Worldwide Golf November 2020

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

EST

1999

Worldwide Golf

NOVEMBER

2020

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P A U L

CASEY CHALLENGING THE YOUNG GUNS

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SHERGO AL KURDI

THE JORDANIAN HISTORY MAKER WITH BIG DREAMS

JOHN CATLIN ALL EYES ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR’S BREAKOUT STAR

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Gary Player: What attracted me to golf is the love of the game not the money.

We need to keep smiling Love and happiness is more essential than ever right now was delighted to be in attendance for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship last month and it was wonderful to be at Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia, which holds a special place in my heart.

It’s a very special golf club, the whole ambience of the place is wonderful. The entrance reminds me a little of the Magnolia Lane entrance to Augusta National. It’s 58 years since I won the US PGA Championship there and I’ll be 85 this weekend and very grateful to be still playing this wonderful game.

Courses like Aronimink are steeped in tradition and history, with the men’s US Open and US PGA taking place there and it’s wonderful to see the ladies playing these same golf courses as well, because they will benefit for the challenge such a course provides.

When you leave a course like this, you’ve really learned something about shot-making and using the mind. Women’s golf has got a great future, but a lot depends on its leadership, and at the moment women’s golf has very, very good leadership. It’s growing in leaps and bounds and it needs committed sponsors – and we should never forget them, we must continue to communicate with them, write them letters and say thank you very much for their support. I’m very excited about the future of the women’s game.

I

Money’s not the main goal

In 1962 my cheque for winning the US PGA Championship was $13,000, now we’re in an era when major winners are earning almost

$2 million. When I was playing, money was not the main criteria. I loved playing in my era and I’m never jealous of the prize money they play for today. I’m really respectful because that’s what Arnold Palmer; Jack Nicklaus; Tom Watson; Lee Trevino; Sam Snead, and Byron Nelson accomplished to improved the game. Arnold , Jack and I flew around the world for small sums of money to promote the game. So we’re delighted they’re playing for these enormous sums of money today. We didn’t play golf to win money. We wanted to be the best and we were really fierce competitors.

I’m so thankful for what golf has done for me. It’s enabled me to travel more miles than any human being ever. It’s given me an incredible education. It’s taught me a lot about world affairs.

What perturbs me at the moment are the students of America, the greatest country in the world, their lack of knowledge about world affairs is surprising. It really is astonishing that you can go to places like South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Britain, and the students are far more knowledgeable about world affairs, which is very important for a country’s future. As Winston Churchill said the youth of a nation are the trustees of posterity.

I’d like to end by saying, that across the world, as people, we need to be happier. We need to laugh more. Laughing affects the endorphins in your system, which feeds the youth cells and keeps you happy. We also need to love more. Martin Luther King; Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi said: ‘You fight hatred with love’, and I fear that’s not being done by a lot of people nowadays. ■

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Winter

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CONTENTS 14

COLUMN

COLUMN

41

COLUMN

42

43

Starter

Pete Cowen

David Howell

Adri Arnaus

All the latest news from around the global game and we get a guided tour of Amen Corner from former Masters winner Charl Schwartzel.

Master PGA Professional Pete Cowen discusses this month’s Masters Tournament with Bryson DeChambeau being the talk of the town.

European Tour stalwart David Howell. looks back at a difficult Masters Tournament in 2007 where he experienced one of the most comical moments of his career.

The Dubai-based Spanish ace reflects on a top five finish at the Italian Open and reveals the coronavirus woes that stopped him travelling to Cyprus.

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Paul Casey We chat exclusively to four-times Ryder Cup star Paul Casey as he prepares for The Masters and outlines his new approach to the Majors as he moves into his early 40s.

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Tommy Fleetwood

John Catlin

Shergo Al Kurdi

English star Tommy Fleetwood reflects on an up-and-down season as he comes to terms with playing a ‘funky’ schedule which took him out of his comfort zone.

We talk to one of the European Tour’s breakout stars of 2020. American John Catlin won twice over summer to cement his place as one to watch in the coming years.

We talk with the MENA Tour’s leading amatuer Shergo Al Kurdi as he looks back on making history after becoming the first player from the Middle East and GCC to secure OWGR points.

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CONTENTS 20

Women’s Week of Golf

We delve deep into this month’s action on the Ladies European Tour as back-to-back events take place in Saudi Arabia as part of Golf Saudi’s drive to grow the game in the Kingdom.

48 INSTRUCTION

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Olivia Jackson

We talk to Emirates Golf Club’s teaching professional Olivia Jackson about her historic victory in a UAE PGA championship at her home course.

GEAR 46

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With a new metal in the face, the new TSi Drivers bring exceptional distance and accuracy to the table.

How to play the 9th hole on the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club Dong Lee, Teaching Professional at Emirates Golf Club, talks us through the options in playing the risk and reward 13th hole on the Majlis course.

How to play the 9th hole on the Earth course at JGE Anneke Strobach, Jumeirah Golf Estates’ newest Teaching Professional, shows us how to navigate the 9th hole at the home of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

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EDITOR’S LETTER ALEX GALLEMORE

Thank goodness for Hatton and the hoodie A

ll the talk during the BMW Championship at Wentworth last month was Hoodie Gate. Yes, the social media channels lit up like a firework after Tyrrell Hatton and fellow Adidas-sponsored players took to the first tee in branded hoodies instead of conventional jumpers and jackets.

Golf needs to welcome change as much as possible – from the pace of play to the length of courses but, more importantly, how it appeals to the younger generation. The game must always stand by its rules, but traditions need to embrace change. I’m sure golf courses in the UK have seen a dramatic rise in youngsters teeing it up in brisk conditions, sporting this new look. I doubt they will be arriving in the club car park on skateboards with their carry bags strapped to their back, as many hoodie-haters would associate with the look. Most golf shoes these days look like trainers anyway, so you might just as well complete the look.

Putting the hoodie topic to one side for a moment, the star of the show quite rightly was Tyrrell Hatton. Not just for him lifting the BMW Championship trophy, but also for appealing to the masses of golfers as a person we all can relate to. Thanks to Emirates Airline I had the good fortune to play in their 2018 DP World Tour Championship ProAm team as an amateur and he was the Tour pro.

He had the hot-headed reputation of being Mr Angry on the course and was prone to putting other pros off their stride. As a result of his image I was a little apprehensive at first, but I can honesty say he was one of the best pros to be paired with.

Considering that we had never met before it didn’t take long for the conversation to flow as if I were chatting to someone in my local pub.

It was a laugh from start to finish. We talked about everything from why he bought that purple Lamborghini to kids, and what it’s like

being on the road for so long due to his lengthy worldwide schedule.

I’ve never had the pleasure of getting to know a professional on course before in the way I did with Tyrrell. What you did see is how he shouts at himself when he hits an errant bad shot. It’s not a case of being aggressive but more like natural vented frustration.

Having seen it close up, it adds to his character of behaving more like a normal, frustrated golfer, just like all of us. Our rants might be when we have topped a shot or launched one out of bounds, whereas his are normally vented towards the ‘professional’ miss, although the frustration will be demonstrated in the same way.

Many tour pros are just boring. Dustin Johnson might be one of the best golfers on the planet right now but I doubt he would have me engaged in conversation for hours on a golf course. Seeing him bomb it 350 yards or lift a Major trophy in an emotionless manner replicates the image many of us have come to expect from the modern day tour professional.

Pete Cowen always told me that Hatton was Mr Angry. Having played in that JGE Pro-Am I said to Pete, that once people have seen Hatton in action, behaving more like a weekend warrior and wearing his heart on his sleeve, he will be a huge hit with the fans. Pete laughed at me and said: “Hatton must have had a good round then!”

Hatton, along with Eddie Pepperell are a breath of fresh air when it comes to breaking the robotic stigma projected by many of the leading players.

After 25 years in this business I’ve had the benefit to play in a number of Pro-Ams. During that time only two pros will stick in my memory who would always take the time to break away from the action to have a chat and a catch up – Michael Campbell and Tyrrell Hatton.

ISSUE No.229 NOVEMBER 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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✦ MASTERS TOURNAMENT ✦ NOVEMBER 12 - 15

CHARL SCHWARTZEL’S GUIDE TO

AMEN CORNER While Charl Schwartzel’s victory in the 2011 Masters is mostly remembered for the way he birdied the closing four holes to romp to the Green Jacket, he quietly navigated his way around Amen Corner in level par to set-up his grandstand finish. Holes 11 through to 13 make up the stretch famously known as Amen Corner and many a challenge has been ended by the hazards that lie waiting. Last year Tiger Woods was the only player in the final group to stay

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dry on the treacherous par-3 12th as both Francesco Molinari and Tony Finau made a costly double-bogey after finding Rae’s Creek. In the penultimate group, Brooks Koepka was level alongside Woods when his 9-iron to the 155-yard ‘Golden Bell’ came up well short and bounced back into the water. Koepka, Molinari and Finau never fully recovered as Woods strode home to a fifth Masters title. Here is the South African’s guide to Amen Corner.

PAR 4 505 YARDS

“I think what makes Amen Corner difficult is really the wind coupled with the situation. The situation plays a huge role, because if it’s Sunday and you’re in contention then the pressure is a lot stronger. I’ve played those holes around Amen Corner on a visit to the course in perfectly still conditions, and yes they are hard holes – but you just hit the shots and you hardly make a mess of it. But it’s totally different in the tournament, especially if it comes to make-or-break time. The downhill approach to 11 is really hard and the bail out to the right of the green always leaves a tough up-and-down to save par.”

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STARTER

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PAR 5 510 YARDS

“This par-5 doesn’t play as long as it used to with our modern equipment and most guys are going in to the green with a mid to long iron, so you should make a two-putt birdie if the tee shot is good. It’s one of those stretches of holes that you can play in 1-or-2 under par, and your playing partner could play them in 3-over. It’s an amazing stretch in such an important tournament.”

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PAR 3 155 YARDS

“If you get the shot right here it’s a birdie chance. This is usually just a 9-iron of around 150 yards and normally, in a round at your home club, if you’re a 9-iron away from the hole you expect to knock it to around 10-12 feet. So the percentage of making a birdie with a 9-iron in your hand is quite high. Coming up short is not an option and the safe play is always the centre of the green over the bunker. If the wind is really blowing it can be confusing, and it creates doubt. And as a golfer our biggest enemy is doubt. When we’ve got any doubt, there’s more a chance of us stuffing a shot up, and that’s what makes this hole so special.”

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STARTER

STRING OF FIRSTTIMERS LIGHT UP THE LPGA TOUR

QUICK HITS

News, Facts and Figures from around the world ▲

Trump to build second Scottish course

Planning permission has been given for President Donald Trump to build a second golf course in Aberdeenshire next to the current site of Trump International GC. Local officials say the plan was approved in September and was rubber stamped last month

by Aberdeen Council.

▲

South African events announced Three co-sanctioned events between the European Tour and Sunshine Tour of South Africa has been announced with the Joburg Open, Alfred Dunhill Championship and South African Open taking place in consecutive weeks from Nov 12. Shubhankar Sharma (left) won the last Joburg Open in 2017.

Back-to-back English winners in the United States and finally a Major win for Korea’s Sei Young Kim highlight a superb spell of action on the LPGA Tour.

Solheim Cup heads to Spain for 2023

Andalucian venue Finca Cortesin has been selected as host venue for the next Solheim Cup in Europe in two years time. The event is scheduled for September 18-24 with The Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club in Italy set to take place the following week.

Day’s injury woe continues ▲

to the same momentum that I had played all week, and it worked out.

“I dreamt of winning a Major championship after seeing Se Ri Pak win the first one for our country, and to be honest with you, I didn’t know it was going to take this long.”

