18th tee with a one-shot lead at 4-under but carved his drive way left behind a tree. Up ahead, Geoff Ogilvy signed off on his round with a par for a 5-over total, meaning Lefty needed par to win or make bogey for a play-off.

Tree hugger From 210 yards, after encouragement from the New York crowd, Mickelson risked it all and went for the green with an aggressive play to try and slice the ball around the tree. He swung hard and smashed it directly into the branches up head. The ball moved roughly 25 yards forward. His next shot carried over the trees but went left and plugged in the greenside bunker, with commentator Johnny Miller turning aghast at Mickelson’s shot choices.

The fourth shot out of the sand ran through the green and into the thick rough. His chip back towards the hole never stood a chance and Ogilvy was crowned the winner.

Miller called it “one of the worst collapses in US Open history by Phil Mickelson” while Mickelson, who popped in a 10-footer for double bogey, later reflected: “I just can’t believe that I did that. I am such an idiot.”

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STARTER

QUICK

HITS Officials at Augusta National have confirmed that this year’s Masters Tournament will take place without patrons on site. Without the roars of the galleries echoing around the pines, it will help Rory McIlroy in his quest to complete the career Grand Slam – we’ll find out if it works in November.

2019 DP World Tour Championship winner Jon Rahm is unsure if he will return to the UAE in December to defend his title amid concerns surrounding the travel arrangements during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jerry Kelly won the Senior Players Championship for his first Major title on the PGA Tour Champions at Firestone Country Club in Akron., Ohio.

Kelly hit more than 70 percent of his greens in regulation for the week – more than any other player in the field.

Phil Mickelson is looking sharp, prior to the start of the US Open. Having just turned 50, ‘Phil the Thrill’ showed his Major class by winning his first Champions Tour event.

What made the win even more impressive was it was his first start as a senior and he opened with a record-breaking 61 at the Charles Schwab Series at Ozarks National.

World No.304 Sophia Popov of Germany was the surprise winner of the Women’s Open at Royal Troon last month.

WOMEN’S OPEN HEADING TO MUIRFIELD IN A HISTORIC DECISION FOR THE WOMEN’S GAME, THE R&A WILL FINALLY TAKE THE AIG WOMEN’S OPEN TO THE FAMOUS MUIRFIELD COURSE IN 2022. LAST YEAR THE EDINBURGH COURSE, WHICH HAS HOSTED THE OPEN 16 TIMES, VOTED TO ALLOW FEMALE MEMBERS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND NOW THE R&A HAVE INCLUDED IT IN ITS NEXT FIVE WOMEN’S OPEN VENUES. CARNOUSTIE WILL STAGE THE EVENT IN 2021, WALTON HEATH IN ’23, ST ANDREWS IN ‘24 AND ROYAL PORTCAWL IN 2025.

McIlroy admits to struggling with no crowds

Teeing it up

News, Facts and Figures from around the world Phoenix Open to go ahead without huge grandstands

Four time Major winner hasn’t posted a top ten since the restart Rory McIlroy has admitted that playing golf with no galleries is having a detrimental affect on his performances. “I feel like the last few weeks I’ve just been going through the motions,” he said after failing to crack the top-30 for the fourth successive event.

“I want to generate an intensity and some sort of fire, but I just haven’t been able to.

That’s partly to do with the spectatorless atmosphere and partly to do with how I’m playing.”

There will be no ‘stadium’ surrounding the par-3 16th in 2021

Stacy Lewis seals Ladies Scottish Open American seals her first title since becoming a mother in 2018 Stacy Lewis clinched her second career title on a Scottish links with a play-off win over Cheyenne Knight, Emily Pedersen and Azahara Munoz at the Ladies Scottish Open. Lewis, who won the Women’s British Open at St Andrews in 2013, won with a birdie on the first extra hole after the quintet finished on 5-underpar at the forthcoming Men’s Scottish Open.

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Next year’s Phoenix Open – usually the most raucous week in golf – will be a little bit more genteel after organisers confirmed that the huge buildouts and hospitality tents won’t be present.

Building for the event, scheduled for the first weekend of February 2021, usually begins in late September but that won’t go ahead in the current circumstances.

However, officials remain hopeful that fans will still be able to attend in some capacity.

Lydia Ko capitulates as Kang doubles up Two-time Major winner Lydia Ko agonisingly misses out on breaking a lengthy drought Danielle Kang won her second consecutive LPGA Tour title at the Marathon Classic after an astonishing late collapse from former World No.1 Lydia Ko. Five shots clear with six holes remaining, Ko was on the verge of ending a two-year wait for a win but racked up two bogeys and compounded them with a double-bogey on the final hole to hand Kang a one-shot win.

STARTER

by Kiradech Aphibarnrat, four-time European Tour winner.

HOW TO ESCAPE FROM A GREENSIDE BUNKER I think bunker play – and the short game in general – is the most important facet of a golfer’s arsenal. When you make a mistake and you can save par by getting up-and-down, that gives you confidence. A lot of my friends back home in Thailand always seem to struggle with their bunker shots. They try and hit, and maybe scoop the ball up, but end up hitting it thin and sending it through the green, or worse – not even trying to get out of the bunker if it has a deep face. Instead the opposite is the case. You need to hit down on the sand with acceleration to pop the ball up and out of the bunker. Here are my three tips to get out of the bunker at the first attempt.

If you need to lift the ball up sharply and quickly, open your stance more and squat down a little bit to give yourself a better angle of hitting into the sand before the ball.

OPEN YOUR STANCE

USE THE BOUNCE OF THE WEDGE

HIT DOWN AND THROUGH

If you make your stance wider for a more solid foundation, it will be easier to turn your upper body to the left and move the club down into the sand, which will let the sand help the ball up.

When practicing, I like to draw a line in the sand about 1-inch behind the ball and then hit that line with the bottom of the club – the bounce – and let the sand work the ball up in the air. Don’t try and hit the ball.

You will start hitting better greenside bunker shots if you open the face and hit down on the sand behind the ball – letting the sand lift the ball up and out of the trap.

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WORLD ROUND-UPS THE EUROPEAN TOUR’S UK SWING DELIVERED SOME EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCES WITH BREAKTHROUGH WINS AND LONG-AWATED RETURNS TO THE WINNER’S CIRCLE FROM PAST RYDER CUP PLAYERS. RENATO PARATORE ON SONG FOR SECOND TOUR WIN

ANDY SULLIVAN ENDS LONG WAIT FOR A WIN

Italian Renato Paratore eased into a second title on the European Tour with a three-shot win over Rasmus Højgaard at the Betfred British Masters, the first event on the Tour’s UK Swing at Close House. On a difficult final day, Paratore dropped just two strokes as those around him faded and he sealed the win on 18-under-par with a 69. Paratore won his first title in 2017 at the Nordea Masters.

Andy Sullivan picked up his first win since 2015 with a runaway victory at the English Championship at Hanbury Manor. Former Ryder Cup star Sullivan was on fire from start to finish carding rounds of 66-62-64-65 for a 27-underpar total and a seven-stroke win ahead of Spain’s Adrian Otaegui. Rasmus Hojgaard continued his fine form with a third place finish while South African Wilco Nienaber finished fourth.

SAM HORSFIELD BREAKS THROUGH IN STYLE Young English star Sam Horsfield collected his first win with a narrow triumph over Thomas Detry. Horsfield began the day with a one-shot lead and ended it that way – but not before losing the lead late to the Belgian before Detry ended it with a bogey on the last hole while Horsfield calmly held his nerve on the final hole to get his first taste of victory.

HORSFIELD DOUBLES UP

LANGASQUE FINALLY A WINNER IN WALES

Sam Horsfield underlined his potential with a second win in the space of three weeks at the Celtic Classic in Wales. After a rain delay, Horsfield finally got the job done in fading light at Celtic Manor, winning by two ahead of Thomas Detry. Andrew Johnston, Thomas Pieters and Connor Syme finished in a share of third place.

France’s Romain Langasque carded an exceptional bogey-free final round 65 to come from five strokes back and win his maiden European Tour title at the ISPS HANDA Wales Open. The former Amateur Champion emerged from a crowded leaderboard to win in his 78th start on Tour, finishing two shots clear of Oman Open winner Sami Välimäki with English pair David Dixon and Matthew Jordan finished in a share of third.

US PGA Tour News

Justin Thomas

Dustin Johnson

The PGA Tour organised back-toback events at Muirfield Village and winning the first was Collin Morikawa for his second title at the Workday Charity Open. The following week Jon Rahm won the Memorial Tournament over the same course but with a much firmer set-up to get to World No.1 for the first time in his career.

However, his stint as the top man was short-lived as Justin Thomas won the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational for the second time in three years to get back to the pinnacle of the rankings.

Thomas was the hot favourite heading into the first Major of the season at the US PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park but it was young starlet Morikawa who stole the show with

a two-stroke win over Paul Casey and Dustin Johnson for his first Major title. The following week Jim Herman was the unlikely victor at the Wyndham Championship.

Herman has only two top-25 finishes on the PGA Tour in the last two years – both of them victories.

He missed 27 cuts during that same stretch. From Herman’s famine to Dustin Johnson’s feast

Collin Morikawa wins the US PGA Championship

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as he hit 65 out of 72 greens at TPC Boston to romp to an 11-stroke victory with a 30-underpar total at The Northern Trust, the opening event of the PGA Tour’s Play-offs. That performance gave him his 22nd PGA Tour victory since 2008 – more than any other player in the same span – and saw him return to the No.1 spot in the World Ranking.

Race to Dubai 2020 The race is back on track RENATO PARATORE jumped into the top ten on the Race to Dubai with an impressive three -stroke victory as the European Tour ended its hiatus with the Betfred British Masters hosted by Lee Westwood. The 23-yearold converted his one-stroke overnight advantage with a 2-under par final round 69 to finish on 18 under, clear of Rasmus Højgaard. The Dane’s second place finish saw him pick up 222 Race to Dubai points to move up to eighth in the Rankings. South African Justin Harding finished a shot further back as he moved up to 27th spot.

Renato Paratore

SAM HORSFIELD soared up the table after collecting 335 Race to Dubai points and his first European Tour triumph with a onestroke victory over Thomas Detry at the Hero Open. The 23-year-old became the first home winner of the Hero Open - formerly the English Open - since Lee Westwood in 1998, and the fifth English winner in the event’s history, as he moved up 43 places to 18th in the Race to Dubai. Detry shot up 15 places to 15th after narrowly missing out on a maiden title while Oliver Farr, Chris Paisley and Alexander Bjork all took home 103 points for finishing in a share of third place.

Tom Lewis tied for second pace at the WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational where he also carded a spellbinding third round 61 to tie the course record at TPC Southwind.

The Englishman was the highest finishing European Tour member on 10-under par with American Justin Thomas picking up the trophy on 13-under.

Matthew Fitzpatrick, Louis Oosthuizen and Open Champion Shane Lowry came a shot further back in T6, with all three collecting 225.92 Race to Dubai points.

