Worldwide Golf Summer 2021

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

THE OPEN

SUMMER

2021

LUKE JOY THE CHALLENGES OF MAKING A LIVING FROM THE GAME

OUR TEST PILOT BOOKS HIS SPOT AT ROYAL ST GEORGE’S

d e e p S e h T

E N I H C MA WILCO NIENABER

FEATURE

FOCUS

OLYMPIC GAMES

STAGE IS SET FOR TOKYO SHOWDOWN WITH GOLD MEDAL UP FOR GRABS

SHERGO AL KURDI

JORDAN’S HISTORY MAKER HAS AMBITIOUS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Worldwide Golf is the Official Media partner to the European Tour in the Middle East and the official magazine of the Emirates Golf Federation

+ ROGER DUTHIE’S NEW ROLE + EAGL A HUGE SUCCESS + ARNAUS BOOKED IN FOR GAMES

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

You can’t beat the challenge of playing links golf.

Winning The Open is always special – but you need patience At The Open Championship you don’t have time to feel sorry for yourself, and if you do, you might as well not take part.

E

very time you win The Open there’s a reason why. My first Open, in 1959, being the youngest man at the time to win a Grand Slam event, and needing the money, and my wife, Vivienne, flying all the way from South Africa to meet me in London and travel up to Scotland to triumph at my first attempt, at a beautiful course like Muirfield.

Fortunately, I made a very good score (284) in testing, windy, and rainy conditions, so it was a really special achievement. To think that Phil Mickelson, when he won at Muirfield back in 2013, there was no strong wind and he shot 281, with modern day equipment - so, I guess my win wasn’t bad at all!

I keep reading about how great these guys are today, but I don’t believe the top ten players today of today would beat the leading ten players from my time - I really don’t think so. With the advanced equipment and the excellent conditions of the golf courses these days, when you compare the scores that we had with the scores of today, it tells its own story.

My second Open win came at Carnoustie in 1968, and to hit a shot like I did at the 14th hole with a 3-wood, when I was just one shot ahead of Jack Nicklaus, Bob Charles, Billy Casper and Maurice Bembridge – to hit it to within 8-inches of the hole and then go on and win. That was something special.

My third win came at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1974 on the Lancashire coast. I had a six-shot lead with two holes to go. The galleries reckoned that even Ray Charles could win from there.

The Open is my favourite tournament in the world, so all my wins are important to me – and they’re all my favourite, if I’m allowed to say that.

The travelling to and from tournaments in those days was a very tough ordeal, especially in the 1950s, because we didn’t have jets. My wife, Vivienne, would sometimes have to fly over to the United States without me, and sometimes, when I was with her, it was the two of us and six children with no beds, no headphones, no television. People

were allowed to sleep on the floor in those days. So it’s a much different deal now. Back in 1955, at my first Open at St Andrews, I couldn’t get a room anywhere in the Auld Town. Being unfamiliar I didn’t know all the hotels, and in those days you never made bookings 6-8 months ahead. So, I just went and lay down right where they filmed ‘Chariots of Fire’ in the dunes. Fortunately, it was a beautiful evening. I put my rain gear on, put my golf clubs down and slept there - and it was very comfortable.

Tactically, you’ve got to be astute to play links golf well. You’ve got to keep the ball in play, because in The Open, if you make a mistake off the tee you’ll have a tough job to make par. But if you keep the ball on the fairway, even if you’re a short hitter, if you make a mistake from there and miss the green – you still should have a good chance of making par from around the green. There’s a big difference between making a mistake off the tee and making one from the fairway.

Bobby Locke won four Opens playing a big draw, so I don’t think it matters whether you hit a draw or a fade. In fact I think a draw in windy conditions is a massive advantage over a fade. A draw bores its way through the wind, whereas with a fade – the wind can grab it and up-shoot it because it’s a weaker shot.

I’ve always preferred a draw to a fade in any conditions, it’s far superior. The links courses are an integral part of The Open, and for me, my greatest joy is to play links golf courses, because on the links you have to use your natural ability throughout the four days.

Depending on the weather you could be hitting a pitching wedge 70 yards or 150 yards. So, unless it’s a totally calm day, precise yardages can mean absolutely nothing.

My favourite of the Open venues is Turnberry. Muirfield takes some beating, but the changes that have been made to Turnberry under Donald Trump’s ownership have been absolutely sensational and it’s probably the best course in Europe now. The tees are up in the dunes so you can see the ocean. They’ve really made some wonderful changes. ■

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These are moments we remember forever. The atmosphere of the crowd, the anticipation at tee-off or seeing the winning putt drop.

We’re proud to be there for every moment on the course.

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CONTENTS COLUMN

36

COLUMN

37

COLUMN

39

Adri Arnaus

David Howell

Pete Cowen

The Dubai-based Spanish ace on his joy of making the Olympic Games and his desire to bring home a medal for Spain.

European Tour stalwart David Howell looks back at two European Tour stars winning after setbacks and how he is hoping fate will play its part in his bid for Open Championship glory.

He might not be a fan of Royal St George’s but he got Darren Clarke a Claret Jug there in 2011!

16 The Open Preview We take a look at facts and figures ahead of the 149th Open Championship, where the world’s best will be bidding to crowned Champion Golfer of the Year at Royal St George’s.

26 Olympics Preview Golf will be making just its fourth appearance in the Games since it was first held in 1896 with Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe playing host to both the Men’s and Women’s 72-hole strokeplay tournament.

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Wilco Nienaber

We talk exclusively to the South African star, who first made his mark on the international golf scene late last year when he launched a 439yard drive at the Joburg Open.

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PRESIDENTIAL

GOLF DAY

FORGING BUSINESS LINKS BETWEEN AFRICA AND THE UAE THROUGH GOLF

PARTNER

SANCTIONED BY

SUPPORTED BY

PRESIDENTIAL GOLF DAY JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES | EARTH COURSE OCTOBER 3-4, 2021 REPUBLIC OF MOZAMBIQUE GOVERNMENT OF MAPUTO PROVINCE

CONTENTS 49

34

Shergo Al Kurdi

EAGL

We sat down with the Jordanian youngster for a long chat about his progress in the game and his ambitions for the future.

The inaugural Emirates Amateur Golf League Mini-Series event at Jumeirah Golf Estates proved a roaring success as the Worldwide Golf sponsored MENA Golfers team put in an imperious display to take top honours with a clean sweep of victories over the Fire course.

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Our man is in The Open Worldwide Golf ’s product tester, Nick Poppleton, shot -10 at The West Lancs Open Qualifier and is teeing it up in the 149th Open.

52

Roger Duthie

Roger Duthie joins P54 and links his passion for golf with developing new business partnerships

44 Luke Joy

We took the Yas Links-based professional to Blackpool for a light hearted game of Graffiti Golf and to chat about the challenges of making a living from the game in the current climate.

64

Saud Al Sharif

What’s in the bag and his Middle East favourites

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Golf fans get ready for more ‘mash potato and get in the hole!’

I

have been involved with the Scottish Open for more than 20 years and this year I’ve been unable to attend, let alone gain range access due to the pandemic. The European Tour has done everything by the book to make sure the events are not prevented from taking place, but when you look around at other sports you question why golf tournaments are having to jump through more hoops. These events are outdoors with no grandstands, making social distancing one of the easiest to implement and manage. So why are other sports not having to abide by the same rules?

Max Verstappen won the Austrian Grand Prix and celebrated in front of a sea of fans that packed grandstands in orange shirts. The British Grand Prix is planning to allow 140,000 fans on race day.

The reason being, Silverstone is spread out over a large area, which means social distancing is much easier to implement than stadium venues. So basically, the same argument you can put in place for golf!

To watch Rory play the Irish open at Mount Juliet with hardly a soul on the course was upsetting to see. When you think about the four-time Major champion playing that iconic five-wood into the 18th at the K Club and the reaction from the Irish fans back in 2016, compared to the lifeless atmosphere at current European Tour events.

It’s not all doom and gloom as the R&A are looking to allow 32,000 fans a day to The Open at Royal St. Georges, though it’s not the greatest venue on the roster, it will hopefully be a reset for normality to return.

Later in the year we turn attention closer to home, with the DP World Tour Championship all set to have crowds back. To see

raucous fans enjoying themselves and having banter with the players at the 17th at Jumeirah Golf Estates, followed by the crowning of the 2021 champion in front of packed grandstands on the 18th will be something to celebrate.

Our cover feature this month is with Mr 200mph, Wilco Nieneber, the South African who can blast it past Bryson using natural mechanics and without the daily protein shakes!

We haven’t got any product tests or reviews this month, thankfully for a good reason. Our new product tester Nicholas Poppleton has managed to qualify for The Open. The down to earth Yorkshireman had been on a run of missed cuts and then he found that missing ingredient prior to qualifying and shot a blistering ten under over two rounds at The West Lancashire Golf Club, enabling him to tee it up with the best in the World at Royal St George’s and fulfil his grandfather’s dream.

One player that narrowly missed Final Qualifying for The Open was Yas Links’ professional, Luke Joy. After cracking two driver faces, the Abu Dhabi based player was having no luck off the tee. So what better way to take his frustrations out, than smashing a ball in anger on the sands at Blackpool and a light hearted round of graffiti golf.

Keeping on The Open theme, it came as no surprise that Pete Cowen’s column this month talks about the challenges of links golf and his love hate relationship with St George’s. It was all hate until I reminded him that when The Open was last staged there his player won! Funny how a Major win and bonus can change your mind.

The Open remains the best Major of the year. So much can happen and so many are given an opportunity to shine.

By Alex Gallemore

ISSUE No.237 SUMMER 2021 • 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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THE OPEN RETURNS TO SOUTH EAST ENG ND

THE COURSE Royal St Georges The Kent venue hosts The Open for the 15th time During this year’s coverage you may hear the area to the left of the 18th green described as “Duncan’s Hollow”, in reference to George Duncan, who’s tilt at the 1922 Open came short when he failed to get up-and-down from there to tie with Walter Hagen. It also is known as “Sandy’s Swale”, as in 1985 victor Sandy Lyle also failed to secure par from the same spot. However, Lyle had two shots to play with and so his bogey secured a one-stroke win over American Payne Stewart.

This year marks the 15th time that the Kent venue has held The Open, dating back to 1894 when it became the first course outside of Scotland to host the championship. The Amateur Championship has been contested 14 times at Royal St Georges.

James Braid became the first player to break 70 in The Open at Royal St Georges in the 1904 edition with a 69 in the third round.

In 1993, Ernie Els became the first man to shoot four rounds in the sixties (6869-69-68) in an Open Championship.

However, he did not clinch the Claret Jug as not long later Greg Norman followed suite with a 64 to follow rounds of 66-68-69.

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STARTER

The worst round of threetimes Open Champion Jack Nicklaus’ professional career (83) came during the opening round of the 1981 Open.

Prior to Royal Portrush’s recent return to hosting duties, Royal St George’s featured the only par-3 on the Open rota not to feature a bunker – the short third hole.

