Worldwide Golf December 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

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DECEMBER

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HISTORIC DEAL FOR GOLF

GREG NORMAN

EUROPEAN TOUR AND PGA TOUR FORM STRATEGIC ALLIANCE

RELISHING FIRE’S CHANCE TO SHINE

ED?

RE R O F Y L R A E COMES

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ROBERT MACINTYRE

FLYING SCOT LOOKING TO END YEAR ON A HIGH

MARTIN KAYMER GETTING BACK TO BASICS AND REAPING THE REWARDS

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Bernhard Langer proved that golf is a sport you can play well at any age.

Johnson a worthy winner of the Green Jacket This year’s Masters saw another opportunity slip by for Rory McIlroy to complete the Grand Slam – he’ll have many more chances but he’s got to get his preparations right if he is to succeed.

I

’D like to congratulate Dustin Johnson on capturing his first Green Jacket last month. He seemed so cool, calm and collected and his lead never looked under threat from the outset. He showcased why he’s the World No.1 ranked golfer.

Having won three Masters, I know the feeling of winning your first Masters, and he deserved to soak it in.

I’d also like to congratulate two-times Masters winner, Bernhard Langer for becoming the oldest player to make the cut at The Masters. It was quite an achievement to finish tied 29th on 3-under.

There are a lot of players who needed to win the final tournament to complete the Grand Slam of all four Majors. When I came along, Jack (Nicklaus) was very instrumental in helping me in achieving that goal. He said to me: “You want to win the Grand Slam? Why don’t you come with me and practice at Bellerive Golf Club in St Louis.” I said, ‘Jack, I don’t have that kind of money - I’ve got to go to Greensboro. Jack replied, ‘well, if you want to win, come with me’, so I reluctantly went with him. Jack then went back home and I stayed on.

Preparation is key But I prepared in a very, very special way. I never went to dinner with people. I did a lot of yoga and I worked on my mindset almost to the point of brainwashing myself.

I did some very extraordinary things, which I won’t go into. I took to my room to concentrate on my mindset, and when I got onto the course, I teed off believing. This routine is what I believe Rory McIlroy has got to do if he’s going to win the elusive Masters - and complete the Grand Slam. He’s unlikely to do what I did, because he’s not familiar with what I did, but he’s got to tee off and say to himself: “I believe I’m going to do it.”

The big thing is, if you look at the superstars in the game, which there have probably been about 12 or 15 in the history of golf. The superstars I’m talking about believed that they were going to do it.

You’ve got to have belief A lot of players will tell you they believe, and when that bell rings and they get on that first tee, there’s something that tells them that they really don’t believe. They’ve got to actually put in the work and start meditating. He’s got to start really believing that he can do it because time goes by.

Actually, he’s on a golf course like Augusta National and he should be saying to himself: This is the ideal golf course for me. I hit a draw, it’s made for me, I’m long off the tee, and I believe I’m going to do it – and eliminate all negative thoughts. That’s not easy to do. It’s the mindset that counts. He’s got to have that determination to win the tournament. He may have the game, but he’s got to have that mindset to win the Grand Slam. ■

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CONTENTS 12

COLUMN

COLUMN

43

COLUMN

44

45

Starter

Pete Cowen

David Howell

Adri Arnaus

All the latest news from around the global game and we take an in depth look at the two courses at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

Master PGA Professional Pete Cowen on why the rain-softened conditions at Augusta National created quite a number of shocks and surprises.

European Tour stalwart David Howell explains why winning a Major means everything to the leading players – even in front of no fans.

The Dubai-based Spanish ace is back playing after his coronavirus woes and is looking forward to ending the season in the place he now calls home.

24

Race to Dubai climax

There looks set to be a new name on the Race to Dubai trophy this year as Patrick Reed takes a healthy lead into the final event, can the chasing pack catch him...

30

36

34

Greg Norman

Robert MacIntyre

Martin Kaymer

In an exclusive Q&A, we get the lowdown from Greg Norman on what the European Tour players can expect when they tee it up on the Fire course at Jumeirah Golf Estates for the inaugural Golf in Dubai Championship.

We talk exlusively to last year’s Rookie of the Year, Robert MacIntyre as he looks set to close the book on a turbulant 2020 in fine style having won his first Tour title in Cyprus last month.

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The two-time Major winner is without a professional win in six years but after being forced to reflect on his game during the European Tour’s hiatus, he has gone back to basics and feels another victory is on its way.

CONTENTS 52

Trump International Golf Club, Dubai Located in the heart of DAMAC Hills, Trump International Golf Club, Dubai provides the ultimate golfing lifestyle experience in the region.

48 INSTRUCTION

GEAR 46

JC’s Festive Recipe

Christmas Delights at Golf Superstore

Jonathon Craddock, PGA Professional at Jumeirah Golf Estates, reveals two of golf ’s biggest myths and demonstrates three simple drills to aid poor movement mechanics.

Robbie McCarthy, the in-store golf professional and store manager at Golf Superstoe, has picked out the perfect gifts for Santa to deliver for this year’s holiday season.

54

Meet the new Chair-Man Martin Duff talks about his two decades in the Emirate and his involement in golf furniture.

Control the Handle Stephen Deane, Head of Academies, Dubai Golf, explains why golfers focus too much on the clubhead when it would be more effective paying attention to what the handle does in relation to their body.

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EUROPEAN TOUR AND PGA TOUR ANNOUNCE LANDMARK STRATEGIC ALLIANCE The historic move brings golf’s two leading global Tours together in a Partnership Alliance which allows for further collaboration on scheduling and commercial opportunities The European Tour and the PGA TOUR last month heralded a significant new era for global golf with an historic announcement of a Strategic Alliance.

The landmark agreement will see golf’s two major Tours explore all facets of collaboration, working together on strategic commercial opportunities, including collaborating on global media rights in certain territories.

This will come through part of the agreement which sees the PGA TOUR acquire a minority investment stake in European Tour Productions (ETP), the European Tour’s Media Production company, which produces and distributes content internationally.

The Tours will also work in partnership on a number of other areas, including global scheduling, prize funds, and playing opportunities for the respective memberships.

Keith Pelley

Board Member

One element of the partnership is the fact that PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan will take a seat on the Board of the European Tour.

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “This partnership is an historic moment for the game of golf and is a fantastic opportunity for both the European Tour and the PGA TOUR to explore ways to come together at the very pinnacle of our sport and work in unison for the benefit of the men’s professional game.

“The announcement explains the formalisation of a closer working relationship between the Tours in recent years. It was one which was crystalised earlier this year when both Jay Monahan and I were part of the working group containing representatives of the four Majors and the LPGA, a group which helped shape the remainder of the golfing calendar for 2020 during unprecedented times.

“We shared the challenges of working through a year neither of us could have ever imagined and we found definite synergies in many areas of our respective Tours. That gave us the impetus to move forward together and arrive at this momentous announcement.”

Jay Monahan, Commissioner of the PGA TOUR, said: “With this alliance we are further strengthening of our partnership with the European Tour and we look forward to working together for the benefit of the men’s professional game and for golf fans around the world.”

Keith Pelley commented: “This strategic alliance between The European Tour and the PGA TOUR, includes the PGA TOUR taking a minority investment stake in European Tour Productions. For those who don’t know, European Tour Productions is our production company that distributes and produces all our content globally to 150 countries, with a reach of 500 million plus. It was originally a partnership, joint venture with IMG but in 2017, we negotiated our way and changed the partnership where we became 100 per cent owners of ETP and that is the entity that the PGA TOUR have a minority investment in today.

The Agreement

“The agreement will see us work together with the PGA TOUR on global media rights. It’s the next stage of what I call a partnership between the two organisations borne out of years of collaboration. So, it definitely heralds a significant new era for global golf with the PGA TOUR moving from competitor to partner, where we will work to collaborate on a global golf schedule, both in terms of prize funds and playing opportunities for our respective memberships, and also in the commercial realm across the globe.

“This strategic alliance is a momentous occasion and a very important one for our game. We are in robust financial health with a very strong balance sheet with a strong support of networks and partners. We have played 23 events since July in Q3 and Q4, creating 15 tournaments from scratch, showing incredible resilience and flexibility, and also at the same time funding a health strategy and COVID testing of another three million.

“We didn’t have to enter into this agreement or any other. We chose to because it’s in the best interests of both Tours, for our players, for our golf fans and for global professional golf.” ■

ISSUE No.230 DECEMBER 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, Thomas Wragg, Ashraf Ahmed • 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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BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONSHIPS AT JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES

THE COURSE Stepping out of the shadow of its illustrious sibling next door, the Fire course gets its chance to shine on the world stage as host of the inaugural Golf in Dubai Championship presented

by DP World this month.

F

ire by name and fiery by nature, the course presents a challenge for high, low and scratch handicappers, and while the Earth is a bold attack on the senses with bright white sand and deep red mulch framing the lush greens fairways – the Fire course offers a more natural visual dynamic.

The redness of the sand gives a rustic touch and the ruggedness of the fescue - which lines the sandtraps - links the course with its immediate surroundings. What makes the Fire stand-out for the casual golfer is the more subtle contours on the greens – and the greens themselves are easier targets than those found on Earth. The complexes are not as raised on Fire as on Earth, making it less penal, and the greenside bunkers are less deep.

The lake to the south of the course comes into play on two holes. The par-3 14th is played over the water and the tee shot on the par-4 15th requires a good strike to carry the lake. The only other pond on the Fire course comes at the eighth, a short par-3, with the water guarding short and the entire left hand side of the green.

While the Earth has been basking in the glow as the venue for the seasonending DP World Tour Championship since 2009, the Fire has been patiently waiting for its opportunity and this month it finally presents itself to the best players on the European Tour.

FIRE

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EARTH A

FITTING

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PATRICK REED: “If you’re hitting the ball solid and give yourself a lot of opportunities, you can really attack this golf course and with the greens being so pure if you putt well you’ll have a chance. The greens are large, and if you can hit the right shots you can use a lot of the slopes to get the ball close – and from there the putter just needs to wake up.”

A familiar challenge awaits the game’s best Over the last five years the same few holes have exchanged the status as the easiest and hardest holes at the DP World Tour Championship, so the players with past experience know when to attack and when to adopt some pragmatism.

Three of the four par-5s have at one time or another ranked the easiest, with the second hole providing the easiest to navigate over the last two years. In 2017 the closing hole was the softest, averaging a score of 4.58 over the four days, and in the two years prior to that hole 7 came in with averages of 4.67 and 4.58.

The hardest pair of holes come towards the half-way point – numbers 8 and 9 - which are both long par-4s. At 462 yards, the eighth plays slightly easier while the ninth, at 499 yards, has been ranked inside the top three most difficult holes on each of the last five occasions. Jon Rahm (inset) bogeyed both holes in last year’s final round but hung on to win by picking up strokes on the back nine. Indeed, the eighth plagued Rahm all week, as he played it in 4-over.