ANDY SULLIVAN returned to the winner’s circle for the first time in five years with a record-breaking triumph in the English

Championship which saw him move up to 15th in the Rankings. His sensational score of 257 over 72 holes was a new European Tour scoring record, beating the old record of 258, shared by David Llewellyn from 1988 and Ian Tom Lewis

Woosnam from 1990. Adrian Otaegui finished seven shots behind to pick up 222 points while Rasmus Højgaard moved up to sixth in the Rankings as he completed the top three.

Collin Morikawa shot to the summit of the Race to Dubai Rankings as he clinched his first Major Championship at only the second attempt, holding off a host of world class challengers to win the US PGA Championship in San Francisco. The California native produced back nine fireworks to sign for a Paul Casey

Win. Horsfield moved up to seventh in the Rankings courtesy of his victory in Wales.

Belgium’s Thomas Detry was runner-up to Horsfield and once again picked up 222 points to jump up to 13th in the Rankings while Andrew Johnston, Thomas Pieters and Conor Syme finished a shot further back to each collect 103 Race to Dubai points.

The European Tour welcomed another first time winner at the ISPS HANDA Wales Open as Romain Langasque sealed a two stroke triumph over Sami Valimaki to jump up to 31st in the Rankings. The Frenchman overturned a five-shot deficit on a dramatic final day with six birdies to surge through a congested leaderboard at Celtic Manor.

Valimaki moved up 11 places to 11th with his runner-up finish while Matthew Jordan jumped up 50 places to 66th in the Rankings after finishing in a share of third.

Romain Langasque

flawless 64 and finish on 13 under par, two shots clear of Dustin Johnson and Paul Casey.

Englishman Casey, who ran Morikawa close in a thrilling final round, picked up 870 points for his runners-up finish to soar up to fourth in the Rankings while Tony Finau shot up 188 places to 34th after finishing T4.

Sam Horsfield made European Tour history as he won his second title at the Celtic Classic, becoming the first golfer on Tour to fulfil the following sequence: Win - Cut -

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2020 CELTIC CLASSIC CHAMPION

2020 HERO OPEN CHAMPION

P O U LT S

P R A I S E S

SAM THE

MAN WITH two victories in the space of three weeks, Sam Horsfield announced himself as one of the brightest young prospects on the European Tour. Talk had been gathering momentum since 2011, when Ian Poulter declared the then 14-year-old Horsfield was ‘the best young player I have ever played with’.

The Manchester-born Horsfield left his homeland at the age of five to live in Florida with his family and went on to play college golf at the state’s University in Gainesville. It was in Florida where he met Poulter and word soon got around about a potential new star on the scene after the pair played 9-holes together.

We sat down with the 23-year-old to discuss his rise up the rankings and becoming a double European Tour winner at the Hero Open and the Celtic Classic.

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SAM HORSFIELD

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“I’m

PRETTY confident with all the different departments of my game,” says Horsfield as he reflects on his victories at Forest of Arden and Celtic Manor – both of which came ahead of Belgian Thomas Detry – by one shot in England and two shots in Wales.

“I know that when I’m playing well my game stacks up – and my wins have reinforced that confidence.”

Horsfield’s journey to European Tour glory began at Qualifying School in 2017 when, after turning professional earlier that year, he romped home to an eight-shot victory at the grueling six-round qualifying events to earn his playing card for 2018.

In his debut season he finished 52nd in the Race to Dubai, capping an impressive year with an appearance at the DP World Tour Championship and he’s keen to get back to Jumeirah Golf Estates after missing out last year.

I’m a pretty internally motivated and ambitious person and I wouldn’t say there was any more or less pressure with there being no fans present.”

SAM HORSFIELD “It’s a huge focus as the tournament is one of best, if not the best event we play all year,” he says. “If you play the DP World Tour Championship you know you’ve had a good season. With the great start I’ve had to this ‘new’ season I am focused on trying to not only appear at the tournament but, hopefully, challenge for the title and finish as high on the Race to Dubai Ranking as I possibly can – which will, hopefully, open more doors to bigger tournaments next year.

“I like the Earth course. There are certainly some holes where I can take advantage of my length. I finished tied 41st in 2018 – which wasn’t great – but it’s definitely a course which helps if you play it a few times, because there are some pretty severe green complexes. This year, I feel I’ll be better equipped to put in a stronger finish.”

After downing tools for lockdown back home in Orlando, Horsfield quickly got back into the groove in the UK at the opening event

HORSFIELD AND POULTER ENJOY A PRACTICE ROUND BEFORE THE 2015 US OPEN AT CHAMBERS BAY of the European Tour’s UK Swing. He delivered a course record-equaling 61 in the third round of the Betfred British Masters at Close House, which propelled him to a share of tenth place.

TIME FOR REFLECTION Feeling good about his game, he kept his momentum moving at the following week’s Hero Open where rounds of 68-63-71-68 saw him win, two shots ahead of Detry.

With 64 European Tour events under his belt, the youngster admitted to feeling the pressure – despite the fact that there were no spectators cheering on the action.

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“The pressure wasn’t really any different,” he says. “I’m a pretty internally motivated and ambitious person and I wouldn’t say there was any more or less pressure with there being no fans present. It was certainly different, and there is no doubt that the atmosphere is better with the fans present – but it’s just great to be back out playing again after such a long lay-off.

“I certainly appreciated the opportunity to be ‘working’ again. If there is one positive of this whole situation, it was the time I had to reflect on how fortunate we are to be doing something we love to do.

SAM HORSFIELD

Quick 9: LAST MOVIE WATCHED: Outer Banks (Netflix series)

HORSFIELD SHOT ALL SIX ROUNDS IN THE 60’S DURING THE SIXROUND MARATHON FINAL STAGE OF Q-SCHOOL IN 2017 “It’s fair to say that there were some things that I took for granted. In a sense, I guess we’re all guilty of that, but I definitely won’t be taking anything for granted in the future.

“In some ways the lockdown helped me.

I was able to go back to Orlando and take some time off and look back at how I play the game. Throughout my junior and college career I have always been the type of person who enjoys playing and I tend to play my way into form. That’s not always easy when you are out on Tour.

WINGED FOOT BOUND “While I have played pretty well in my first two seasons on the European Tour, to a certain extent I have been finding my feet and figuring out what works and what doesn’t work for me. I got sucked into doing what I saw others doing, like beating balls for hours on the range, and things like that.

But it’s just not my style. So, importantly, I’m continuing to learn what works best for me.”

Horsfield missed the cut the following week at the English Championship but bounced back in emphatic style at Celtic Manor Resort, with four rounds in the 60s to win in fading daylight after a weather delay during the final round.

Those two wins bring an exemption and plenty of Race to Dubai points – but an additional benefit is that he is guaranteed a spot in this month’s US Open at Winged Foot.

Horsfield leads the way in the UK Swing Order of Merit, which was created to provide ten places in the US Open after the cancellation of all regional qualifying events for the tounament due to the pandemic.

“US Opens are notorious for their tough set-ups and I have no reason to believe this year will be any different. I hit it pretty long - which helps - but there will be a premium on accuracy and the short game, so I will certainly be thinking about that as I prepare.”

– SAM HORSFIELD

“This will be my second US Open as a professional after two appearances as an amateur and although I haven’t played my best at the event before, I haven’t missed the cut by a long way either,” he says.

“I don’t think the lack of spectators will make a huge difference to how I play, although it will be a shame that we won’t have that same, great atmosphere.

“US Opens are notorious for their tough set-ups and I have no reason to believe this year will be any different. I hit it pretty long - which helps - but there will be a premium on accuracy and the short game, so I will certainly be thinking about that as I prepare.”

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BEST FRIEND ON TOUR: Sean Crocker

FAVOURITE MEAL: Steak and mashed potatoes

FAVOURITE CITY/ DESTINATION ON TOUR: Dubai

BIGGEST SPORTING IDOL OUTSIDE GOLF: Michael Jordan

FAVOURITE CLUB IN THE BAG: 5 wood

FAVOURITE SPORTS TEAM: Florida Gators

THE OPEN OR THE MASTERS? The Masters

MOST ENJOYABLE COURSE ON TOUR: Jumeirah Golf Estates, Earth course

One thing Horsfield is well aware of is how successful some of his former competitors at US college level have taken to life on the PGA Tour, particularly Collin Morikawa, who clinched his maiden Major at the US PGA Championship the week after Horsfield won in England.

‘GREAT TEAM AROUND ME’ “Seeing your peers from my junior days and college golf having so much success, not only inspires me but it also gives me the belief that I can play at that level,” says Horsfield. “I have competed against – and beaten – these guys many times in college, golf so, hopefully, if I keep working on the right things my time will come to perform on the biggest stages, like the Majors.”

Having reached a career-high of 80th in the Official World Golf Rankings and with the confidence that comes with winning on Tour, Horsfield is well on his way to becoming a regular fixture in the biggest events, and he’s quick to acknowledge the hard work that goes on behind the scenes as he continues his professional journey.

“I have been fortunate to have such good parents and a great team around me who have all given me so much support along the way,” he says. “Whether it’s in regard to my game, my schedule or my mental approach, it’s a huge advantage that I have people I trust who I can turn to in any situation.”

With his two-year exemption now secure, Horsfield can safely target the big events on Tour as he aims to break into that allimportant top 50 in the World Rankings and mix it with his old college adversaries once again.■

LITTLE JOHN

CHIP OFF THE

OLD BLOCK J OHN DALY’S teenage son John Daly Jr is following in his father’s footsteps and making a big name for himself. At 17-years-old, he can already hit it further than his dad, who was for many years one of the longest hitters on Tour. Daly Sr. was a two-time Major Champion and a fans’ favourite, as much for his unique and unpredictable demeanour, as his golf. The larger-than-life character would like nothing more to see his son play on Tour one day – and it’s fast becoming a serious possibility.

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MEET THE NEXT WILD THING

Little John Junior delights the crowd during the 2011 UBS Hong Kong golf clinic.

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Daly Jr. not only has the look of his unmistakable father but also the soft hands and awesome power to go with it.

The young prodigy raised eyebrows in June when he finished tied second at the Dye National Junior Event, an elite event made up of 33 of the top male and female junior golfers in the USA. After his outstanding performance, his father reckons, “he’s got it.”

“He’s maybe just a youngster but I just can’t keep up with him any more,” says Big John. “He hits it so far - He pummels it. He’s flying it about 300, 305 nowadays.”

‘Little John,’ as he’s affectionately known, is already commanding attention from college coaches in his sophomore year of high school. This comes as no surprise after his finest tournament performance

“HE’S MAYBE JUST A YOUNGSTER BUT I CAN’T KEEP UP WITH HIM ANY MORE,” SAYS BIG JOHN. “HE HITS IT SO FAR - HE PUMMELS IT. HE’S FLYING IT ABOUT 300, 305 NOWADAYS.”

last September when he dominated the Junior Golf Tour event in Kissimmee, Florida, where he won by nine strokes after shooting a 66.

John Daly Sr. knows what it takes to make it at the top level but he’s optimistic about Junior’s chances: “We’ll see how he goes on in college,” says the 54-year-old.

“He just hits it, man, he’s got that sound.