Rates to play this historic venue start at £160 for 18 holes during winter (November – February 2022) and £250 in peak season (March – October)

PAST WINNERS: 1894: J.H. Taylor 1899: Harry Vardon 1904: Jack White 1911: Harry Vardon 1922: Walter Hagen 1928: Walter Hagen 1934: Henry Cotton 1938: Reg Whitcombe 1949: Bobby Locke 1981: Bill Rogers 1985: Sandy Lyle 1993: Greg Norman 2003: Ben Curtis 2011: Darren Clarke

The par-3 sixth hole at Royal St Georges.

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SPIN BACK

2011 Open Clarke’s long wait for Major glory ends Over the last 20 years The Open has been the men’s Major which has supplied the most surprising list of winners – and 2011 is a prime example when 150/1 longshot Darren Clarke emerged victorious.

Arriving on the back of finishing 66th at the Scottish Open a week earlier, not many thought Clarke would be the one left clutching the Claret Jug, and yet there he was, Champion Golfer of the Year.

The top ranked players in the world going into the event were Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, while Rory McIlroy was the star attraction having just broken through in spectacular style at the US Open.

However, none of those three broke par on the opening day and after round one the leaders were Thomas Bjorn –runnerup at Royal St Georges back in 2003 – and young amateur Tom Lewis, after they returned 65s. Clarke had opened with a 68 and after posting the same score on day two he found himself in a share of the lead on 4-under-par at the half-way stage alongside Lucas Glover. A third successive round in the 60s saw Clarke take a onestroke lead over Dustin Johnson into the final round with Rickie Fowler and Bjorn three back.

Phil Mickelson, who started five strokes behind, showed glimpses of his growing appreciation for British links golf with a final round charge and would wind up in a

share of second place – the American would win The Open two years later at Muirfield. At one stage Mickelson moved into a share of the lead with Clarke, but the Ulsterman responded with an eagle on hole 7, and from there he never relinquished his lead. Johnson remained within touching distance for most of the day, but a pushed approach to the 14th saw him go out of bounds which led to a double bogey.

Clarke then had a four-shot lead and closed it out with a bogey on 18 to win by three from the American pair. Bjorn was fourth, a trio of Americans – Rickie Fowler, Anthony Kim and Chad Campbell – were fifth while Simon Dyson finished in a share of ninth as the leading Englishman. At 42, Clarke became the oldest first-time Major winner and followed fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell (2010 US Open) and Rory McIlroy (2011 US Open) into golfing lore.

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5 TOP

1999 Jean Van de Velde The daddy of all golf collapses.

Jean Van De Velde had a threeshot lead in the final group of the 1999 Open at Carnoustie and took 40 minutes to make a triple bogey to fall into a play-off which he would then lose to Paul Lawrie. Bad decision followed bad decision and the hapless Frenchman’s place in history is assured for all the wrong reasons.

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP COLLAPSES

1970

2012 Adam Scott Royal Lytham witnessed a slow-burner of a collapse as Adam Scott bogeyed the final four holes to miss out by one stroke and allow clubhouse leader Ernie Els – who finished his final round a couple of hours earlier – to take home his second Claret Jug. Scottie put that disappointment behind him the following spring by winning The Masters.

2003

Thomas Bjorn Two shots clear and three to play, Bjorn’s tee-shot to the par-3 16th hit the green but was gathered up by the contours and swept into a greenside bunker.

His first attempt out came up short and rolled back in, and so did his second.

Playing four, Bjorn blasted out safely and stroked the putt in for a double bogey five. He then bogeyed the 17th to fall behind clubhouse leader Ben Curtis and couldn’t birdie 18 to force a play-off.

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1992

Doug Sanders Just two feet stood between Doug Sanders and an Open victory at St Andrews. The colourful American took an age to line up the putt, then stooped to brush away some detritus on his line, and instead of lining himself up again, he stood back over the ball and nudged it wide. An 18-hole play-off with Jack Nicklaus ensued the next day and the Golden Bear prevailed by one.

John Cook Two clear with two to play (sound familiar?), John Cook failed to make a routine two-putt birdie on the par-5 17th at Muirfield and then bogeyed the 18th after a wayward approach to allow Nick Faldo to step in and win his third and final Open title. “In hindsight, that was a mistake,” Cook later told GolfChannel of his 2-iron that missed to the right of the 18th green. “That was my mental mistake.

It had nothing to do with anything else.”

THE OPEN ONES TO WATCH THE OPEN, BY DEFINITION, IS THE MOST ‘OPEN’ OF ALL THE MAJORS WHERE LUCK OF THE DRAW (AND BOUNCE) CAN PLAY HAVOC WITH THE FORM BOOK AND ALLOW UNHERALDED VICTORS SUCH AS TODD HAMILTON, BEN CURTIS AND PAUL LAWRIE TO STEP IN AND EMERGE VICTORIOUS. HERE WE HIGHLIGHT A SELECT FEW FROM THE FIELD TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR AT ROYAL ST GEORGES.

Jon Rahm

OPEN PEDIGREE: T59, T44, CUT, T11 The latest member of the Major club is well placed to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Tiger Woods, Brooks Koepka and Padraig Harrington in recent times and make it back-to-back Major wins at The Open. The 26-yearold is a two-time winner of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Portstewart and Lahinch, so his links pedigree is good – but he is yet to post a top-ten in four attempts at The Open.

Dustin Johnson

Rory McIlroy OPEN PEDIGREE: T42, T47, T3, T25, T60, CUT, WIN, T5, T4, T2, CUT The four times Major winner is warming up by playing in both the Irish and the Scottish Opens, which is something he did in 2014, the year he won at Royal Liverpool. He also did the same in 2017, missing the cut in Ireland and at Dundonald Links before finishing T4 at Royal Birkdale.

Bryson DeChambeau

OPEN PEDIGREE: CUT, T14, T2, T9, T32, T12, T49, T9, T54, CUT, T51

OPEN PEDIGREE: CUT, T51, CUT This will be the first Open since DeChambeau transformed his body into a tool to bludgeon the ball eye-watering distances and it remains to be seen if this method will suit Open conditions. Was in contention at the US Open last month but mentally imploded on the back nine. Hasn’t missed a cut since February.

Runner-up to Clarke the last time it was held in Kent on a mostly wet and miserable week back in 2011, Johnson hasn’t got the best record in Britain and arrives needing to find a bit of form. The 2020 Masters winner clinched the Saudi International earlier this season, but has only posted two top-tens since and missed the cut at Augusta in April and the PGA Championship.

Louis Oosthuizen

OPEN PEDIGREE: CUT, CUT, CUT, WIN, T54, T19, WD, T36, T2, CUT CUT, T28, T20 Comes alive for the Majors as runner-up finishes in last the two highlight. All aspects of the game are in good shape, but questions loom about his mental ability to close out a big win having been denied last month’s US Open by Rahm, who was playing in three groups ahead of him. Notoriously hasn’t won on American soil and it’s 11 years since he won The Open. Has the grand-slam of runner-up finishes across the Majors. Will he walk though the door again? Now is as good a time as any.

Brooks Koepka

OPEN PEDIGREE: CUT, T67, T10, T6, T39, T4 The 31-year-old has a game that travels. A winner in Scotland, Spain, Turkey, Japan, South Korea and a hatful of titles on American soil (including his four Majors). Top fives in the last two Majors and a win earlier this year in Phoenix has him trending towards making it Major No.5 this month.

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Xander Schauffele

OPEN PEDIGREE: T20, T2, T41 A Major machine with nine top tens in 17 starts including runner-up behind Francesco Molinari at the 2018 Open, Schauffele is a fixture on leaderboards whenever and wherever he tees it up.

The American warms up at the Scottish Open.

ALL FIVE OF THESE OPEN DEBUTANTS ARE BONE-FIDE STARS AND IN THE RUNNING FOR MAIDEN RYDER CUP APPEARANCES LATER THIS YEAR. A GOOD WEEK ON THE LINKS COULD ALL BUT CEMENT THEIR SPOT ON THEIR RESPECTIVE TEAMS.

DEBUTANTS:

Viktor Hovland

Now a virtual lock for Team Europe having won the BMW International in Germany last month, Viktor Hovland arrives as one of the form horses. Lets just hope he doesn’t get sand in his eye and is forced to withdraw, as happened at Torrey Pines last month.

Like Morikawa, Hovland has been consistent at the highest level, maintaining his spot inside the top 20 in the world since his Mayakoba win in December.

Collin Morikawa

Last year’s US PGA Champion hasn’t dropped out of the top ten in the world since his Major breakthrough last August, such has been the consistency in his game. Won the WGC in Florida earlier this year and posted top-5s at the notoriously difficult Memorial tournament and US Open last month. Might take a while to adapt to the slower greens but he should be a factor.

Scottie Scheffler

On the bubble for Steve Stricker’s team, Scheffler has impressed on the big stage this year with top tens at the two World Golf Championships, US Open and US PGA Championship. A warm-up on the gentle links of the Renaissance Club at the Scottish Open should provide a good week of preparation and a chance to get acclimatized.

Victor Perez

Winner of the 2019 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and a resident of Dundee, Victor Perez has an affinity to seaside golf which could see him contend. His form has deserted him in recent months after ending 2020 well and making a good start to this year. Was runner-up at Wentworth in October and posted a top ten in his DP World Tour Championship debut. Fourth at the Saudi International and WGC Match Play represent his best results this season.

Matthew Wolff

Prodigious 22-year-old Matthew Wolff will make his first appearance in Europe as a professional and already knows how to compete in the Majors having pushed DeChambeau all the way at the US Open last year and posting a T4 at the US PGA Championship. Wolff, who won the 2019 3M Open in Minnesota, played in the Palmer Cup of 2018 in France.

SLEEPER PICKS Sergio Garcia

Kevin Kisner

A veteran of 24 Opens who came closest in 2007 with a play-off loss to Padraig Harrington, Garcia has been inconsistent this season, hovering at around 50th in the world rankings but will be looking to do well back on European soil for the summer as the Ryder Cup deadline looms.

Between 2000 and 2016 he finished in the top ten on ten occasions at The Open but notably hasn’t had a Major top ten since his Masters win of 2017 – but that’s got to change sometime soon, surely?

Another player with Ryder Cup ambitions, Kisner was the 54-hole leader at Carnoustie in 2018 but was usurped by a steady Francesco Molinari in Scotland. A short but accurate hitter, the American has been out of form since April but a return of T5 at the Travelers Championship has him trending as he heads to Britain.

Danny Willett

Martin Kaymer

Wasn’t exempt for the 2019 Open but a return to form – including more than his fair share of recent near misses – sees Kaymer back in the field for The Open and he’s showing good form with a runner-up to Viktor Hovland on home soil last month. Has plenty of links experience and won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship early in his career.

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Aside from his 2016 Masters victory, Willett’s only other Major top tens have come at The Open in 2015 (T6) and 2019 (T6) and his links history is solid with top tens at recent Irish Opens to his name. Treading water with some inconsistent displays on the PGA Tour this year, a good tune-up at the Scottish Open will go a long way in his quest for a second Major win on home soil.

BY ROBBIE MCCARTHY

Store Manager at Golf Superstore

OPEN G O L F

S U P E R S T O R E ’ S

CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

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or the final time this year the world’s best will compete for Major glory at Royal St George’s Golf Club for the 149th Open Championship. Here, I’m going to take a look at some of the favourites to lift the Claret Jug and what factors will be so important in conquering the stunning links layout.