From the turn, the course then follows a sequence of two easier holes followed by two

tougher ones. The back nine begins with two gentle par-4s which both measure less than 440 yards and with a good drive should require little more than a short iron into the greens.

The 12th is a long, slightly uphill par-4 at 476 yards which was ranked the hardest last year and then a crisp iron is needed at the 205 yard par-3 13th which is heavily guarded by bunkers. On a day when the hole is cut in the front left hole location pin-point accuracy is required for any realistic chance of birdie.

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The 626 yard par5 14th offers some respite and then the 371 yard par-4 15th is often reachable if the tees are pushed forward.

Water then plays a big part in the next two holes, guarding half the green at the long par-4 16th and completely surrounding the target at the stunning par-3 17th. These two have both been in the top-7 most difficult holes over the last five years. The final hole represents a birdie chance if the tee-shot avoids the wadi, which splits the fairway up the centre.

STARTER

COURSE HOLES STATISTICS (2015-19)

Most birdies: (year – hole – number) 2019: 2nd (84) 2018: 18th (93) 2017: 18th (109) 2016: 14th (92) 2015: 2nd (112)

Most Eagles: (year – hole – number) 2019: 18th (11) 2018: 2nd, 14th & 18th (3) 2017: 18th (9) 2016: 18th (7) 2015: 14th (5)

Easiest hole: (year – hole – average) 2019: 2nd (4.59) 2018: 2nd (4.67) 2017: 18th (4.58) 2016: 7th (4.67) 2015: 7th (4.58)

Hardest hole: (year – hole – average) 2019: 12th (4.28) 2018: 4th (3.16) 2017: 9th (4.21) 2016: 9th (4.21) 2015: 4th (3.18)

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LEE THE BRIGHTEST LIGHT IN THE SKY

MAJOR RECAP

Facts and Figures you might have missed this year’s Majors ▲

Johnson bucks recent trend with warm-up week

Dustin Johnson became only the second winner in the last nine editions of the Masters to win having played the week before on the PGA Tour. Both Johnson and Jordan Spieth (2015) finished runner-up at the Houston Open before heading down Magnolia Lane to win the Green Jacket. Between 2003 and 2011, seven of the nine Masters winners played the PGA Tour event the week prior to Augusta.

▲

Fowler in danger of missing next Masters Ryder Cup star Rickie Fowler has been in the field at The Masters for the last ten years, but his appearance in 2021 is in doubt after he finished T29 last month to drop two places in the world ranking to 48th. The top 50 in the world at the end of each calendar year receive invites to play at Augusta National. Lee Westwood (46th) and Ian Poulter (47th) are both also in jeopardy.

The highest ranked player in the field, Minjee Lee, lived up to her billing by winning under the floodlights in Dubai last month.

2021 Major dates and venues confirmed

Next year’s Men’s Major schedule sees The Masters take place April 8-11, the US PGA Championship at Kiawah Island from May 20-23, the US Open at Torrey Pines from June 17-20 and then The Open at Royal St George’s from July 15-18.

Smith breaks a long Augusta National record ▲

week, my second time playing night golf was certainly memorable.”

Former Moonlight Classic champion Nuria Iturrioz finished one shot outside the play-off in a share of third place alongside Caroline Hedwall of Sweden and Laura Fuenfstueck of Germany.

Scotland’s Kylie Henry (inset) had a final round to savour as she put together a course-record 63 to vault into the top ten, moving from 3-over-par overnight to post a 6-under total.

“This is my lowest stroke play round and it felt great,” said the 34-year-old. “I hit it solid and was hitting it fairly close on most holes. The main highlight was the par-3 8th when I hit it to a foot with my 8 iron.

“I’m just so delighted to be playing tournaments. I’m so grateful to everybody at the Tour who is working doubly hard and all our sponsors who’ve got us back up and running through this pandemic.”

▲

World No.9 Minjee Lee made her debut in the Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic one to remember after downing France’s Celine Boutier in a playoff to take the title.

The Australian carded a final round 3-under-par 69 at Emirates Golf Club to finish on 10-underpar alongside Solheim Cup star Boutier and she made light work of the play-off, draining a 20-footer for birdie to win.

“I couldn’t really see the break too well on the last hole, but I thought it would be about two cups outside the right and luckily I hit it hard enough and it dropped,” said Lee after collecting her second Ladies European Tour title. “It feels pretty special to be here playing into the evening. The course has been amazing It’s been a really fun week.

“This year has been tough, but this is a nice way to close it out. I’ve really enjoyed the format and everything about the

Cameron Smith became the first player in Masters history to post all four rounds in the 60s as he finished with a 15-under-par total following rounds of 67-68-69-69. Too bad for Smith he had to settle for a share of second place, five shots behind Johnson.

Topgolf Dubai to open this month After a long wait since the initial announcement, Topgolf Dubai will finally open later this month, adding a new dimension to the golfing landscape in the emirate.

The three-level entertainment complex is located at Emirates Golf Club and with it comes an array of fun and competitive options for golfers and non-golfers alike.

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STARTER

by Louis Oosthuizen, 2010 Open winner.

TOP TIPS FOR MAINTAINING A SMOOTH TEMPO Known for possessing one of the silkiest swings in the game, former Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen has some sage advice when it comes to working on developing a smooth tempo and taking it from the range to the course.

I’ve always been a big believer in prioritising ball striking rather than speed. Obviously the top guys – Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau – they’ve all got the ability to go fast, but if I go too fast with my swing I don’t get the strike I want.

Don’t just swing with your arms – you’ve got to keep your chest connected as if you were playing a normal shot.

For me, it’s more about keeping a steady, smooth rhythm and remaining as fluent as possible.

I’ve always looked up at Ernie Els’ swing, his tempo is one of the best that’s out there. Another player I admired was Freddie Couples, his swing looked effortless and both he and Ernie were two of the longer guys back in their day.

One drill I like to practice during my warm-up is to work on my balance with my feet close together, because without good balance you won’t hit the ball cleanly.

It focuses on the upper-body movement and its aim is for you to practice maintaining your balance while you replicate the feeling of a normal shot. If you get too fast with the motion you will knock yourself slightly off balance.

The feeling of making smooth swings with your feet close together can then be taken to full practice shots, and then out on to the course. Balance is so important if you are to be a consistently good ball striker.

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Tour News

PEDERSEN STEALS THE SHOW IN HISTORIC WEEK IN SAUDI ARABIA

T

he dawn of an historic new era in Saudi Arabia was marked with the staging of the first ever all-women’s professional sporting events at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, and Denmark’s superstar-in-waiting Emily Kristine Pedersen produced two scintillating displays to win all three trophies that were up for grabs.

Pedersen defeated Solheim Cup star and Major champion Georgia Hall in a play-off to win the Aramco Saudi Ladies International, and then just a few days later won both the individual and team prizes in the Saudi Ladies Team International.

The 24-year-old also clinched the

season-long Race to Costa del Sol with one event to spare. “I can’t believe what’s happened this season,” smiled Pedersen, who won her third and fourth Ladies European Tour titles in King Abdullah Economic City. “I was confident I could get back to where I was, but I couldn’t imagine that it would be like this.

“It’s been a strange year for all of us with Covid-19, but while everyone’s saying it is the worst year, I’m having the best year ever, so that’s a little weird – but I am really happy.”

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“I OBVIOUSLY REALLY, REALLY LIKE THE COURSE HERE. OUR TACTICS WERE GREAT FOR THE TWO WEEKS AND WE STUCK TO IT. IT’S BEEN SUCH A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE TO BE HERE IN SAUDI ARABIA.” – EMILY K. PEDERSEN

Team Pedersen – consisting of Scotland’s Michele Thomson, South African Cassandra Hall and amateur Matt Selby – snatched victory in the team event with a closing birdie on the 18th to finish on 40-under par and a share of $97,500 for the professionals.

Next year’s Saudi Ladies International has been confirmed to return to Royal Greens G&CC with the dates set for November 10 - 13. No announcement had been made for a second Team International at the time of writing.

WORLD ROUND-UPS SHINKWIN BREAKS THROUGH IN STYLE A fast finish helped Callum Shinkwin take home his first piece of European Tour silverware after he downed Kalle Samooja in a playoff at the Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open. In regulation Shinkwin was two behind the Finn as he teed off on the 17th but finished birdieeagle – with the most stunning 54-foot putt on the last to close with a 63. Samooja, who was in the final group, birdied the last to force the play-off but three-putted on the first extra hole to hand Shinkwin the title.

MACINTYRE ANOTHER FIRST-TIMER IN CYPRUS Robert MacIntyre finished with back-to-back birdies to win his first European Tour title at the Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Showdown by one stroke ahead of Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura. Spain’s Jorge Campillo finished birdie-eagle to take third place, one shot ahead of Belgian Thomas Detry, Shinkwin and American Johannes Veerman.

HANSEN GETS IT DONE FROM BEHIND IN SOUTH AFRICA Denmark’s Joachim B. Hansen completed a hat-trick of successive first-time winners with a comefrom-behind victory over home favourite Wilco Nienaber at the Joburg Open. The big-hitting South African began the day one clear and extended his lead to three before faltering late to allow Hansen to step up and seal a two-stroke victory.

US PGA Tour News

Brian Gay

Carlos Ortiz

Robert Streb

There was a long-awaited return to the winner’s circle for Brian Gay at the Bermuda Championship as he tasted success for the first time since 2013 with a play-off win over Wyndham Clark. Gay carded a final round 64 – including a birdie on the final hole – to make his way into the play-off and he promptly dispatched his compatriot with a birdie on the first extra hole. The win earned him a trip to next year’s Players Championship and The Masters – not bad for someone who will turn 50 in December 2021 and likely head to the PGA Tour Champions.

From Bermuda the Tour headed inland to Texas for the Vivint Houston Open where there was a first-time winner in the form of Carlos Ortiz. The 29-year-old closed with a superb 65 to win by two ahead of Dustin Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama and become the third Mexican to win on the PGA Tour following Victor Regalado and Cesar Sanudo.

A runner-up finish behind Ortiz proved to be the perfect Masters warm-up for Dustin Johnson as

he cruised to his second Major title with a five-stroke win over Cameron Smith and Sung Jae Im thanks to a record-breaking 20-under-par score. Johnson, who won the US Open in 2016, opened with a 65 and never looked back, posting subsequent rounds of 70-65-68 to set a new tournament record of 268.

With the dust settled at Augusta National, the RSM Classic

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at Sea Island, up the road in Georgia, celebrated its ten year anniversary and Robert Streb became the tournament’s first two-time winner with a play-off win over Kevin Kisner. Play-offs have been needed to decide the winner in five of the last seven editions, with Streb also winning in sudden death six years ago against Brendon de Jonge and Will MacKenzie.