That sound of a swoosh in basketball or the perfect pass, or that tennis racquet hitting it solid every time. He hits that little ball solid every time. It’s a sound that a lot of people in golf don’t have and he’s certainly got it – he’s had it since he was around 8-years-old.”

John Daly Snr with his son Little John Jnr pictured on the 10th tee during the first round of the 2017 PNC Father/Son Challenge at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida.

Daly II first drew attention in the golf world by pairing with his dad at the PNC Father/Son Challenge. A clip of him sinking the winning putt at a junior golf tournament in 2017 also went viral.

However, the media are taking him far more seriously as a golfer after some impressive performances in the junior events. If he’s anything like his father to go by, John Daly Junior will be a welcome addition to the exciting young brigade who have emerged on the PGA Tour this season.

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• • • • • • •

John Daly Senior’s career path Turned pro in 1987 aged 19; Won his first victory that same year in the Missouri Open; Joined the PGA Tour in 1991; Won the 1991 PGA Championship – the first alternate pick for the event!

Won the BC Open in 1992; Placed third in The Masters in 1993; In 1994 he was suspended by the PGA Tour after walking off-course in the middle of a round, and for a previous

MEET THE NEXT WILD THING John Daly and eight year old John Daly Jnr on the practice range prior to the start of 2011 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at The Old Course St.Andrews.

(Right): John Daly Jnr joins his father at the 2011 Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters press conference.

•

•

•

•

•

incident in which he had thrown away a scorecard; In 1995 he won The Open Championship at St.Andrews after beating Italy’s Constantino Rocca in a playoff; In 1997, Daly became the first PGA Tour golfer to average more than 300 yards off the tee - a category he led for 11 years; His next PGA Tour victory came in 2004 at the Buick Invitational in a playoff against Luke Donald and Chris Riley; Daly Sr. enjoyed success on the PGA Tour Champions in 2017 in the Insperity Invitational - his maiden win at Senior level.

John Daly Senior was a crowd favourite, loved by the galleries for his outlandish attire and his never-saydie swashbuckling manner in which he played the game. He was one of the most colourful and zany personalities in gplf who always did it his way. He changed the face of tournament golf and disregarded his frequent run-ins with officialdom.

John Daly Junior’s career path By the time he was two years’ old, he was intrigued by golf, according to John Daly Sr. At the age of six, he had shown enough talent for dad to know his son might have a gift like his own.

By 10, he was playing in tournaments.

From there, he began to appear on occasion in nationally-televised father-son tournaments.

By 16 he was enjoying success on the

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junior national golf circuit and finished runner-up in the Dye National Junior Event, an elite event made up of 33 of the top male and female juniors golfers in the country.

“He’s fun to watch, just like his Dad,” Daly Jr.’s coach Nick Duffy says. “He has so much flare out there and has every shot you need to play the game of golf. He knows how to do it.

“He’s altogether a funloving guy.” ■

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Sully’s

ANDY SULLIVAN

B

ac k SMILING

A

NDY SULLIVAN HAS HAD TO PLAY THE WAITING GAME FOR HIS FOURTH EUROPEAN TOUR TITLE SINCE ANNOUNCING HIMSELF TO THE GOLFING WORLD WITH A TRIO OF VICTORIES IN 2015. BUT FINALLY, FOUR YEARS AND 297 DAYS ON FROM HIS THIRD TRIUMPH AT THE PORTUGAL MASTERS, THE

SMILING ASSASSIN ENTERED THE WINNER’S CIRCLE ONCE AGAIN IN FINE FASHION WITH A RECORD-BREAKING TRIUMPH AT THE ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP LAST MONTH. THOMAS WRAGG TALKS TO ANDY SULLIVAN ABOUT HIS RECORD-BREAKING TURN IN FORTUNE.

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ANDY SULLIVAN

T

HE 33-year-old enjoyed a solid return to the game following the European Tour’s hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic with a strong display at the Betfred British Masters where he finished tied fourth at Close House. But he was merely getting warmed up.

Two weeks later he lit up Hanbury Manor Country Club with a commanding seven-stroke victory over Adrian Otaegui. His spellbinding score of 257 over 72 holes was a new European Tour scoring record, beating the 30+ year record of 258, shared by David Llewellyn (1988) and Ian Woosnam (1990).

“That was a really emotional victory,” said Sullivan, who moved back into the top 100 on the Official World Golf Ranking with the win. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a lead like that going into the final round. In some ways it felt similar to the Portugal Masters in 2015.

The difference here was that after 12 holes I took a look at the leaderboard and realised I was now only two ahead of Adrian, so needed to put the pedal down!

“I knew my putt on 12 was important.

I loosened up from that point onwards and hit some really good shots. I was fighting back the tears over the last few holes. It’s just nice to be back in the winner’s circle after so long. It has been frustrating that my game didn’t kick on from 2015.

But my team and I have worked really hard and I’m so proud of myself.Another team which has worked tirelessly over the last six months has been medical professionals across the globe as they battle the COVIID-19 pandemic.”

Sullivan paid tribute to the NHS heroes in his home country for their amazing work by putting a one-of-a-kind PING tour bag up for auction.

The bag was used by Sullivan during each event that he played in the UK Swing and features a rainbow design, which has become synonymous with public support for the NHS during the crisis.

It’s impossible to put into words just how thankful and proud we, as a nation are, of our amazing NHS staff.”

SULLIVAN PAID TRIBUTE TO THE NHS HEROES BY PUTTING A ONE-OF-A-KIND PING TOUR GOLF BAG UP FOR AUCTION.

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THE SULLI ARMY WILL BE HOPING CROWDS ARE ALLOWED BACK FOR THE SEASON-ENDING DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP “It’s impossible to put into words how thankful and proud we, as a nation, are of our amazing NHS staff,” he said. “The work that they carry out every day is an example to us all, and what they have done over the past few months has been nothing short of superhuman.

“Auctioning off the bag was my way of saying a small ‘thank you’ to each and every one of our NHS heroes, and to help raise as much money as possible for such a great cause.”

Sullivan’s victory on home soil comes off the back of a difficult period for The 2016 Ryder Cup player. After reaching the heights of 28th in the world four years ago, the Nuneaton-born player found himself on a steady decline, and fell as low as 178th in the Ranking last year.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT Despite the difficult times, Sullivan remained his usual jovial self and became the first man to make an ace in the European Tour’s 500-ball “Hole-in-One Challenge” last year.

In typical ‘Sully’ fashion he sprinted towards the cup in disbelief after his 230th attempt found the cup. But did he ever doubt that he would win again on Tour?

“I always knew I would win eventually but after five years you do start to wonder!” he said. “It felt especially good that the win came in the UK, too. It was a great shame there were no fans on the course, due to the corona-virus situation but it felt so good to get back in the winner’s circle.”

The six tournaments on the European Tour’s UK Swing were all played behind closed doors due to the pandemic, so the

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loud and proud ‘Sully Army’ didn’t have the opportunity to applaud Sullivan’s return to glory, but the lack of spectators certainly eased the pressure during the final round.

“I put enough pressure on myself so I don’t need the fans for that!” he says. “The fans can really give you a boost when things aren’t going well, especially in the UK, so I’ve missed that. But the return of the European Tour has been a massive success.

“What Keith Pelley and his whole team have done in order to get us back playing again – and in a safe environment – is seriously impressive. It’s always a shame to play in the UK with no fans because the UK golf fans are great and love to watch good golf but in reality, we knew that was never going to be possible. I’m just thankful to be playing at last.”

ANDY SULLIVAN

AN EMOTIONAL SULLIVAN WAS CONGRATULATED BY HIS FAMILY ON A VIDEO CALL SHORTLY AFTER HIS ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP TRIUMPH

At home with Sully

MAJOR BOOST Sullivan’s triumph at the English Championship also sealed a return to Major Championship golf with the top ten in the UK Swing’s Order of Merit after the ISPS HANDA Wales Open all qualifying for this month’s US Open at Winged Foot. He last appeared in the event in 2016 with a respectable top 25th finish and he will be hoping for more of the same after missing his last three cuts in Major Championships.

“I can’t wait to get out there and play,” he said. “It’s been a while and it’s not really an opportunity I thought I would get in 2020, so it’s a real bonus and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it. The USGA is doing a great job of keeping us up-to-date and safe during the pandemic and I will be taking my own precautions to keep myself, my caddie and everyone in the field, as safe as possible.”

As well as sealing his spot in the US Open, Sullivan has all but secured his place in the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship in December. It’s a tournament where the four-time European Tour winner has enjoyed success at Jumeirah Golf Estates over the years with two top-tens, which include a runner-up finish on his breakthrough year in 2015.

“I love it in Dubai!” he said. “I’ve had success in Dubai, which obviously helps but I love the place, the courses, the weather, all of it. I’ve never really had the opportunity to explore more of the Emirate as our trips to Dubai often come at the start of a new season when you have another event straight after – or at the end of a campaign when you are looking forward to some time off at home. I hope to get the opportunity to explore it in the future, though.”

With a glimmering new piece of silverware on the mantelpiece things are looking up for one of the most likeable characters on the European Tour as he heads into the final stages of the season aiming to replicate the form he found in 2015 and 2016. ■

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FAVOURITE THING TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME? I love fishing. Sitting on the river bank with my thoughts, time to reflect, I love it! Life is so faast so it’s nice to slow down every now and then. I think it’s good for me.

HOW DID YOU CELEBRATE YOUR LATEST VICTORY? Nothing too crazy but it was nice to be able to drive home and have a little celebration with my family on the Sunday night.

HOW DID YOU KEEP YOURSELF ENTERTAINED WHILE THE UK WAS ON LOCKDOWN? Luckily, I had a small green built in my back garden which I used a lot to putt and chip on. I’ve got a net set up in the garden, too, which helped me continue to work on my swing. I also did some running once the restrictions allowed, which I really enjoyed. I got into some fitness training with my fiancé.

BREAKING DOWN THE

BARRIER O

NE of the most compelling stories since golf has returned has been Bryson DeChambeau’s incredible body transformation which has seen him become the longest player on the PGA Tour. The ‘Golf Scientist’ has packed on 20kg of muscle in just nine months and now weighs 107kg, which has seen him increase from a medium sized shirt to an XL. While his prior experiments were centred around his equipment, this latest development focuses on himself – he’s golf’s Incredible Bulk.

Back in October last year, DeChambeau promised to look “like a different person” for the 2019 2020 PGA Tour season, and it’s had an astounding effect on his golf game.

The 26-year-old now averages 323 yards off the tee and has been hitting some drives over 400 yards.

Amid all this, he’s managed to maintain his accuracy and, with that, his trajectory is on the up as he proved with victory at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and a first career Major top ten at the US PGA Championship.

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BRYSON DECHAMBEAU

Allister Parlane

Director of Fitness at the Claude Harmon Performance Academy “It has been amazing to see how quickly Bryson has put on 40lb through a vigorous strength training programme and consuming up to 10,000 calories a day at times.

What’s even more impressive is that he has been able to adapt to such a big change in his body and make it a positive one with his best finish (4th) in a Major at the US PGA Championship.