Meanwhile a week earlier, Mel Reid (inset) followed compatriot Georgia Hall as firsttime winners on American soil with an impressive two-shot win over former amateur standout Jennifer Kupcho at the ShopRite Classic in New Jersey.

The win came just seven days after Hall won in Portland and signaled the end of a long road after Reid moved permanently from Derbyshire to Florida two years ago.

“It’s a huge relief,” she said. “I’m so proud of how I handled myself.”

▲

Sei Young Kim is no longer the best LPGA player yet to win a Major after she broke through at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship last month.

The victory was her 11th on the LPGA Tour and came courtesy of a five-stroke win over Inbee Park. Entering the tournament, Kim was the only active player in the field to have more than five LPGA titles to her name without a Major. It was the Korean’s 29th start in the Majors and she closed out in style with a sumptuous final round 63 at Aronimink Golf Club.

“I did not look at the scoreboard once,” said Kim. “I knew that Inbee was going to play great, so I had to just focus on my game and took it one shot at a time.

“I didn’t want to play like this was my final round, I wanted to stick

Without a win in two years, Jason Day withdrew with 17 holes to play – and in contention – at the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek citing a neck injury. The Australian has withdrawn during the weekend of a tournament three times in the last six years.

Phil and Ernie – life after 50 Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els are both making light work of the PGA Tour Champions with wins last month at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic and SAS Championship respectively.

Mickelson now has two wins in two starts on the circuit while Els’ win was his second in ten outings. Threetime Masters winner Mickelson says playing aggressively to go as low as possible over three rounds of competition will give him momentum

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ahead of this month’s tournament at Augusta National. “It’s been a year and a half since I’ve won on the PGA Tour,” he said. “I love that feeling of having a chance to win and I’m hopeful that this tour and this win will help give me a little bit of momentum.”

STARTER

by David Horsey, four times European Tour winner.

GUARANTEE A CRISP STRIKE FROM TIGHT LIES AROUND THE GREEN One of the most common faults I see playing with amateurs is how often they duff chip shots from a tight lie around the green – be it from the fringe or a little further out from the fairway. They get the ball going about half way to the hole with a club with a lot of loft which doesn’t always release and many find it’s hard to gain a level of consistency without practicing the correct methods. Here I’ll talk you through a simple but effective way to hit a firm and crisp chip from a tight lie, time after time.

IT’S ALL IN THE SET-UP The main thing with getting a clean strike to get the ball rolling from a tight lie is the set up. Get that right and you’re far less likely to hit inconsistent chips.

What I tend to do is instead of placing the club in a standard position behind the ball, I’ll move my hands slightly forward and bring the shaft more towards a vertical position. What this does is open the face so the loft aims to the right, so I then toe the club in slightly so the loft is aiming at the target. Once you get set with the shaft as vertical as you’re comfortable with, this position should give you a much cleaner contact.

If the ball is in a little bit of scruffy grass or a small divot, an amateur might look and think ‘I’ve got no chance here – I can’t putt it because the ball might pop up at impact’, but if you set up with the shaft more vertically it creates a pendulum effect, so you’re guaranteed a good strike because the position of the bottom of the club doesn’t change during the arc of the stroke. Whereas in a normal position, you’ve got to rely more on your own timing, which isn’t the best ploy as you can get a bit ‘handsy’ or ‘wristy’ with it, which can lead to imperfect contact. ■

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SPIN BACK

2009 World Cup Molinari brothers announce themselves on the world stage

T

eam events often elicit the kind of emotions seldom seen at regular golf tournaments, with The Ryder Cup often cited as the most appealing because of its overall tribalistic element.

There aren’t that many team-based golf events, which is why this month’s Saudi Ladies Team International should be celebrated in bringing a new format to the sport. It was at a team event eleven years ago this month that golf fans got their first real glimpse to the Molinari brothers as they stormed to an unlikely victory in the World Cup of Golf in China.

At that point the duo had one win on the European Tour between them – with elder brother Edoardo still on the Challenge Tour and Francesco having won the Italian Open back in 2006.

The unheralded duo shot the lights out over the first three days with rounds of 64, 66 and 61 but still found themselves behind leaders Ireland, represented by Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy.

The Irish pair increased their lead on the front nine to three strokes but stumbled down the stretch.

The Molinaris reeled off three late birdies in succession to take command before Edoardo tapped in for par on the final green to seal a one-stroke win. Cue pandemonium as Edoardo leaped around the green in sheer delight having seen off such illustrious opponents, with Sweden’s

defending champions Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson also in second place.

“It’s amazing, we don’t really have any words,” said a shell-shocked Francesco.

A year later they would go on to be teammates at The Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor where they helped Europe to an intense 14.5 – 13.5 victory.

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WORLD ROUND-UPS RAI DOWNS FLEETWOOD FOR SECOND WIN

HATTON IN COMMAND AT WENTWORTH

Aaron Rai came out on top in a playoff with Tommy Fleetwood to win his second European Tour title and first Rolex Series event at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club. Rai set the clubhouse target at 11-under-par with a stunning final round 64 and Fleetwood produced a fine 20-foot birdie on the last to match Rai’s total. The 25-year-old was then left shocked – and victorious – when Fleetwood three-putted for bogey on the first extra hole.

Tyrrell Hatton produced a superb performance – posting all four rounds in the 60s – as he sealed a four-stroke victory to win the biggest title of his career at the BMW PGA Championship. The 29-yearold finished well clear of Frenchman Victor Perez on 19-under-par for his fifth European Tour title and third Rolex Series event while Patrick Reed and Andy Sullivan shared third place on 14-under.

OTAEGUI REELS IN WALLACE FOR SCOTTISH WIN

MCGOWAN WINS FIRST EUROPEAN TITLE IN 11 YEARS

Adrian Otaegui fired a sumptuous final round 63 to overhaul Matt Wallace’s overnight lead and win his third European Tour title at the Scottish Championship presented

by AXA. The Spaniard had taken the lead after day one with a 62 but Wallace took control with rounds of 65-67-66 to open up a three shot lead. However it was Otaegui who left Fairmont St Andrews smiling thanks to another imperious display on the greens with Wallace only managing a 71.

Two birdies in the final three holes saw Ross McGowan end a long wait for success on the European Tour with a one-shot win over Laurie Canter and Nicolas Colsaerts at the Italian Open.

McGowan entered the final day in a share of the lead with Canter, three clear of the chasing pack. However, they were caught shortly after the turn before McGowan holed a bunker shot on the 16th to take the lead and a birdie on the par-5 closing hole sealed his first European Tour title since the 2009 Madrid Masters.

US PGA Tour News

Sergio Garcia

Martin Laird

Sergio Garcia won his first title on American soil since the 2017 Masters with a stunning birdie on the final hole of the Sanderson Farms Championship to deny past winner Peter Malnati. Just a week after dropping out of the top 50 in the world, Garcia collected his 11th PGA Tour title to leave 2015 winner Malnati waiting for his second title.

From deep in the heart of Mississippi the Tour held backto-back events in Las Vegas and emerging victorious at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open was Scotland’s Martin Laird. The 37-year-old Scot got a spot in the field via a sponsor’s exemption having only recently returned from knee surgery and took full advantage, winning with a birdie on the second extra hole to deny Matthew Wolff and Austin Cook and win his first title in seven years. The following week there was a first-time winner at

the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek as Jason Kokrak finally won after a decade on the PGA Tour. Kokrak began the final round three strokes back but fired a best-ofthe-day 8-under-par 64 to win by two ahead of Xander Schauffele with Tyrrell Hatton and Russell Henley in a share of third.

From Nevada the Tour shifted

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west to California for the ZOZO Championship – which was held in Japan last year – and it was Patrick Cantlay who emerged victorious from a stacked leaderboard to take the title.

Cantlay fired a 65 to win by one ahead of overnight leader Justin Thomas and Spain’s Jon Rahm for his third PGA Tour title.

Patrick Cantlay

LADIES

FIRST

A WORLD-FIRST ‘WOMEN’S WEEK OF GOLF’ IS SET TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE IN THE REGION THIS MONTH AS ROYAL GREENS GOLF CLUB IN SAUDI ARABIA HOSTS BACK-TO-BACK LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR EVENTS. WHAT: ARAMCO SAUDI LADIES

INTERNATIONAL PRESENTED

BY PUBLIC INVESTMENT FUND

WHEN: Thu 12 – Sun 15 The tournament will see a field of 108 LET professionals contest one of the richest prizes on the LET Schedule, with a USD$1 million prize fund. Staged in collaboration with Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation, the 72-hole stroke play competition, which will be broadcast domestically and to more than 340 million homes across more than 55 countries worldwide, will help to inspire a new generation of golfers throughout the Kingdom.

A

ll eyes will be fixed on the stunning Royal Greens Golf Club this month as the cream of the Ladies European Tour– with a smattering of Major champions and Solheim Cup stars – rolls into Saudi Arabia for a unique doubleheader.

First up is the individual $1m Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF, then, two days later, the Saudi Ladies Team International will take place. The team event pits 36 fourballs consisting of three pros and an amateur in a three-day shootout with the lowest cumulative score taking home their share of the $500,000 prize pot. Each team will be completed by a pre-tournament ‘draft’ process similar to that seen in the NFL and NBA leagues in the United States.

“We were inspired by the NFL draft process and wanted to create a live draft system of

WHAT: SAUDI LADIES TEAM INTERNATIONAL WHEN: Tue 17 – Thu 19 The Saudi Ladies Team International will start two days after the conclusion of the Aramco Saudi Ladies International and will be the first event of its kind with 36 teams of four competing for individual and team prizes, whilst gaining LET Race to Costa Del Sol, order of merit points. Teams will be selected via a draft-style process, giving team captains the power to build a team of their choice.

our own, which would see our team captains recruit their players round by round,” said Saudi Ladies Team International Tournament Director Mike Oliver. “This tournament is a completely new and innovative tournament format not seen before on any Tour and I think golf fans globally are always hungry for new content and ideas.

“Undoubtedly it has been a difficult year for all sports, particularly women’s sport. If Golf Saudi can play a small role in supporting the Ladies European Tour, whilst putting on fun and competitive golf then everyone is a winner.

“It is clear that the players love team golf and will enjoy this unique opportunity to try a new format through our ground-breaking and exciting draft system.

“Quite simply, we feel that this new one-off tournament is a chance for Golf Saudi to grow

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the women’s game in new and exciting ways.

“The draft will take place on Monday 16th, the day before the opening round and will be broadcast for people to watch.”

Each of the 36 team Captains will recruit one fellow Tour pro to their team using the draft system and can base their pick on anything – whether that be current form, ranking or purely friendship. Their remaining Tour professional teammate will be selected at random and the team will be completed by one amateur player. The teams will then play three rounds and each team’s best two individual scores will be combined at the end of each round – with amateurs using receiving ¾ of their official playing handicap. Both events promise to be exciting new additions to the Ladies European Tour schedule which had been decimated due to the coronavirus pandemic.

WOMEN’S WEEK OF GOLF

2018 Women’s Open champion Georgia Hall headlines both fields for the Women’s Week of Golf.

HALL EAGER TO SAMPLE SAUDI DELIGHTS One player who can’t wait to get a taste of the action is 2018 Women’s Open Champion Georgia Hall. The Englishwomen has had a 2020 to remember after picking up her first LPGA Tour title on American soil at the Cambria Portland Classic in September, and she’s hoping for a strong end to the season with a good showing in Saudi Arabia and beyond.

“I’m really excited to play as one of the things I enjoy most about my job is experiencing new destinations,” said Hall. “I’ve heard great things about King Abdullah Economic City and the Royal Greens golf course, so I can’t wait to get there. It’s the first event of its kind for women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia so it’s exciting to be part of that history.”