Dustin Johnson

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DR. ANDREW MURRAY PICTURED WITH RICHIE RAMSAY AT THE 2019 SCOTTISH OPEN.

PA U L C A S E Y

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DR. ANDREW MURRAY, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER FOR THE TOUR

GET OUT AND PLAY GOLF IS GOOD FOR YOU

W

ith the European Tour hosting two weeks of world-class golf at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai this month, Dr. Andrew Murray, Chief Medical Officer for the Tour, is encouraging more people to hit the golf course to boost their wellbeing in an environment where it is easy to maintain social distancing.

Golfers know that playing the sport is good for both your physical and mental health – and studies have confirmed that people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds can benefit from regular rounds of golf.

“Golf is in many ways the perfect social distancing sport,” said Murray.

“As it is a non-contact sport, which takes place over acres of sparselypopulated land, social distancing is very easy and effective. Additionally, a golfer can play a whole round of golf with his or her own golf clubs and balls, with virtually no need for any contact or cross-contamination.

SAFE RETURN OF GOLF “This was one of several key points we made to many governments and local health authorities from the outset when showcasing a safe return to golf and we are delighted that professional golf was given the green light to return in July and continue safely and successfully since.”

In addition to golf being safe (while adhering to social distancing measures), playing in an outside environment for a few hours in the sunshine and carrying the weight of your golf bag can do wonders for your physical wellbeing.

“Golf has a number of key benefits and it’s a subject I am particularly passionate about - it was the subject of my PhD,” said Murray. “It is one of the key pillars of the European Tour’s #GolfForGood campaign – encouraging

people to take up and play more golf, through communicating its many health benefits.

“The bottom line is quite simply that being active throughout your life is the best way to stay healthy, happy and to help prolong your life. Golf is a sport which can be played throughout your lifetime and during which you can spend a few hours at a time being active, while also being in a social environment which is important for your mental health.

“Of course, in Dubai, there is sunshine virtually all year round and with that comes increased levels of vitamin D, which in moderation is important for the body’s immune responses as well as maintaining healthy bones, muscles and teeth.”

PRECAUTIONS Since the European Tour announced their return in summer with a 6-event UK Swing, followed by events in locations that minimised the amount of travel needed in between them, precautions have been made and protocols modified with each passing event.

“It has been a period of huge adjustment for the whole world, not just the world of sport, and I have been

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extremely proud of how the European Tour has handled the return to golf during this pandemic,” said Murray. “We have implemented a comprehensive Health Strategy that all players, caddies, staff and media must all adhere to in order for our events to continue, given the global nature of our organisation.

TESTING AT EVENTS “Through pre-testing via our partners LetsGetChecked, onsite testing through Cignpost and various measures across the site at every tournament – including limited numbers on site, strict social distancing, the wearing of facial coverings indoors and our ‘buddy system’ – we have been able to keep the instances of positive Covid-19 cases at our tournaments low and avoid any major disruption to our events.

“It has been a mammoth effort, working closely alongside the public health bodies of various nations and governments, and it would not have been possible without the remarkable work ethic of so many European Tour staff who have since March been working towards a safe return to golf during these unprecedented times.” ■

DUBAI

After a year unlike any other, the European Tour’s 2020 schedule comes to a close once again on a perfectly manicured Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates with five big-name players in contention to be crowned the Race to Dubai champion. Former European No.1s Tommy Fleetwood and Lee Westwood are in firmly the hunt while there is a strong chance the title could be heading Stateside for the first time with Major champions Patrick Reed and Collin Morikawa hoping to add more silverware to their burgeoning trophy cabinets.

Rounding out the top-five is Victor Perez, who has been in superb form and is hoping to become the first Frenchman to win the Harry Vardon Trophy. It’s all set to be another fascinating climax to a topsy-turvy year.

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2020 TOMMY RACE FLEETWOOD TO DUBAI

PATRICK

DPWTC History:

2019: T28 2018: T2 2017: T10 2015: T10

Reed collected 1,500 points for his victory in the WGC Mexico City and has sat atop the Race to Dubai rankings ever since.

2020 Season Highlights ● Won the WGC-Mexico in February for his second career WGC win. ● Finished Tied-3rd at Wentworth to strengthen his position in the lead of the Race to Dubai. ● Posted top-15s at both US Open and the US PGA Championship. ● Was in the hunt for a second Green Jacket after opening with two rounds of 68-68 but came undone over the weekend to finish Tied-10th.

“The biggest thing for me was to come and show support for the European Tour, play some good golf and, hopefully, by the time we get to Dubai, we are in the driver’s seat and everyone is having to chase me.”

REED CLOSING IN ON HISTORY Patrick Reed comes into the DP World Tour Championship leading the Race to Dubai and has the opportunity to become the first American ever to be crowned European No.1. The Ryder Cup star has

BY TODD STASZKO enjoyed an impressive, consistent season and he’s keen to finish it off in style in what is his fifth appearance at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

“It would be an honour to become the first American to win the Race to Dubai and I’m really looking forward to the challenge,” said the 2018 Masters Champion. “I enjoy meeting new fans and traveling to different parts of the world to help grow the game of golf, and I truly enjoy the different cultures and countries that we visit. To be able to play at some of the best courses around the world is such a gift, and something that I am truly grateful to be able to do.”

Reed cemented his position at the top with another strong showing at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in October. His share of third place was his second consecutive top-5 finish in the event and he was delighted that the effort he made to cross the Atlantic to play really paid off. “It was definitely worth coming over and I can’t wait to come back again,” he said afterwards. “The biggest thing for me was to come and show support for the European Tour, play some good golf and, hopefully, by the time we get to Dubai, we are in the driver’s seat and everyone is having to chase me.”

Winning the Race to Dubai has been on Reed’s mind all season long and he would be a fitting addition to the roll of honour should he close it out in style.

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COLLIN

DPWTC History:

2020: Debutant

2020 Season Highlights ● Won the US PGA Championship for his first his Major title. ● Finished Tied-20 at the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational. ● Won the Workday Charity Open at Muirfield Village on the PGA Tour in July.

Morikawa became the third-youngest winner of the US PGA Championship, behind Jack Nicklaus and Rory McIlroy, setting a Championshipscoring record for the final 36 holes with just 129 strokes in the process.

MORIKAWA’S FAST-TRACK TO SUCCESS It’s been a meteoric rise to stardom for Californian hotshot Collin Morikawa, who became a Major Champion within 14 months of turning professional. The 23-year-old held off Dustin Johnson and Paul Casey to win the US PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, for his first Major title and his third career win on the US PGA Tour. Morikawa won within six weeks of turning pro last summer at the Barracuda Championship and won again earlier this summer, defeating Justin Thomas in a play-off at the Workday Charity Classic in Ohio. Morikawa decided to take up European Tour membership after finishing in a share of 42nd place at the WGC-Mexico Championship in February and his Major win saw him earn a huge chunk of Race to Dubai points to put him within touching distance of the coveted title ahead of his DP World Tour Championship debut.

“I’m excited to travel to Dubai and play there for the first time,” he said.

“I’ve had the opportunity to play outside the United States a few times, which I think is important to experience early in my career, and I’m looking forward to playing in a new environment in the Middle East. The opportunity to win the Race to Dubai is a thrill and it would be a great way to end an unforgettable year.”

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2020 RACE TO DUBAI

TOMMY

2020 Season Highlights ● Runner-up at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA and the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open – a pair of Rolex Series events.

DPWTC History:

2019: 2 2018: T16 2017: T21 2016: T9 2015: T53 2014: T12 2013: T37

● Finished Tied-3rd at the Portugal Masters in a last minute tune-up for the US Open. ● Hasn’t missed a cut on the European Tour. ● Top-20 finishes at the BMW PGA Championship and The Masters.

Fleetwood is looking to become a two-time Race to Dubai winner following his heroics in 2017.

FLEETWOOD UP FOR THE DOUBLE

In what he described as a ‘funky’ year in last month’s Worldwide Golf, Tommy Fleetwood still has the chance to create a little bit more personal history by winning the Race to Dubai for the second time in his relatively young career to date. Having turned professional in 2010 he cut his teeth on the Challenge Tour before securing his playing rights on the European Tour for the 2012 season. The following year he won his first title at Gleneagles, seeing-off home favourite Stephen Gallacher and Ricardo Gonzalez, and since then he’s blossomed into one of the finest – and most recognizable – players in the game.

Three years ago he underlined his status as a rising star with two wins on the European Tour at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the Open de France, en route to winning the Race to Dubai for the first time.

He followed that in 2018 with a barnstorming performance at The Ryder Cup at Le Golf National, winning all four of his fourball and foursomes matches, alongside Francesco Molinari.

“Winning the Race to Dubai was one of the proudest moments of my career so far and I’m looking forward to being back at Jumeirah Golf Estates with the chance to become European No.1 again,” said Fleetwood.

“I’ve gone close the past two years in Dubai, finishing second and third in the Rankings, and another Race to Dubai title would be very special to me, so I’m fully focused on the task ahead on the Earth Course at the DP World Tour Championship.”

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LEE

WESTWOOD’S SECOND WIND

Lee Westwood’s last two victories on the European Tour have been against elite fields at Rolex Series events and he’ll be in confident mood this month aiming to repeat his feat of 2009 when he won the inaugural DP World Tour Championship to clinch the Race to Dubai.

The Englishman ended a four-year winless drought with his victory at the 2018 NedBank Golf Challenge and earlier this year his win in Abu Dhabi proved he can still beat the best at the highest level at the age of 46.

“I’ve had some success in Dubai over the years and it is somewhere I always enjoy playing golf, so it will be great to end the year with two tournaments there,” says Westwood. “I’m in a good position on the Race to Dubai and, hopefully, I can play well in both weeks and finish the year strongly. It’s a great honour for any player to be crowned European Tour No.1. I’ve done it twice before (2000 and 2009) so there’s good reason that I can do it again this year.”

2020 Season Highlights ● Won on his first start of 2020 in Abu Dhabi with a 19-under-par score. ● Posted six consecutive top-20s from August through October, including a T13 at the US Open. ● Has not missed a cut since the European Tour resumed in July. ● Has been inside the top five in the rankings since the Abu Dhabi triumph.

DPWTC History:

2019: T38 2018: T20 2017: T52 2016: T13 2015: T42 2014: T47 2013: T5 2012: T48 2011: T29 2010: T3 2009: WIN

Westwood has now won on the European Tour in four different decades: 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and the 2020s.

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2020 RACE TO DUBAI

VICTOR

2020 Season Highlights ● Runner-up at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

DPWTC History:

2019: T20

● Made the cut in his debuts at US PGA (T22) and The Masters (T46). ● Was one shot off the lead heading into the final round at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, finishing Tied-16th.