“He has been doing a lot of good work with his coach Chris Como to help ensure this extra mass is going to lead to gains in clubhead speed and ball speed without hurting himself. With the speeds he is producing there can be a lot of force and torque placed on areas

of the body and one thing I have noticed is his footwork.

He allows his feet to move freely rather than staying planted, which has allowed him to swing as hard as he can and reduce some of the torque and force going through his body. Usually, this kind of footwork would lead to losing accuracy off the tee but the fact that he is now leading in driving distance, scoring average and the highest number of top 10s this year – I think he would take the slight loss in accuracy if there is any.”

DeChambeau’s typical diet (3000-3500 calories) Midday Breakfast Dinner

4 EGGS 5 PIECES OF BACON TOAST 2 PROTEIN SHAKES

2018

PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY SANDWICH ONE GOMACRO PROTEIN BAR “HERE AND THERE” 2 SHAKES MID-ROUND OR EVERY 6 HOLES. “SNACKING” WHEN PRACTICING AFTER PLAY

STEAK & POTATOES 2 SHAKES

EXERCISES TO IMPROVE SWING SPEED

2020

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DEADLIFTS

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BOX JUMPS

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‘HAPPY GILMORE’ MED BALL THROW

•

SUPER SPEED STICKS

•

HITTING DRIVERS AS HARD AS YOU CAN ON RANGE

BREAKING BOUNDARIES

Z

enia Wivou is a woman on a mission.

The Dubai-based professional wants to make a name for herself after she became the first Fijian female professional golfer by gaining a Tour card on the Australian Ladies Professional Golf Tour in 2018. Unfortunately the 26-yearold was stopped in her tracks and is yet to make her maiden appearance on Tour after a terrible knee injury led to her requiring ACL reconstruction, meniscus repair and bone grafting, which would normally put a player out of action for nine months. However, with a helping hand from Health and Happiness Family Chiropractic and Physiotherapy she was back on the course within five months and is now chomping at the bit to inspire the next generation of Fijian female golfers.

Thomas Wragg caught up with her to find out how her golfing journey begun and what she hopes to achieve in the game.

WIVOU DURING ONE OF HER PHYSIOTHERAPY SESSIONS AT HEALTH AND HAPPINESS FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC AND PHYSIOTHERAPY

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ZENIA WIVOU

Worldwide Golf: How did your golfing journey begin?

Zenia Wivou: Funnily enough I was never really into golf when I was younger. I come from a very strong tennis family background, so that was always my go-to sport until I went to an open day for kids at Al Hamra Golf Club when I was nine. I have always been a natural athlete and being a tennis player, the swinging motion came to me quite easily. The same day, the coach came out and spoke to my dad and suggested that I should take golf up.

WWG: At what age did you realise you were better than others at golf and could turn professional?

ZW: I would say when I started because I could tell a lot of kids who were there tried really hard whereas it came really natural for me. It was always really easy for me to pick up any sport and excel in them. When I was around 16-17 was when I thought I could make it in to professional golf but during that time it was really hard to get yourself out there because there wasn’t that many opportunities for women.

WWG: How did you gain your card on ALPG Tour?

ZW: I got my Tour card in July 2018 after getting into contact with the ALPG operations manager a year earlier. They told me what was required in terms of playing games and course rating which would be equivalent to what I would have been playing in Australia along with a recognised PGA Australian Pro as a witness. I did everything that was asked of me and then applied through the ALPG with the proof of my rounds, amateur tournament appearances and references. I then moved to Australia to play and finally got my Tour card after a lot of hard work, however the next day I also got a job at Trump International Golf Club, Dubai. So, I then started working in the hope that I could save up and travel to play, but I wasn’t able to travel in the first six months during my probation period. Shortly after that I busted my knee and then the pandemic hit which has kept me away from the game for a while. It was all a case of bad timing but the ALPG were very supportive and allowed me to keep my card as I had planned on participating in the upcoming tournaments.

WWG: How have Health and Happiness Family Chiropractic and Physiotherapy helped you throughout your recovery from injury?

ZW: I started going to the centre over a year ago for a back issue and they did a great job in identifying what needed to be fixed and within my first physiotherapy and chiropractic session that irritating feeling in my back just disappeared. So, I went back there straight after my surgery earlier this year for three

“I WANT TO BE ABLE TO REACH EXPECTATIONS OF OTHER FIJIANS WHO WANT TO GET INTO GOLF. IT’S A SMALL COUNTRY BUT WE DO EXCEL WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO BRING OUT MY STORY AND PUT SOME FAITH BACK IN THE GAME, ESPECIALLY FOR THE FEMALE GOLFERS.”

ZENIA WIVOU

rounds of physiotherapy a week and two rounds of chiropractic adjustments a week. It has been ongoing since then. When I was working at Trump International, the owners of Health and Happiness Family Chiropractic and Physiotherapy were members of the club and I built up a very good relationship with them and they knew of my situation with my knee and I was fortunate enough for them to give me an opportunity to be sponsored by them.

WWG: You’re coached by Ross McArthur at the Trump International, how do you find his coaching methods?

ZW: Absolutely fantastic! I have never met anybody who can explain certain things so well. I am more of a feeler where I would not react to what you say, I would react to how I would feel, so he has always been able to explain things in a way so that I could feel it in a movement and I would remember it. He was

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at Al Hamra Golf Club at the time when I was there, so I have known him for 17 years and for him to see me start out as a beginning in the game and then get to this point is something that is very special to him.

WWG: What are your goals for the upcoming season?

ZW: I’m hoping to play my first tournament on Tour in January and I just want to get out there, get the experience and be able to play at a very competitive level and take it one step at a time. It’s a great standard of golf and I’m going to be playing against ladies that are shooting at least three or four under a day.

WWG: What’s been the biggest highlight of your golfing career?

ZW: Being known as the only Fijian female professional out there! I want to be able to reach expectations of other Fijians who want to get into golf. It’s a small country but we do excel with everything that we do and I want to be able to bring out my story and put some faith back in the game, especially for the female golfers. Regardless of any obstacles, you can actually achieve what you want if you put your mind to it. ■

MENA TOUR ORDAN

J

GEARING UP FOR OCTOBER RETURN IN

What made you come to that decision as early HE SEASON began with two as you did and are you pleased you did, given the Qualifying School events in travel restrictions that were subsequently put January and then five events in place? were held, which saw victories for the David Spencer: Yes, we were one of the first likes of young British hopefuls Bailey professional sports organisations and the first Gill and Ryan Lumsden and former OWGR Tour to suspend play because of our Challenge Tour winner Sebastian Gros. fears about COVID-19. On reflection, But shortly after Lumsden was this was an inspired decision handed the trophy for winning because had we kept going I am the Journey to Jordan 2 at Ayla sure that the entire MENA Tour in Aqaba, Jordan, play was would have been locked down halted for the foreseeable together for what would have future. been months. So, to give our Now, after watching the players the chance to get home PGA, European and LPGA Tours Bailey Gill and be surrounded by their friends, return to action, David Spencer, families and support network prior to Strategic Advisor, MENA Tour, talks to the pandemic accelerating was a great thing.

Worldwide Golf about what the future may hold and the work that has been going on behind WWG: What’s next for the MENA Tour? There was the scenes to create viable playing options for its talk about heading to Ayla Golf Club for a sixplayers. week stretch, can you explain how that would Worldwide Golf: You were one of the first OWGRwork? sanctioned circuits to suspend the season.

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DS: We have worked hard to try and create a ‘Jordan Series’ at Ayla in Aqaba commencing at the end of October. Our plan is to play five or six tournaments in a six-week period with all the players being accommodated, fed and cared for in a 5-star “bubble” at the Hyatt Regency at Ayla. The facilities there are nothing short of extraordinary, with amenities that will make this six-week stint a real joy for our players. But we will not press the ‘go’ button on the ‘Jordan Series’ until we are confident that the majority of our players can access Jordan easily and safely from their home destination.

WWG: We’ve seen reduced prize funds on the European Tour since its return, will the MENA Tour’s prize money be affected when it restarts?

DS: No. The situation regarding the European Tour actually creates opportunities for development tours like the MENA Tour because a reduced European Tour (and Challenge Tour) schedule impacts the playing possibilities for players who are ranked outside the Top 400

MENA TOUR WE HAVE developed great relationships with all of the OWGR Tours because the MENA Region is strategically important to all of them. We are very lucky to be able to offer our players such amazing opportunities and we will always continue to do so.” David Spencer

THE STUNNING AYLA GOLF CLUB IS HOSTING THREE MENA TOUR EVENTS THIS SEASON, INCLUDING THE JOURNEY TO JORDAN FINAL.

in the Official World Golf Rankings. The MENA Tour has no plans to reduce its prize funds and we are actually looking at ways to increase our tournament schedule for 2021 and beyond.

WWG: The MENA Tour has long-secured spots for its top performers and tournament winners at European Tour events. Will these be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?

DS: No. We have developed great relationships with all of the OWGR Tours because the MENA Region is strategically important to all of them.

We are very lucky to be able to offer our players such amazing opportunities and we will always continue to do so.

WWG: We spoke to Bailey Gill and he said he was looking forward to the return of the MENA Tour but would only be playing if prize money is paid out from the first half of the season. What has caused the delay in paying the players and will they be paid before the Tour returns?

DS: When we suspended the 2020 MENA Tour

seeing iconic global companies season our partners’ cash shedding thousands of jobs and flow was decimated due to Ryan Lumsden family units being rocked to the core the uncertainty surrounding by this invisible enemy, so it is important COVID-19. The MENA that everyone who is privileged enough to Tour survives on our partners’ work in the golf industry retains the perspective sponsorship funds. Our key partners agreed created by the pandemic. to continue their sponsorship for 2020 and 2021, however, due to the pandemic they needed WWG: What does next season look like for the time to adjust their businesses so they could MENA Tour? meet their obligations to our Tour. While this has DS: We are looking forward to 2021 with great caused some short-term inconvenience to our anticipation. Hopefully, we will all understand players it was something we had to do in order what the “new normal” will look like within the to secure the long -term success and vision of next few months. We are actively looking at a our Tour. schedule that will involve less regional travel and We are very proud of the attitude our partners playing multiple tournaments in one location have demonstrated to the MENA Tour. They are before moving to the next destination. great companies who have the same belief as Ayla in Jordan will continue to be a focal point we have at the Tour. The outstanding prize money for us and I also expect to see us play more will be paid in Q3, before we restart the balance tournaments in Oman and the UAE. Earlier this of the 2020 season. We fully recognize that these year we played our first tournament in Egypt, and delays have not been ideal for our players, but in we would like to look at multiple tournaments in fairness to our partners it is impossible to budget that great country as well. for a global crisis of this size. Every day we are

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MENA TOUR

David Langley

LEADING THE WAY IN HIS rookie year as a professional golfer, David Langley finds himself at the summit of the MENA Tour’s Journey to Jordan after five events. The Englishman secured his place on this year’s schedule after finishing tied 13th at Qualifying School before going on to pocket $13,500.00 in the first event of the season with an impressive victory at the Journey to Jordan 1. A second place finish at the Ghala Open saw him narrowly miss out on a place in the European Tour’s Oman Open but cemented his place at the top of the Rankings and a step closer to potential European Tour starts for next year. We caught up with the 26 year old as he prepares to finish the season on a high and be crowned MENA Tour No.1.