Hall is equally intrigued about the draft process that will set up the Saudi Ladies Team International. “I think it’s great that golf is coming up with new formats as I think it’s important to keep the game appealing to new people, especially the young,” she said. “So, I think the fact this can be compared to the drafting in the NFL is really fun and may attract some new fans. As an

ambassador for the R&A I take my role in the growth of the sport really seriously and breaking new ground in different countries is important. I really want to be able to say that I’ve helped try to bring new people into the game.”

One thing that has impressed Hall is the drive to grow the game that Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation are implementing through various initiatives, the latest of which will see 1,000 women given free access to the sport at three different golf clubs in the Kingdom.

“It’s a really great initiative,” said Hall. “I think most countries could do more to focus on the grassroots element, so hopefully others will follow this example.”

Hall arrives in Saudi Arabia buoyed by her win in the United States and is feeling good about the state of her game as 2020 draws to a close.

“A win always helps with the confidence, that’s for sure,” she said. “It’s great that we have some big events left this year so hopefully I can keep the momentum going.

I’d love to get another win in before the season is over.”

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“I’M REALLY EXCITED TO PLAY AS ONE OF THE THINGS I ENJOY MOST ABOUT MY JOB IS EXPERIENCING NEW DESTINATIONS.” Georgia Hall

BROADCAST WORLDWIDE The two events will be showcased worldwide, beaming the action into millions of households and onto mobile devices around the globe. U.Com will be broadcasting the event, with Saudi Sports showing the action to the domestic audience. Dubai Sports Channel will supply the coverage in the UAE while Sky Sports have the rights to the footage in the UK. Golf Channel in the United States will provide their viewers with the opportunity to tune in and GolfTV will stream the event in 20+ European territories. In addition, there will be a live stream on YouTube with those details still to be confirmed.

WORLD-FIRST INITIATIVE An astonishing world-first initiative that will offer free access to golf to women across three different courses in the Kingdom will be launched the week of the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund.

Golf Saudi’s innovative ‘Ladies First Club’ will offer a complimentary membership which will include lessons, driving range access and full 18-hole rounds of golf.

It will be open to all Saudi women, with initial membership capped at 1,000 registrants. All players signed-up to the scheme will be designated as a ‘Ladies First Member’ at either Riyadh Golf Club, Dirab Golf Club or King Abdullah Economic City’s (KAEC) Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, depending on their location.

The membership will include a digital ‘Introduction to Golf’ education pack, which will provide monthly seminars outlining the key aspects of golf for beginners.

Each of the three golf courses will also host a Ladies First golf clinic

once a month, led by a professional, which will conclude with an on-course induction for all participants and a chance to play an 18-hole round.

Full range access will then remain available to all members of the club, with the programme’s top 12 performers being offered a full, year-round membership at their course of choice.

“The Ladies First Club will be a club like no other,” said Majed Al Sorour, CEO of Golf Saudi. “It is our most exciting initiative yet aimed at developing the great game of golf across Saudi Arabia and is the ideal way to celebrate the historic nature of the Kingdom’s first ever women’s golf tournament, the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund.

“Golf is growing in Saudi Arabia and we remain committed to our targets.

We are already seeing a steady rise in interest from women golfers and we hope the Ladies First Club will help us reach that next level.”

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Royal Greens Golf Club

WOMEN’S WEEK OF GOLF

THE STAR NAMES A Plethora of Major champions and Solheim Cup stars are set to shine in the double-header of events at Royal Greens Golf Club, including two of the last three Women’s Open champions – 2018 winner Georgia Hall and this year’s winner, Sophia Popov.

German Popov burst into the spotlight at Royal Troon in August with a sublime two-stroke victory against a worldclass field. Coming into the tournament as the 304th-ranked player with no status on the LPGA Tour, the 27-year-old produced a life-changing performance

to become the first German golfer to win a Major championship on British soil and join the likes of Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson to have won on the famed Ayrshire links. She will be joined by the likes of Charley Hull, Caroline Hedwall and Carlota Ciganda, who have each made four Solheim Cup appearances in their careers so far. Also in the field are recent Solheim Cup first-timers Anne Van Dam (2019), Emily Kristine Pedersen (2017) and Florentyna Parker (2017) and they will be joined by LET legends Dame Laura Davies and Trish Johnson.

“Our vision is to grow golf across the Kingdom and make it both accessible and enjoyable to all women. One of our key initiatives for this is hosting tournaments such as these. In November we will be lucky enough to see some of the world’s best players at Royal Greens ready to inspire the next generation of young female Saudis and build the next generation of female Saudi golfers.”

– Majed Al Sorour, CEO Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation

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Left to Right: Amy Boulden, Carly Booth and Camilla Lennarth will be in action at both events.

PA U L C A S E Y

RELISHING

T H E YO U N G G U N S ’

By Thomas Wragg

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PAUL CASEY

At the age of 43 Paul Casey is a veteran of the game with an impressive professional career spanning almost 20 years, since becoming a European Tour Member in 2001. The Englishman has enjoyed solid success having won 14 times on the European Tour and three times on the PGA Tour. Despite reaching the latter stages of his career, he doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

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T

HE talk of the town over the last year has been the number of talented youngsters bursting onto the world stage, with the likes of Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa and Matthew Wolff all enjoying their time in the spotlight. But Casey proved that the old guard can still go toe-to-toe with the new kids on the block after producing his best Major result at this year’s US PGA Championship with a share of second place at Harding Park.

“The odds are certainly against me winning, because not many players aged 43 or older have won a Major, let alone in this age of golf,” said Casey, who followed up his runner-up finish in San Francisco with a top 20 place at the US Open.

“I still feel like I have got as good a chance – if not better – than I have ever had. I’m relaxed, I’m happy and I’m hitting it long, which is great.

I found out that I was in the top 10 in driving distance at the US Open, even with some bad ones. It’s funny that I’m hitting it so far since I don’t do any speed work in terms of trying to smash it 330-odd yards, but it’s there in the tank if I need it and I’m fairly strong.

“There are people who say that I should have won a Major and ask if it bothers me that I haven’t, but the simple answer is that it really doesn’t matter to me. I feel zero pressure, if I win, then great, and if I don’t, then it is what it is. It’s not going to change my life in any way whatsoever.”

GIVING AWAY DECADES

Five players in the top ten at the US PGA were 26 years old or younger, including the champion Morikawa, who is 20 years Casey’s junior. Many would be envious that their counterparts were winning Major Championships at such a young age, after years of grinding away, searching for that elusive victory in one of the four Majors,but not Casey.

“I really enjoy the challenge of competing with these guys and it drives me forward to become even better,” he says. “I always have a good laugh with them and I’m old enough to be their dad! I’m probably not seen as much of a threat to them.

“They are probably more wary of players like Rory McIlroy or Justin Thomas so I can quietly befriend these guys, play a few practice rounds with them, get to know them and then try and beat them on a Sunday afternoon – which is quite good fun!

“I really like it when young players come on Tour because they bring something new and I get to learn from them because the game evolves with so many different attitudes, styles and equipment.”

When golf returned from its hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Casey struggled in his first four outings as he missed the cut twice and failed to finish inside the top 30 in his other two starts. During a television interview after round three of the PGA Championship an emotional Casey revealed that he was missing the ‘roars of the crowd, the excitement and sometimes screaming from the absent fans.

“It’s the classic line, ‘you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.’ Everybody likes to

EARLIER THIS YEAR, PAUL CASEY WAS NAMED AS A PORSCHE AG BRAND AMBASSADOR – THE FIRST AND ONLY SUCH AMBASSADOR FROM THE WORLD OF GOLF. FROM A PORSCHE POSTER IN HIS CHILDHOOD BEDROOM, TO A PORSCHE LOGO ON HIS GOLF BAG, IT WAS AN IDEAL COLLABORATION FIT FOR BOTH PARTIES. “IT’S A PRETTY BIG DEAL BEING THE FIRST GOLFER TO BE A BRAND AMBASSADOR FOR PORSCHE,” SAID CASEY. “I’M SO HONOURED AND OVERWHELMED. IT’S THE STUFF OF DREAMS. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A CAR FANATIC AND I HAD THE PORSCHE 959 POSTER ON THE WALL WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. MY DAD USED TO TAKE ME TO BRANDS HATCH TO WATCH THE MOTOR RACING AS A KID SO TO HAVE THE PORSCHE LOGO ON THE BAG AND TO BE A PART OF THEIR ‘FAMILY’ IS SURREAL. IT’S THE PERFECT MATCH. NOTHING ABOUT IT IS FORCED – IT’S TOTALLY ORGANIC AND MAKES UTMOST SENSE. TO WIN THE PORSCHE EUROPEAN OPEN LAST YEAR WAS VERY COOL AND IT HAS BLOSSOMED INTO THIS.”

be appreciated for what they do and everyone wants to be told, ‘well done today.’ We are no different,” he says.

“You hit a great golf shot and when you get no one clapping, it’s really soulless and it’s very sad. I realised how much energy, excitement and enjoyment I get from people watching me play, whether I’m doing well or not so great.

“Sometimes playing in front of a big crowd can be intimidating, sometimes it hasn’t been enjoyable when you get certain crowds who can be hostile. But I realised that I actually miss the atmosphere. In golf, you relish that challenge.

You can walk away from an event or any round and you think to yourself, ‘I know I didn’t shoot the lowest number I possibly could but I’m happy with how I faced the challenge,’ and that challenge is not currently there.

“It’s nice seeing people’s enjoyment in coming to watch us play. There is nothing cooler than somebody getting enjoyment out of what we do, good or bad. Trust me, there have been plenty of times when I have provided people with entertainment by playing bad golf as well! We are all entertainers to a certain degree and we have no one to entertain at the moment.”

UPBEAT AND RELAXED

Despite missing the fans, Casey was visibly more upbeat at Harding Park and could be seen on television sharing a few laughs with his final round playing partner Brooks Koepka. The fourtime Major winner had a rare and disappointing final round, yet he was his normal care-free self, which is something Casey has come to realise is the best way to play out on the course.

“I figured that I play my best golf when I’m upbeat and relaxed, in a way,” he says. “There

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would be many a season in the past when I would try to get my own way, and I’d try so hard to be fully focused. I had this understanding that in order to play good golf I have to be serious – but that could not be further from the truth!

“I think the Sunday at Harding Park was the perfect example of that. There certainly was pressure and I was a little bit nervous, but I was so relaxed I just embraced it. Playing with Brooks is a lovely experience. He’s an interesting

PAUL CASEY

personality because I see a one-sided Brooks. I get to play golf with and against him and I really enjoy playing with him.

“He is a real gentleman on course. He says ‘good shot,’ when I hit a good shot. He stays out of the way; he doesn’t distract you; and he plays flat out. He puts his foot on the pedal and just goes and plays with such fluidity. I like that.

Some people would call him arrogant for his nonchalant approach but I wouldn’t. It’s just the way he plays. He dragged me along that

day. I know he didn’t play his best golf but that didn’t affect my game. Sometimes when players play bad golf they become distracted but not him - you wouldn’t have known whether he was bothered or not.

“I have a lot of respect for him, not only for what he has achieved but for how he plays the game. I know he ruffles some people’s feathers with his comments but I really enjoy playing golf with the guy.”

Another man who has brought more

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fun to the course has been Casey’s caddie, John McLaren. The pair have been working together for the last five years but McLaren wasn’t available for the first four outings since the coronavirus shutdown, due to family commitments. He made a welcome return at Harding Park and he felt a lot more comfortable having his old friend alongside him.