Perez has won one title in each of the past three seasons – two on the Challenge Tour in 2017 and 2018 and one on last year’s European Tour.

PEREZ RIDING MOMENTUM INTO DUBAI Having discovered a taste for competing – and contending – in the Rolex Series events with two runner-up finishes so far this year, France’s leading player is hoping to sign off in style in Dubai and break through on the biggest stage.

“I’m in a great position on the Race to Dubai and it would be a great honour to finish the year as European Number One,” said the World No.37. “I really enjoyed my first experience of the DP World Tour Championship last year, so I’m looking forward to returning with a chance of winning the Race to Dubai. The Rolex Series events are the highlights of our season, and everyone seems to raise their game for the occasion and I’m excited to be facing the challenge.”

In Perez’s rookie campaign last year, he played in six of the eight Rolex Series events with his best result coming at the Turkish Airlines Open where he was one of four runners-up in a play-off to Tyrrell Hatton. This came just a month after he won his first European Tour title at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, not far from the town of Dundee where he resides.

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GREG NORMAN

FIRE LIGHTS UP

DOUBLE WORLD RENOWNED golf course architect Greg Norman, a two-times Major winner with 91 career titles and World No.1 for 331 weeks, talks to Mike Gallemore about his design of the Fire course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, which plays host to the 2020 Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World, and the Earth course, which has been home to the European Tour end of season climax, the DP World Tour Championship, since 2009 when Lee Westwood triumphed.

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Mike Gallemore: How pleased are you to see that the Fire course is finally hosting a European Tour event at Jumeirah Golf Estates, back-to-back with the forthcoming Golf in Dubai Championship?

Greg Norman: We designed both the Earth and Fire courses with the potential for tournament play in mind, so it’s very exciting to have the Fire course join the Earth on the European Tour rotation. To have the opportunity to showcase the diversity and contrast of the two courses in a televised setting is something I’ve hoped for all along, and I think it will be an exciting two weeks golf for Dubai and the golfing world.

MG: One of the most immediately noticeable differences between Fire and Earth is the colour of the sand in the bunkers. From your standpoint as course designer, what would you say are the other main differences between the two layouts?

GN: The Fire course is more open and the features are much more rugged with waste areas and native grasses framing the views, which is in stark contrast to the more manicured Parkland setting of the Earth course. The Fire plays more like a links course, so there are more options for playing the ground game and using the contours to score well, especially when the conditions are firm and fast.

MG: The remit for the Earth course was for it to host the European Tour’s season-ending event, how difficult was it to design a ‘sister’ course on the same property and make it stand-out on its own merit?

GN: One of my mandates to my design team is that every golf course we design throughout the world has its own identity and unique character. We came into this project with the same mindset and the entire project team committed to it from day one, so it was a fairly seamless process.

MG: It was said prior to opening, that the Fire course was ‘designed to reflect the local surroundings’ – what was it about Dubai’s landscape that you took into consideration to achieve this vision?

GN: We spent a lot of time researching the different types of drought-tolerant flora and fauna in the region that would be good framing material for the Fire course. We also customised the design of the irrigation system so that certain parts could be taken off-line once the plant material was established. It’s a fairly complicated process, but ultimately you have to keep the irrigation water away from the native plants if you want to maintain the type of “indigenous” look that we have created on the Fire course.

back Championships at JGE the two courses will be recognised worldwide – that’s quite an achievement.

GN: I’ve always thought there was tremendous potential for the game of golf in the Middle East, since I first came to Dubai as a touring professional in the 1990s, so its extremely rewarding to see the two courses I’ve designed at Jumeirah Golf Estates becoming such an integral part of taking that growth to new heights. It’s a huge part of what drives my passion for golf course design.

MG: It’s been a notably successful few weeks with the Fire course being chosen to host the 2023 World Amateur Team Championships (Eisenhower Trophy) and now, with back-to-

MG: How pleased are you that the Fire course is finally getting the recognition and the status that it deserves?

GN: The members at Jumeirah Golf Estates

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GREG NORMAN

THE PAR 4, 10TH HOLE ON THE FIRE COURSE AT JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES

MG: Visually, both courses differ, but how did you create the Fire course to give it a different design and personality?

GN: As I mentioned, the Fire course is more of a link-inspired design concept, so it’s different than the Earth course in almost every aspect. The wider corridors allowed us to create a variety of different angles and shot-making opportunities, so while it may appear less intimidating than the Earth, the course still requires a great deal of thought and execution to score well. Many parts of the Fire course are also more exposed to the wind, which can drastically affect the playability because of how the holes are routed. have known from experience what a hidden gem the Fire course really is for several years now, so I guess that’s the most important thing. But it’s also great that it will now be showcased on the world stage and tested by some of the best amateur and professional players in golf.

MG: The Earth course has its spectacular ‘Big Finish’ with the closing holes – which do you think are the most outstanding holes on the Fire course?

GN: What I love most about the Fire course is the variety we were able to create in the routing of the golf holes. It has everything you desire – long/short, upwind/downwind, right to left, left to right. All the holes are

very memorable, but the par 3s particularly stand out, because we were able to bring water into play on the 8th and 14th holes.

MG: Many of the members and visitors to JGE prefer to play the Fire course – was that your intention to create such a popular alternative to the Earth course?

GN: Absolutely, that was a major part of our original design brief for the project.

We wanted each course to have its own individual identity, while at the same time, complement one another. I think we’ve certainly achieved that with both courses and it’s very rewarding to hear all the positive reviews.

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MG: You have designed so many magnificent courses all over the world and in the Middle East, including Oman, Dubai and Jordan, where do you think the Fire course stands in your list of masterpieces.

GN: I’m very attached to all the courses we’ve done around the world, so it’s hard for me to rank them. But I would definitely consider the Fire course to be among the best in our portfolio. As a course designer, there really is no greater honour than to see your courses have a positive impact on the growth of the game of golf, and I’m extremely happy to see the Fire course join the Earth course in accomplishing that in Dubai and the Middle East.

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K A Y M E R

BASICS

BY THOMAS WRAGG

M A R T I N

W

hen Martin Kaymer won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in 2008 it triggered the start of a scintillating six years of golf for the man who had shot a 59 on the Pro Golf Tour two years earlier. The likeable German went on to win another 10 European Tour titles before the end of 2014, including two Majors, at the 2010 PGA Championship and the 2014 US Open as well as the coveted 2014 Players Championship on the PGA Tour.

T

he 35-year-old has failed to reach the same heights since his win at Pinehurst and finds himself without a victory in six long years. But Kaymer has enjoyed a strong restart, following the European Tour’s hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic with four top tens in his last six starts, including a runner-up finish at the Andalucía Masters and a tied tenth at the Rolex Series’ BMW PGA Championship.

“I think I used the break very well,” says Kaymer. “I slowed down at the beginning and got out of my normal routines that I had worked with for the last 15 years. It was great to be forced to sit down, relax, reflect and make adjustments.

“I had helpful discussions with my coach, caddie, manager and physio and after a couple of weeks, I started practicing again and it looks like we have made the right adjustments. I have always been the “feeling” guy on the golf course, and the same goes for my strengths and weaknesses. Once in a while I have a look at my stats to prove to myself that what I’m working on is the right thing at that moment.

“I haven’t won since 2014 but it will happen, sooner or later. My game is trending very nicely right now, as my last few results prove.”

Kaymer will hope to continue his fine form when he finishes the season with a desert double-header in Dubai this month at the newly-announced Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World followed by the season-ending climax at the DP World Tour Championship. The Fire course will be thrust into the spotlight for the first of those events with the Greg Norman-designed course set to host a professional golf tournament for the very first time.

“I’ve played Fire a couple of times during practice camps with my coach and family,” says Kaymer. “I like it a lot as it’s completely different to the Earth course and I know it will be a good challenge. I always enjoy coming over to Dubai as it offers the full package, great hotels, world-class golf courses and good restaurants. It’s a really nice place to visit for a holiday and even though I’ve been and played on plenty of the courses there, I never get tired of sampling such a wide variety.”

The four-time Ryder Cup star will make a welcome return to the European Tour’s grand finale the following week, having missed out on qualification for the tournament for the first time last year following a disappointing season which saw him finish 68th on the Race to Dubai.

“Last year was hard to be honest,” he says.

“Even though I didn’t play my best throughout the season, it hurt me not to qualify for the DP World Tour Championship so, I’m really looking forward to coming back this year. It would mean a lot to me to win a title in Dubai, having already secured a trio of victories in Abu Dhabi. Dubai has become one of the highprofile destinations not only on the European Tour but also worldwide. It would be great to add a title there to my resume.”

Victory in Dubai to end a six-year drought would be most welcome for Kaymer and it would certainly kick-start a big 12 months in the golfing world. The race to qualify for next year’s Ryder Cup resumes in January with Kaymer eager to work his way back into the team having missed out on Europe’s superb victory at Le Golf National, in Paris, in 2018.

Kaymer played a pivotal role in European victories in 2010 and 2014 and famously holed

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the winning putt in 2012 in what was dubbed the ‘Miracle at Medinah’ due to the epic nature of Europe’s comeback.

“The Ryder Cup is always one of my top priorities given all the experiences I’ve had over the years,” he says. “Everyone on the team in Paris deserved their place more than me – I just didn’t play good enough and that’s how it was. The entire team, Thomas Björn and his Vice Captains did a fantastic job. But I also know that if I can play my best, I will have a very good chance to make a few more winning Ryder Cup teams. It would be great to return to Whistling Straits for the Ryder Cup, the place of my first career Major Championship victory.”

Kaymer will have plenty of competition in making Padraig Harrington’s team but if his game continues to head in the right direction and he secures a 12th European Tour title then he could be too hard to ignore, given his wealth of experience in golf’s greatest team competition.

Quickfire with Last Movie Watched: Equalizer 2 Favourite Meal: Sushi Biggest Sporting idol outside golf: Michael Schumacher Favourite Sports Team: European Ryder Cup Team Most Enjoyable Course on European Tour: Le Golf National Favourite City/Destination on Tour: Dubai Favourite Club in the Bag: Putter The Open or The Masters? The Open.

MAC RETURN OF THE

W

HILE he’s the first to admit much of 2020 has been a mental struggle, last year’s Rookie of the Year Robert MacIntyre re-discovered his form last month to win a first European Tour title in Cyprus and now he’s looking forward to putting a turbulent campaign behind him with a strong finish in Dubai. Twelve months ago, MacIntyre signed off on his 2019 season by finishing ahead of Kurt Kitayama at the DP World Tour Championship to be crowned Rookie of the Year. Now he enters the tournament as a bonafide European Tour winner and can close the book on a topsy-turvy year with his held high once again. Todd Staszko caught up with the young Scot ahead of the season’s climax in Dubai.