LANGLEY ON LEADING THE MENA TOUR’S JOURNEY TO JORDAN I’m looking forward to getting back out there and playing on the MENA Tour. I’ve enjoyed the golf courses that we’ve had the opportunity to play and I really want to get out there and solidify my place at the top of the Journey to Jordan.

LANGLEY ON BEING CROWNED THE MENA TOUR’S NO.1 It would mean a lot to me to win the Journey to Jordan on the MENA Tour. It would be a great achievement for me with it being my rookie year as a professional.

The European Tour starts that would accompany it, would be a wonderful experience which I look forward to.

LANGLEY ON LOCKDOWN

LANGLEY ON THE JORDAN SERIES

I didn’t do too much at the start of the lockdown. I actually had a small injury so I was able to have a proper rest and let it heal, so that covered the first few weeks. After that, I set up a net in my garage to enable me to hit some balls. I also did a little bit of technique work as well and I was pleasantly surprised that I played okay after the lockdown.

I think the idea of having six events in Jordan is a good one in terms of the travel aspect of things as the restrictions in place in certain countries make it difficult right now. So, having all the events in one location makes sense. I would be surprised if the Ayla Golf Club let us use their course for six weeks in a row! But even if we play a handful of events in Jordan that would be good.

LANGLEY ON WINNING EARLIER THIS SEASON The win at the Journey to Jordan 1 meant a lot to me. It really boosted my confidence and made me believe in myself more than I ever have. I really enjoyed it. It was good for me financially as well because I only had enough money to play the first two events on the MENA Tour, so I knew I had my back against the wall. The win made it possible to play the remainder of the season.

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PETE COWEN:

We need to get the crowds back as tournaments are boring without them!

More events in Dubai needed for season ending finalé I

t was weird experience being at the PGA Championship without the crowds. There was no atmosphere and the pros are just playing right now like it’s a knock about round with their mates. In fact, it feels more like a monthly medal. This new crowdfree stage is suiting some players and destroying others. Dustin Johnson strolled around the Northern Trust at TCP Boston to shoot a remarkable 30-under par total and simply demolished some of the best players in the world. It was all due to being pressure-free and playing on greens that were soft after the rain they had. For him it was just like throwing darts.

If you were watching it on TV you might believe TPC Boston was an easy track but when I tell you that it would play four shots harder per round than most European Tour courses - it just shows how good these top players are right now. When you consider Shane Lowry, Jordan Speith and Bryson DeChambeau all failed to miss the three-under cut mark and Rory finished 28 shots off Dustin’s winning score, that’s how hard the course played!

Why big names are struggling to fire I’m getting asked more and more about what is happening to the likes of Rory and the other big names who are failing to deliver. The

answer is purely because many players are struggling to get all fired up without the atmosphere the crowds bring to the tournament. The spectators give many players the focus and drive. Without the galleries shouting, the whole thing feels flat and many players are struggling.

Young stars are fearless It all might seem strange right now but it has given me a lot of freedom to walk the course and see certain players in action and not just on the range. I followed Collin Morikawa for the opening two rounds of the PGA Championship, as he was paired with Henrik Stenson and wasn’t at his best, but somehow found a way to grind out a pair of 69s. He’s got such a great all-round game but having seen him graft for the 36 holes I didn’t see him finishing in the top five, let alone winning it. That’s the difference with these young, talented players. He managed to adjust something in his game for the weekend and to close a Major with a 64 is just fearless.

Another player I’m impressed by is Matthew Wolff. His swing might look unconventional but the positions he gets in are impressive from a technical point of view, especially the delivery position, and that is what the swing is about. The perfect delivery position means he doesn’t have to use hand manipulation at impact and he can hit the

Matthew Wolff’s swing might look unconvential but tehnically it is one of the best and that delivery position is perfect. I can’t see much going wrong with this swing. A Major champion for sure!

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Emirates Hills would make an ideal venue in Dubai swing series

ball as hard as he likes, knowing the clubface will be on the correct path. So, it’s hardly surprising to see him up there as one of the longest and straightest hitters on Tour.

These youngsters have a great future ahead of them and I was reminded of the time when Graeme McDowell was paired with Matthew Wolf recently at the St Jude Invitational in Memphis. It was Gmac’s birthday and they announced it on the tee. Matt asked how old Graeme was to which he replied “41.” Wolff nearly choked and said: “Jesus…that’s old!” Gmac was taken back and quickly replied: “Don’t worry, it will come to you!” Wolff responded: “Yeah, but not for a long, long time.”

Bryson has just got fat to save his swing Catching up with Bryson DeChambeau is always fun. I admire the way in which he looks at things differently and his knew physique has been attracting considerable attention. So I couldn’t resist asking him what it was like these days to be fat.

Joking aside I understand the thought process behind the bulk as it is more to prevent injury than add distance. I saw him last year on the range at Portrush going flat out with the driver and his ball speed was 189mph. He’s realistically added a few more yards but the size is not just about adding ball speed.

Despite being in America I have been able to keep an eye on the lads in Europe. Although I’ve not made it to any of the events, I have

been able to go through things on the phone; assess the TrackMan numbers and video clips. But you really need to understand what the player is trying to achieve before looking at the stats, to get a rounded view of what is going on.

It’s great to see the Scottish Open and BMW PGA Championship are confirmed but I’m not sure $7million will attract the big names or whether crowds will be back in time. Rory will not be making the trip, as his daughter is due soon, so it will be interesting to see which players commit to the events.

European Tour lost without UAE I’ve also heard that the European Tour might be looking to put together a series of events in Dubai to conclude with the DP World Tour Championship now the Nedbank in South Africa won’t take place. It would be great to see more events in Dubai but where would they be staged?

Trump and Emirates Hills have to be favourites along with the Fire Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates before the season finale on the Earth Course.

That will certainly appeal to more big name players based in the States. As none of them will want to travel all the way from America for just one event. Whatever happens, the UAE is crucial for the European Tour right now and it’s a favourite destination for the players. Plus it’s one of the safest places in the world right now. ■

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COLUMN

DAVID HOWELL Spectator-less golf works, but it’s infinitely better with the galleries.

Galleries can’t come back soon enough At the English Championship a bright moment came along for me when I holed an 8-iron from 160 yards – which was greeted by a family sitting in their garden.

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rofessional golf, but not as we know it. That’s what we have been experiencing over the first few weeks of the European Tour’s UK Swing. As a lesson in social distancing and Covid precautions go, it really has been an A-Plus performance from the staff at the Tour.

We are somewhat used to playing in front of minimal crowds on Tour from time to time, because let’s face it we do often play in farflung locations where golf is not yet a mainstream sport. But even in the outskirts of a Chinese mega city, small crowds still means some crowds, even if it’s just a few members at least, purring over a drive that flies through air or a wedge shot that spins backwards.

In front of a large gallery it’s the silence, strangely, that can help create the atmosphere, the collective holding of breath can, in its own way, be deafening. Yet right now the silence is not deafening, in all honesty, it’s saddening.

A constant reminder of the fact that the world is in a strange place right now, a sad place, a different place than we are used to. Golf lends itself to social distancing, the young players I keep playing with seem be taking that 2-metre rule and stretching it to 50 metres off the tee for some reason. But let’s face facts. Whilst spectator-less golf courses work, it’s infinitely better with the galleries. There’s no doubt about that.

At the English Championship at Hanbury Manor, my hole-out eagle from the fairway was greeted with a welcome cheer and applause, courtesy of a family in their back garden taking in the spectacle. The moment was certainly joyous, and the applause seemed like a blast from the past. Let’s just hope that sooner rather than later those normalities will return, for everyone’s sake.

Grab and go food, marking your own card with a verbal score confirmation, a packet of tees and pencils handed out on Thursday for the week, where just about everything is digital, including socially distanced bananas, eating with your caddie, on-course sanitiser stations, PPE and, not forgetting, testing - lots and lots of testing.

OK, I know it’s all part of our current way of life. It’s been a herculean effort to get us back out on Tour I can tell you. We totally appreciate just how lucky we are to be plying our trade once more, so you won’t find any of our players moaning, but boy-oh-boy, it’s so quiet out here, really, really quiet.

Strangely though, the pressures that come with playing tournament golf have hung around, and that little white ball that

plays tricks on your mind hasn’t changed one little bit. It turns out that whilst the galleries magnify everything – both good and bad – so the pressures and stresses really are just inside one’s own head. I guess, if you care about your score then it really does matter, and when it matters, emotions get awakened pretty quickly.

A week is a long time in golf. The emotions I felt after opening the English Championship with a 64 compared to the 80 that I began the Celtic Open with couldn’t have been any more different.

In fact, during my 25 years on Tour I’m not sure such a disparity has been on show within seven days. This game of ours certainly keeps you on your toes. If you’re not careful, it can also keep you inside your own head.

But, you know what, I just have to keep on picking targets. I persevered, tried to execute, stayed patient and controlled, and I hit the ball 80 times, fully 14 times more than I hit the ball seven days previously. I, for one, hope that trend is not set to continue.

I didn’t watch the US PGA on TV, I kept abreast of things online, of course, but what a win Collin Morikawa produced. Nobody since Tiger Woods has made a faster start in the professional game. It’s refreshing to note that whilst all the talk has been about ‘distance’ of late, due to the amazing efforts and dedication of Bryson DeChambeau, it was the most accurate ball striker who won the day.

Not that Collin is short off the tee, he’s just straighter, more consistent, and so damn good, too. Hats off to the first Major champion of 2020, an epic performance, of that there is no doubt.

My former Ryder Cup partner Paul Casey came within a whisker of that elusive Major Championship with a fantastic performance at TPC Harding Park. Sometimes, when a young player arrives on the Tour they just have that little bit of ‘pizzazz’ that separates them from the rest of the bunch. I remember watching Paul hit a drive at Woburn in one of his first pro events – he certainly stood out from the crowd. Now, 20 years later, he still plays the game as well as anyone on his day. I wouldn’t put it past him becoming a fortysomething Major winner. This close call can only boost his chances in the Majors to come, and they are coming thick and fast right now.

All that being said, there’s a new crowd in town, and Morikawa has just shown his mates what can be done, defeating Casey and Dustin Johnson by two strokes, shooting 69-69-65-64. His college buddies are pretty good, too, so golf fans watching on TV, may be in for quite a ride. ■

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y r a i D our

A D R I

A R N A U S

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Adri Arnaus has risen through the ranks of tour golf at sensational speed. He won the Alps Tour Order of Merit in 2017, while still an amateur, after two victories including the tour’s season-ending grand final. He then repeated the feat by winning the Challenge Tour finale in Ras Al Khaimah in 2018 to take second place on the Rankings and gain promotion to the European Tour. His maiden campaign on the Race to Dubai was also a success after he secured a place at the seasonending DP World Tour Championship following three runner-up finishes throughout 2019.