VIKTOR HOVLAND

The last three Majors have thrown up a couple of surprises and my tip to be the surprise package in Sandwich is Norwegian star Viktor Hovland, who’s strong swashbuckling game could be the key to conquering Royal St George’s. Consistency of controlling the ball has been vital in the past to securing golf’s oldest championship and it will be no different this year over the expansive links course.

Driver: Ping G425 LST, 9 degrees at 7.75, Project X HZURDUS Black 6.5 shaft Fairway: TaylorMade SIM, 15 degrees with Mitsubishi Tensei Blue AV 85 TX shaft Hybrid: Ping G425

Utility: Callaway X Forged UT, 21 degrees with Graphite Design Tour ADDI Hybrid 85X shaft

to 55), Titleist Vokey WedgeWorks (60 degrees) all with KBS Tour-V 130 X shafts

Irons: Ping iBlade (4-6), Ping i59 Prototypes (7PW) all with KBS Tour 120 X shafts

Putter: Ping PLD Prototype ‘Hovi’ Ball: Titleist Pro V1

Wedges: Ping Glide Forged (50, 56 bent

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OPEN PREVIEW

BROOKS KOEPKA

Could it be Brooks Koepka’s time to add to his Major collection with an Open triumph? He’s been so consistent over the last couple of months and has made no secret that he lives for the Majors. He has finished inside the top ten of all three of them this year, which included a runner-up finish at the PGA Championship where he pushed Phil Mickelson all the way in his historic triumph. Brooks possesses the power and the talent to control his ball flight and his strength enables him to play very well in crosswinds.

Driver: TaylorMade SIM2 (10.5 degrees) with Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 TX shaft 3 wood: TaylorMade M2 Tour HL (16.5 degrees), Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX shaft 3 iron: Nike Vapor Fly Pro, Fujikura Pro Tour Spec 95 X shaft

Irons: Srixon ZX7 (4-PW) all with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 52 and 56, and Titleist Vokey SM5 TVD 60, True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 shafts Putter: Scotty Cameron Teryllium Tour Newport 2 Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

JORDAN SPIETH

Although I like the look of both Viktor and Brooks, I’m going to go with Jordan Spieth as the man to beat as he bids to win for the second time following his memorable triumph in 2017. Jordan’s game has seen a massive improvement thanks to some swing changes that have really improved his driving consistency using the new Titleist TSi 3. His accuracy off the tee coupled with the magic of his Scotty Cameron wand and amazing short game has driven Spieth back to where he belongs at the top of the game.

The American dropped as low as 92nd in the World Ranking last year but has raced back up into the top 25 with a great run of form including his first win since that Open victory.

Driver: Titleist TSi3 (10.5 degrees at 9.75 D1 SureFit setting) with Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X shaft

Irons (4-9): Titleist T100, True Temper Project X 6.5

Fairway Wood: Titleist TS2 (15 degrees) with Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X shaft

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (46-08F, 52-08F, 5610S), Vokey Proto (60T) all with True Temper Project X 6.0 shafts

Hybrid: Titleist 818 H2 (21 degrees) with Graphite Design Tour AD DI-95X Hybrid

Putter: Scotty Cameron Circle T 009 with SuperStroke S-Tech grip

Utility Iron: Titleist U500 (4), True Temper Project X 6.5

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

@golfsuperstore Keep an eye out for our Instagram video to get your hands on three packs of limited Open Championship Titleist ProV1 balls simply by telling us who you think will lift the Claret Jug.

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TIME FOR

TOKYO

O LY M P I C G A M E S P R E V I E W

F

or the first time in history, the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo were postponed as the world got to grips with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Twelve months later, the country is set for a unique Olympics with vigorous testing, bubbles and a ban on international fans in place to ensure the event runs as smoothly as possible.

Golf will be making just its fourth appearance in the Games since it was first held in 1896 with Kasumigaseki

Country Club in Kawagoe playing host to both the Men’s and Women’s 72-hole strokeplay tournament. Despite a host of big names deciding to bypass the men’s tournament, including Dustin Johnson, Lee Westwood, Louis Oosthuizen and Tyrrell Hatton, excitement is growing in Japan as it gets set to welcome the likes of World No.1 Jon Rahm, four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy plus Masters Champion and Games poster boy Hideki Matsuyama.

MEDAL WINNERS MISS OUT The Tokyo Olympic men’s golf tournament is set to produce three new medalists after Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson and Matt Kuchar - Rio 2016 medalists - failed to qualify.

The Olympic men’s golf field of 60 was drawn from the World Ranking after the U.S. Open with the trio heading into that tournament outside of outright qualification before all

three failed to make the cut at Torrey Pines to make up any ground. Paul Casey and Tommy Fleetwood will fly the flag for Great Britain while Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Bryson DeChambeau and Xander Schauffele will represent the USA. Stenson is currently Sweden’s first alternate if Alex Noren or Henrik Norlander withdraws from the Games.

Founded in 1929 and originally designed

by Charles Hugh Alison, Kasumigaseki Country Club is one of the oldest and most respected clubs in Japan and has played host to a number of big tournaments including the Japan Open, Asian Amateur and the 1957 World Cup of Golf, where the home nation won amongst a field that included Sam Snead and Gary Player.

In 2014, one year on from the announcement of Japan’s successful bid to host the Games, representatives from the USGA, R&A, International Golf Federation, Kasumigaseki CC and the Japan Golf Association decided that the club’s East course would host the event and world-renowned course architect Tom Fazio would oversee a renovation.

Fazio, who was entrusted with the makeover of Augusta National in the early noughties, dramatically lengthened the layout to 7,466 yards by converting the two-green layout into a more traditional single-green course. Many older courses in Japan feature two greens for each hole to combat the area’s extreme weather. By transitioning to just one green per hole, Fazio was able to add more than 400 yards to the course.

The Course Worldwide GOLF 26

PLAYERS TO WATCH MEN’S HIDEKI MATSUYAMA Arguably the headline star of the Games, Japan’s first men’s Major winner will be playing his first event on home soil since he created history at Augusta National in April. The 29 year old became an even bigger star in Japan than he already was after that victory and he will have the full support of the home crowd at Kasumigaseki Country Club as he looks to compliment his Green Jacket with a Gold Medal.

“I’m really looking forward to the Olympic Games in Tokyo. It’s an honour to be on team, I’ll do my best to represent my country and hopefully I’ll play well,” said the Japanese star.

JON RAHM

The U.S. Open champion comes alive for the bigger events and they don’t get much bigger than the Olympic Games, which had a global audience of approximately 3.2 billion in 2016.

The World No.1 is enjoying a purple patch with eight top tens in his 13 events in 2021 and was unlucky not to win the Memorial Tournament after he held a six stroke lead heading into the final round before having to withdraw with COVID-19.

GARRICK HIGGO Our cover star from last month has risen into the top 50 of the World Ranking after banking two European Tour wins in the space of three weeks at the Canary Islands Swing before picking up a first PGA Tour title in just his second start at the Palmetto Championship. The 22 year old will be joined by compatriot Christiaan Bezuidenhout in Japan after Louis Oosthuizen withdrew to honour family commitments and focus on strong finish to the PGA Tour season.

RORY MCILROY

VIKTOR HOVLAND

The Northern Irishman skipped the 2016 edition, citing concerns over the Zika virus that broke out in Brazil, but will not let COVID-19 get in his way this year as he aims add another title to his glistening CV. Won his first event since teaming up with Pete Cowen at the Wells Fargo Championship in May while a shot at victory at the U.S. Open faded as he come down the stretch on the Sunday.

The youngster, who only turned pro in 2019, has quickly risen through the ranks and made history last month by becoming the first Norwegian to win on the European Tour with victory at the BMW International Open to add to his two PGA Tour titles. “We have a very rich Olympic tradition in Norway, and now with golf being an Olympic sport, I think it would be great for people back home to just get into the sport,” said Hovland.

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PLAYERS TO WATCH WOMEN’S

MAHA HADDIOUI Haddioui is well-known on the Ladies European Tour as the first and only Arab golfer to gain playing privileges after turning professional back in 2012.

The 33 year old, who also competed at the Rio Games in 2016, crept into the field after securing the 60th and final spot for the showdown at Kasumigaseki Country Club.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT The golfing world was introduced to a new superstar in the women’s game earlier this year when Tavatanakit, or Patty T to friends and commentators, bombed her way around Mission Hills Country Club in stunning fashion to become the first rookie in history to make the ANA Inspiration their maiden win on the LPGA Tour. The Thai star averaged 323 yards off the tee over four rounds there, while her third round average was a mammoth 348 yards.

LYDIA KO

One of the biggest stars of the women’s game, Ko will be hoping to build on her runner-up finish at Rio 2016 and get her hands on a Gold Medal for New Zealand. The Kiwi recently picked up her first win in three years with a seven-stroke romp at the Lotte Championship and also finished as runner-up at the ANA Inspiration after carding the lowest final round in Major Championship history — 10-under 62.

SHANSHAN FENG The Bronze medalist at Rio 2016 could be playing in her final tournament after hinting she would retire after the Games. The 31 year old, who became the first Chinese player to reach No. 1 in the Rolex Rankings, started the season strongly with top five finishes in the first two Major Championships of the year and will be hoping to bring that form to Japan to bow out on a high.

NELLY KORDA The American youngster is the woman to beat right now after surging to World No.1 following a string of fine results including a maiden Major win at the Women’s PGA Championship.

That triumph was her third of the year after sealing the Meijer LPGA Classic the week before and the Gainbridge LPGA in February, where she shot a career-best 62 in the third round.

THE MEN’S COMPETITION WILL TAKE PLACE FROM JULY 29-AUG 1 WHILE THE WOMEN COMPETE ON AUG 4-7 AT KASUMIGASEKI COUNTRY CLUB IN SAITAMA, JAPAN. VIEWERS IN THE UAE CAN CATCH ALL THE ACTION FROM THE OLYMPIC GAMES ON BEIN SPORTS.

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Wilco Nienaber

MAKING

HIS MARK R ISING SOUTH AFRICAN STAR, WILCO NIENABER, FIRST MADE HIS MARK ON THE INTERNATIONAL

GOLF SCENE LATE LAST YEAR WHEN HE LAUNCHED A 439-YARD DRIVE AT THE JOBURG OPEN. THE

SLENDER SPRINGBOK ISN’T BUILT LIKE BRYSON,

BUT A FAST, SMOOTH ACTION HAS HIM REGULARLY

REACHING BALL SPEEDS OF 190MPH, AND HE HAS THE

SHORT-GAME TALENT TO BACK IT UP AS HE DEMONSTRATED IN STYLE WHEN HE CLINCHED HIS FIRST PROFESSIONAL TOUR WIN ON HIS HOME SOIL IN MAY. TODD STASZKO SPOKE TO THE 21-YEAR-OLD, WHO IS CLOSE FRIENDS WITH ANOTHER YOUNG HOT-SHOT – GARRICK HIGGO.