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ROBERT MACINTYRE

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It seems every year the Middle East becomes a more and more significant part of the European Tour schedule. Besides the climate, we get to play on some fantastic courses, and it’s easy to feel at home whenever you play out here. I’ve had some good results in the Middle East over the past couple of seasons, which is why I enjoy playing here.

ROBERT MACINTYRE

“I found it difficult to get into my regular routine for events after the lockdown ended in the summer,” admits the 24-yearold. “I played in two Majors and a World Golf Championship in America and around half a dozen European Tour events in between. So, with all of the different rules and protocols at these events, it was very different to what I have been used to.

“However, I did think my game was in good shape, and whilst I was not up challenging at the top of the leaderboard, I felt that once I could get some playing consistency and my putter working well, that I would be capable of producing something good.”

This confidence turned into reality last

month when he came out on top in the Cyprus Classic in the second of back-to-back tournaments on the Mediterranean island.

“I played well in the first event at Aphrodite Hills, but the format for the second week meant that I just needed to get through to the final round on Sunday and then take the opportunities when they arose.

“Playing well obviously gives me confidence, but a win is always something special, especially since it was my first on the European Tour, and achieving that, after my tie for third place the week before, has set me up nicely for the final events this year.”

The youngster sits just outside the top

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60 in the world ranking at present and has one eye on taking the next step – but he’s not putting too much pressure on himself to climb into that all-important top 50.

Top 50 Goal “Breaking that barrier certainly creates more opportunities, but it’s just another goal on the journey,” he says. “It will get me into more events with higher world-ranking points, and playing against the world’s best players more frequently allows me to see where my game is at, and what I need to do to get even higher.

“When I have played in Majors or WGC events, I’ve always enjoyed the experience

ROBERT MACINTYRE

and I’ve performed well so far. I feel – whether it be in April 2021 or later – motivated when I am playing at that level and MacIntyre is focussed on the task in hand in I feel comfortable that my game has still got Dubai. a lot of room for improvement.

DUBAI ACHIEVEMENT “I have to take everything step-by-step to “Playing in the DP World Tour allow myself to play well, otherwise I’m not Championship is important for me, because giving myself the best chance of success. just by getting into the field is a good So, I have to keep focused on what I’m indicator as to how my season has been,” said doing every week, otherwise I’ll not get the MacIntyre, who finished 11th in last year’s opportunity to play in these big events.

Race to Dubai. “Before Cyprus, I was sitting “I’m just like everyone else, so whether just inside the qualification mark anyway, but it’s The Masters or The Open at St Andrews, that win secured my place, and if I can keep I have to work hard with my team to earn my good form in these closing events, then I the chance to fulfil all my dreams and could finish even higher than last year. ambitions.”

“It was a great achievement to be the Before he qualifies for a Masters debut

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Rookie of the Year in 2019, but to follow that up with an even better position this year, and a higher world ranking, would be a great end to what has been the most uncertain time for everyone. It would give me more confidence and I hope it would also be a catalyst to a fast start in 2021.”

The Middle East has been a happy hunting ground for the Scot having made his first professional steps in the region three years ago.

“When I turned professional in 2017, I played my first two professional events on the MENA Tour, and in only my second event, I won the Sahara Kuwait Championship,” he says. “I also secured my European Tour card

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ROBERT MACINTYRE

at the Challenge Tour Grand Final in Ras-alKhaimah in 2018, so I have happy memories throughout the region.

“It seems every year the Middle East becomes a more and more significant part of the European Tour schedule. Besides the climate, we get to play on some fantastic courses, and it’s easy to feel at home whenever you play out here. I’ve had some good results in the Middle East over the past couple of seasons, which is why I enjoy playing here.”

SIGNING OFF 2020 While MacIntyre can look forward to ending his season in Dubai, he acknowledges the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes to ensure the European Tour continued during the coronavirus pandemic.

“This has been a hard year for everyone, there’s no doubt about that,” he says. “Like most, I have struggled at different points during the season, and it might take some time for me to reflect and look back at what we have all had to endure to understand how I have coped and how I have adapted to the situation.

“We are very fortunate to have been playing again after Lockdown, and the European Tour has done incredibly well to create a new playing schedule for us and I know all of the players are grateful for that.

“I have missed playing without spectators.

I get huge motivation from seeing and hearing the fans on the golf course, and that’s when I play my best golf. It’s been the same for everyone. Some have dealt better with it than others, but although I’ve not enjoyed it as much as I normally do, I’m still pleased with

how the season has gone so far, and that I have given myself the opportunity to finish the year on a high.

“With everything else going on around me, I can only look back and say that I have still been very fortunate to have had another good year, and I feel that I’m ending the season with my game in a really good place.” ■

ABOVE: ROBERT MACINTYRE HITS HIS TEESHOT ON THE EIGHTH HOLE DURING DAY THREE OF THE 2020 OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC AT EMIRATES GOLF CLUB.

DREAMING OF AUGUSTA DEBUT I would love to play at Augusta National, and even without the presence of the Patrons this year, there was still something very special about the place when I watched the coverage on TV. I know that a good finish to this year could help me achieve this, but I’d be happy if my current form gave me a good start to 2021, and be able to qualify for April’s event with a steady rise through the world rankings. It is very easy to focus on certain career goals, but I want to be playing in all the Majors as often as I can, and when I do get the chance to play in one, then I want to play well and compete.

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COLUMN

PETE COWEN Expect the scoring to be higher in next year’s Masters with firmer conditions.

Crowd-less Masters in 2021?

It’s hard to believe that the next Major will be The Masters again in April 2021, and with the pandemic devastating America don’t expect to see the Patrons lining the fairways next year. Though you will see the course play a lot tougher and it will not be the ‘point and shoot’ golf like we’ve just witnessed.

BEING at the Masters this year was odd to say the least. Everyone is banging on about the impact of a Patron-free Augusta but being there, the huge shock was just how soft the conditions were.

It certainly didn’t play like the Augusta we have all grown to know.

Going into the event all eyes were on Bryson but he’s not quite the complete package. He was too wild off the tee and Augusta’s tree-lined fairways are there to punish those who stray off line. He’s not sure what his shot shape is right now. He’s just hitting it flat out. If you are unsure what shot shape is coming out, it’s going to make things difficult to say the least.

He’s a great lad and I really enjoy talking to him about how he views the science behind the swing, but going into the event he got it all wrong from a psychological point of view. Jack Nicklaus was the master of diverting attention away from himself, especially going into a Major. He never ran his mouth off going into an event. He just focused on his game and got on with the job in hand. Why on earth Bryson felt the urge to say he was playing Augusta as a par 67. All he did was put himself under unnecessary pressure and attach a target on his back for the press to shoot at. He still has a lot to learn, but I’m sure we will see a different Bryson by next April - which will be the first Major in 2021. Meanwhile, poor Dustin only gets 146 days before he has to defend the title again.

April will no doubt be crowd-free again but the course will certainly not play into Dustin’s hands once more. We can’t forget that Dustin isn’t just one of the longest off the tee on Tour but his power fade also gives him great control. He was confident in taking on the bunkers around the course whereas the bulk of the field had to lay up. The eighth is a good example. He could just bomb it over the right-hand bunker to leave a great angle in, with a long iron. The conditions were perfect for him, which was evident from the opening round when he eagled the second hole by taking on that tight pin position with a ‘drop and stop’ long iron.

I’ve never seen a player hold that pin before and in April it will just fire through the back of the green to leave a challenging return chip.

I’m not taking anything away from Dustin’s win, just pointing out why he was able to dominate for all four days in those conditions. You also have to give him credit on how his short game has massively improved over the years, thanks to the hard work he has put in. Dustin picks his short irons and wedges off the deck and takes a very shallow divot. This

means he doesn’t over- spin the ball, compared to players with a steeper angle of attack. By controlling the spin Dustin was able to take on pins positioned on back ledges, safe in the knowledge they would hold. Many thought the conditions would have suited Rory just as much as Dustin.

Though Rory comes into the Majors with winning on the mind, I say to all my players, that to win, you need to trust in the process. That means sticking to your routines and making sure you are within three shots of the leader going into the back nine of the final round. Tournaments are never won from an opening round. Rory has the game but he just needs to believe in the process.

One of my players who has this ability is Brooks Koepka. To tie seventh at the Masters following a tie for fifth at the Houston Open shows he’s getting back to form and I’m sure 2021 will be a great year for both of us.

I know I keep on saying that I’m not getting any younger and I need to slow down, especially from contracting Covid at the start of the year, which nearly polished me off –but I can’t help myself. You can never stop learning and passing on that knowledge to the stars of tomorrow and that, I guess, is what has made me who I am. So, as my legendary players such as Stenson, McDowell and Poulter need my support to find a way to battle against the fearless new talent breaking out on Tour, I’ll carry on regardless. The old guard have the experience to maximise what they have and Poulter is brilliant at this. His short game has always been his strength but he has also worked tirelessly on gaining more ball speed.

It’s equally rewarding working with the energy and fearless new talent out there. One of my youngsters coming through is Alex Fitzpatrick – Matt Fitzpatrick’s younger brother. Being from Sheffield and having seen them both hard at work at my range in Rotherham over the years, it’s great to see both of them achieving their childhood ambitions.

Matt has always been the calmer of the two and under pressure that mindset has made him a winner. Alex on the other hand has a ball speed close to 200mph and is a good twenty yards longer than his older brother, but had a more aggressive mindset on the course. He recently won the Club of Georgia Amateur Championship with a final round 64 and his transition into the professional game couldn’t be better.

Wouldn’t it be great to see both of them paired together in a Ryder Cup. Two young lads from rainy old Sheffield showing the world that golf is not a sport for the elite and privileged. ■

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COLUMN

DAVID HOWELL Winning a Major is what every golfer strives for.

Major Champions are cut from a different cloth Golfers nowadays dedicate their whole careers to winning a Major, so it wasn’t surprising to see the emotion pour out of Dustin Johnson at Augusta National.

COLLIN Morikawa, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson, golf’s three Major Champions from this strangest of years – Congratulations! To become a Major champion is one heck of an achievement.

I picked up a club around the age of nine, became aware of the Majors when I was about fourteen, and spent the next 30 years trying my best to play well enough to compete for a Major championship. Frankly, I’ve never even got close. A top ten finish or two along the way, but I’ve never really been in the hunt. So far that is, although I might add, I’ve always been an optimist, you see.

So, with all the money and glory on offer around the world for golfing excellence, make no mistake, Major championship golf is still the greatest challenge. The list of brilliant players who haven’t managed to win a Major is long and tortuous. Just think of the emotion from recent years of two of the world’s great players who have lived with the tag of being ‘the best player who hasn’t won a Major’ - Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia. If we have seen emotion on a more intense scale than from them in their moment of triumph, then someone please show me the footage. It is and always will be, the pinnacle of professional golf – to a golfer it means everything.