“Since I started working with Johnny he has bought a massive sense of enjoyment onto the course,” he says. “He’s great fun and doesn’t

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PAUL CASEY like grumpiness. In fact, he doesn’t do anything other than happy. He’s so positive and brings that positivity into my life, which I really like and it helps me. He’s also incredibly diligent. He’s the hardest working caddie I know on Tour and I’m not just saying that because he’s my caddie.

“He’s always looking to improve my game and he’s driving that bus. He will say, ‘we can make a one-shot difference this week if we do this or that,’ and I love that. He’s in it 100 percent and works as hard as I do. Before Johnny and I started working together he was on the bag for Luke Donald and I think he was massively instrumental in Luke’s success in getting to World No.1. He has helped me immeasurably, and in general, he is a really good guy to be around.”

Casey and McLaren will make the unusual trip to Augusta National this month as they get set for a Masters in November for the first time in the tournament’s history. It’s a course Casey knows better than most. He has enjoyed success at Augusta with his best result a tied fourth in 2016, in addition to finishing inside the top ten on four previous occasions in his 13 trips down Magnolia Lane. Could this be the best chance for Casey to finally get it over the line in a Major Championship?

“I love the fact that the next two Majors are at Augusta National, a place that I know well and have played nicely at,” he says. “It’s bizarre though isn’t it? Having two Majors in such a short turnaround at Augusta is not something we are used to. I hope that April next year is going to be the usual Masters with the patrons lining the fairways and the beautiful azaleas in bloom.

AUGUSTA SURPRISES

“I don’t know what to expect of this coming edition, I have never played Augusta in any month other than April. We’ll be teeing off earlier so we don’t clash with the NFL games, so it will be very cold early in the mornings, so what does that mean? How is the grass different? How is the moisture in the ground different? Does the ball just stop on the fairways? Will the greens be fast or slow? Does the wind blow from different directions at this time of the year?

“All these questions and various other little things are making it unpredictable for us, and I am really excited by it all. This whole pandemic is awful. So many lives have been lost, the financial hardship and the mental strain that people are going through all around the world is just terrible.

“Selfishly though, I am really looking forward to playing Augusta without the fans! We are

going to look back at this Masters in history and say, ‘remember in 2020 when we played in Augusta with no fans?’ It’s a unique moment in golfing history. It’s going to be so surreal. I’m excited about having the chance of winning a Major in November. We are going to have five more Majors in the 2021 season so it’s the best opportunity I could ever get to win one.”

Looking ahead, Casey has opted to not play in this year’s DP World Tour Championship due to the travel restrictions in place and the fact that he wants to enjoy some time away from the course to fully recharge for what will be a jam-packed 2021. With an Olympic Games and Ryder Cup scheduled for next year, Casey wants to make the most of it while he’s still at the peak of his powers.

“Next year is going to be a massive one and I really want to make The Ryder Cup team and the Olympic squad,” he says. “I want to have a nice tracksuit with Great Britain on it. Imagine being 44 years old and going to the Olympics.

Every time I speak to Justin Rose he literally says ‘gold medal’ in every sentence. I do think I can get a medal and to call yourself an Olympian would be really cool – and, selfishly, you could wangle tickets to almost all the events there!

OLYMPIC DREAM

“I want to be at the Olympics if I feel I can contribute and help win for Great Britain.

Olympic athletes don’t go just for the experience because if they did then no one would win anything. When athletes like Chris Hoy and Tom Daley win all their medals it just lifts everyone, and that’s a big thing for me.

“The qualification is tight, as they take the top two players in the World Ranking and there are a bunch of English players right up there with Justin Rose, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and me. You have got five of us within about 10 spots of each other. I don’t care who goes, just as long as I’m in there!” ■ RYDER CUP RETURN

2001

Turns professional and secures first win on the European Tour in his 11th event

2004

Makes Ryder Cup debut and scores one point as Europe dominate USA 18.5 – 9.5

2006

Becomes only the fourth player to record a hole-in-one at The Ryder Cup, in Europe’s romp at the K Club

2009

Wins first PGA Tour title courtesy of a play-off victory over J.B. Holmes at the Shell Houston Open

2012

Drops out of the top 100 after dislocating his shoulder while snowboarding

2019

Defends his title at the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship with a onestroke victory over Jason Kokrak and Louis Oosthuizen

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2018

Makes a victorious return to Europe’s Ryder Cup Team for the first time in ten years and contributes 1.5 points in Paris

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TOMMY FLEETWOOD

F UN KY

YEAR T

AKE professional golfers out of their comfort zones and there’s no doubt that some will react differently to others – it’s what separates the elite players from the rest. Tommy Fleetwood has been one of Europe’s standout golfers over recent years but even he admits that the strange surroundings he faced when golf returned to action after the enforced lockdown were tough to take.

BY TODD STASZKO

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T

HE likeable Englishman has recently started to find his form again, and he hopes his play-off runner-up place at the ASI Scottish Open and a top-15 finish at the BMW PGA Championship can propel him to a strong end to the year.

“Obviously, there have been necessary changes that have been out of our control,” says Fleetwood. “It’s easy to say ‘yeah, the schedule is funky and so much has changed,’ but when you’ve played without spectators for a while now, we can take it for granted that we’re playing full time again.

“Back in March when The Players was cancelled at Sawgrass and golf was totally shutdown, I thought ‘we’re done, we’re going to be in lockdown for a year or more.’

“There are so many things I’ve missed. For a start, the players have missed not having their coaches with them every week. Many golf fans might look at that and say, ‘you’re professional golfers, you should be able to figure things out on your own.’ But the truth is, you can’t easily get used to not having your coach around.

Everybody needs a bit of guidance now and again. I’ve definitely missed that.”

Fleetwood struggled to hit top gear when he returned to action on the PGA Tour in August, cracking the top 30 just once in four starts at the US PGA Championship.

RETURN HOME

He missed the cut at the US Open in September – an event which had previously produced two top fives for him – but he returned to Europe and recaptured his form in Scotland, narrowly losing out to Aaron Rai in a play-off at The Renaissance Club.

“Yeah, it’s a totally different atmosphere without the fans and being in a bubble. But at the same time, we’re turning up week-in, week-out with a chance to play golf and win tournaments and win Majors. That’s the only way you should look at it,” he said. “Sure, things are a bit weird, but it still shouldn’t prevent you from having a great season.

“There are plenty of top-class events to play. I had a long spell in America, away from home, and during that time I learned a lot from things that had been taken away– and I’ll take those lessons with me for as long as I’m playing professional golf - knowing what I missed at certain times and what I did or didn’t mind about it.”

Momentum is one thing Fleetwood craves, which is why he’s playing more than he usually would as he looks to peak for The Masters.

“I just want to keep playing. Part of the reason why I’m playing so much at the moment is because I’ve been working hard and I feel like I’m progressing in the right direction. I just want to get out there on the golf course.

“I believe that golf can change at any given week, and, hopefully, my time will come again - and it could be any week now.

“Every week in golf, is a blank canvas.

Everybody has the same opportunity, and I always feel that my finest golf is clearly good

enough for me to be up there or thereabouts at the end of the week.”

Fleetwood has played in three editions of The Masters with a share of 17th in 2018 his best return to date and he feels the course sets up well for his game.

“You really get a sense of the difference in how you feel from year one, to year two, to year three,” he said. “Year one is all so new but I

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wouldn’t go as far to say it’s overwhelming.

“There’s so much to take in when it’s your first time out there. Year two, you’ve been there already, so you’re more comfortable with it and it just kind of progresses to the point where I’m not at the Freddie Couples stage or anything like that, but I’m getting a better understanding and feeling of the tournament and the course and what it involves.”

TOMMY FLEETWOOD

TEAM FLEETWOOD PICTURED TOGETHER AFTER THE FINAL ROUND OF THE DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP WHEN TOMMY WON THE EUROPEAN TOUR’S 2017 END OF SEASON RACE TO DUBAI.

Further on down the line Fleetwood has one eye on the Race to Dubai. Currently in second place behind Patrick Reed, Fleetwood would love to add another season-long title to his CV. “It’s still my proudest achievement in golf, winning the Race to Dubai in 2017,” he said. “To play throughout the whole year and finish the highest in that ranking, I think is an amazing feat.”

“I’ve competed in Dubai the last three years and I’ve always said it really is a privilege to get to that event with a chance of winning the Race to Dubai. I absolutely loved coming down the stretch in with a chance last year.”

DUBAI GLORY

Fleetwood fired a sublime final round 7-under 65 at last year’s DP World Tour Championship but it wasn’t enough to stop an inspired Jon Rahm, who clinched both the tournament and the Race to Dubai.

“It didn’t quite happen for me,” said Fleetwood, who settled for second place behind Rahm on both leaderboards.

“My record of first-third-second over the last three years is great. This year, I want to keep that spell going. It’s something that I’m very proud of, the consistency of being that high up, as it means I’ve played well in the right tournaments for the last few years.

“So, yeah, I’d absolutely love that. There are some amazing names who have won it once and there are some amazing names who have won it multiple times - and I’d love to be one of them.”

Fleetwood is already one of the most

I’ve gone to Dubai for the last three years and I’ve always said it really is a privilege to get to that event with a chance of winning the Race to Dubai and I absolutely loved coming down the stretch in with a chance last year.

TOMMY FLEETWOOD

popular and recognisable players in the game, but he wants to be remembered as one of the best of his generation and the only way to enhance his reputation is by winning more titles. He has finished runner-up in two Majors and forged an outstanding winning Ryder Cup partnership with Francesco Molinari in 2018, and he also has designs on next year’s rescheduled Olympics in Japan.

“That is definitely a goal,” he says. “I would absolutely love to get there and compete for a medal – 100 percent. When we watched it last time, I think just the fact that golf is in the Olympics is such an amazing thing, and it’s inspiring to watch athletes from all over the world who have chased an Olympic medal for their entire career.

“I love the whole atmosphere that surrounds it and would love to wear the Team GB badge. I’ve definitely got that in mind and I would love to be one of the guys who represents our nations. I always look at that as something to keep me pressing forward, the chance of competing in the Olympics.”

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First things first, Fleetwood has a date at Augusta National, where he’s certain that the ‘no patrons’ element could work to his advantage.

“When I tuned in to watch the golf on the first week back when they started playing in America, I was watching the players, and I thought, ‘well, yeah, there may be no fans, but everybody looks like they do when they are playing - what they are doing is just the same as it always was’,” says Fleetwood.

“They are going through the same routines and everybody looked really focused - and when it came to guys winning, it meant just the same.”

Indeed, someone has to win the Green Jacket come Masters Sunday – whether there are spectators there to lap up the atmosphere and experience or not.

That’s precisely what’s motivating Fleetwood as he tries to break his Major duck and take something away from what has been, in his words, a ‘funky kind of’ year.’ ■

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JOHN CATLIN

D L R O W E

S I H T A TH

T E E F , break t u o vid-19 o C ean e p h t o r y u b the E cked n o r o s n John e i s so r ’ a o a t e c i s s Amer ITH a cce s s f u o win o s t e e e c r h t e n f erge nowh m one o e m o e r h f t ber. ame c m been e y s t l a p g h e Tour eemin ll in S s e p o s h ,w -week e KO C at l i n e r h TA S Z t a DD S O T n i Y B t w i ce

W

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CATLIN WON THE 2020 DUBAI DUTY FREE IRISH OPEN BY TWO SHOTS AFTER CLOSING WITH A FINAL ROUND 64.