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NIENABER FIRST MET GOOD FRIEND GARRICK GIGGO WHEN THEY WERE SCHOOLKIDS COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER.

W

ilco Nienaber and Garrick Higgo – friends since they were in their early teens – will never forget May 9th, 2021, as they both entered the winners circle in different parts of the world.

Nienaber had wrapped up an impressive victory at the Dimension Data Pro-Am, a co-sanctioned Challenge Tour/Sunshine Tour event, with a play-off win over Sweden’s Henric Sturehed and later watched as Higgo won his third European Tour title in Spain.

“I had finished first, and when I got home I asked ‘How’s Garrick doing?’ and was told that he was about to win – with a couple of holes left,” said Nienaber. “I decided to send him a text the next day because I knew he would get a lot of messages immediately after, and mine would just drop somewhere in the middle. So I congratulated him, and he said he had predicted that both of us would win - what a week that was!”

New talent emerges from South Africa on a regular basis and the recent exploits of Nienaber and Higgo – both of whom made their Major debut appearances this summer – shouldn’t come as any surprise. The big name Springboks seem to come in tandem, with Ernie Els and Retief Goosen claiming multiple Major wins each and Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel following suit, winning

“I HAD FINISHED FIRST, AND WHEN I GOT HOME I ASKED ‘HOW’S GARRICK DOING?’ AND WAS TOLD THAT HE WAS ABOUT TO WIN – WITH A COUPLE OF HOLES LEFT.” their Majors in a 12-month span.

No pressure then, with Wilco and Garrick, who first met 10 years ago when they were schoolkids competing against each other.

“I would say the first time I met Garrick I was in Grade 5 - so I was 11-years-old, and we were drawn together in the Ernie Els Primary School Tournament – which was my school (Grey College) against his school (Paul Roos).

“Besides the rivalry between the two schools we attended, they became battlegrounds for a variety of other sports.

It was certainly a case of inter-schools combat on a wide sporting scale. It was probably one of the most common activities

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we shared – having that inter-school rivalry.

We were very competitive across all sports, especially rugby, but we saw each other for the golf and the whole weekend was just a sports festival and was pretty cool.

“I can’t recall when I first met Garrick but it started becoming a regular thing when I was about 14 – seeing him at events and competing against him.”

The pair share the same aspirations to reach the highest level in the game, and while Higgo has gone on to win a PGA Tour title, Nienaber is happy with the progress he is making as he looks to secure a European Tour card at the end of this season.

WILCO NIENABER

“There have been numerous occasions when I’ve stayed at his place for tournaments, and vice-versa, and it always comes up when we’re chatting when the golf is on the TV. We would say to each other, ‘wouldn’t it be good if we could play at that golf course or a particular tournament,’ and things like that. So it’s cool to see that what we now speak about the goals we set each other.

He has achieved more than I have at this point, but it’s great to see that we’re both on the path to where we want to be.

“My goal this season is to earn a European Tour card and I should do that if I achieve my other goal – which is to reach the top 100 in the World Ranking at the end of the year. Another goal was to play in a Major and I did that through qualifying for the US Open via my ranking as leader of the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit.”

Nienaber spent two weeks in the United States last month after receiving an invite to the Palmetto Championship (won by Higgo) where he finished 14th. The following week at Torrey Pines he made the cut on the number but struggled on the Saturday with an 80 before shooting a 72 on Sunday to round out his maiden Major appearance in 68th place.

“It was definitely a special week playing my first Major and making the cut,” he said.

“I played really well the first two days. The second day I made a really stupid double bogey but that can happen so easily, especially at a US Open. I was playing so well until that stage, but that was just the way the tournament and the course had to remind me, ‘Hey, this is the US Open.’

“On Saturday I hit probably three bad shots and my score showed what can happen. I’m pretty proud of myself, playing the way I did in the final round after such a disappointing Saturday, because it’s pretty easy to just give up. All in all, it was a special week and I hope to play in many more Majors.”

While the US Open was his first taste of Major golf, Nienaber did play in this year’s Dubai Desert Swing alongside the world’s best and enjoyed the trio of events, despite some early logistical problems.

“I was really excited to play those events, but looking back I do think I was maybe a little bit overwhelmed to be playing them at that moment,” he said. “I felt like I could compete, but I wasn’t at my best and had a few problems with travel arrangements and my bags not arriving. So, it was a really cool experience to play, but also an interesting one that I won’t forget. It should have been a simple trip from Joburg to Dubai but it took 32 hours, all in all, because I had to wait for my luggage.

“The tournaments were great because it was the first time I’d played in such strong fields. The courses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai felt very modern. They were long with big greens, and we were hitting mid-to-long irons into the par-4s. I definitely enjoyed the Saudi event more because the slopes on the greens meant you could be creative with your approach shots, and there were par-4s where you had to hit shorter irons, or even wedges.”

NIENABER PICKED UP HIS FIRST PROFESSIONAL WIN WITH A PLAYOFF VICTORY AT THE DIMENSION DATA PRO-AM EARLIER THIS YEAR.

Nienaber is still in the very early stages of his European Tour career, playing on an exemption this year as a Challenge Tour winner, but he has enjoyed his journey so far and has rubbed shoulders and learned from some of the best in the game.

“Last year’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland stands out as my most memorable event so far – it was just a special week,” said Nienaber. “I was partnered with Mr. Johann Rupert and the pairings we had were incredible.

“The whole atmosphere with the dinners in the evenings and the half-way houses on the courses, the legendary town of St Andrews - it was just an all-over great experience. I played with Tommy Fleetwood, Ernie Els and Branden Grace – and it was special to see them play on those courses was magnificent.”

With a growing reputation on Tour, Nienaber is keen to watch and learn as he goes and has picked up plenty from playing with some of the stalwarts of the game.

“I’ve played with Nicolas Colsaerts a few times and it’s really cool to see how he goes about his business. You can tell he’s been out here for a while and he just does his own thing – and does it well most of the time. I also played with Rafa Cabrera-Bello in Saudi

QUICKFIRE

and it was the same thing – he’s so solid.”

The youngster has a game that travels too, and it’s not all about hitting bombs off the tee and trying to wedge it close from wherever it lands. Last year he finished sixth at the notoriously narrow Valderrama in Spain.

“That was great and I think I amazed a lot of people because I don’t think many would have given me a chance around there – especially my first time,” he said. “But it was good to prove to myself that although I can hit it long, I can also use other aspects of my game, so it was really nice to see.”

As Nienaber continues to find his feet at such a high level, don’t be surprised to see his name popping up on the world’s leaderboards again in the not-too-distant future.

New irons for the summer: I’ve just started using the Ping i59 irons and the reason behind the change is that they hit the numbers that I want – and more consistently – and the dispersion isn’t a big as it was.

So, overall it’s more consistent. I put them in play for the Made in Denmark. ■

Last movie you watched: Angel has Fallen

The Masters or The Open: The Open

Favourite sports teams: Liverpool FC – and my old school’s rugby team!

Biggest influence on your career: My dad

Golfing icon growing up: I had a few in South Africa – Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Louis and Charl. I also really like Henrik Stenson – he looks really cool.

Best swing on Tour: Louis Oosthuizen

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Who is joining you in your dream fourball: Tiger, Ernie and Rory If you and Garrick played head-to-head tomorrow, who would win? Ha-ha! I’d like to say me – but we all know what golf is like so we’d have to see!

EAGL DELIVERS ON PROMISES WITH EYE-CATCHING DEBUT SINCE it was first announced to the world back in January, the Emirates Amateur Golf League (EAGL) had certainly caused a stir with a huge amount of media coverage about what promised to be a game-changing reimagining of amateur golf.

“I have never seen an amateur golf event like this, not even professional golf across the world.

The idea is that team golf is always more exciting than individual formats; the colourfulness, the uniforms, you are playing for a team, it’s a nine-hole shootout…

It’s very exciting and I think it’s here to stay.”

European Tour pro Shiv Kapur hits the first drive at Jumeirah Golf Estates to get the EAGL Mini-Series underway on June 20, 2021.

T

he organisers, it’s fair to say, talked a great game. Big ideas and bold promises were aplenty, but could they deliver? The proof, as they say, is in the pudding!

Rather than simply talk about the unique aspects that were going to elevate EAGL far above perceptions of a ‘standard’ amateur golf event, the management committee decided to host a 9-hole showcase tournament over the Fire course at Jumeirah Golf Estates last month to put their lofty plans into action and thus demonstrating their resolve to deliver on their promises.

Winning the event was none other than the Worldwide Golf-sponsored MENA Golfers team of Craig Vance, Zubair Firdaus, Deepak Jain and Ashok Kumar, who won all of their matches and two of their four ‘press’ matches

Shiv Kapur

European Tour pro

against Asian Jumbos (Dubai Eye), to post an unassailable 10 points.

But this event really wasn’t about who won or lost, it was about showing what competitors, team owners and sponsors can look forward to when the full EAGL series gets underway late 2021/early 2022. Walk on music on the first tee? Check. Live television coverage throughout? Check. Eye-catching team uniforms and branding? Check. It was all there, just like they’d said it would be…

“The experience was really great, we had music on the first tee which livened it up a bit, we had a lot of spectators, I think the event will bring on golf in the region and hopefully give the juniors a little bit more exposure of what it’s like in these bigger events as you move out of Dubai,” said MENA Golfers’ Vance, who beat Paul Murnaghan of the

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Asian Jumbos 3&2 before halving the ‘press’ match –an innovative addition to the format which saw all players play out another ‘mini match’ if they had holes remaining when their main match ended for the chance to win an additional point and to encourage all games to end on the 18th green where a large crowd of socially distanced spectators and media were gathered.

EAGL Founder and Chairman Sudesh Aggarwal couldn’t be happier that the event, and the team behind it, had passed the litmus test.

“I am absolutely delighted with the way we delivered the EAGL Mini-Series event, especially as we did the whole planning and execution in less than 45 days,” said Aggarwal before revealing that the 9-hole event had proved so successful, the management team

EMIRATES AMATEUR GOLF LEAGUE

plan to hold another two this year prior to the full series commencing.

“As for our future plans, we are pleased to announce two more Mini-Series as part of Amateur Golf Tour by Just Golf before the end of 2021. Dates, venue and other details will be revealed soon.”

League administrator Priyaa, Kumria, was thrilled that the team had pulled off their ambitious plan to live broadcast the entire event.

“The live telecast was always going to be a very crucial part for us,” said Kumria. “And so, in the end, it was so good to hear the feedback from the players about it. Most of them talked about the pressure that comes with the cameras around them, and how it affected their game. The sheer joy on their faces as they showed us messages from their relatives and friends who were watching the action in such far-flung places as the United States, South Africa, Australia and Mauritius, was something that we will cherish.”

The event welcomed a prestigious guest in the form of European Tour pro Shiv Kapur, who is an EAGL Ambassador, and the Indian star, who has plenty of experience playing in pro events, was impressed with what he witnessed: “I think it’s fantastic to be able to replicate what a proper tournament feels like,” said Kapur. “I was feeling some butterflies on the first tee, so I can imagine what the amateurs were going through; to be live on TV and the nerves that they feel, it’s very different from a Pro-Am. The whole idea of EAGL was to give them the experience of pro tournaments for team competitions so it’s kind of like the Ryder Cup and a Tour event all in one.