This season golf has crowned a triumvirate of American stars, and three different characters to boot. Morikawa, young and brilliant, as accurate and consistent a player as the world has seen for a long time, straight out of school with the confidence of youth which seems to get enhanced on a weekly basis, then taking his first chance of Major glory in sublime style down the stretch in San Francisco.

Bryson spent a week trying his best to smash the game of golf to smithereens, whilst taking chunks out of Winged Foot in a display as dominant as we have seen for many a year. One had to marvel at Bryson going about his business. He was as single-minded as we have ever seen anyone in his belief in his strategy that week. What a thrill it must have been for him to see the fruits of his labour, repaid with that beautiful US Open Trophy.

Won’t it be interesting to see who follows and knows the drill – with clubs the same length, with his weight an extra four stone and a putter that goes up the arm. I find it interesting that we have yet to witness anyone else play Bryson-style. But then, these things

were not achieved overnight. Ten years of research and development has gone into Bryson’s way of playing golf, but I’m sure it won’t be long before we see others trying to follow in his rather deep footsteps.

Mind you, without going too deep into stats, what did we learn from the man himself was that, on reflection, he had his best putting week ever. So the longest driver, and the best putter won the tournament: rough, no rough, links course or parkland, that has, and always will be, a winning combination.

Finally to Augusta, besieged by rain, devoid of its Patrons, defenceless to begin with, the Sub-air system straining to do its work and bring the Augusta we have come to know and love, back to our screens. It just about did it by the weekend, when the world’s best player would stride to his greatest triumph.

DJ was the deserved winner The Masters needed to close out this harshest of years. I found myself pulling for him on Sunday – and for the first time if I may be so honest. He has grown into a star, and much like Greg Norman, his Major tally is woefully short of where it could be. So, yes, I was delighted that DJ donned the Green Jacket for a second Major title, the emotion he showed told us just what a journey he had been on - the near misses, the pain of Whistling Straights in 2010 where a last hole penalty cost him victory. The shank on hole 14 when leading at Royal St George’s in 2011, the more I write the more it sounds like Greg Norman’s career, and who wasn’t delighted when Greg did win each of his Majors? They seemed so richly deserved.

The Masters Champion has been as good as anyone for a decade now. He turned a corner after his enforced break from the Tour all those years ago. It was a turning point it seems, and for many years now Dustin has lived like the ultimate pro – disciplined and consistent. He has found his winning formula and he has stuck to it.

His golf life is a simple one: be strong, wedge it brilliantly, drive it better than anyone else, and now it really is easy to imagine the floodgates opening for him on the Major front, all the while remembering that winning Major golf tournaments is oh so hard.

Anyone who manages even one Major deserves their part in history.

Etching your name onto one of those four trophies really must be the best feeling in the world. ■

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COLUMN

y r a i D our

A D R I

A R N A U S

T

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.

s the year draws to a close I think we can all agree that 2020 has been the toughest year in recent memory with the lives lost around the world and the restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

From a personal perspective it was difficult earlier this year not knowing when we would play professional golf again, and I think I speak on behalf of all the players on the European Tour in saying how thankful we are to still be playing the sport we love.

The Tour have done a great job in keeping everyone safe and adding a host of new tournaments to the schedule including the Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

A lot of places in the world are struggling to get to grips with the pandemic but Dubai seem to be doing a really good job in ensuring everyone is safe and allowing people to return to a sense of normality in their daily lives, so I know all the players are excited to end the year here with back-to-back tournaments.

It’s such a fantastic destination for golf with the vast range of world-class facilities on offer and I’m really looking forward to playing on the Fire course. I played the course for the first time last month before heading to South Africa and it’s definitely going to be a good

A

test with some fun holes which you can attack a bit more than the Earth course.

It felt great getting out on the course again after being in quarantine for two weeks due to my caddie, Bruno, testing positive for coronavirus. He had to selfisolate for 17 days but thankfully he’s fit and healthy again after producing a negative test which enabled us to fly over to South Africa for the South African Swing.

We’re very lucky in being able to visit these beautiful countries during these difficult times and we took a trip to Kruger National Park between tournaments which was an awesome experience to see elephants and giraffes in their natural habitat.

I feel like my game is trending in the right direction ahead of the tournaments in Dubai after not being happy with how I was playing over the summer during the UK Swing. I wasn’t as sharp as I would have liked to have been, and that’s why I decided to take some time off before returning to the course and I feel that has really helped me.

As I said before, I’m really thankful to still be able to do the job I love and finishing the season at the DP World Tour Championship once again is a great way to end what has been a difficult year. Stay safe and best wishes for the New Year. ■

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ADRI’S DUBAI DELIGHTS ■ FAVOURITE GOLF CLUB? My favourite golf club in Dubai is Emirates Golf Club. The Majlis has a great layout which is challenging but at the same time it gives you some chances to attack and I’ve had some good memories from playing there at the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic.

■ FAVOURITE RESTAURANT? It would have to be Luigia in the Rixos at Jumeirah Beach. I have been there so many times, they have the best salads in town and great pizzas, it’s a very cool Italian restaurant that I love going to.

■ FAVOURITE TOURIST ATTRACTION? I really enjoyed going on the desert safari! It’s something that I never had the chance to do when I was younger so it was a very new experience for me. I really enjoyed taking a car and going over the dunes.

■ FAVOURITE THING TO DO ON YOUR DAY OFF? I’m really into play paddle tennis with my friends right now. It’s a fun sport and it’s getting very popular in Dubai.

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G

OLF SUPERSTORE CATER FOR ALL AND ANY GOLF-RELATED CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS AND ALL OF THE HOTTEST PRODUCTS ARE IN TOWN READY TO ME SNAPPED UP, WRAPPED UP AND PUT UNDER THE TREE COME DECEMBER 25TH. ROBBIE MCCARTHY THE IN-STORE GOLF PROFESSIONAL AND STORE MANAGER HAS PICKED OUT THE PERFECT GIFTS FOR SANTA TO DELIVER FOR THIS YEAR’S HOLIDAY SEASON.

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ROBBIE MCCARTHY: “As we know, Golf has been a great outlet during the Covid pandemic with more and more people pushing themselves to get out on the course more often. Christmas is great time to pick up some presents and treat someone (or yourself) to something new to help enhance the golfing experience. We are continuing to offer the 20% discount in-store (subject to terms and conditions) over the festive period and look forward to seeing you visit me and GolfSuperstore team. I’m also happy to announce that our new locations at Arabian Ranches and Sharjah Golf & Shooting club are now open.”

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For more information please contact: robbie@golfsuperstore.ae Tel: +971 58 164 7567

JC’S FESTIVE GOLFING TIPS O BY

JONATHAN CRADDOCK

PGA GOLF PROFESSIONAL DG PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT golfcoachjc

ften when I’m walking along the driving range, two of the most common comments I overhear are: “keep your eye on the ball” and “you’re bending your left arm, keep it straight”.

Upon hearing this I immediately think how important it is to understand the related movements that cause the issues that make people give this advice. Because neither of them fully do this, I call them ‘fixes’ or ‘band-aids’ for poor movement mechanics.

The aforementioned myths are amongst my favourites, along with “turn your hips” and “torso first to create lag”. These are all

consequences, so if you create and practice correct movement mechanics they will be fixed naturally.

Let’s start with “keeping your eye on the ball”. This may have worked for you in the past, but, that said, it is a band-aid applied to inhibit other movements.

For example if you lift and lose good posture during the downswing into impact, keeping your eye on the ball a little longer may reduce the amount of lift to potentially increase the likelihood of an improved strike.

But wouldn’t it be better to practice the correct motion and therefore taking away the need for the band-aid.

DRILL 1: FEET TOGETHER SPIRAL AND WIDE STANCE SPIRAL Working the correct axis of torso spiral during the upswing and downswing is vital to allow a consistent and natural movement. Practice the spiral with your feet together – or a wide stance – every day. There is no need to hit the range as this can simply be performed at home. Feel the ground and work each segment of your body, spiraling and stretching to the top on both sides.

FEET TOGETHER SPIRAL

WIDE STANCE SPIRAL

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INSTRUCTION DRILL 2: CHINESE FIGHTING STICKS. You can use your golf club for this or a broom handle and it’s an excellent way to spiral the body whilst incorporating the arms and lever. Spiral your body, loading your shoulders and continue the spiral through the arms to the club.

CHINESE FIGHTING STICKS DRILL

DRILL 3: THE NO LOOK SHOT. How often do you practice without looking at your ball, instead looking forward to see what’s happening with your body’s movement? When out on the course, we will most likely concentrate on the ball, however, when practicing on getting the correct movement, this is a great way to improve quickly by forgetting about the ball and focus instead on the feelings of making the correct movement.

Two of my all time favourite players – Henrik Stenson and Annika Sörenstam – notably encourage a free flowing through-swing.

The reason I mentioned the straight left arm at the start is because bending the arm is quite often linked to the aforementioned point of not having a free flowing through-swing. This happens because without flowing freely through the impact area, the torso isn’t able to move correctly and therefore will lead to band-aid tutorial points such as ‘you need to turn more’ etc.

Again, if the practiced movement is correct, flowing down into the ground will naturally open the body in form of the downward spiral. Without this, the left shoulder is unable to move behind the right, and if this is not happening you are most likely not going to be able to keep your left arm straight.

THE JC FESTIVE RECIPE: 1 X FEET TOGETHER SPIRAL 30 seconds daily

1 X WIDE STANCE SPIRAL 30 seconds daily

1 X WIDE STANCE SPIRAL, IMITATING CLUB WITH HANDS 30 seconds daily

1 X CHINESE FIGHTING STICKS DRILL 30 seconds daily This equates to just two minutes a day, and if you stick to this recipe, the outcome will not disappoint.

Dubai’s Lifestyle Rewards App

Try out these simple drills this festive season at the Peter Cowen Academy at Emirates Golf Club.

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WATCH THE VIDEO AT WorldwideGolf Worldwide.Golf

BY

STEPHEN DEANE,

HEAD OF ACADEMIES, deanopro DUBAI GOLF

CONTROL THE HANDLE

I

n this month’s article I’m going to switch things around and focus on the handle, rather than the clubhead. Obviously, whatever happens with the clubhead is impacted by the handle and vice versa. I feel many students focus way too much on

the clubhead when they’d be way more effective paying attention to what the handle does in relation to their body, and in particular during the takeaway (primary movement), delivery position (pre-impact) and impact.