C

ATLIN had been developing his career away from his native United States on the Asian Tour, which allowed him to hone his game away from the spotlight. With three wins in 2018 and another in 2019, the 29-year-old Californian has now broken through in a big way in Europe, first at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters at Valderrama and then the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

“I’m taking a nice, long break now,” says a relaxed Catlin. “I’ve nothing in my schedule until the DP World Tour Championship, which I’m really looking forward to. In November I’ll work on trying to get a few sponsors exemptions to play some PGA Tour events out in the USA, but if nothing comes off on the invites front I’ll just use my time to prepare and be fully ready for Dubai.”

“I’m taking a nice, long break now. I’ve nothing in my schedule until the DP World Tour Championship, which I’m really looking forward to.

I’ll just use my time to prepare and be fully ready for Dubai.”

– JOHN CATLIN

‘Shooting up the Race to Dubai’

Catlin’s two victories – a birdieless final round grind to win by one shot ahead of Martin Kaymer in Spain and a come-from-behind final round 64 at Galgorm Castle in Ireland – saw him shoot up the Race to Dubai and earned him Rolex Series debuts at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and the BMW PGA Championship.

However, those events were the seventh and eighth consecutive weeks of a grueling stretch and he missed the cut in both before jetting back to America for a much-needed rest.

“It’s tough out here because you have to

earn your stripes and by the time it came to the two Rolex Series events in Scotland and at Wentworth I was exhausted,” he says. “I wasn’t at full strength for those weeks because I’d played so much golf leading up to them to try to get a spot in those fields.

“So, it will be nice to be able to fully prepare for future events and be mentally fresh. I wasn’t going to get there and give in – I’m always going to give it everything I’ve got, but I could just feel I wasn’t functioning at a hundred percent.” Giving it everything is

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something Catlin has done since he started working with his coach, Noah Montgomery in 2013, shortly after turning professional.

The idea of making his way up the rankings via the events on the Asian Tour was mooted

by Montgomery and Catlin is glad he took his advice.

“Noah was the driving factor behind me, suggesting that I should try my hand in Asia,” says Catlin. “I didn’t know whether I should go for it or not, but I looked into the possibility a little bit more and figured that it would be a pretty good route to take.

‘Earning my European Tour card’

“So, I went over to Asia for Q-School in 2015 and played there for a few years, making steady progress each year, and actually earned my European Tour card for 2019 via the Asian Tour. It proved to be a very good decision all round to make.

“I’ve been working with Noah for six years now. We met at a country club where we were both members. We started out as friends and I had seen the work he had done with a few other local players and was very interested. So I took one lesson and as the saying goes – ‘the rest is history!’”

Catlin’s three victories on the Asian Tour in 2018 saw him finish 6th in the Order of Merit to earn his status on the European Tour for 2019, and although he finished outside the top 100 in the Race to Dubai in his rookie campaign, he signed off on the year with victory at the

JOHN CATLIN

Thailand Open in November for a fourth career Asian Tour win. Those performances stood him in good stead as he hit top form two months ago in Europe.

“The wins in Spain and Ireland are two victories that I will always cherish, and to have won both events so close together is pretty awesome. Your first title is always the hardest to win,” he says.

‘Something really special’

“I always knew I could do it, but you never know if it’s actually going to happen and to be in the final group, playing against a former World No.1 in Martin Kaymer on arguably one of the most difficult golf courses in Europe at Valderrama, I was feeling the nerves all day and to come out on top was something truly special.

“What’s funny is that last year, Valderrama kicked my butt and I missed the cut. I wasn’t sure if I was going to come back to the event.

But then my coach – again, the voice of reason – suggested that I was playing well and should keep on playing. It’s a good thing I took Noah’s advice!”

Catlin then followed with a superb win at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open just two weeks later, joining Major winners Hubert Green and Ben Crenshaw as the only Americans to have won the prestigious title.

“Every time I looked at that trophy, I would read the winners on the list over the last 30 or 40 years and say, ‘Oh my goodness did I really win that.’

Then I’d notice another famous name popping out” and I’d say – ‘Oh wow, did he win it, too!”

– JOHN CATLIN CATLIN VIEWS THE LIST OF BIG NAMES ETCHED ON THE IRISH OPEN TROPHY.

“It’s incredible to join those great Americans – and the European names that are on that trophy are guys I’ve grown up watching,” he says. “Every time I looked at that trophy, I would read the winners on the list over the last 30 or 40 years and say, ‘Oh my goodness did I win that.’ Then I’d notice another famous name popping out and I’d say – ‘Oh wow, did he win it, too’ - and so on.

“It’s a special event – a long-standing title on the European Tour. To be a past champion of that tournament with such a prestigious trophy to treasure for the rest of my career is something very special.”

Catlin found the winning touch in Europe, taking what he learned in Asia and putting it into practice on a much bigger stage was

a milestone in his burgeoning career. “My victories on the Asian Tour absolutely helped me make the step up to the European Tour because it’s difficult to win an event, no matter where you play. Knowing I had won before certainly gave me the confidence that I could do it again against better players.

“The calibre of the top players on the Asian Tour is very strong, but the fields on the European Tour are much deeper – they are full of world-class players.” Catlin is comfortable playing on the European Tour and doesn’t feel out of place as an American plying his trade internationally. “There are other Americans out here playing in Europe and the

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friendly camaraderie creates an enjoyable atmosphere,” he says. “One of the good things about golf is that it’s such an individual sport – it’s all about finding your comfort zone and doing your very best.

“I’ve played in Asia, in Canada and now throughout Europe. It doesn’t matter where you play or where you’ve come from, it’s just you out there trying to play your best game – and that’s how I’ve always looked at it.”

With the achievement of winning on one of the two major Tours and stepping inside the top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time – what happens next?

“I do set goals for myself and I’m a firm

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JOHN CATLIN

JUBILANT JOHN CATLIN LIFTS THE 2020 ESTRELLA DAMM N.A. ANDALUCIA MASTERS TROPHY, BEATING MARTIN KAYMER BY ONE STROKE.

CATLIN PARADES THE WINNER’S TROPHY AFTER THE FINAL ROUND OF THE 2019 THAILAND OPEN.

believer in having targets to aim for. Once I reach a certain goal I give myself a little pat on the back and then immediately set my sights on another achievement,” he says.

“My next goal is to get into the top 50 in the World Ranking because that gets me into the Majors and will give me more starts on the PGA Tour. Eventually winning on the PGA Tour is an important goal, too.

“Right now, I think the European Tour gives me a great opportunity to improve my ranking and continue to fine-tune my game and play against some of the best players in the game.

There are so many great players in Europe and I’ve learned a lot from them and enjoyed competing against them.

The American Dream

“I would say that most American-born golfers who grow up dreaming of playing professional golf, want to play on the PGA Tour – that’s where we want to get to and it’s one of my goals, too.

“If I can get into the top 50 in the world, that would open up the door and give me the chance to earn a full card over there.”

The next time Catlin is set to mix it with the best the European Tour has to offer will be at the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in December and he’s certainly

“Now I can get into the bigger events I can pick and choose where to play – and be ready for them. I can’t wait to sign off on 2020 and pick up where I left off again in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for 2021.”

– JOHN CATLIN looking forward to making his debut in the end-of-season event on the European Tour.

“I can’t get there soon enough,” he says.

“It’s a world-class event and I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to play it and see what happens. You never know, I might get hot just at the right time. It would be good to get three big wins under my belt in 2020. I did it in 2018 on the Asian Tour, and I’d love to do it

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again this year on the European Tour.”

Catlin’s only taste of the Middle East so far came last year at the Oman Open and he enjoyed his week at Almouj Golf and was disappointed not to be able to return to this year’s event.

“The tournament in Muscat was great and the whole week was fantastic,” he says.

“The hotel we stayed at, the Kempinski, was one of the nicest hotels I’ve every stayed at.

The golf course was immaculate, the people were very friendly, the food was delicious and it was, altogether, a great experience.

“I was hoping to come back and play again, but unfortunately with the changes in the scheduling I couldn’t make it happen.

It’s a great golf course and a wonderful event and I’m looking forward to getting back to that part of the world again real soon.”

Now with the security of a European Tour exemption, Catlin can plot a schedule that works for him and he’s looking forward to ending this year and starting next season in the Middle East.

“Now that I can get into the bigger events I can pick and choose where to play – and be ready for them,” he says. “I can’t wait to sign off on 2020 and pick up where I left off again in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for 2021.” ■

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COLUMN

PETE COWEN What’s going to win the Masters this year? The power game or short stick supremacy?

Bryson all set to release the 400 yard bombs at Augusta It’s hard to believe but the golf chatter coming into the Masters seems to be about Bryson more than Tiger. Could this be a changing of the guard?

’m just about to head off to the Masters at Augusta and fingers crossed my Covid test doesn’t come back positive or I’m in isolation for 14 days at my own cost, watching the event from a hotel room down the road!

It’s going to be a different with the course in autumn and no roar from the patrons but it is still arguably the greatest Major of the season. All eyes will be on the big names as usual but Bryson DeChambeau has a taste for Majors now and is going all out to become world number one. I’ve recently seen a clip from him showing a ball speed of 211mph and a carry distance of 400 yards.

Those numbers are just incomprehensible, even compared to the likes of Rory and Johnson. To put it in perspective, I know we go on about how the modern day big hitters are making courses like St Andrews play like a pitch and putt but using the current stats from Bryson no course is safe. He would be able to drive nine of the par fours and reach all the par fives at Sawgrass in two.

I

Change of mind on the power game I know last month I said we should introduce a high spinning ball.

So players that produce more power will also generate more spin.

I’ve given that more thought and hearing the kids at my range get excited by the distance Bryson and the other pros are smashing it I can see why they see that appealing. You’ve got to remember the world is full of driving ranges and not putting ranges. If Bryson wins the Masters and the television numbers are up, then the distance kings could be the saviour, as the game needs to appeal to the younger generation. Tiger has worn that crown for decades but today it needs to be a team effort.

Brooks video is impressive

To make things more interesting I’ve just received a video from Brooks Koepka and his swing is looking on point. He might need to

blow off some competition rust in Houston prior to the Masters but he’s hungry for more Majors.

If you can’t putt then distance is pointless The European threat this year might come from Tyrrell Hatton.

He’s been playing great and doesn’t have a weakness to his game.

Winning at Wentworth in cold conditions and then tying third at The CJ Cup on the PGA Tour the following week shows he can also adapt his game accordingly. I’ve always like the fact his straight up and down swing will rarely go wrong but having Mick Donaghy on the bag has made all the difference. Mick is not scared of voicing his opinion and with 30 years experience on Tour he’s seen it all. Tyrrell has certainly listened and the two are working well.

So why could Tyrrell do well at Augusta you might think when I’m predicting the likes of Bryson and Brooks? Tyrrell’s swing gives him excellent distance control and he’s a great putter. Those two ingredients were key to why Zach Johnson won in 2007 and kept Tiger from a play-off.

Eyes on Dubai Once the Masters is over all eyes will be on Dubai and the DP World Tour Championship to see who will win the European Tour’s season-ending event and the Race to Dubai. Tiger’s event has been cancelled so that might entice some of the big names to tee it up at Jumeirah Golf Estates in December.

More than ever the high ranked players are looking to base themselves on the PGA Tour. Not just for the huge amount of money that is on offer but those valuable Official World Ranking points. Though they can’t burn their bridges and keep their options open on the European Tour. Which is why the Middle East swing and season-ending DP World Tour Championship is vital to both the players and European Tour. ■

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COLUMN

DAVID HOWELL The Masters will be magical regardless of the weather.

My Craziest Memorable Masters Taking the wrong route from Augusta Country Club to Forest Hills led to one of the craziest most comical experiences of my life AVING grown up in Swindon, England, I can tell you what November weather can feel like but when it comes to Augusta, Georgia, I am afraid I am none the wiser. I am guessing bright but chilly is most likely, not much to go on then when it comes to predicting what sort of challenge a patron- free Augusta National will play like for the strongest Masters Tournament yet.