A

FTER my stint in America to play competitive golf at the earliest opportunity it felt great to get back to familiar surroundings and compete on the European Tour again for the first time in four months at the Austrian Open.

I think the European Tour have done a phenomenal job in getting tournaments back on in the current climate and hats off to Keith Pelley and all the team for the job they have done during these difficult times. It felt very surreal arriving for the first event as there are obviously lots of measures in place to keep all the players and staff safe with lots of testing, as well as staying within your bubble.

I think quite a lot of the players – including myself – found that difficult as when you turn up to these tournaments you tend to hang out with each other after your round and go for dinner together, but it’s not like that right now. You’re only allowed to meet with your caddie and have to go straight from the course to the hotel, so it was room service for me most nights! At times it did feel as if was a bit too much, but then you realise how lucky we are to be playing golf again, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Playing for the first time without any fans felt really weird as I didn’t know if I was playing a practice round or tournament golf!

The fans are an integral part of the sport and they can give you so much momentum as you feed off their energy, so hopefully sooner

Adri Arnaus in action at last month’s Celtic Classic on the European Tour.

than later we will have them back.

I found it difficult to get my game going again at the start of the UK Swing due to the lack of practice and training during quarantine. I think I have lost some distance which is a big strength for me so I’m going to be hitting the gym to that get that back and have that edge once again. Everything needs to click again, and I look forward to being

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able to do that and hopefully I can get my game back to its best for the big events come the end of the year.

It’s great the European Tour have managed to get the Andalucía Masters back on the schedule as playing at Valderrama is always a treat for any player. It will be interesting to see how it is run because the UK Swing events were really organised but heading to Spain will obviously be a bit different so hopefully everything goes well and we’ll see some great golf.

I’m still undecided if I’ll play as I may take the week off to work on my game some more but I really enjoyed playing on the course for the first time last year in front of my home crowd. I even played got to play two days with Sergio Garcia which was really special and to finish tied second in such an iconic place for Spanish Golf felt incredible.

It was great to see Collin Morikawa win the PGA Championship as we’ve crossed paths in college golf and it’s really impressive to see the progress he has made in such a short length of time.

I also had my eye on my old teammate at Texas A&M, Cameron Champ, who ended up finishing inside the top ten which was nice.

These guys are all a similar age to me including Jon Rahm, who went to World No.1 for the first time last month, and we are in a position where if we play well we can achieve great things, so hopefully I can join them in the future. It’s good to have golf back! ■

TAYLORMADE

LOOKS PERFORMANCE &

BY ALEX GALLEMORE

T

aylorMade have added more firepower to their Players iron range with the P7MB; P7MC and P770 but what level of golfer are they aiming for and is the choice now too confusing?

Before we start to look at the wide range of clubs, we need to take out the P7 Tiger Woods model as only the man himself can get a tune out of them. So that leaves five head shapes in the revised ‘P’ iron series. Looking at the heads in a line-up you can see they are all related. There isn’t a long-lost cousin that has photo-bombed the family picture. Instantly, I’m drawn to thinking these are designed with a mixed bag combo in mind.

The iron that caught my eye in the line up was the P770. So, let’s focus on that head first as I feel it will appeal to more

golfers. If you are unaware of the larger P790 head it’s TaylorMade’s big-hitting and confidence-boosting model. It’s titanium body and machined face keeps things light and fast; tungsten weighting is positioned low and back in the head to lower spin and increase distance. Their ultra light urethane foam insert called SPEEDFOAM adds additional speed from the face and feel.

The P770 is the little brother of the P790 but it’s full of the same DNA. With a thinner top line, reduced offset, narrower sole and shorter blade length, it gives confidence when stood over the ball and encourages you to work shots that otherwise wouldn’t have come to mind.

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Trying to hit a low cut for example with a P790 is near impossible - it just kicks the ball up and takes off like a rocket in a straight line. The P770 doesn’t have the full workability of the P7MB and P7MC but you can play around with the flight and offcentre strikes aren’t penalised due to the technologically-packed head.

Personally, I think the P770 is ideally suited to low to mid-handicap golfers but the purists might want to mix things up with the shorter irons. That’s where the P7MB and P7MC come into play. Both are aimed at Tour golfers and leading amateurs but don’t let that put you off. Using a 2,000-tonne press, TaylorMade has been able to deliver a consistent performance with remarkable feel across both models. The ‘Muscle Back’ model is something you could frame. The classic lines I could happily look at all day, well if I had nothing else to do. The Muscle

GEAR P7MB Irons

AED 5,795 (steel) for 4-PW

Forged Hollow Body Construction

Tungsten weighting

“The all new TaylorMade P7MB feels almost as good as they look and that’s a huge statement as these clubs are stunning! TaylorMade for 2020 have completely changed the way they have forged this club using a 2,000 tonne press during manufacturing which is almost twice as heavy as the previous generation which gives that truly soft buttery feel we’re looking for from a blade. Combining this with a slightly more inviting longer blade length than the P730 after feedback from the Tour players like DJ, it inspires more confidence at address where TaylorMade’s previous blades have been a bit daunting... Well done TaylorMade” Perry Harper – TaylorMade Middle East Fitting Specialist

P7MC Irons

AED 5,795 (steel) for 4-PW “TaylorMade has filled the gap perfectly between the pure blade and players distance irons with the new P7MC. Overall these are beautifully clean looking irons, with a compact profile and thin topline. They frame the ball perfectly and there is just enough perimeter weighting hidden at the back to cover you on miss-hits. At impact, the feel is noticeably soft, the ball does not jump off the face and gives you a consistent feeling that you are in absolute control!”

Billy Meyburgh – TaylorMade Middle East Fitting Specialist

SpeedFoam

Cavity might not have the lines of the Muscle Back but it’s still a great looking head with a little more forgiveness over it’s supermodel sibling.

It’s easy to see why the TaylorMade staff players play either models or even mix them up.

Mix bag As a six handicapper I would certainly put a set of P770 irons in the bag.

However, I wouldn’t mind trying to bridge gap in the shorter irons with the P7MC for a little more feel and spin. The P770 higher ball flight will have the drop and stop effect but I’m not sure about those three-quarter approach shots that just need a little more grip. Imagine playing into a slight wind and you have 140 to the pin. That’s a full wedge for me but I would be more inclined to knock down a nine or even

an eight iron in case a full wedge stalled and came up short. It’s not an issue if you have plenty of green to work with but a tight pin position will require a little more precision. The P770 will release more than the P7MC and that’s why I would consider mixing things up.

Pass me the keys I’d love to own a classic sports car. But, in reality, they are a bit temperamental and no driver aids means you will be more likely to crash if you were to get slightly out of shape behind the wheel.

This is how I view a bladed iron. The latest P7MB is like a modern-day supercar with anti-lock breaks, and the P7MC has added stability control. The P770 has additional seats, more horsepower and cruise control. It still looks like a supercar in the garage but when it rains you will not be worried about taking it out for a drive.

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P770 Irons

AED 5,795 (steel) for 4-PW “The new TaylorMade P770 will be the most popular of the 3 new P Series models. It’s a better players shaped iron incorporating the the WORLDWIDE VERDICT explosive distance of theGOLF TaylorMade I enjoyed the tech quality of P790 but with a much moreand compact the CNCPT but they were just head at address.

Itsirons new multi material too pricey. a The T400 hasforged made the head incorporates wrap around techbody affordable to more golfers 4140 steel which makes it very and, a result, more unique.

The as previous P770 fromplayers a few will get more enjoyment out of their years back was one of TaylorMade’s game. Golf is hard enough, so most successful irons, the 2020 version that improves distance packs anything more punch with cleaner looks and these consistency is always a winner. so I expect to find their way into many golf bags across the Middle East.”

Bradley Hacking – TaylorMade Middle East Fitting Specialist

TITLEIST

BACK IN

Stand out from the crowd with Titleist's new Jet Black SM8 Wedges and Black T-Series irons, while the all-new Tour Speed balls are ready to hit the shelves. Stuart Taylor, Regional Sales and Distribution Manager, Prosports International, gives us the low-down on Titleist's latest developments.

TOUR SPEED BALL

F

ollowing years of rigorous product development, the introduction of the new Titleist Tour Speed – a high performance, multilayer golf ball with a proprietary thermoplastic urethane cover – provides golfers with the fastest, best performing golf ball in its category. Proven through extensive testing with amateur players, the breakthrough performance of Tour Speed is further enhanced by the superior quality and consistency of Titleist’s precision manufacturing process. Available to purchase from September 11th, Tour Speed offers a distinct and compelling performance option in the Titleist golf ball family through its innovative three-piece design, delivering a unique combination of exceptional distance in the long game and precise short game scoring control.

FEATURES:

A new high-speed core formulation, combined with a fast ionomer casing layer, contributes to increased speed and low long game spin for category leading distance. Tour Speed is faster and longer than the latest models of Callaway Chrome Soft, Srixon Z Star, Tour Response, Bridgestone Tour B RX and Srixon Z Star. Tour Speed’s thermoplastic urethane (TPU) cover is proprietary Titleist golf ball technology specifically formulated by R&D chemists, generating greenside spin for short game scoring control with soft feel. The exceptional distance of Tour Speed is enhanced by a new 346 quadrilateral dipyramid dimple design that provides penetrating flight for long distance with tight dispersion.

STUART TAYLOR: “Tour Speed is a brand new addition to the Titleist Ball Family. The latest Titleist ball offers outstanding speed with Performance.

The alternative offering to Premium Performance makes Tour Speed the best in class performance ball. The High Speed casing and low Spin design core offers players performance they have been seeking. In turn offering long driver distance and scoring performance better than the competitive set. This is without doubt a ball players should be trying and switching to in the performance category.”

WEDGES

BLACK

The unrivaled craftsmanship, performance and technology of Vokey Design SM8 wedges are now be available in a tour-inspired all-black configuration. Their limited release features SM8’s Jet Black raw finish enhanced with black paint fill in the logos and graphics, complemented by a Dynamic Gold S200 Black Onyx shaft and exclusive Golf Pride New Decade Multi Compound Black/Grey grip with BV Wings.

STUART TAYLOR: “SM8 now has an offering of all black limited offering, not only with head but the grip and the shaft, making not only the performance of these wedges the number one but also enhancing how they look! Stealth-like black shaft and grip to match the head offers the player a totally different look behind the ball at address. This product will be hot property for players seeking best-in-class performance and looks.”

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BLACK

GEAR

BLACK IRONS

Now available in a stealthy all-black set-up, the T-Series irons have quickly become the most-played iron model on the PGA Tour, where Titleist has been the longstanding #1 iron since 2005. The new T-Series T100•S and T200 Black irons are finished with a sleek High Polish Black PVD coating which have been continually requested by tour players and members of the Team Titleist community. Each model is complemented by a glare-reducing matte black shaft and an all-black Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 grip. Australia’s Cameron Smith won the 2020 Sony Open in Hawaii playing a set of T100 Black irons. Lanto Griffin, who put in his request for black T100’s after seeing Smith share a picture of them on social media, used them to win the Houston Open.