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INSTRUCTION DELIVERY POSITION This pre-impact position determines everything. Good players know how to match their delivery position with their intended flight (neutral, draw, fade). Again,

we can do this by controlling the handle relative to the body. Looking down the target for a neutral flight, slightly right for a draw and slightly left for a fade.

TAKEAWAY During this primary movement we like to see the butt end of the handle point towards the left hip. This is a great checkpoint and will start your movement on track without excessive roll where the handle looks away from the body, and without excessive pickup where the handle looks to the ground.

RACKET DRILL IMPACT At impact the butt end of the handle stretches up relative to the left hip and left shoulder. This feeling creates

superb face stability and prevents any excessive shaft lean forward or face rotation around and closed.

Please watch or come visit The Peter Cowen Academy Dubai for further insights and improvement. Also keep an eye out for our new online coaching platform called VIYA Academy powered by SwingIndex. An exciting new remote platform that can help you improve your game any place anytime.

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As you can see in the article I’ve used a badminton racket to help illustrate some of the movements. Within the accompanying video I discuss how the body coils and uncoils during the movement.

WATCH THE VIDEO AT WorldwideGolf Worldwide.Golf

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Dimple By Design available at:

Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club; Arbian Ranches Golf Club; Jumeirah Golf Estates; The Els Club;

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MARTIN DUFF

MEET THE

CHAIR - MAN M

ARTIN DUFF was born and raised in the Yorkshire city of Sheffield and started work in the golf industry on his home course and at the historic town of Stratfordupon-Avon. Sheffield-based golf coach Peter Cowen recommended a possible position developing golf in the United Arab Emirates and he instantly decided to take the opportunity. That was almost 22 years ago – and he’s still here in the UAE. Worldwide Golf caught up with Martin to discuss his time in the region and how he became involved with Dimple By Design golf chairs.

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● PRESENTING CHRIS WILLIAMS WITH SHARJAH SENIOR MASTERS TROPHY IN 2017. ● WATCHING BJORN DEFEAT TIGER IN 2001.

What enticed you to take the job in Dubai all those years ago?

Martin Duff: Peter Cowen, as we are all aware, is a huge supporter of the UAE and convinced me that it was an opportunity not to be missed.

He said that golf was growing at a rapid rate in the region and that in five to ten years’ time it would be the place to be. He was absolutely right. I remember his exact words: “The weather is amazing, everything is 5-star and they really do things right.” Although, initially, I found it hard to settle in the job, the golfing community encouraged me to stay – and, as they say, the rest is history!

Who were the most influential and supportive people who helped you in your career in Dubai?

MD: There have been so many tremendous professionals working in the UAE golf industry in my time here. I have certainly learned a lot from the likes of Peter Harradine, Chris May, Peter Downie and James Williams, but I believe the biggest influence who has helped me, personally, is Nick Tarratt. Not only was he my first boss when I joined the Emirates Golf Federation (then the UGA), but we worked closely together on two Sharjah Senior Golf Masters events and he has always been there with help and ideas (some of them good!) whenever I’ve picked up the phone up to ask his advice.

What was your first impression of Dubai and how has it changed over the years?

MD: Well, I arrived in the month of August, so

the first thing that hit me was definitely the heat! I was always impressed by the standard of the golf facilities and the high level of service – the quality of which, continues to increase.

What, undoubtably, has changed is that back in 1999 everyone in the industry knew each other. In the early days it was a much smaller and closer knit community. I certainly miss the familiarity, but back then, there were only five grass golf courses! The playing standard has also certainly changed beyond belief. I played in six of the first seven Dubai Golf Trophies and we won six. I wouldn’t get anywhere near the Pro’s team nowadays – and the Pros can’t get near the amateurs anymore!

What was your most memorable Tour event in the UAE and why?

MD: Your first highlight is always the most memorable – and it was when Jose Coceres won the Dubai Desert Classic at the Creek in 2000. Myself, Peter Cowen and Lee Westwood’s then wife, followed Lee around, shooting 64 in the first round, and we were almost the only ones following him on the golf course. Thomas Bjorn taking down Tiger on the 72nd hole of a 4-day head-to-head duel was also a memorable moment which came at a time when Tiger was at his best and Dubai was really beginning to establish itself as a global golfing destination.

For personal reasons though, my overall favourite tournament has to be when Matt Fitzpatrick won the DP World Tour Championship. I had two of my closest friends from Sheffield over for the

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week who know Matt (also a Sheffield lad) really well. We spent quite a bit of time with him and his family that week and we certainly celebrated in style with them at the end!

What enticed you to join Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club, and what have you learned from your experience at the club?

MD: Sharjah will always be special to me and I learned and grew an incredible amount in my 14 years there. I was there before there was even a blade of grass and saw it grow from a handwritten sketch into a thriving club and a StaySure Tour venue – becoming the first 9-hole golf course in the world to stage a major professional tour event.

Having left Sharjah G&SC, are you now based back in Dubai and aiming to stay in the industry?

MD: Dubai and the UAE has become very much my home-from-home now. I have had many wonderful years and I’ve made a lot of friends here. I’m certainly in no rush to leave and have recently enjoyed working with a very good friend of mine establishing Dimple Designed golfthemed furniture in the Middle East. It’s very different to what I have been doing for so many years but it’s certainly exciting. It has enormous potential – and having weekends at home for the first time in 30 years is quite nice!

Will you be looking to add to the now wellestablished Dimple range - surely one product

MEET THE CHAIR – MAN

● SEEING SHEFFIELD-BORN MATT FITZPATRICK WIN THE DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP WITH CLOSE FRIENDS AT JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES.

isn’t enough for the demanding UAE market?

MD: The Dimple Chair is a wonderful, iconic and a truly unique product. We are initially focusing on golf and the range will extend to six pieces, including a coffee table, bar and foot stool, 2-seater sofa and table chairs. Looking further into the future we will expand, with the same themed range, into many other mainstream sports including cricket, soccer, tennis, rugby and probably a few of the American sports. I am sure Dimple is coming to a man cave, office, event or reception near everyone very soon!

The six display chairs are making their way around the golf clubs in the UAE so be sure to look out for them, or visit dimpledesigned.com What are your thoughts on Topgolf and what can be done to entice more people into the local golf scene?

MD: I really believe everyone in the industry is genuinely excited about Topgolf. It’s so different, cool, fun and addictive. I personally think it’s exactly what is needed to boost the game. It will, hopefully, attract a lot of new people into golf. The clubs just need to convert as many newcomers as possible into legitimate golfers and get them out onto the UAE’s fairways.

If money were no object what would you do to make the game more fun?

MD: I would probably open up more fun golf attractions. Facilities like Topgolf, the Himalayas (in St Andrews), fun par 3s, executive

and crazy golf courses would all attract people to the game, and from there, hopefully a passion would develop.

a team environment (and there’s a lot more money in it!). Mind you, I’d only ever play for the mighty Owls (Sheffield Wednesday)!

What’s the best thing you have ever won on course?

MD: Winning your Club Championship is always something to be proud of, especially when you are only 15. Picking up your first cheque as a professional is also something you’ll never forget (I never cashed it, I just framed it), as is your first professional win (which I achieved in Abu Dhabi about 20 years ago). In terms of an actual prize, probably a 4-day trip to Kuala Lumpar inclusive of flights and hotel, courtesy of my good friend Asim Arshad at Orient Travel. The prize was amazing, the fun and the memories even more so!

What’s the best golf tip you could give a beginner?

MD: As I’m bound to say - ‘get lessons from the start.’ It’s the best thing any golfer could ever do. So many people think ‘I’ll learn to hit the ball and then get lessons.’ This makes life very difficult for the player and the coach. Learning the fundamentals from the start enables you to improve more quickly and play for much longer.

Plus, if ever you’re struggling, you’ll still be able to benefit from future lessons. People do get put off by hearing, ‘I went for lessons and I got worse,’ but these people are most likely going for their first lesson and often don’t have the fundamental movements or technique on which to build and improve.

Who is the most famous person you have played with in the UAE? MD: That would have to be Gary Player, thanks to my good friends at Worldwide Golf. I’ll never forget it and he was still very, very impressive even in his mid-70s!

If you could play another sport professionally what would it be and who would you play for?

MD: My favourite sports to play when I was younger (other than golf) were football and squash. I was a decent player at both, probably the equivalent of a 10 handicapper. Football, ultimately would have to be my best sport.

Contrary to golf, I do actually enjoy playing in

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What is the worst tip you could give a beginner?

MD: The worst tips will most likely either come from the guy next to you on the driving range (when he tries to help you) or the internet. The people who try and help you undoubtedly mean well, but experienced professional advice will be the best advice 99 times out of a 100. Also, there is any amount of information online but you have to be 100% sure that it is the right information or tip to apply to your game, especially if you’re serious about genuine improvement - not just the possibility of playing one good round. ■

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GOLF EVENTS MANAGEMENT

TOU R U

SHANA’AH EDGES OUT HAMBLETON IN JUNIOR MASTERS OPEN TOUR CURTAIN RAISER

NEW DATE ANNOUNCED FOR HISTORIC WORLD AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

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olf Events Management were set to welcome some of the world’s best junior amateur golfers to Al Hamra Golf Club this month for the inaugural World Amateur Golf Championship but in line with the directive from the General Authority of Sports the tournament has been postponed until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The tournament, which is a first of its kind in the region, will now be played from February 10th to 13th with entries still open to be part of history and the chance to earn valuable World Amateur Golf Ranking points. Golf Events Management’s Junior Open Masters Tour also had to be postponed after just one event in line with the latest directive while the Ladies Open Golf Tour UAE continues to be played with Jamie Camero winning the latest event at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club.

Mousa Shana’ah picked up where he left off on the Junior Masters Open Tour after securing first place in round one at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club with a countback triumph over Alex Hambleton.

The Jordanian star, who has won the last two Green Jackets for topping the Order of Merit, shot an impressive one under par 71 along with Hambleton to finish at the summit of the leaderboard.

With the sun setting a play-off wasn’t viable so a countback was needed to determine the winner and it was Shana’ah who came out on top with a back nine of 34 compared to Hambleton’s 38.

Aasiya Saleem came out on top in the Girls Gross Division afer posting a five over par 77 for a one stroke victory over Zurich Kanokpornvasion while Carlotta Scialanaga finished third on 91. In the Boys Net Division, Emarati Abdulla Kalback got his hands on the trophy after winning the countback agasint Hashem Shana’ah while Ewan widor completed the top three.

The final winner on the day was Indian Sanskriti Mallela who triumphed in the Girls Net Division with Siti Latifah and Rawdha Alhefeiti rounding up the top three.

PLAYER FOCUS

CAMERO SECURES SECOND LADIES OPEN GOLF TOUR TITLE Jamie Camero dreams of topping the Ladies Open Golf Tour UAE Order of Merit were heightened after the youngster was crowned champion of twhe third round at Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club.