“I have never seen a golf event like this, not even in professional golf across the world. The idea is that team golf is always more exciting than individual formats; the colourfulness, the uniforms, you are playing for a team, it’s a nine-hole shootout…It’s very exciting and I think it’s here to stay.”

Golfers or prospective team owners, interested in getting involved in the Emirates Amateur Golf League should visit www.eagl. ae and follow the EAGL social media pages for updates.

The winning MENA Golfers team: (L-R) Craig Vance, Deepak Jain, Captain Rick Bevan, Ashok Kumar and Zubair Firdaus.

TEAM RESULTS 1.

MENA GOLFERS (Worldwide Golf)

10

2.

EMIRATI PLAYERS (Emirates Golf Federation)

8

3.

ABU DHABI ROARS (Abu Dhabi Golf Club)

6

4.

ENGLISH ROSES (Gulf News)

5

T5.

EUROPEAN SEVES (Dubai Sports Channel)

3

T5.

DUBAI TIGERS (Dubai Sports Council)

3

7.

INDIAN LIONS (Khaleej Times)

2

8.

ASIAN JUMBOS (Dubai Eye)

0

Following play there was a forum where leaders of the regional golf industry discussed the state of the amateur game.

Live TV coverage was one of the standout features of the EAGL Mini-Series event.

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COLUMN

ADRI ARNAUS Olympics will be unforgettable experience

Very excited to be heading to Tokyo

While there will be restrictions in place due to the pandemic, it will be amazing to compete for Spain at the Olympic Games. am super excited for the opportunity to go to the Olympics this summer. To represent Spain in Tokyo was one of my goals this year, and after having some difficulties earlier this year I wasn’t certain, but with Sergio Garcia and Rafa Cabrera Bello deciding not to go – I am going to be there.

I am thrilled to be able to have this experience because I think it’s as big as it gets in the world of sport. It’s not only about golf, it’s about the whole experience of playing for the love of the sport and sharing that with many great athletes. It’s just going to be amazing and I can’t wait to go there already!

It would be extremely special to put a medal on the board for Spain, and I’m sure the Spanish team will bring some medals and it will be a great achievement for all of us as a team, but for me to achieve something like that in the golf would be super cool.

More than anything I just really want to keep growing as a sportsman and as a golfer and learn from other athletes and sports. It has been a while since I have been with Jon Rahm, he is someone who does things pretty well and I want to keep learning from him as he is doing really well. It’s going to be a great experience for me to take notes and also enjoy sharing facilities with other sportsmen from my country and other countries. If it was another time we would be able to go sightseeing but that won’t be the case with COVID-19.

I am probably going to be one of the few golfers who will attend the Opening Ceremony, which is seven days before the golf tournament kicks off, which I think will be a lot of fun. When I had to give the planning to the Spanish Federation I decided to make my way to the ceremony because I thought it would be pretty cool to be involved, even though there will be some restrictions due to COVID-19, I think it’s going to be something to look forward to and that I wouldn’t want to miss.

Back in 2016, in Rio, I wasn’t really following the golf during the Olympics, when I watch golf on TV I usually only watch the Majors. I heard that the course wasn’t in great condition but I don’t really mind that, it’s the same for everyone and I spoke to a few players who went to Rio and they said that was a great honour and a great experience for them to share the field with good athletes from the same country.

I

So I would say that golf being in the Olympics is something very special, because it’s a sport that carries a lot of good values and I don’t see why it shouldn’t be there, and judging by the field I think a lot of people think the same way. A lot of important players want to be part of it and be part of the Olympics history along the likes of Michael Phelps.

Restrictions in Tokyo We won’t be able to visit anything else apart from the Olympic Village and the golf course, I am only allowed to bring my caddie with me, which is a shame because I would love to share something that important with my loved ones and the team. I will just have to explain to them how it is – but nowadays these restrictions are the norm, I am just hoping we won’t have a lot of traffic because I heard we will be an hour away from the course and with traffic it might even be more delays. We will just have to bear with the rules and see how it goes.

Jon is also on the team and I know him really well, we grew up together playing in the national team. It’s a very cool story as we are the same age and we played all the events together growing up, so it made sense that we would meet again on a team together and it’s great to have that experience with him, especially with the way he has been playing, performing and maturing, becoming a dad this year and winning the US Open – it’s remarkable what he has been achieving so far. I look forward to learning from him and seeing what he does well and hopefully we will both have a great tournament, it’s going to be a fantastic week for us.

I know other Spanish athletes who will compete in Tokyo, I went to a high school where all of the boys and girls there are athletes and I have a few friends who I haven’t seen in a while that will be in the team, we keep in touch and we all are very excited. It doesn’t matter what sports you are playing, it’s just really special to be part of the Olympics. I have a few friends in the synchronised swimming, in the grass field hockey and a couple in the track and field and I look forward to meeting many others because I am sure we will all come together as a big team. It’s fantastic to be able meet new people and great athletes from Spain. ■

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COLUMN

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger Sometimes you have to suffer before tasting victory as Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland proved in their recent wins.

T

HIS is the new normal - that’s a saying we have all heard at some point over the last year or so isn’t it? Covid has changed all our lives in so many ways, from the slightly annoying to the utter devastation of losing loved ones before their time. Most people’s lives look somewhat different to how they were around18 months ago, and, of course, on the European Tour things are no different. Well, what I mean is they really are different.

Travel nightmares, isolation, quarantines, locater forms and, inevitably, testing-testing-and more testing. Spectator-less venues and a noticeable lack of support staff and managers really has changed the feel of the Tour right now, and stress levels, or bubble fatigue as it seems to be called nowadays, have been rising considerably.

It was through this lens that a couple of weeks ago it was decided that although we headed into this season with the desire and hope to run a completely normal ranking system, it had become clear that, sadly, this is no normal year, and the rankings should reflect that fact. So, all the players who have a current category on the Tour, will, at worst, keep a category into next season, too. Movement up onto the Tour is still possible, just like in any normal year, but a safety net has been introduced to make sure that no player slides away into obscurity whilst trying to ply his trade in these incredibly challenging circumstances.

Thankfully, this year’s Challenge Tour graduates will still make their way onto the Tour for next season, after what I’m sure will be some trying moments this season, it will be justly deserved, of that there is no doubt.

One European player who has bypassed the Challenge Tour, the Tour School and all sorts of trials and tribulations is Viktor Hovland. Maybe his parents spotted something at birth and gave him, perhaps, the most apt name a boy could wish for, his latest victory coming at the BMW International in Munich. What a sensational start to a professional career, with wins on both Tours, a Ryder Cup birth seeming like a certainty and the golfing world at his feet. He clearly is some kind of golfer.

His progress has been so rapid it is hard to find the right superlatives to describe his journey so far. Jon Rahm surged to the top of the game after a stellar US college golf career. The fact that Viktor is following in Jon’s footsteps is perhaps the best compliment I can give. Come to think of it, both faced difficult circumstances as a prelude to their latest victory.

I don’t know the details surrounding Rahm’s positive Covid test at the Memorial, but what a crushing blow that could well have been for a lesser mortal. To take isolation in ones stride after having to withdraw whilst sitting on a 6-shot lead is an incredible achievement of making the most out of a terrible situation. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger is an easy cliche to roll out, but

it’s all the harder to prove true, although John did just that in the most emphatic style with his adrenalin-filled win at the US Open.

What a dream way to win your first Major, holing the putt that mattered most on his final hole. The last person to hole a similar putt was Tiger woods on the very same green. I bet even Tiger raised a smile when Rahm matched his brilliance for a moment.

Viktors had to bounce back after a more minor setback, having to withdraw from the US Open due to getting sand in his eye is not your typical injury explanation but then, his tweet explaining his withdrawal to his fans was not normal either - a mix of selfmocking sarcasm and fact left anyone interested in no doubt that the smiling Norwegian is in a good place in his life. So, he proved on Sunday in fine style with a victory in one of my favourite tournaments, the BMW International.

Just around the corner now is the last Major of the year, can you believe, The Open Championship at Royal St Georges on the Kent Coast which, hopefully, will be baked in sunshine when the world’s best arrive in this tiny seaside town on England’s south eastern tip of coastline. One of the curious peculiarities about The Open is the way our best links courses are generally hidden away from our main towns and cities.

I remember playing a practice round with Rory Sabatini the year Ben Curtis famously won, and he passed comment on the fact that the house he had rented for the week could fit inside his garage back in the USA. Too true I’m sure, but that culture shock is, in itself, part of the charm of the world’s oldest and in my opinion greatest Major Championship. You really can still imagine Old Tom Morris and the likes playing on these wonderful links courses, and, who knows, they possibly stayed in the same houses as well.

Many people give golf a hard time for being stuck in the past at times. Personally I think it has modernised itself really rather well, and with some careful thought we can continue to innovate and change whilst still being able to enjoy both the courses and traditions that were put in place long before us by the legends of old who really started this wonderful sport.

The last winner at Royal St Georges was Darren Clarke, who had just poached my caddy, John Mulrooney, a few weeks earlier.

Yesterday, whilst waiting for a flight I asked John to tell me the story of when Darren won The Open. Fate seemed to play its part of that there is no doubt, as it happens Muller (as he is known) has just started working for me on the bag once again, I’m hoping that fate may just lend me a helping hand to nick a spot in this year’s Open, courtesy of a top finish in Ireland or Scotland, so I’d better end my Column and go and hit the range, I think.

Until the next time, swing freely and enjoy the good shots. Sound advice I plan to use myself this week, too. ■

“Many people give golf a hard time for being stuck in the past at times.

Personally I think it has modernised itself really rather well.”

By David Howell

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COLUMN

PETE COWEN We’ve come close this year but Majors aren’t easy to win.

Final roll of the 2021 Major dice Getting set for the final Major of the season and fingers crossed we can get one of our players on the top step. I managed to help Darren Clarke win at Royal St. Georges in 2011 and we’ve got a strong turn out this year, including Nicholas Poppleton - a home grown talented lad from our academy in Rotherham.

I

t was another good performance by Nick Poppleton as he qualified for The Open, winning the two-day Final Qualifier at West Lancashire last month. He’s always been a good player, who shoots very, very low in the tournaments he plays in, and he did it once again with a 10-under-par score at West Lancs to win it by three against so many players. It showed that he’s just that little bit better than the rest.

Poppleton has won a few EuroPro tour events, came close earlier this year after losing out in a play-off, and has won some Pro-Ams too. He’s as good as a lot of players on the European Tour who are ranked around 75-120 on the money list. He needs to play more and compete against better players to realise where he is with his game and what he needs to improve at. That’s why I’ve said to the European Tour that they’ve got to start doing a Monday qualifying tournament for their events, because it gives these good kids a chance to play at a higher level. It’s a money maker for them, so there’s no reason why they shouldn’t.

That’s why all these smaller satellite tours have sprung up. The Hearns moved into golf and run the EuroPro Tour, but they’ve found it wasn’t as easy to make money as it is in boxing, darts and snooker – as you need fewer cameras following the action plus there are sometimes 156 golfers to take care of instead of two boxers!