But I can tell you how difficult the most beautiful of courses can be, as I played in 2007, the year when the average score on the Friday was around 78. On a course with pretty much no rough, that is some average for the best players in the world to be shooting. That particular day is imprinted on my mind like no other - and I shall tell you why.

It was my third straight visit to the first Major of the year. In my debut in 2005 I had finished in 11th place, and had the pleasure of partnering Tiger Woods in round three, where I witnessed him chasing down Chris Dimarco with a fantastic 65. After another reasonable finish in 2006 I headed down Magnolia Lane, knowing that of all the Majors, the Masters offered me my best chance of victory, a course where putting is of premium importance along with my course strategy.

So, after an opening 70 I scrambled my way around in 75 on day two, in the morning, as the breeze freshened and the scoring started to soar upwards. I felt, having done the press rounds, courtesy of sitting comfortably in the top ten, that the only way for me to find my long game, was to find a local course to hit some shots, with my coach and caddy in tow.

H

Under the radar in Augusta

My caddy, by the way, was Nick “The Jockey” Mumford, a long-time friend but only three weeks into looping for me. He was an Augusta debutant, becoming more ill at ease rather than less, with the way the week was panning out. We headed to Augusta Country Club, where, I was reliably informed, I should seek out a Man called George, who had the right contacts and would kindly find me a tee time. Sadly, it turned out, I was wrongly informed. It became abundantly clear when the Assistant Pro had never heard of me, and that George certainly didn’t have any pull whatsoever at this wonderful club. It was obvious that courtesy of the course would not be mine. So, we left with our tale between our legs, and an embarrassed look on our faces.

So, along with my six mates we started to head back to the range, when Kevin, one of my pals said: “Why not try the pay-and-play course that’s near our rental house,” and that’s how we ended up at Forest Hills Golf Club, on the Friday of the 2007 US Masters Championship.

I entered the pro shop and asked to pay to play golf, “$20 then

please,” came the reply. Followed by “where you from, not round here, I guess?” “Swindon England” I replied. “What are you doing in town?” – “Playing in a golf tournament,” I responded. At that very moment my face was on TV behind the shop assistant’s shoulder. He caught our glazed look, took a double-take and realised that the guy who had just handed him $20 was now lying eighth in the Masters. “What on earth are you doing here?” he questioned. “I’m really not sure” I said.

I was informed that I could treat the course as my own, and was handed a buggy key, along with my $20 which was kindly handed back to me and off we went to find my game, or, as it turns out maybe make things worse.

Local Confidence

I hit a few crooked drives and missed a few greens with short irons - confidence draining rather than building. Then I found something, or at least I thought I had. A slight grip change found me some control, my chances of donning the Green Jacket were once again improving. I played a couple more holes, finding the centre of the clubface, shaping shots at will, and then I arrived at the ninth tee.

Two strapping guys were waiting for me to play on a nearby tee, they watched closely as my 3- wood found the fairway, and then they shouted over, “Hey man, that’s a great swing, what do you play off, five, six?”.

Any confidence gained was, in hindsight, possibly snatched away with this kindly but misdirected comment. However, my ego was stroked once again when they saw my name on the bag, put two- and-two together and realised I was the guy they had been watching on TV that morning. Photos were taken, hands shaken. Head held high, I made my way to the bar to wait for my ride, and watched the golf with 20 avid golf fans who I gladly bought a beer. We watched as players faltered left right and centre, and by the time I left Forest Hills I was in third place, in with a shot at the title.

The rest is a long story, but the shortened version ends like this: After five stuttering pars to begin round three, we stood on the sixth tee waiting for the green to clear. I asked Nick this question: “How long have you known me Nick?”

“Twenty years,” Nick replied.

“Have you ever seen me play worse golf than this,” I remarked.

“Definitely not, worst I’ve ever seen,” he said.

“Have you seen the scoreboard?” I questioned.

“Yep, you’re leading the Masters by one mate,” Nick replied.

It was a strange few days and my toughest Masters but it came as no surprise that Zach Johnson conquered the conditions and walked off with the Green Jacket that year. ■

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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.

was expecting to write my latest column from Cyprus before playing in the Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open but unfortunately, I’m self-isolating in France after my caddie, Bruno, tested positive for COVID-19.

Before we set off for the first of two European Tour events in Cyprus, we were required to take another test and he came back with a positive result shortly after the Italian Open came to an end. Bruno was quite frustrated and apologetic about the situation but it’s not his fault in any way – this is the new normal. He has been feeling fine and hasn’t shown any symptoms but, clearly, we both need to self-isolate for the required period. The priority is for him to get better so we can make our way to South Africa when this is all done and dusted. In a way, I’m glad that this happened now, rather than the end of the season, as we wouldn’t want to miss out on the DP World Tour Championship.

Despite Bruno coming back with a positive result, mine was negative so I had the option to self-isolate in Italy or drive to France to be closer to my girlfriend and isolate there. I booked myself an apartment on Airbnb and set off on the drive which ended up taking a lot longer than expected due to it pouring down with rain for the first three hours so I couldn’t go faster than 60km/h! It feels like I’m in my second quarantine of the year after being locked down in Spain in the summer but that is world we live in right now so we’ve just got to take it as it comes.

Not getting out on the course or driving range for ten days is going to be a new

I

Arnaus finished tied fifth at the Italian Open

experience for me but I’ll use the time to do some home workouts and I’ve also got my clubs with me so I’ll be able to practice my swing indoors. Sometimes it’s good to disconnect from the golfing world and just focus on yourself so I’ll definitely take advantage of being able to relax and not having to set any early morning alarms!

Looking back on last month, I’m happy with where my game is at right now and I’ve put myself in a decent position in a couple of

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tournaments. I started well at the BMW PGA Championship and was joint leader after the first round which was really satisfying as it was the first time I had played the course. The West Course at Wentworth is one of those courses that makes you think and I really enjoy that; it’s similar to Real Club Valderrama but not as challenging. I carried that momentum into the Scottish Championship and was in the hunt on Sunday which shows that everything I’m working on is starting to click.

It’s a matter of going out on the course enjoying it and that was the main thing for me last month - coming to these events and being able to have fun again and have a more relaxed approach. There’s always pressure when you are in the mix in the final round but the more times you are in that position then the better you are going to get at converting that into a win. I’ve worked a lot with my mental coach on keeping it simple in those situations, play it one shot at a time and also take my mind away from it at times by talking to Bruno about non-golf related things. I ended up in a share of fifth which was a solid result but I’m certain they will turn into wins soon.

With three weeks away from the course I’m going to be eager to get going again so I’ll be heading over to South Africa for the newly announced tournaments. I’m happy that the European Tour put these South African events on the schedule because heading over there at the end of the season has always been good fun and hopefully I can keep the momentum going until the DP World Tour Championship ■

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13 Hole th

MAJLIS COURSE EMIRATES GOLF CLUB BY

DONG LEE,

PGA PROFESSIONAL, PETER COWEN ACADEMY, DUBAI

dongkyonlee

T

his par 5 dogleg (right to left) is one of my favourite holes on the Majlis because of its risk and reward layout. Before playing this hole it’s key to assess the wind because your strategy will be different in the morning compared to the afternoon.

When playing this beautiful hole in the morning, the wind is generally against the face which makes it a huge risk to try and carry the trees and bushes so I would play a sensible shot aiming closer to the right edge of the tree line. This would allow me to get safely on to the green in three shots.

In the afternoon, when the wind is helping from behind, I would take the more aggressive line over the trees which should give me an easier opportunity to reach the green on two shots. This is a huge advantage for those long hitters among you but it will also be a blind tee shot if you are taking too much corner.

A solid tee shot should give you a reachable distance to the green but this is where the greenside bunkers and water hazard on the right side of the green come into play. If you decide to go for the green in two – whatever you do try to stay away from the right side of the green to avoid these dangers. If you’re playing the safer option and lay up then a mid-iron to your favourite distance from the flag is always a good strategy and will still give you a good birdie opportunity.

The third shot is pretty straight forward as long as you stay away from the front and right side bunker along with the water hazard on the right hand side of the green as mentioned above. The green is not massive and slopey so, as long as you’re on it, you will have a good opportunity to make your birdie with a one putt. If it takes two putts and you come off the hole with a five then you should be more than happy at making your par.

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INSTRUCTION

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9 Hole th

EARTH COURSE JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES BY

ANNEKE STROBACH

TEACHING PROFESSIONAL JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES

annekestrobach

T

o celebrate the feast of women’s golf in the region this month, I’ll be talking you though how to play the beautiful ninth hole on the Earth course from the Ladies Tees. The short but uphill hole is pretty straight forward as long as you avoid the bunkers to the left and right from your tee shot.

From the Ladies Tees, you have 353 yards to the pin so I suggest aiming your driver towards the centre of the fairway to avoid those bunkers on either side. Driver off the tee is your best option here as you want the hole to play as short as possible – laying up is not the smart choice because of the placements of the fairway bunkers.

Once you’re on the middle of the fairway, you’ll see two bunkers on the side of the green which you want to steer clear of. The green is large on the ninth so you want be to aiming for the centre to be safe and avoid the traps. Remember to add 5-10 yards to your shot due to the fact that this hole plays uphill.

Once you’re on the green, you’ll find yourself in one of three zones – left, right and front of the green. If you’ve played to the centre of the green then you’ve given yourself two putts to make your par, but, more importantly, you’ve got an opportunity to pick up a stroke with a birdie. Play this hole smart and you’ll be walking off with at least a par which goes a long way on the Earth course.

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INSTRUCTION

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SHERGO AL KURDI

The Middle East’s History Maker

Earlier this year, Shergo Al Kurdi wrote his name into the history books and paved the way for the next generation of golfers in the region after becoming the first player from the GCC and Middle East to earn Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points after finishing tied second at the MENA Tour’s Journey to Jordan 1.

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SHERGO AL KURDI

I

t wasn’t the first time Al Kurdi had found himself in the spotlight. He had previously become the first player from Jordan to make the cut at the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship at just 14 years old and had played in four European Tour events before his 17th birthday. We caught up with the leading amateur on the MENA Tour to find out how he got started in golf and his big dream of representing Jordan at the Olympic Games.

AL AL KURDI KURDI ON ON GETTING STARTED IN GOLF… I don’t actually remember when I started because I was just a baby with a nappy on when my dad first put a club in my hands!

All I know is that I started really young when my dad used to take me to the driving range and I just fell in love with it. I started taking it seriously when I was about six or seven years old because I was winning a lot of junior tournaments and tours. I have over 100 trophies in the house from all my wins which I’m really proud of!

AL AL KURDI KURDI ON ON REPRESENTING JORDAN DESPITE BEING BORN IN ENGLAND… My dad is from Jordan and we frequently visit family over there so I know the country really well. It’s a beautiful place and whenever I’m out there I get so much support from the Jordanians at tournaments or if I’m just practicing at Ayla Golf Club. I see myself as having two flags by my name but Jordan is the first and it’s a great honour in being able to represent the country when playing the game.

AL KURDI KURDI ON ON LEADING AL THE MENA TOUR… The MENA Tour was the first professional tour that I started on when I was 14 years old. It was a really nerve-racking experience when I started out but being around professionals and that environment has helped my game out physically as well as mentally. It feels normal being around these guys now which is going to really help me when I decide to turn professional. My goal at the start of the season was to be the leading amateur on the MENA Tour as you get the start in the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic which is a tournament I’ve always dreamed of playing in.