The Filipino, who also won the second round event at The Track, Meydan, posted a three over par 75 total to beat Aasiya Saleem by seven strokes while Silvia Bottaro completed the top three.

In the Net Division, 11 year old Jordanian Salwa Khalil secured top spot followed by Leila Aghabi in second and Celest Cordova

in third. Division B also showed plenty of competition with Irishwoman Aoife Kelly securing top spot while Ethel Bruwer and Madina Abdirashidova had to settle for second and third respectively.

NAME: Mansur Anwar Gargash NATIONALITY: Emirati STARTED PLAYING: 2014 DATE OF BIRTH: 7th July 2007 FAVOURITE COURSE: Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club FAVOURITE PLAYER: Tiger Woods BEST ROUND: 100 - The Track, Meydan

NAME: Ewan Widor NATIONALITY: Austrian STARTED PLAYING: 2017 DATE OF BIRTH: 13th February 2010 FAVOURITE COURSE: Saadiayt Beach Golf Club FAVOURITE PLAYER: Bryson Dechambeau BEST ROUND: 80 - Saadiayt Beach Golf Club

“I never used to be interested in golf but now I play it with my friends and take it more seriously.”

“One day I want to win the US Open and play with the best players. Therefore, I train hard every day to be succplayessful.”

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ARABIAN GOLF SHARJAH GOLF AND SHOOTING CLUB

EMI RATES GOL F C LU B

AL AIN – AE S GC

High turnout for Diwali Scramble

Play-off drama at the Club Championship

A shotgun start was required to get the annual Diwali Scramble underway as 144 players competed for honours on the Majlis course and coming out on top was the team of Nishith Patel, Naresh Handa, Veneet Mohan and Sudir Vora with a score of net 54. Narrowly missing out via a last six hole countback was the team of Richard Aybar, Dean Hall, Victoria Johnson and Chris Asher as they also shot a 54 while third place went to Vipen Sethi, Shravan Khanna, Kabir Luthra and Vivek Chand.

George Liu won the 12th staging of the SGSC Club Championship, outlasting Namir Al Naimi in a play-off after the pair couldn’t be separated after 36 holes. Liu won with a superb birdie on the first extra hole to deny Al Naimi with Andy Thom finishing in third place. Maria Bagge won the Ladies title while new member Christopher Andrews took the net prize.

Great scoring in Ladies Medal

Alderman claims his third Mid-Am Championship Chris Alderman won his third Gross Mid-Amateur Championship supported by Avani Eco last month, stamping his authority on the event with a play-off win over EIJ Jeon. Alderman, who now has three wins from the five stagings of the event, clinched the title under the floodlights with a four-footer on the first extra hole. Namir Al Naimi, who was runner up last year, played another solid round of golf as he took third place while the net prize on the day went to Aadil Khan with a 72, one clear of Sergio De Souza.

A B U D HA B I C ITY G O LF CLUB

A field of 55 took to the Faldo course to compete for the Ladies Medal supported by Park Hyatt last month and coming out on top in the Silver A Division was Anne Gely Bouigue with an impressive net 70, four clear of Caroline Sabbagh with Lady Vice Captain Amarjeet Radia taking third. Sonal Gandhi took the spoils in the Silver B Division with a 73 which included an ace on the 12th hole with her very first shot of the day. Eunshim Heo took second place on 74 with Anita Jopp in third while the Bronze Division winner was Maribel Xammer with an 82, two clear of Alison Cowley. The best gross on the day came from Arathi Appaiah with a 79.

Tinson sparkles in November Medal Christmas came early for Alex ‘Tinsel’ Tinson as he fired a best-of-the-day net 66 to come out on top in Division B of last month’s medal by one stroke head of Shahid Zaheer with Jack Stanbury in third with a 69. A field of 45 players took to the course across three divisions of competition and taking the spoils in Division A was Mick Garbutt with a solid net 70, one head of Anton Van Schalkwyk. Six players posted a score of 75 and after a countback it was Carel Nolte who took third place while in Division C Scott Cotter shot 67 to win by two from Tara King with Nathan Hunt third with a 72.

Varga on top in the recent Roll Up Konstantin Varga compiled a score of 19 points to top the pile in Division A of the recent Roll Up Individual Stableford competition. Allan Keddie also put together a scorecard of 19 points but had to settle for second after losing the countback. In Division B Charlotte McIlroy returned an impressive score of 21 to win by three points. Taking second by way of a countback was Paul Umrysh as his better six hole score ousted Martine Garbutt into third.

Razdan dazzles in the Medal

T H E E L S C LU B

Rajinder Razdan secured the honours in Division A of last month’s OMA Emirates Medal with a net 68, three clear of Hitesh Bhayani with Arman Singh in third with a 72. Razdan won the day’s overall best score on a countback against George Clarke, whose 68 was good enough for him to win the Division B title. One stroke back in Division B was Arun Khehar with Asif Raza in third after a 71. The best gross score on the day came from Paul Henry with a 75 while a net 74 helped Edgar Dalusong win Division C.

Wiltshire and Hurdon crowned Club Champions

Delacourte on song for Medal win

After two days of solid competition – with fast greens and tough pin locations providing a rigorous test – Carmen Hurdon and Jake Wiltshire won the Ladies and Men’s respective Club Championships last month. A full field of 92 players competed and Wiltshire was the men’s winner with a 138 total thanks to gross rounds of 68 and 70 while Hurdon fired rounds of 75 and 74 for a 149 tally. The men’s net champion was Ryley Arifin while the ladies net title went to Lizette Breytenbach.

Alain Delacourte clinched last month’s Medal sponsored by Apa Aesthetic with a countback win over Angela Kadyan after both players returned a net 69. Stephanie Karl took third place with a 70 while the gross winner on the day was Michael Hoover with a 73. The recent Pairs Stableford competition saw Kory Thompson and Chris Abreu take the spoils with a haul of 45 points, one clear of Yves and Thomas Buchard with Bassem Lotfy and Alain Delacourte in third on 40 points.

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WORLDWIDE GOLF

TRAVEL

With instantly recognizable courses and outstanding facilities to match, Dubai’s trio of Emirates Golf Club, Jumeirah Golf Estates and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club are all bucket-list experiences.

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EUROPEAN TOUR DESTINATIONS

VENUES

LE GOLF NATIONAL PARIS, FRANCE DIAMOND COUNTRY CLUB VIENNA, AUSTRIA PGA CATALUNYA RESORT BARCELONA, SPAIN JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES LIGHTHOUSE GOLF & SPA RESORT CAPE KALIAKRA, BULGARIA SAUJANA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA LONDON GOLF CLUB LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM TERRE BLANCHE HOTEL SPA GOLF RESORT***** PROVENCE, FRANCE GOLF CLUB ST. LEON-ROT HEIDELBERG, GERMANY THE DUTCH AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS BLACK MOUNTAIN GOLF CLUB & RESORT HUA HIN, THAILAND ALBATROSS GOLF RESORT PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC BOM SUCESSO OBIDOS, PORTUGAL CONSTANCE BELLE MARE PLAGE POSTE DE FLACQ, MAURITIUS MARCO SIMONE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB ROME, ITALY VERDURA RESORT SICILY, ITALY FINCA CORTESIN HOTEL GOLF & SPA MARBELLA, SPAIN VILLAVERDE HOTEL & RESORT VENICE, ITALY QUINTA DO LAGO ALGARVE, PORTUGAL LINNA GOLF HÄMEENLINNA, FINLAND GOLF SON MUNTANER PALMA, SPAIN TBILISI HILLS TBILISI, GEORGIA ESTONIAN GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB TALLINN, ESTONIA PIRIN GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB SOFIA, BULGARIA CONSTANCE LEMURIA PRASLIN, SEYCHELLES DUBAI CREEK GOLF & YACHT CLUB DUBAI, UAE EMIRATES GOLF CLUB DUBAI, UAE GENZON GOLF CLUB SHENZHEN, CHINA

UNDER DEVELOPMENT:

ROSSINGTON HALL DONCASTER, UNITED KINGDOM SPARBEN GOLF RESORT BORDEAUX, FRANCE

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BOOK GOLF & CLOSE YOUR GAME !

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GOLF TRAVEL

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Emirates Golf Club

Emirates Golf Club

Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club

Jumeirah Golf Estates

he dazzling metropolis of Dubai has been a global golfing hotspot since the first 18-hole, fully grassed golf course in the Middle East – The Majlis at Emirates Golf Club – was built in 1988.

The Majlis, which has hosted the Omega Dubai Desert Classic since 1989, paved the way for a number of world-class facilities to be built in the desert landscape, including Jumeirah Golf Estates and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

In addition to the Majlis, Emirates GC also features the Faldo course, which last month hosted the Dubai Moonlight Classic on the Ladies European Tour and utlilised its floodlights, showcasing it as the perfect venue to play evening golf and avoid the often overbearing day-time heat.

Meanwhile, this month sees the 12th staging of the DP World Tour Championship on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates where the European No.1 will be crowned Race to Dubai champion – and there is the new addition of the Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World, which is held on the Fire course the week before. The course at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club took its place in the spotlight as a two-time host of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 1999-2000, further highlighting the credentials of all three venues as capable of holding world renowned events.

In addition, the three clubs feature a Peter Cowen Academy, where a team of fully-qualified PGA Professionals are on-hand to assist in any aspect of the game and offer an all-round excellent learning experience.

The two courses at Jumeirah Golf Estates – both designed by Greg Norman – are accompanied by an array of residential options.

Three districts – Redwood Avenue, Alandalus and Redwood Park – provide a variety of living options, from one to four bedroom apartments, or three or four bedroom townhouses.

The Tuscan-inspired homes are set snugly inside a welcoming and secure community and offer a living opportunity unlike anything else in the heart of Dubai.

Jumeirah Golf Estates

For more information: www.dubaigolf.com

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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 BMW PGA Championship winner Tyrrell Hatton.

TYRRELL HATTON

STEVEN GERRARD I’m a big Liverpool fan

Music

NIALL

Being part of the Modest! Golf management label it would be rude not to say Niall!

LEWIS HAMILTON

Really into my cars and Formula 1

MENU NIALL HORAN

- Starter -

CHEESEY GARLIC BREAD - Main -

PARTY TRICK NO. I’M BORING!

BURGER - Dessert -

VANILLA CRÈME BRÛLÉE

With no members, we welcome all who love the game Set in 300 acres of Hertfordshire countryside just 18 miles from central London and with easy access from all London airports, The Grove offers visitors an exceptional golfing experience.

Choose from a range of rates and packages, then simply book, pay and play.

THE GROVE | Chandler’s Cross Hertfordshire WD3 4TG T: 01923 294266 | E: tee.time@thegrove.co.uk | www.thegrove.co.uk