I’ve not seen too many of my players since the U.S. Open but they’re all fairly happy with how they are playing. Brooks was happy – he had a chance to win and Rory had a chance to win. Rory is still a work in progress but he says he’s a lot more comfortable on the course than he has been for a while, so we’ll see. Rory is playing the Scottish Open as he needs to play and be competitive to see where he’s at by the time The Open comes along. It’s no use just having me turn up to see where his game is, he needs to know before hand.

Jack Nicklaus once said that Royal St Georges was the worst course on the Open rota and Tom Watson also remarked that the further south you go in England the worse the courses get – I think that tells you everything about this year’s Open venue. It’s just in the middle of nowhere. Darren Clarke won there in 2011, so it’s obviously produced a winner for us, so I’m quite happy with that, but

it would be the one course that I’d knock off the rota. The key to Clarke’s win round there was his ball flight control that week. On the Tuesday, once he stopped moaning, he eventually got control of his ball flight and he putted reasonably well – and more importantly his attitude was the best it’s ever been. So when you add all those together and you’re a good player then you’ve got a chance.

Picking a winner Apart from my usual suspects, I think somebody like Patrick Reed has got a good chance of winning under the radar - he’s not an outsider as such but he’s not one of the big favourites. He also likes playing in Europe and is familiar with the European Tour bubble setup. Though I think someone is going to fall foul of that at The Open and get disqualified, probably by having more than four people in their bubble. There are players there that might have more than four, so we’ll see what happens there.

The four in the bubble is limited to the player, the caddie and then team members like a physio and a coach. I’m not allowed to go within two metres of my players – I can only coach them from that distance and stay that far away from them at all times. I’ve got to have a single room as I teach more than one player.

On the PGA Tour it’s completely different and in some states there’s no longer a legal requirement to even wear a mask any more.

There’s a bubble ‘of sorts’ in the USA – and that’s that you’ve got to be tested regularly, but you can stay in any hotel you want. There’s more freedom in America if you’ve had both doses of the vaccine, and as I’m double-vaccinated I didn’t have to be tested at the U.S. Open. But this is the way it is and you’ve got to deal with it – or you just stop going to tournaments. I think the players will find it difficult at The Open because all the things they were allowed in the States, things like personal chefs on site in their rental houses, most of that is off-limits as they’re restricted to a bubble of four.

If there is a record in golf for the most covid tests I must be on that leaderboard. I’ve now had more than 100 and when you consider they are £160 it’s a serious expense. But if that’s what I need to do in order to get on a range with my players, so be it!.

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THE OPEN CALLS FOR OUR MAN POPS Worldwide GOLF 40

NICHOLAS POPPLETON: OPEN QUALIFIER

I

f you are thumbing through the pages this issue trying to find the product test articles we can only apologize for leaving them out, but we have a very good excuse. Our product tester Nicholas Poppleton was busy trying to play his way into the Open through the arduous qualifier route. After a string of missed cuts on the EuroPro Tour we thought ‘Pops’ would have plenty of time to review clubs, but a quick session with Pete Cowen and Nick Huby, at the range in Rotherham enabled the 22-year-old to find that missing piece. He backed this up with two blistering rounds of 65 and 69 during the Final Open Qualifier at West Lancashire Golf Club, to earn a spot in the 149th Open at Royal St George’s and three shots clear of his nearest challenge Louis De Jager.

Catching up with ‘Pops’, was a little surreal, as we were last talking about why he was driving a delivery van for Asda and helping his friend fit windows at the weekend to help balance the books.

How does it feel to know you will be playing in The Open with the best professionals in the game?

In golf terms I had a bit of a “what’s happening here” type headache after qualifying for The Open. It’s almost surreal, it took me about 24-hours before I realised what had happened because playing 36 holes in a day is such a long day, so it took some time to sink in.

It feels like I’m in credit and I’ve been waiting and waiting for a bit of momentum and when it hits you, it’s something else. To think I’ll be playing with the best players in the world and I won’t have to think about chipping out sideways because there are no trees at Royal St Georges. That’s when it hit me. In qualifying I was chipping out on a par-5 and straddling a tree with both legs, with no backswing and no follow-through. I’ll be chopping out of really deep rough at St George’s, but I’d rather that than straddling a tree!

2021 Open Qualifiers from West Lancashire Golf Club. (Left to right): Nicholas Poppleton -10; Louis De Jager -7 and Daniel Croft -6. just wish he sent one saying “Open Champion 2021”!

How do you prepare for The Open now?

I’m going on holiday with my girlfriend for a week, so I’m switching things up a bit! But to be honest I’ve played golf for six weeks on the bounce, so it was always in my schedule to have this week off and we’d booked to go to Cornwall. We will have a little nosey about for a week and a wander, take the dog on the beach every day, just to switch off. I might take my 7-iron with me and hit a couple but I’m not worried because you’re not going to lose ‘it’ in a week and not going to ‘find’ it in a week.

I’m not concerned about missing a run of cuts on the Europro Tour, as if I hadn’t qualified for The Open I know my game is in a solid place right now and I would have just knuckled down and got the job done.

I’m swinging the golf club great at the moment. I had a little 20-minute session

with Pete Cowen watching me the day before I went to Open Qualifying, and sometimes his presence helps you hit it a little better, never mind him teaching you anything. He had his usual pearls of wisdom, he walked off at the end and was just like: “oh yeah, that’s good,” – so you know it must be pretty good if he said it’s good. If he says you’ve moved well, even in one shot, you know things are in a good place.

How will you manage inside the bubble at The Open and will it take the shine off not being able to invite more friends and family?

I’m just grateful to have made it into the event. To have my caddie and my dad with me will be just brilliant all the same. I’ve kept one space free just in case Nick Huby can make it. His schedule is packed, and I totally understand if he can’t make it but Nick has been my coach and mentor since I was a junior. I can’t thank him and Pete enough for what they have done for me over the years.

Where you surprised to see Nick Poppleton qualify for The Open?

You wrote on social media that this was for your grandad. Explain why he meant so much to you.

It’s a bit sad in some respects because he’s no longer with us and he would have loved to see me tee it up. It has been our dream that I’d one day play The Open, and obviously anyone that is English will hold The Open in the highest regard because it’s the Major that’s closest to home, and it really does feel so close to you. It’s iconic really with all the coverage it has had over the years and my grandad and I have fond memories listening to commentators like Peter Alliss and watching the greats like Seve lift the Claret Jug. So, my grandad would always dream that his grandson would play The Open. A few years ago in 2015 or around that time, he would address his birthday cards to me as “Open player, 2015” rather than put my name on it, undoubtedly my parents will still have those. You look back and think he’s a psychic. I

Nick Huby: We are so proud to see Pops have the opportunity to show the golfing world what he is made of. We are aware how good he is. He won the Brabazon Trophy in 2018 and beat Wilco Nienaber, so we know Pops has the game. He has shown signs of form this year having narrowly lost out in the first EuroPro Tour event of the season and it was only a matter of time before he put all the pieces in his game together. He’s been working hard during lockdown visualizing shots and tightening up his short game. So, when he topped the leaderboard at final qualifying at The West Lancashire Golf Club it did not come as a surprise.

I know Pops will enjoy the most of every minute at Royal St George’s and who knows what might happen. Pete coached Darren Clarke to victory round there in 2011 – wouldn’t it be something to see Nicholas Poppleton up on that leaderboard.

Good luck Pops from everyone at the Peter Cowen Acadamies.

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JOYS GOLF OF

INTERVIEW AND IMAGES BY: ALEX GALLEMORE

Many weekend warrior golfers dream about being a tour professional. Earning millions, travelling the world, playing the best courses and generally living the high life. That dream can be applied to most professions, but in reality things are not that glamourous. As Jon Rahm was celebrating Father’s Day with his family after winning the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, Abu Dhabi-based touring professional Luke Joy was getting set to battle it out on the links in Scotland during a EuroPro Tour event at Montrose Golf Club where £50,000 was the total purse.

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LUKE JOY

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After a pair of two solid rounds of 69, Joy narrowly missed the cut by one and any form of prize money, which meant he had lost more than £500 that week alone. From Scotland, he traveled 400 miles to Lytham St Annes for Open Qualifying, but a cracked driver face led him to narrowly missing the cut once more. I caught up with Luke the following day at his small Airbnb flat on the outskirts of Blackpool airport and we headed to the beach for a light-hearted chat about life on tour, golf in the Middle East and his thoughts on the North of England’s answer to Las Vegas.

How long have you been a touring professional and what are the highs and lows?

Well, we’re not all Rory McIlroy or Books Koepka unfortunately. I’m eight years into my professional career now and it’s not been a smooth run. I think, even by my own standards, my progress has been slower than I expected. I’m lucky enough to have won nine professional events, which is great, but it involves a lot of travelling, a lot of time spent in some less than desirable hotels. But I love what I do, and I’m very fortunate and far more fortunate than others in my profession as I’ve got an amazing spot at Yas Links to practice at. So, I’ve got fantastic practice facilities and I just need to stay patient and go with the process to make it to the next level.

Having Yas Links as a base is perfect for me because the course is challenging, and the harder you make your practice, the better you will become. So, when you get to some tournaments, it’s easier than the practice you’re doing.

How long have you been at Yas Links and how have you seen the game evolve in that time?

I’ve been at Yas Links for five years now and it’s been amazing. I think the Emirates Golf Federation is doing a lot of good things for junior golf and we’re seeing a lot more golfers come through which will only benefit the game going forward. And seeing this unfold with the youngsters taking to the game and enjoying it – it reminds me a bit of my junior days back in the UK, so it is getting there. It’s slower in the UAE, but the EGF has a good plan in place to try and evolve and get more people playing golf. It’s a great sport, great fun and there’s no better place to do it than in the UAE - it’s awesome.

What are the rewards of winning on the EuroPro Tour and how do you balance the books?

I’m fortunate enough to have a winner’s exemption on the EuroPro Tour having won before Covid – I won £10,000 which was a nice week’s work. When you finish in the top ten you pick up about £1,000 but middle of the pack and it’s barely £400 after making the cut out of a 156 player field, which only covers the costs of competing in two events. You’re looking at about £500/600 a week to play on the EuroPro Tour, so it’s tough, you’ve got to be winning. So, it’s going to be an important summer for me to keep going and play well.

I’m looking at an outgoing of £20-30k a year

to play professional golf at this level. To go up to the next level costs even more, so you need that support and backing to help you on the journey, because it’s a longer journey than people realize. I’ve been very fortunate to have people and a team around me who back me, and my family have been instrumental in that as well.

How was Open Qualifying?

I can’t say it went to plan. I took an eight on a par-5, a snowman, with two drivers out

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of bounds. So, I thought I’d come down to Blackpool, let out some frustration and rip one into the sea.

Plans going forward this summer?