T200 TECHNOLOGY: T200 irons deliver powerfully playable distance in a tour-inspired shape – with Max Impact Technology, a striking innovation that extends maximum speed across the entire face of the mid and long irons while preserving superior sound and feel. A super thin forged face is backed by a unique polymer core to provide consistently better distance from every swing, without sacrificing looks, feel, trajectory or stopping power.

T100•S TECHNOLOGY: T100•S irons are the only fully-forged player’s distance iron in the category, designed to deliver the same tour-level precision and signature feel as T100 in stronger lofts for a more penetrating ball flight and longer distance.

STUART TAYLOR: “The pictures don't do justice for how these irons look – they are simply a work of art. This extension of the T100•S and T200 irons has been greatly anticipated and the new tour-inspired finish with explosive distance, giving players long-range stealth performance, will make you the envy of any fourball.”

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GAIN MORE POWER AND ACCURACY

BY

ALASTAIR BROWN,

HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL, EMIRATES GOLF CLUB

BY THROWING THE DART

T

his drill is fantastic for setting the trail wrist, arm and shoulder on the backswing and how the body action moves to match up to gain power and accuracy. I feel like I am throwing a large dart towards a dart board that is directly on the target line. It will feel like an underarm throw.

THE SET UP Place a club on the ground showing a target line and stand parallel to it. Using an alignment stick set your wrist as shown so that the alignment stick is parallel to the stick on the ground. The palm of my trail hand is facing away from my trail hip and puts the power on the inside of the stick.

BACKSWING MOVEMENT Try moving the stick around in a backswing ensuring you keep the trail elbow under the stick. This will load energy around the wrist and elbow. You don’t have to try and move your body but you may feel the body want to move due to the pressure being built up in the arm and shoulder (there is a difference). Once you reach the top of the backswing you will also feel your trail shoulder and your lat load or tighten. Keep this load or pressure and don’t be tempted to release it as this loading is a big energy source.

THE SET UP

BACKSWING MOVEMENT

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INSTRUCTION

DOWNSWING MOVEMENT A lot of golfers want to laterally shift their weight back over onto their lead side straight away which is incorrect and can create poor attack angles. In this drill I want you to use your right rib cage to rotate down your trail side ,pulling the loaded trail arm into position. I want you to hold this position until the stick comes back. Your lower body will have reacted and you should notice that the hips and chest have already opened up to the target.

Now you are in the classic throw position, ready to launch the dart.

RELEASE THE DART In the release phase, I feel my trail arm extending down to the ground and this creates an up-stretch in the lead side of the body. The downforce on the trail side of the body creates equal and opposite up-force on the lead side. As the trail arm extends down the right tip of the alignment stick it will push out to where the golf ball would be. For the purpose of the drill and to continue the golf swing movement, carry the stick through to a balanced finish. Notice how the stick matches my spine angle showing that it was in total control.

Check out the video for a more in-depth view of the drill. Or if you want to check your mechanics, why not visit the Peter Cowen Academy Dubai and ďŹ nd out at ďŹ rst hand why his players are the most successful on Tour.

WATCH THE VIDEO AT WorldwideGolf Worldwide.Golf

Golf Central is now Viya Book the best rates on the best courses with tee times starting from AED 167 per person

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18 Hole th

EARTH COURSE JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES BY

MICHAEL SWEENIE,

TEACHING PROFESSIONAL, JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES

msweenie_golf

T

he18th on Earth is undoubtedly a strong finishing hole designed to provide a dramatic finish to close out the DP World Championship and one of the biggest prizes in golf – and over the years this hole has certainly not disappointed.

Even the best golfers in the world have been tested with this – at times – treacherous par 5 closing hole, so for any amateur golfer I would advise this hole gets approached in the right focused manner… to avoid any disasters!

From tee to green, this hole plays uphill all the way, with a meandering stream coming into play for the first, second and most likely third shot. It requires a careful placed tee shot into the widest part of the fairway which can help take the stream out of play, so for most amateurs with the green out of reach in two shots often a 3 wood or rescue are probably the most sensible clubs off the tee. The left side of the fairway is well guarded with deep Earth course bunkers.

With the tee shot negotiated, personally I feel this is where the real challenge comes into play - ‘where do I lay up to?’. I would say the left side of the fairway is the safest approach for most players but does provide a longer approach shot angled to have to carry more of the water hazard guarding the front of the green. A risky lay up to the right side fairway is a smaller target but will leave a shorter approach

shot and allow the golfer to play straight up the green crossing less of the hazard. So take your gamble wisely when making the decision for the lay up and avoid the ‘hit and hope’ aspect of just pulling out a fairway and hoping for a good result. The smart play here would be a carefully placed rescue or mid iron into the right area.

For any player looking to attack this par 5 in two, it requires a quality struck fairway wood often made even harder from a slightly downhill lie on the fairway, it just reminds me of Rory McIlroy’s incredible approach to the 18th last year during the first round.

An incredible 3 wood from 281 yards uphill from a downhill lie not recommended for 99.999% of golfers worldwide! If attacking the green in two, often for the pros the safe bailout area is greenside bunker right.

For the approach shot after the lay up, club selection is key to find the right portion of this heavily sloping from back to front, but narrow green. The approach shot again plays uphill so take the extra club for security and eliminate the hazard.

Three quality golf shots may leave you with a makeable putt for birdie and a solid finish. But for most amateurs, if you can play this closing hole anywhere near the average of five strokes, I guarantee you will be gaining an advantage of the rest of your playing partners.

EXPERIENCE THE EARTH COURSE FOR YOURSELF BY BOOKING ONLINE AT DUBAIGOLF.COM

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INSTRUCTION

PHOTO BY KEVIN MURRAY.

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ARABIAN GOLF

The two teams line up before play at the 2019 Dubai Golf Trophy at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club

AMATEURS GUNNING FOR A FIFTH SUCCESSIVE TITLE IN THE

DUBAI GOLF TROPHY T

his year’s Dubai Golf Trophy is set to be another hotly contested affair with the team of professionals – led by Captain Luke Plumb – determined to stop the rot and put an end to the amateur team’s recent dominance.

“The amateurs have won the last four years with the emergence of great talent in Dubai such as Rayhan Thomas, Josh Hill and Toby Bishop,” said Plumb, Resort Sales Manager – Sports & Leisure at JA The Resort. “Mix the youngsters in with stalwarts such as Bayhaan Lakdawala, Craig Vance and Steve Kelbrick and they have a great side.”

This year is Plumb’s first taste of captaincy and he can’t wait to get going, with the opening day set for foursomes match-play and better ball match-play at Jumeirah Golf Estates before the singles matches on day two at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

“This will be my eighth year playing in the event and first time as Captain,” he said. “The competition is very friendly and respectful between the two teams and the professionals know a lot of the amateurs from their jobs at different golf clubs and academies, however when we tee it up it’s extremely competitive with both teams desperate to win.

“The bragging rights are certainly important as we see each other throughout the year and are usually reminded whether you have won or lost.”

Last year the amateurs won their fourth successive title with an 18-14 margin of victory and Plumb is ready to wrest the title back off the amateur Captain Steven Kelbrick.

“I get on with Steve great, he is a member of Trump International where I worked previously so I have played quite a bit of golf with him in the past,” said Plumb. “We also played against each other in the singles in the event two years ago which ended in a half.

Dubai Golf Trophy 2020:

“The interest is extremely high amongst the golfing community this year and this is the best event of the year for the professionals, without doubt.

“The event was due to be played in April but had to be rearranged due to the lockdown, so we’re extremely grateful to Dubai Golf for rescheduling the event.

“I think it’ll be a great message as well that the golf industry is pushing forward, despite the situation, in hosting this great event.”

The teams of 16 are set to go head-to-head in what is the 21st staging of the event with the team members made up of the leading players across their respective order of merits. The professionals will have 14 qualifiers and two wildcard selections while the amateurs see 12 qualify and four players selected.

Christopher May, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Golf, said: “There is always a strong competitive spirit between the two teams and this makes the Dubai Golf Trophy a fantastic event to be part of.

“The tournament was founded on the principle of raising the profile of golf in the region and bring golfers from clubs all over the UAE together in a competitive and enjoyable format, which provides a focus for players to aim for throughout the qualifying events during the season.”

Last year the amateurs staged a superb final day comeback after they overcame a two-point deficit to defeat Tom Buchanan’s professional team 18-14 at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

“The standard of golf has really stepped up over the past six or seven years,” reflected 2019 amateur Captain Craig Vance. “You used to be able to win a tournament on level par, whereas now if you aren’t four under par you don’t stand a chance.

“The youngsters have really pushed us older guys and credit must go to the pros and their coaching methods.”

Oct 3 – Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates & Oct 4 – Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club

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GOLF FOR ALL AT TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB, DUBAI

A

s the scorching summer nears its end in the United Arab Emirates, it’s time to start enjoying the cooler climate out on the course.

And what better place to hone your skills than the Trump International Golf Club, Dubai with their fantastic facilities and range of great packages aimed at a wide audience of golfers from juniors and ladies to Dubai’s most seasoned players.

We take a look at what they have to offer with the help of the club’s Head Teaching Professional, Sven Nielsen.

IT’S TIME FOR JUNIOR GOLF Give your young ones the chance to develop their physical and mental capabilities through the Junior Development Program. The PGA professionals focus on various aspects of personal development whilst helping them hone their skills on all the great facilities the club has to offer ensuring the game is extremely enjoyable for everyone involved.

Sven Nielsen: “The main goal of the coaches is to improve every youngster’s golf game, may it be technically, physically, mentally or on course, while making sure the environment they learn in is fun and interactive. We use all the fantastic practice areas Trump Dubai offers, which include the short game, long game areas, and also the Par-3 course. It’s definitely a great place for juniors of all abilities to improve their golf games.”

10 WEEK TERM PRICED AT AED 999. LIMITED SLOTS AVAILABLE.

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TRUMP GOLF, DUBAI PACKAGES

TRUE GOLF SOCIALS FOR THE LADIES Calling all ladies looking to improve their golfing skills while making lifelong friends in the process. The Ladies Golf Socials runs on weekdays with the first hour dedicated to a group lesson with one of the club’s PGA professionals, allowing you to learn and improve your skills before heading into the restaurant for a fun social gathering amongst great company at one of Dubai’s most-loved clubs.

Sven Nielsen: “These sessions are the perfect environment for ladies of all golfing abilities to learn more about the game, improve their technique and also make new golfing friends. It’s amazing to see over the past three years of coaching these sessions, just how many of the ladies have become great friends outside the sport.”

PRICED AT AED 115 ALL WEEK.

*PREFERRED MEMBER RATE AVAILABLE

TRAIN YOUR WAY TO BETTER GOLF Get to grips with your game by booking a personalised lesson with one the club’s PGA Professionals, who offer stateof-the-art training aids and data analysis for a customised golf training experience to ensure you accelerate your golf game. The club has three different options available to suit you with three, six or twelve lesson packages which also grants you access to the fantastic practice facilities including the Trackman range, as well as the immaculate Gil Hanse designed L.E.D. floodlit par 3 course on weekends.