AL AL KURDI KURDI ON ON MAKING HIS EUROPEAN TOUR DEBUT AT THE COMMERCIAL BANK QATAR MASTERS AT JUST 14 YEARS OLD...

When I was walking around the range and putting green I felt like a little baby next to all the stars of the European Tour that I had grown up watching. I had a really good first round where I posted a one over par 73 and I was looking at the leaderboard and reading out all the big names that I had beaten that day… suddenly I felt a bit taller! I didn’t have a great second round and missed the cut but the whole experience was fantastic.

AL KURDI ON BECOMING THE FIRST PLAYER FROM THE MIDDLE EAST TO SECURE OWGR POINTS WITH A RUNNER-UP FINISH AT THE JOURNEY TO JORDAN 1 …

I didn’t even realise that I was the first player to do it until after the event – it was a pretty overwhelming experience. I think it was a great thing for golf in the Middle East and shows that there is a lot of talent in this region and the game is in a good place. I was a little bit disappointed not to get my hands on the trophy but to be the second-best player in the field that week and secure an OWGR point was pretty special. After that result, I felt like I have some pressure on my shoulders but I see that as a good thing. The pressure motivates me to become a better player every time I’m out on the course and if there wasn’t any pressure then people wouldn’t be expecting big things from me. I enjoy that and I want to go out there and become an inspiration for players in the Middle East.

AL KURDI ON THE SUPPORT HE GETS FROM THE REGION… I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the support I get from the Jordan Golf Federation and Ayla Golf Club. They have been instrumental in helping me out with every aspect of my game so I owe a lot to them. When I’m visiting the UAE, the EGF General Secretary, Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi, helps me access courses while Golf Oman have promised me a spot in next year’s Oman Open which is great.

I’ve also played in European Tour events in Saudi Arabia and Qatar thanks to the help from the respective national federations along with key people such as Majed Al Sorour, Golf Saudi CEO and Fahad Naimi, General Secretary of the Qatar Golf Association.

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AL AL KURDI KURDI ON ON WORKING HARD ON HIS GAME DURING LOCKDOWN… The situation in the world right now is awful with the ongoing pandemic but I actually used the lockdown to my advantage and really worked on my game. I went from 111mph club speed at the start of lockdown to 123mph as I was putting a lot of focus on my strength by working hard in the gym and doing some crazy exercises. It wasn’t a pretty sight but I was lifting tractor wheels at one stage… I felt like Bryson DeChambeau!

I then played on the TP Pro Tour and Clutch Pro Tour and finished as leading amateur on a few occasions so it was nice to see that all my work during lockdown had paid off.

AL AL KURDI KURDI ON ON HIS FUTURE IN THE GAME… If everything goes to plan and I work to what my schedule is then I’m hoping to turn pro next year by the age of 18. And if that doesn’t happen I have still got plenty of time left, I think the average age of players turning pro is 21.

In an ideal world, my long term goal would be playing in all the Majors and hopefully winning one of them. That is what I work hard for so that’s what I’m aiming for.

AL AL KURDI KURDI ON ON REPRESENTING JORDAN AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES… To compete under the Jordanian flag at the Olympic Games would be amazing not only for Jordan but the Middle East in general. It would show that there are great players in the region and – if given the right tools – they can shine on the world stage.

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JUNIOR MASTERS OPEN GOLF TOUR

BOYS GREEN JACKET WINNER MOUSA SHANA’AH

GIRLS GREEN JACKET WINNER LILI BRECKEN

GREEN JACKET JOY FOR YOUNGSTERS

T

he iconic Green Jacket will make a long-awaited return at this month’s delayed Masters Tournament but two young stars in the United Arab Emirates have already got their hands on one after topping the second edition of the Junior Masters Open Golf Tour.

Mousa Shana’ah and Lili Brecken finished at the summit of the respective Boys and Girls Net and Gross Divisions after impressive seasons on the only global ranking junior tour in the region.

It was a second successive victory on the Tour, which is run by Golf Events Management, for Shana’ah after the 13 year old sealed top spot in 2018-2019 with a string of fine performances including a triumph at The Track, Meydan. The Jordanian was even more impressive this year as he recorded two junior course records on the way to defending his crown. The first of those came at JA, The Resort when he fired a stunning 68 for an eight-stroke victory before posting an impressive two-day total of 143 (72,71) at Al Hamra Golf Club earlier this year.

“It feels amazing that I’ve defended my title,” said Shana’ah. “I worked really hard last season and it’s been a great year for me.

Breaking the course record at JA, The Resort was the highlight for me and it was also my best-ever round which was phenomenal - I’m really proud of myself.

“The Junior Masters Open Tour is really competitive with a lot of talented players turning up every week. You have to be at your best because one mistake can be the difference between winning and losing. It’s also a great opportunity of playing top-class

events in the region and we “I’d like to congratulate both Mousa can see our and Lili on sealing the Green Jacket ranking compared to others all for topping the Order of Merit on the across the world Junior Masters Open Tour.” thanks to the Global Junior – Ali Kalbat Golf Rankings.

That can help us in getting into colleges and obtaining “The main idea of the Junior Masters Open scholarships - it really opens a path to all Tour is to hold top-class tournaments for the junior golfers in the UAE.” plethora of fantastic juniors we have in this Brecken joined Shana’ah in picking region. We want to give them the opportunity up a Green Jacket after her impressive to aim for the stars by hosting these events performances in both the Girls Net and Gross which give them a sense of what it’s like to Divisions. The youngster secured a trio of top participate in a professional golf tournament. three finishes at the JA Junior Open, Dubai This is why we are the biggest junior tour in Hills Junior Open and Tower Links Junior Open the region and why we get so many players to pip Sien Demelker to the Gross Division travelling from the outside the UAE to while Aasiya Saleem finished runner-up in the compete.

Net Division.

“So, I would like to thank all the participants “I’m extremely proud to win the Green from the UAE and other parts of the world for Jacket for the first time,” said Brecken. “The making this global ranking tour so special. tour gives us such a great opportunity to play We also would like to send our thanks to our on all the beautiful courses in the UAE which sponsors, supporters and golf clubs who host is a great challenge. I can’t wait to get going these events as we wouldn’t be where we are again and look forward to trying to defend my today without their support.” title against some of the best juniors in the Juniors across the region are encouraged to region.” get involved in the third edition of the Junior Ali Kalbat, General Manager, Golf Event Masters Open Golf Tour, which continues Management, said: this month, along with signing up for the “I’d like to congratulate both Mousa and Lili UAE World Amateur Junior Championship. on sealing the Green Jacket for topping the The tournament, which is also run by Golf Order of Merit on the Junior Masters Open Events Management, will see junior golfers Tour. Both champions have enjoyed terrific competing for highly sought-after WAGR seasons and that is down to their hard work points over four days at Al Hamra Golf Club and talent so hats off to them. from December 9 -12.

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UAE PGA

OLIVIA JACKSON IN THE SPOTLIGHT AFTER HISTORIC WIN

W

ith a feast of worldclass women’s golf in the Middle East this month it was fitting that the UAE PGA welcomed a female to the winner’s circle for the first time in its history courtesy of Olivia Jackson’s triumph at Emirates Golf Club.

Jackson was the only player to break par over the Faldo course as she posted an impressive three under 69 to take home the title in the second UAE PGA event of the season last month.

“I didn’t get off to a great start but Steven Hubner (Director of Golf, Jumeirah Golf Estates) gave me a pep talk and my mentally switched from there. I wasn’t hitting the ball massively long but I stayed calm and knew what I needed to do, stuck to my strengths, laid up to my good numbers and left myself in positions where I wasn’t struggling. My putting was also pretty good.

“I hadn’t realised that I was the first female winner so when I came in and David Gray turned to me and told me about the achievement that was a big deal for me. It is also my first professional win which made it even sweeter. I had to go straight into coaching afterwards and every time I would get in from a lesson I was just looking at my phone and scrolling through loads and loads of messages so it was

great to get the support from people across the world.”

A record number of 34 professionals competed at the tournament but Jackson was the only female participating despite the large turnout. With the Englishwoman blazing a trail for her female counterparts, she’s hoping to see a lot more women compete after her historic triumph.

“We’ve actually just got two new female pros down at JGE so I think they are going to start playing in the events,” she says. “I’m hoping my win will encourage more females to play not only in these events but also amateur tournaments. It’s very important to have female role models in the game. Golf has always had this background of being an ‘old man sport’ and it’s not, it’s quite an athletic sport and it should be an attractive sport to younger girls, athletic girls and girls who play different sports. We are actually seeing that a lot here.

The key for me is that I played every other sport growing up, I did not just stick to one sport, and taking part in different sports gives you a more rounded perspective on golf and helps you understand the technicalities of the game a little bit more.”

The 23 year old, who only moved to Dubai at the start of the year, will be hoping for more of the same this season as she

“I hadn’t realised that I was the first female winner so when I came in and David Gray turned to me and told me about the achievement that was a big deal for me.”

aims to become the first female to appear in the Dubai Golf Trophy. But in the meantime, she’ll be hoping to inspire the next generation of female stars through coaching.

“After college I decided to turn pro and get into coaching,” she says. “One of the main reasons I

Worldwide GOLF 56

got into coaching was because I felt like golf has given me so much in every part of my life and I want to give back to the game and help people succeed and improve. “As for being the first female to make the Dubai Golf Trophy team – that would be fantastic!”

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EMI RATES GOL F F E DE RAT ION

AL AIN – AE S GC

National Junior Golf Continues to Grow

New Captain welcomed as former Captain wins Hans Ettengruber’s reign as the Club Captain was marked by the Captain’s Season Opener competition last month and coming out on top with a solid score of 40 Stableford points was former Captain Rory Thomson. Dean Lawrence had to settle for second place after losing out to Thomson on a countback while new member Maruf Khan took third. The best gross on the day went to Ramli Sulaiman on 34 points with Martin Duff taking second.

The 2020-21 Emirates Golf Federation golf season began last month and the juniors were in the spotlight as 16 players from the UAE National Junior Development Program (NJDP) took their place in the field for the Junior Open at Emirates Golf Club. This is the highest number of players that the EGF has had participate in any order of merit event since the start of the program and leading the way for the UAE Nationals in the Girls Division was Alia Al Emadi as she finished third with a 9-over-par 81. In the Boys Division, Obaid Al Heloo was the top National as he finished in a share of eighth place with a 7-over-par 79.

Dubai to host 2023 World Amateur Team Championships

Past Captain claims first Medal of the season The first Orient Travel - Tourism Authority of Thailand Monthly Medal of the season saw past Club Captain Vivian Verma post an impressive net 68 to get off to a winning start. Verma’s round included seven net birdies and one net eagle as he clinched a one-stroke win over Bernie Benavidez, with third place going to Andrew Thom on 71. Nathan Fisher won the gross title with a level par 72.

The International Golf Federation have selected the Emirates Golf Federation’s bid for Dubai to host the 2023 World Amateur Team Championships.

The EGF was chosen over the Singapore Golf Association after the two were identified as the finalists by the IGF Bid Panel from an initial group of eight National Federation members that had expressed interest in hosting the biennial team event for men and women. The Emirates Golf Federation presented the Greg Norman-designed Fire course at Jumeirah Golf Estates (below) as the host venue.

“It is an honor for the United Arab Emirates and the Emirates Golf Federation to win the election for the 2023 World Amateur Team Championships,” said H.E. Shaikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation.

Joe eases to victory Joe Bautista romped to victory in the opening Unitechnik monthly Stableford competition of the 2020/21 season after a round featuring six net birdies and two net eagles saw him score 42 points. In Division ‘A’ a tally of 34 was good enough for James Mulane to win while in Division ‘B’ Arnel Valencia scored 41 to top the pile. The gross prize on the day went to Namir AL Naimi with a haul of 30 points.