There’s a EuroPro event in Worcester which I will be playing in, then from there I’m playing the rest of the EuroPro season which takes us all over the UK, so there’ll be a lot of time spent in the car. But it’s good to be back. The weather is massively different. I’ve basically been playing in shorts and a t-shirt for the

LUKE JOY

After a frustrating day on the links, Luke found the funny side of Blackpool and enjoyed a round of Graffiti Golf. last year and a half at Yas Links, but I expect there to be some rain and wind at some point while I’m over here. The golf courses won’t be as expertly manicured – I don’t think we realise just how lucky we are in the UAE to have the quality of golf courses that we do, and how they’re presented. So, it’s a bit more back to basics and how it was when I was a kid.

Adjustments for playing in the UK? Driving the ball is a completely different animal here in that you just must find the fairway. The rough is a lot thicker and longer, so if you’re missing fairways, you’re not going to give yourself scoring opportunities – and you’ve got to make a lot of birdies to get into the winner’s circle out here.

Advice for amateurs playing in the UK? My advice for amateurs who are coming over to play in the UK would be to learn to hit a lower ball flight, because it does get windy here. Often it can be a case of taking one more club and being comfortable enough in swinging smoothly. In the UAE when conditions can be quite benign you just hit normal numbers, whereas you’ve got to be a bit more versatile in the UK and adapt, so practicing a few different shots before you come would be advantageous.

How do your yardages differ from the UAE to the UK? Coming from the UAE, it’s obviously hugely different from a temperature perspective, so shots will go a lot further over there. Coming back and doing some gapping sessions on Trackman where you can set the temperature will aid you, but obviously it changes every week.

How have you enjoyed Blackpool?

It’s been a surreal one really, a bit like going back down memory lane. The crazy golf was exceptionally fun and also seeing some donkeys on the beach – it was interesting!

Birdie, Eagle and Albatros but a Parrott ... that’s a new one!

What’s your strongest golfing memory?

This is more for my wife actually, but I can remember I was six shots behind at the King Hamad Trophy in Bahrain at The Royal Golf Club, and unfortunately my wife was very ill at the time and needed hospital treatment.

The cost to get her treated was £7,000 and I managed to shoot 64 in the final round to win – and the prize was $8,500 – which was just around about £7,000 at the time. So to do that, in that situation was my best ‘winning’ experience, but also the best reward, that I could get that sorted for my wife.

What does the MENA Tour mean to you?

The MENA Tour is huge for me and I’ve got so many fond memories. I got off to a cracking start with two wins in my first three events when I first came out here.

It would be great to get it back on the schedule and hopefully they can manage to put something together in the current COVID climate. I think it’s vital for people in the Middle East with both amateurs and professionals coming through – for them to have somewhere to play that isn’t too far from home.

What is your favourite European Tour event in the region?

My favourite European Tour event is the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. I’ve not been fortunate enough to play it yet – hopefully that will change soon! But the whole village atmosphere with it being very family orientated is great, I’ve even taken my wife there and she doesn’t particularly like golf, but she enjoyed it. It’s a really good day out.

The course is set up fantastically and they get some seriously good golfers there.

Best thing about golf?

Winning. Being in contention and then closing the deal. It’s the best feeling in the world.

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And the worst thing?

Losing. There’s no worse feeling than losing, or a poor performance. But there’s always knowing that it’s a journey and you’ve got to pick yourself back up again. And sometimes it can be enjoyable when you bounce back from a low point to a high point. ■

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S H E R GO A L KU RD I

Oneat aStep time Y

oung Jordanian amateur Shergo Al Kurdi was seemingly born with a golf club in his hand and is slowly making a name for himself as he approaches the end of his teenage years. From becoming the first player from the GCC and Middle East countries to earn Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points on the MENA Tour last year to playing among the game’s best at the European Tour events in the region, Al Kurdi is a name to keep eye on in the coming years as he forges a path under the watchful eye of a former Tour professional. Alex Gallemore sat down with the starlet for a long chat about his progress in the game and his ambitions for the future.

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Shergo Al Kurdi of Jordan waits to play his second shot on the 18th hole in his first round during Final Qualifying for the 149th Open at Prince’s Golf Club

Worldwide Golf: How did you first get into golf and where did it all begin?

Shergo Al Kurdi: I started at a very young age, when I was two or three years old. I remember my dad was obsessed with the game so he would always take me to the range whenever he was going to practice or play and I just fell in love with it immediately. I started playing with plastic clubs before I even started to walk! I first stepped on a course when I was five and a year after that I played with Suzann Pettersen which was amazing. I just love the game, I love watching it, and my whole life is about golf, basically.

continued to shoot down and by the time I was 15 I was playing off scratch.

WWG: When was the first time you broke par?

SAK: I was ten years old and it was at Windlesham Golf Club, in Surrey, off the white tees. I can’t remember what event it was, but it was at a tournament and everyone was shocked. I was just in my own world, I have always been in my own world when I play golf.

It was at that point I knew that I wanted to make a career of this.

WWG: You represent Jordan but you were born in the UK. What’s the story behind that?

SAK: I was born in the UK and have lived there all of my life but my dad is from Jordan and we decided that I would represent them.

Whenever I’ve been to Jordan and played there with the family I have loved it so much that I wanted to play for them. I really thought it was the right route for me.

WWG: What was the next step after that?

SAK: I started playing on the Nike Rookie Tour and I basically dominated the field in those events. I remember winning the U12 Net and Gross competitions when I was just ten and my handicap was eight. After that it just

WWG: When you say you played there, I guess you mean Ayla Golf Club?

SAK: Well, before that there was a sand course in Amman which was really good fun.

When Ayla came out it was fantastic, the support that they have given me along with

WWG: Your dad has played a big part in your game since you were little. What’s his golfing background?

SAK: He got down to scratch and used to play a lot at Mill Ride and Stoke Park – I love watching my dad play. He did a really good job of coaching me when I first started, and at the age of 11 or 12 I started seeing some coaches to take it to the next level but at that point my swing was already fine-tuned, so even at that age it just needed a few tweaks.

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the Jordan Olympic Committee has been fantastic, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.

WWG: What were your thoughts when you heard about Jordan opening up a Greg Norman-designed Championship golf course?

SAK: I loved it, especially when I saw the course. It’s sort of a linksy course with the wind blowing in and I loved that because that’s true golf and where golf was first born in Scotland. I love going to Jordan, I love seeing the family and playing golf, and when I first heard about the new course I was buzzed.

WWG: What particular hole stands out for you?

SAK: The 18th is definitely one of the hardest holes I have ever played, it’s not that long, it’s only about 430 yards, but it usually plays into a very stiff wind. I remember the wind was always off the left and into you, and it’s a very narrow fairway with water down the right, and bunkers at 290-310 yards.

WWG: You have played in a number of big tournaments, including European Tour events, in the Middle East, which ones stand out?

SHERGO AL KURDI

SAK: My first European Tour event was the Qatar Masters, which I got an invite for when I was just 14. I remember my first round I carded one over par with 21 putts, I had two chip ins and one-putted three or four greens and you could see the frustration on the faces of guys I was playing with! At that time I didn’t have anything on me, I wasn’t hitting the ball very far, just trying to hit the ball as straight as I could. I didn’t have a very good second round – I didn’t keep the 21 putts up!

But it was good fun and a great experience, definitely being where I was on the first day and the people I was ahead of really got me going.

I played in the Arab Championships U15 and U18 twice and I won the U15 Championship on the second occasion by 14 strokes. After that I went to the U18 events when I was 14 because the aim for me then was to get into the World Amateur Golf Ranking and in order to do that I had to win the U18 Arab Championship, which I did when I was 15. Then the next year I won it again in Morocco and it was only a matter of time before the Arab region started recognising me and the amount of support that they given me since then is unbelievable.

I’ve also played in the Saudi International twice and I qualified for the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic by winning the MENA Tour Amateur Order of Merit.

WWG: How did you find the event in Saudi with its stellar field?

SAK: The Saudi International was amazing, I would like to thank Majed Al Sorour and Golf Saudi for the amount of support they have given me, to even be at the golf course and be given that opportunity is wonderful.

I met Bryson DeChambeau over there, he’s fantastic, if I hadn’t of met him I wouldn’t be where I am now. He gave me all sorts of advice; swing, diet, what to do in the gym, and after I saw him I followed his routine, I reset everything on Bryson; what he eats, what program he follows, and I gained 10KG in about a month and a half.

WWG: You’ve previously stated you found putting weight on difficult. Why is that?

SAK: I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease about two years ago and it’s very difficult for me to gain weight, especially when I am on a flare up which happens about every two months. I struggle to eat a lot because my stomach gets inflated, there’s no space in my stomach even when I haven’t eaten, I feel full all the time and sick. I went on all sorts of medicines, it screwed me up physically and mentally, but it’s getting better. I’ll be starting some new medication soon that will hopefully help.

WWG: Getting back to Bryson, are you still in touch with him?

SAK: Yes, through social media, and he replies straight away! What a nice guy he is.

He’s just so humble, you wouldn’t think he’s Bryson DeChambeau if you just talk to him.

WWG: And what do you make of the Bryson

“My first European Tour event was the Qatar Masters, which I got an invite for when I was just 14. I remember my first round I carded one over par with 21 putts, I had two chip ins and one-putted three or four greens and you could see the frustration on the faces of guys I was playing with! At that time I didn’t have anything on me, I wasn’t hitting the ball very far, just trying to hit the ball as straight as I could.”

and Brooks beef?

SAK: I am a Bryson fan, I’ll always root for Bryson but I think it’s just funny! And I think you’re always going to get that between golfers, not everyone is going to like each other.

driving has always been a very strong part of my game, I have been very consistent and now I am a lot longer off the tee than I was before and still very straight. A lot of it is just working on the mechanics of my swing with the irons.

WWG: You’ve recently teamed up with a wellknown Sky Sports commentator and former European Tour winner. Can you give us an insight into that?

SAK: I’ve got a good team in the form of Nick Dougherty and Stuart Cartwright, I have been with them for about three months now.

I met Nick in Saudi and I asked him about my swing, he gave me one bit of advice and just like that my swing got miles better. He then recommended Stuart, who was his old coach when he was on Tour, and it’s been great having them two on board. When I first started seeing Stuart it was my iron play and accuracy that we focused on because my

WWG: At that stage were you obsessed with speed and do you think pressure has been put on the amateur game with the likes of Bryson and Brooks bombing it such lengths?

SAK: I was, that’s when I gained so much weight, I thought that if you want to get good at it you have to be obsessed with it and that’s the way I saw it. If you want to make a change you have to be obsessed with it but I think you still have to be responsible and aware to know what is enough. You can’t just focus on speed, you have to be obsessed with everything that comes along with it. I have learned that through the years, just try to filter out everything and even it out. ■

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OPENING NEW DOORS

PRIOR TO HOLDING THE POSITION OF GLOBAL HEAD OF SPONSORSHIP FOR EMIRATES AIRLINE, ROGER DUTHIE WAS THE PR MANAGER FOR THE OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC OVER 20 YEARS AGO. NOW HE’S STARTING A FRESH CHAPTER WITH PERFORMANCE54, WHERE HE CAN BLEND HIS PASSION FOR THE GAME AND DEVELOP NEW PARTNERSHIPS.

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ROGER DUTHIE

D

uthie previously worked at Emirates Airline for nearly 20 years as Global Head of Sponsorships, where he helped build the airline into one of the world’s most iconic brands through the platform of high-profile sports, arts and cultural sponsorships.