Sven Nielsen: “The individual lesson packages we offer have all the aspects you require to take your game to the next level, from improving your technique for the variety of shots in golf in our state-of-the-

art swing studios, to practicing what you have learned in the lesson on our floodlit Trackman driving range. You’ll also have the opportunity to utilise the best par 3 course in the UAE and implement the changes we have made in the lessons. The golf coaches at the Trump Performance Academy have all the different aspects of your game covered in these fantastic packages. We look forward to helping you with your game.”

NO OF LESSONS

TEACHING PRO

HEAD PRO

ACCESS TO PRACTICE FACILITIES

ACCESS TO PAR 3

3

AED 1,280

AED 1,410

4 Weeks

Weekends only

6

AED 2,565

AED 2,820

12 Weeks

Weekends only

12

AED 4,860

AED 5,350

16 Weeks

Weekends only

FIND OUT ALL ABOUT THE FANTASTIC PACKAGES ON OFFER HERE: www.trumpgolfdubai.com

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Golf de la Grande Bastide Golf Club

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T

HE owners of the Golf de la Grande Bastide Golf Club, one of the most renowned courses on the Côte d’Azur, have announced the launch of a public tender to invite international golf course operators to bid for a 15-year contract to operate the property.

Located in the heart of the perfume region of France, just 20 minutes from Cannes, the course was designed by Cabell Robinson, a long-term collaborator of Robert Trent Jones Senior.

It features a 50-hectare, 18-hole championship golf course, famous for its wide fairways, magnificent greens and well defined water features, at the foot of the beautiful hills of the Nice hinterland.

The course also boasts a wellappointed clubhouse with a 130-seat

restaurant and terrace overlooking the 18th green and expansive lake. Inside, the facility also offers a well-appointed bar, a large proshop and two 3-roomed apartments. To the rear of the clubhouse there’s a car park and maintenance area.

APPLICATIONS OPEN UNTIL SEP 15 The cities of Grasse and Châteauneuf-deGrasse, are current owners of the Golf de la Grande Bastide GC, and are organisers of the tender, Details are available in the consultation rules which can be sent to any operator who requests details before the 15th of September, 2020.

Contact The City of Chateauneuf-deGrasse online application at: www.marches-securises.fr.

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PLEASE CONTACT THE CITY OF CHÂTEAUNEUF-DE-GRASSE: Online application: www.marches-securises.fr

GOLF TRAVEL SAVER

DEVER E

WOKEFIELD ESTATE

TEE IT UP TWICE FOR LESS THAN £100 – WITH DINNER AND BREAKFAST INCLUDED

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By Alex Gallemore

F

OR many years London has been a hot spot for golfers travelling from the Middle East. With the likes of Wentworth, Sunningdale and Queenwood close to Heathrow they have been jewels for the high-flying and bigspending golf traveller. For us mere golfing enthusiasts who have been hit financially by the pandemic, searching out the best golfing bargains is essential.

In this new short travel series Worldwide Golf will be looking at packages and destinations that offer a lot more bang for their bucks. So, what better way is there than looking at a course set-up not too far from London Heathrow.

De Vere Wokefield Estate is just 30 miles from Heathrow, set in its own 250-acre grounds with a 6,700-yard golf course.

Sounds good. It’s a pretty common combination for a resort

course set-up but what makes it stand out is the price. The age-old phrase: “You get what you pay for” certainly doesn’t apply. For just £99 sharing, you get two rounds of golf; a two-course dinner and breakfast. To put that into perspective, a single round of golf at Sunningdale is £275.

De Vere Wokefield Estate might not be able to brag about staging a major tour championship but it’s a great track. Off the regular tees for both men and women it’s challenging but not too daunting. With its wide-open fairways and par-fours, rarely much over 400 yards it’s a confidence-building layout that has a fair share of hazards to catch you out if you stray too far.

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

DEVERE WOKEFIELD ESTATE

Generous greens and forgiving fairways build confidence but beware of the trees and bunkers if you take liberties.

PLAYING Off the tips you don’t have to be a Rory McIlroy to enjoy the extra yardage. Even if you average less than 250 yards off the tee you might want to play a few holes off the back markers to mix things up.

This parkland course is mainly flat with a few undulations and it doesn’t favour any particular shot shape. Obviously, you can’t go wrong by hitting every shot straight, but for the better player wanting to take on the course you will need to be able to work the ball both ways off the tee.

The ninth hole is a great example. The strong dogleg right is fairly open with a large pond guarding the right-hand edge of the fairway with a few tall trees on the apex.

Anyone who moves the ball right to left, or even straight, will be reaching for a mid or even long iron for the approach shot. Those golfers able to start the ball slightly left of the trees and work it left to right could be pulling out a 9-iron or even a wedge.

If you are a big hitter this course lures you into taking on the short par-fours to see how close you can leave your approach. The seventh hole at just over 300 yards is a prime example. It might not be the longest but with trees and trouble on your right and large undulations just short of the green, it’s a huge risk-and-reward hole. You might be able to drive it long enough to set up an easy birdie or you could be reaching for a provisional and looking at a double bogey.

I played the course last month and the

region had been in the middle of a heat wave and due to the virus the ground staff were down on numbers, alhough they had managed to keep the lush greens rolling well.

Hotel It’s very hard right now to give a true reflection of normality to any hotel. Checking in with your concierge behind a Perspex screen and having breakfast delivered in a bag to your room has become the norm for the time being. The staff were excellent and managed to make you feel safe, and nothing was too much trouble.

Benedict’s Bar menu was simple but certainly hit the spot and I’d recommend the spit-roast chicken.

If you are travelling with your family, there’s a great gym and pool, plus countless activities around the estate grounds. So there’s plenty to keep the non-golfers busy while you escape for another round.

Final thoughts £99 certainly goes a long way and only 45 minutes’ drive from Heathrow. You would struggle to find an hotel in London for that price, never mind two rounds of golf, a twocourse dinner and breakfast. Plus, full access to the leisure activities!

For the first report in our series of golfing get-away deals this might be a tough one to top. Check out our Worldwide Golf October issue to see if we have been able to go one better.

Not on par with the Pete Cowen Academy at Emirates Golf Club but perfect for a quick warm up!

Bathrooms might look like this in a suite but a regular room is more basic.

There is a great little cocktail bar depending on how your round went!

For information and to book a stay, visit www.devere.co.uk/wokefield-estate. Or ring + 44 1182 077471

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MADINATY GOLF CLUB

TROON’S LATEST MIDDLE EAST OFFERING SET FOR OCTOBER OPENING

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osh North has a wealth of experience in leadership roles across the Middle East region including nine years spent working at various clubs in Egypt so the former Director of Golf at The Address Montgomerie, Dubai was the perfect choice for Troon to install as launch General Manager of Madinaty Golf Club – the eagerly Josh North anticipated new development set to open in Cairo next month.

Worldwide Golf caught up with the Englishman to find out what we can expect from Troon’s latest Middle East offering.

Worldwide Golf: What can we expect from the Madinaty development, tell us a bit about the course and the overall development?

Josh North: Madinaty is a city of international standards in Cairo, Egypt under TMG development which is the biggest developer in Egypt. Its first-class sustainable city on the East side of Cairo. Currently there are over 300,000 residents living within the city and this figure set to steadily grow over the years to come. Madinaty is planned to accommodate 700k inhabitants upon completion. Madinaty Golf Club is located in the heart of the development and consists

of 18 holes designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr and managed by Troon Golf. To accompany this, we have a 6,500 m2 clubhouse with all the amenities which includes four Food and Beverage offerings, a state of the art gym, Troon Wellness Spa and swimming pools. It’s at the centre of the community and residents have been extremely complementary of the progress so far.

WWG: What facilities are on offer for the nongolfer?

JN: The Club offers many facilities for the nongolfer, these include a gym managed by leading operator ‘BeFIT’ as well as our ‘Troon Wellness Spa’ and two swimming pools for both leisure and fitness activities. On the Culinary side, we offer our ‘RTJ Golfers Lounge’ which is the perfect way to enjoy a cold beverage after a day on the course. Alternatively, we have our ‘TWO’ restaurant which fusions the best of Italian and Asian dishes. Finally, our ‘Terrace Restaurant’ offers views of the golf course and the perfect way to enjoy a late afternoon with an extensive menu. Our extensive lobby offers the indulgence of a high tea menu also.

WWG: You’ll obviously be targeting the local market for the bulk of your memberships but how important is the international market in the overall vision for the club and why do you think it makes an enticing destination for the golf tourist?

JN: The already club has a strong backbone of existing lifetime members who purchased memberships off plan, however we will be

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targeting international tourism as part of our strategy. Egypt has had a long history with golf in the region and offers the perfect retreat for any keen golfer. A mixture of world class courses with famous architects such as our own Robert Trent Jones Jr, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo and Gary Player designs to name a few.

You couple this experience with the year-round climate and touristic treasures such as the Great Pyramids and Red Sea – it’s a perfect getaway.

WWG: Egypt’s tourist market suffered hugely during the troubles of the previous decade – what stage is the recovery at and what is the outlook for the next few years?

JN: Egypt will always have a huge pull for tourists with many amazing sites to see. Tourist numbers have steadily been increasing and although the current period is not ideal (due to Covid 19) we expect this to continue in the years to come.

WWG: What attracted you to move back over to Egypt?

JN: The prospect of being involved in such a development in its infancy was a big pull. It’s also a very different proposition as the city is already populated and there is the opportunity to create new golfers from the residents and hence grow the game within Egypt. This is part of our overall strategy and vision from our ownership group and we have launched initiatives such as FootGolf and introductory golf lessons to all our members to drive this strategy.

Celebrity We ask the European Tour’s top golfers how their dream dinner party would unfold.

Players must choose three celebrities to accompany them, one band or artist to provide the music, what would be on the menu and tell us their favourite party trick! Next in the hotseat is South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout.

CHRISTIAAN BEZUIDENHOUT

NIALL HORAN

He’s a golf fanatic and a real fun guy to be around with.

He’s also part of my management Niall Horan would be team! there so I’d get him to play a few songs.

Music

NIALL HORAN

JUSTIN ROSE

Justin was one of my heroes growing up and he’s good mates with Niall.

MENU JENNIFER ANISTON

She’s always been my crush! She’s 50 years old but looks about 25.

PARTY TRICK

I THINK IT WILL JUST BE A QUIET NIGHT IN DEPENDING ON HOW MANY DRINKS WE HAVE!

- Starter -

– SUSHI - Main -

SOUTH AFRICAN BBQ - Dessert -

WAFFLES WITH CHOCOLATE CHIP ICE CREAM

Swing Into the New Season with our ANNUAL GOLF PACKAGES Tee off to a great start this season with an ideal setting at JA The Resort’s championship golf course and complimentary access to the 800 metre private beach and pools for yourself with available family upgrades.

• Resort wide discounts across F&B outlets and experiences • Annual golf package AED 11,995 • Midweek packages available starting from AED 7,500 • Corporate packages available starting from AED 14,995

Terms & Conditions apply For bookings and more details contact golf.teetimes@jaresorts.com or 04 814 5023

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