Joe and Victor seal new Midweek 18 Special

J UMEI RAH GOL F E ST AT E S

Findan has a day to remember Findan Cox made a hole-in-one en route to taking second place in Division ‘B’ at last month’s Handicap Day. His rare ace helped him post a score of net 69 but it wasn’t quite good enough to take the title as Stefan Berg fired a 67 to top the pile.

The gross prize had to be settled via a countback after Peter Whittaker, Tiann Labuschagne, Sakura Kawakami and Nic Poisat all fired the same tally, and after the cards were compared it was Kawakami who took the trophy thanks to a stronger inward nine. In Division ‘A’ Anton Van Schalkwyk returned a score of net 70 to win by one ahead of Johan Schoonrad while Peter Whittaker took third with a 73. Richard Hillard’s hard work on the range paid off as he won Division ‘C’ with a 67, one clear of Eru Kawakami with Barrie Van Zyl in third on 71.

Berg lands the Stableford Roll Up Last month’s Individual Stableford Roll Up was contested by 32 players across separate divisions and coming out on top in Division ‘A’ was the club’s ‘Mr Consistency’ Stefan Berg. Berg secured the spoils with a haul of 23 points from nine straight pars, two points clear of Anton Van Schalkwyk in second place. Stuart Bell finished third on 20 points while Johan Schoonraad pipped Mark Grant to fourth place after a countback. Division ‘B’ saw Celeste Herselman secure a five-point win over Peter Abbott with a score of 25 points while Richard Hillard finished third ahead of Shoaib Farooqi.

AB U DH AB I C IT Y GOL F C LU B

Kashif Arshed clinches the Senior spoils A countback win secured Kashif Arshed the overall prize in the Senior Open sponsored by Pepsi last month as the unlucky Klaus Hanson had to settle for second place with both players compiling 40 points. Finishing third overall was Deepak Jain on 39 while in the gross division Naveed Kamal shot a 77 to win ahead of Yves Bouchard with Steven Gibson in third.

The first event of a new series – to be known as the Radisson Blu Ajman Midweek 18H Special – was won by club members Joe Bautista and Victor D’souza as they compiled a score of 44 points. The event, which is held on the final Wednesday of every month, will be played under the floodlights and in various formats. Bishnu Sharma and Francisco Giles finished second overall.

Karri in control of opening Order of Merit event Bala Raju Karri sealed the top spot in the first event of the Order of Merit series, sponsored by Srixon / Hakkasan - Abu Dhabi, with a fine score of 39 points from a handicap of 27. A total of 54 players teed it up and finishing in second place was Ryley Arifin after he defeated Kweon Do Sung on a countback with both compiling a haul of 38 points.

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ARABIAN GOLF S A A D IY A T B E A C H G O LF CLUB

EMIRATES GOLF CLUB

Rixos Medal Series off to a flying start

Duggan digs deep for Ladies Senior title

The opening two rounds of the Rixos Monthly Medal saw large fields take to the course in a quest for honours with Mark Slater winning September’s title and Chantal El Chaib taking the October spoils.

El Chaib fired a stunning gross 3-under-par 69 to win by five shots while Slater’s gross tally of 80 was good enough to win the first event of the series. Walid Hatoum sealed the Division 2 prize last month with a 76, defeating Club Captain Guy Tennant by a stroke, while in Division 1 Lara El Chaib won with a net 73 ahead of Iain Selkirk.

Maura Duggan clinched this year’s Ladies Seniors Championship with a one-stroke win over Yana Jamieson after a round of 83. Duggan holed birdies on holes 15 and 16 to jump into the drivers seat and take the title with Cathy Lajotte in third following an 85. In the net division Avani Shah topped the pile with a 71, one ahead of Haide Wright.

Darnault crowned Junior Club Champion Paul Darnault emerged victorious in a play-off against Hugo Garia to win this year’s Junior Club Championship, held on the Majlis course. After 18 holes the duo couldn’t be separated having both signed for a 75. However, on the first playoff hole Garcia’s ball became lodged in a tree and Darnault sealed the win with a bogey. The Girls Junior Champion was Liang Wei Liu after she scored an impressive 78 while the overall net prize went to Arman Singh with a 71.

AB U DH AB I GOL F C LU B

J A T H E R E SO R T

Rafa Cabrera Bello supports tourism initiative by JA The Resort

Brecken downs Webber for Stableford title

JA The Resort has launched a ‘first of its kind’ golf tourism initiative for Dubai to target Golf Professionals to bring golf groups to Dubai and for JA The Resort to become the ‘Resort of Choice’ for golfers coming to play golf in the emirate. The initiative, partnered by local DMC’s Desert Gate and Desert Adventures, is targeted at golf groups in Europe and Asia, as well as other key golf markets around the world. The package provides golf and accommodation for one golf professional along with seven amateur golfers, with the golf professional having complimentary golf and accommodation. Rafa Cabrera Bello, JA Resorts Global Ambassador and winner of the 2012 OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic, said: “JA The Resort is a home away from home for me and my family and this JA The Resort initiative is ideal for Pros to bring golf groups to JA The Resort and to Dubai.

Steve Brecken defeated Gary Webber on a countback after they both scored 38 points to take the victory in the recent Lockheed Martin Members Stableford competition. The current Club Captain Bob Whatley took the 13+ Handicap division with 37 points, four clear of Nizam Zainee while Lara El Chaib and Thomas Nesbitt won the two Nearest the Pin prizes on offer.

Countback settles the Mixed Season Opener New Club Captains Boyd Edmonson and Naima Maya hit their honorary drives off the 1st tee to begin the annual Mixed Season Opener last month and in a Texas Scramble format a total of 128 players took to the Majlis in a quest for honours. Coming out on top was the team of Sanjay Malhotra, Sanjay Raina, Ravi Khanna and Roma Khanna with a score of 54, winning on a countback against the team of Manish Bakshi, Sachin Mahajan, Varun Sood and Manoj Shivnani.

DUBAI CR E E K GOL F & Y AC H T C LU B

Great scoring in latest Lincoln Dubai Golf Pro-Am event The latest installment of the ever-popular Lincoln Dubai Golf Pro-Am Series saw a field of 72 players take to the course with 18 pros among them, hoping to clinch a spot in the series grand final. In the professional category Mike Bolt sealed the deal with a superb 2-under-par 69, one clear of Reg Van Rooyen with Luke Plumb and Thomas Plassais tied on level par and Jake Shepard at +1. Each professional played with a team of amateurs, with the best two scores on each hole counting towards the team’s overall score. The top five teams from the day qualified to play in the grand final, which is to be held on the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club. Winning on the day with a score of 86 points was the team consisting of Adel Hamdan, Joe Ghossoub and Karim Benbouzyane and led by Plassais.

Meanwhile Jehangir Makhdum clinched last month’s OMA Emirates Monthly Medal with a stunning round of 6-under-par 63.

Worldwide GOLF 59

Chantal clinches the opener Last year’s Club Champion, Chantal El Chaib, shot a gross 71 to win the opening round of the Race to Rixos – Medal Series while Charles Parks shot a net 69 to win the 12-and under handicap division.

Thulasidas Nambiar shot a 68 to win the 13+ handicap division by six ahead of Bob Whatley.

Meanwhile in the recent Southern Sun Showdown supported by Musco Lighting, juniors Lili Brecken and Lara El Chaib teamed up to win with a net 30 ahead of Adam Joy and John Albertson.

WORLDWIDE GOLF

TRAVEL

The country of Georgia is a new addition to the golfing map, with the stunning Tbilisi Hills project offering spectacular golf and luxury residence overlooking the historic capital city.

Worldwide GOLF 60

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

Worldwide GOLF 61

A NET WORK OF WORLD CL A SS GOLF VENUE S

Play. Stay. Live.

Austria Diamond Country Club, Vienna

Bulgaria Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort, Cape Kaliakra Pirin Golf & Country Club, Bansko

China Genzon Golf Club, Shenzhen

Czech Republic Albatross Golf Resort, Prague

Estonia Estonian Golf & Country Club, Tallinn

Finland Linna Golf, Hameenlinna

France Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort, Provence Le Golf National, Paris Sparben Golf Resort, Bordeaux

Portugal Georgia Tbilisi Hills, Tbilisi

Germany Golf Club St. Leon-Rot, Heidelberg

Italy Villaverde Hotel & Resort, Venice Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, Rome Verdura Resort, Sicily

Malaysia Saujana Golf & Country Club, Kuala Lumpur

Mauritius Constance Belle Mare Plage, Mauritius

The Netherlands The Dutch, Amsterdam

europeantourdestinations.com @EuropeanTourETD

Bom Sucesso, Óbidos Quinta do Lago, Algarve

Seychelles Constance Lemuria, Praslin

Spain PGA Catalunya Resort, Barcelona Finca Cortesin Hotel Golf & Spa, Marbella Golf Son Muntaner, Mallorca

Thailand Black Mountain Golf Club & Resort, Hua Hin

United Kingdom Rossington Hall, Yorkshire London Golf Club, London

United Arab Emirates Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai Emirates Golf Club, Dubai Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, Dubai

GOLF TRAVEL

A

s Georgia’s first 18-hole golf course, Tbilisi Hills boasts captivating views of the surrounding area, including the historic city centre.

The course opened in November 2017 and the rolling parkland layout was designed by Tilander Golf Design, who are responsible for the production of 20 golf courses across five countries in Europe.

Created as an inclusive golf course for a nation which is relatively new to the sport, it features four tees on each hole, varying in distance to cater for all levels.

The shortest the course plays is 4,575 meters with no forced carries from the tee, while from it extends to 6,223 meters for the more accomplished players.

The course is located on a hillside with breathtaking vistas out over the city and beyond, all the way to the Caucasus mountains. The signature hole is the par-5 16th, which is the highest point of the course and provides a view of the

Shavnabada monastery which was built in the 12th Century.

The driving range consists of open and roofed hitting bays as well as grass tee area while the main practice green is a hefty 560m².

Two additional pitching greens with bunkers allow players to hone their short game skills while inside the clubhouse there are the locker rooms and a bar and restaurant.

The Tbilisi Hills project will expand beyond just the golf course, with a hotel, leisure facilities and hundreds of luxurious homes planned on the stunning hillside real estate. The apartments at Tbilisi Hills are only a 15-minute drive from the city and range in sizes from 66.7m² to 196.8m².

Planned infrastructure around the facility includes an International school and kindergarten, a park, an open swimming pool and a mini supermarket, while every villa at Tbilisi Hills has a space for a private pool.

For more information: www.tbilisihills.com

Worldwide GOLF 63

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 last year’s European Tour Rookie of the Year Robert MacIntyre.

ROBERT MACINTYRE

MARGOT ROBBIE Music

LEWIS CAPALDI

He’s up there with the best

LEWIS CAPALDI

He would bring the tunes and the banter to the table everyday!

MENU LIAM NEESON

If I’ve got any problems he would sort it out!

PARTY AFTER A FEW DRINKS TRICK I’D TRY AND DANCE!

- Starter -

HAGGIS - Main -

FILLET STEAK WITH PEPPERCORN SAUCE, ONION RINGS AND CHIPS - Dessert -

STRAWBERRY PAVLOVA

GEORGIA HALL 2018 Women’s Open Champion

12-15

N OV E M B E R 2 0 2 0 R OYA L G R E E N S G O L F & C O U N T RY C L U B , K I N G A B D U L L A H E C O N O M I C C I T Y, SAUDI ARABIA

SAUDI’S FIRST-EVER PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S GOLF EVENT

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