These sponsorships included working with some of the world’s major sporting organisations including The Ryder Cup, PGA Tour, PGA European Tour, Asian Tour, Sunshine Tour as well as host of other major events outside of golf including the FIFA World cup and the Rugby World Cup. We recently caught up with Duthie at Emirates Golf Club to get the lowdown on his new position, how the pandemic has changed sponsorship and the importance of developing the audience in the Middle East.

Worldwide Golf: You have been directly involved over many years with handling sponsorship agreements for Emirates Airline with both the European Tour and PGA Tour.

What does golf bring to the table in terms of sponsorship exposure compared to football and Formula 1?

Roger Duthie: Golf is a really unique platform for sponsors. The beauty of golf is that it allows a local brand in a particular market to activate and that’s through B2B opportunities, through hosting and through the local print media to get the coverage, but it also extends to regional coverage and, more importantly, global coverage for the sponsors, so it really ticks off three boxes in terms of exposure.

The other unique offer that golf has is that it allows the sponsors and their guests to play in the arena of the professionals, tennis offers that a little bit but not actually during the tournament. The day before the professionals are playing the amateurs get to play with them, so that’s really unique in the sporting world. Formula 1 and football offer really good global coverage but golf gives the opportunity to engage with fans directly during the entire week and offers the sponsors exceptional global, regional and local coverage and exposure.

WWG: Before you joined Emirates you were involved with the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic, what was your role and how did you move into event sponsorship?

RD: I was a PR Manager for the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic; it was the year before Tiger came out here and I actually wrote the original press release when he was announced to play.

I managed the regional PR in the press office here and had some association with Emirates Airline who then approached me to come on board and ended up there for 20 years. It was a wonderful career.

WWG: You have dealt with a variety of sports since then, but which particular sport has moved with the times in terms of evolving with the change of audience and sponsorship demands?

RD: I’m going to answer that question a bit differently and say that the one sport that hasn’t changed is golf. I’m a huge advocate

“I’LL BE WORKING WITH SPONSORS ON THEIR STRATEGY FOR EVENTS. HATS OFF TO P54 FOR RECOGNISING THE NEED TO HIRE SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF WHO HAS THAT BRAND EXPERIENCE. I’LL WORK WITH PARTNERS AND ADVISE THEM ON WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THEIR PROPERTIES.”

of golf sponsorships and it’s great for the company that I work for and it’s great for other partners, but I think it’s untapped potential, golf really has to look at different ways to capture new audiences.

For example, the average age of a golf fan in America watching on TV is 63 years old so those are the decision makers right now but in five years time they will have retired so golf really needs to capture a new audience, so it’ll be really interesting if we could create a new format for golf or a new way to consume and watch golf. The other thing that’s interesting about golf is that only about 40% of the time the top players play in these events and that’s really unfortunate for fans, sponsors and broadcasters. If there’s a way to have the top 50 players in the world play every three weeks, I think golf would really see a huge change and opportunity to capture new audiences, we need to get audiences younger in golf and offer new creative ways to view golf.

WWG: You have recently joined P54 as Chief Sponsorship Officer. What exactly does that position entail?

RD: I’ll be working with sponsors on their strategy for events. Hats off to P54 for recognising the need to hire someone like myself who has that brand experience. I’ll work with partners and advise them on what they should be doing to get the most out of their properties, I’ll also be looking at new sponsors as well, and because of my role with Emirates I’m in a pretty good position to explain what an event can offer sponsors, even the existing ones. It will be quite a diverse role and I am really excited to be working with P54.

WWG: How has the pandemic changed the face of global sports sponsorship and advertising?

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RD: During the pandemic a lot of brands were really trying to claw back some cash from rights holders and fair enough, sponsors pay a lot of money to get their brand on TV and to engage with fans either actively or through digital platforms. But COVID forced rights holders to change that and what they did, especially in America, was offer new branding opportunities so if you look at stadiums and arenas they are now covered with more branding for the sponsors. I think what COVID did was force the rights holders to look at creative ways to offer sponsors good benefits rather than claw back cash and, from my understanding in the market, sponsors are really happy with what’s happening. Happy is a strong word but because sponsorship is about partnership, and COVID was no one’s fault, it’s really important for the sponsors to realise they are partners and to work with rights holders.

They don’t want to have to give the cash back because they need the operating capital, so they’ve offered those partners new and unique creative ways to get their narrative across to a global audience.

WWG: How important is it to develop the Middle East audience?

RD: The Middle East is very important for golf. The stakeholders here include Emirates Airline, Dubai Duty Free, ADNOC and of course DP World, these are global players, not just in sponsorship and golf but in commerce and business. To capture the Middle East is very important for the growth and development of sports and golf in general. It’s important to offer TV platforms in this market, to offer the sponsors something unique and creative globally and a different way to get their story and narrative across to the world is very important, this market right here is the future of golf. ■

PRESIDENTIAL GOLF DAY

SET TO SHINE IN THE UAE Later this year Jumeirah Golf Estates will play host to a plethora of VIP’s, key decision makers plus local and international dignitaries when the prestigious Presidential Golf Day, which is sanctioned by the Emirates Golf Federation, takes place in the UAE for the first time.

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he esteemed African event’s President, Danilo Nhantumbo, is the man responsible for bringing the event over to the UAE as he looks to create opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors to cross paths in order to establish business connections.

The Mozambican is keen to deliver another fantastic edition after being at the helm of the four previous successful installments.

The 2019 tournament was held in the Republic of Angola and had the support of the country’s head of state João Lourenço, while there have been two editions in Nhantumbo’s home country with the approval of President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi and the burgeoning tournament has also been hosted in South Africa.

We sat down with Nhantumbo to find out why he had chosen Jumeirah Golf Estates as the host venue, what he hopes to gain by holding an event in Dubai and who we can expect to see when the fourth edition is held from October 3 – 4.

Worldwide Golf: Tell us about the Presidential Golf Day – what is the concept of the event?

Danilo Nhantumbo: The Presidential Golf Day is an international platform which aims to promote sustainable and impact tourism, investment and trade between African countries and the rest of the world.

As a dynamic and diverse continent, the initiative was initially founded on creating an investment forum that was focussed on promoting regional and continental integration. We did that successfully in our inaugural events in Angola and Mozambique hosted by the residing Presidents. Having completed three events in the continent, what better time for us, in our own way to, take Africa to the world.

WWG: Why did you choose Dubai as the first destination outside of Africa to host the event?

DN: The story of Dubai is a remarkable one.

Africa is also a remarkable continent so we required somewhere that fit the bill of being out of this world and Dubai ticks that box.

Aside from its reputation as a ‘business, sporting and lifestyle hub that links the world’, Dubai is the host to a number of elite golf tournaments so it made perfect sense to host the 4th Annual Presidential Golf Day 2021 there.

Dubai’s personality of an enviable promised land, a place of opportunity and a city with a global sense of place, has earned itself a track record for making every project a success, regardless of its ambitious

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conception- Presidential Golf Day 2021 is ripe for this.

WWG: Why did Jumeirah Golf Estates appeal to you as the host venue?

DN: Jumeirah Golf Estates is world-renowned and host to elite golf tournaments such as the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship among others.

Presidential Golf Dubai 2021 will take place on the Earth course where we have witnessed some incredible drama over the years so this will be a real challenge for our players whilst offering a fantastic opportunity to share a unique and memorable event. The estate is the perfect environment for drawing business associates and clients together, in the spirit of healthy competition and build camaraderie.

PRESIDENTIAL GOLF DAY DUBAI 2021

Danilo Nhantumbo in discussion with João Lourenço, Head of State and President of Angola, at the first Angolan edition in 2019.

“Golf is a mental game. Trading and developing world class economies are a long mental exercise which forces you to think and act. We want to bring people together to think and act for the greater good of our communities across Africa and the UAE” Danilo Nhantumbo President, Presidential Golf Day WWG: Who will make up the field – is the event open to anyone or is it invite only?

DN: The event is invite only and will be made up of decision-makers, thought leaders, dignitaries, senior officials, celebrities, community organisations and sports stars.

Although playing places will be reserved for invited guests, we have ambitions of inviting the public along to watch the event.

WWG: Why is golf the perfect platform to forge new business opportunities?

DN: Golf is a mental game. Trading and developing world class economies are a long mental exercise which forces you to think and act. We want to bring people together to think and act for the greater good of our communities across Africa and the UAE.

Jumeirah Golf Estates will play host to the first edition outside of Africa.

WWG: What is the golf scene like in Africa?

DN: Africa’s golf scene is dynamic. Golf tourism is fast growing on the continent and many countries are tapping into is as part of their broader tourism offering. No one course or experience is the same.

WWG: What are you plans for the future of the Presidential Golf Day? DN: We envisage the Presidential Golf Day to be a suceess and an annual event in the United Arab Emirates’ sport and business calendar.Our future plans include incorporating a tournament for youngsters

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as they must be able to engage and have conversations with world leaders in this forum and more excitingly, connect them to this world stage. The theme for this year’s Expo is Dubai is Connecting Minds, Creating the Future and our organisation wants to do just that.

We have plans to include a two day Business Summit where business trade and investment is fostered and we keep the narrative going about the broader inclusion of youth and women in our economies,. We want to build nations through meaningful partnerships that drive change. ■

UAE AMATEUR MATCHPLAY LEAGUE

Superb Shana’ah lights up The Track, Meydan Jordanian hotshot Mousa Shana’ah continued his purple patch after carding a remarkable six birdies in just ten holes in the round of 32 stage of the UAE Amateur Matchplay.

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he youngster started his round with a dropped shot on the first hole after his ball took a bad bounce to leave it in the water before making on the par 3 second.

Shana’ah then sunk his birdie putt on the fourth and followed that with another par before he went into another gear with four consecutive birdies from the fifth to eight. After making par on the ninth, Shana’ah picked up his sixth birdie of the day on the 10th to see off his opponent in stunning fashion with eight holes to spare.

“I find match play very different from stroke play, the main aim is to beat your opponent on the hole you are playing and that creates a different mindset and perspective to how you play,” said Shana’ah, who finish with a gross score of -5 after 10 holes.

“I feel like all the hard work and effort I’m putting in with my coach Yasin Ali at the Leadbetter Golf Academy is finally paying off

Mauyra Rai

and all the aspects of my game are coming along nicely, although I had a bogey on the first hole, the rest of my round was pretty good with six birdies and four of them being consecutive.”

Marno Vorster, PGA Teaching Professional at The Track, Meydan added: “It is no secret that Mousa is a special player. From the first time I saw him four years ago to where he is now is nothing short of remarkable. The Track at Meydan is a tricky layout and scoring isn’t as easy as most people think.

So to make six birdies within 8 holes is something I haven’t seen from my time as a teaching professional here. Well done Mousa on an unbelievable round of golf.”

Hashem Shanaah, Leila Aghabi, Siti Latifah, Dominic Morton, Mauyra Rai, Tim Wassink and Fedde Wassink also booked their passage into the next round in their bid to be crowned the inaugural champion.

Mousa Shana’ah

Hashem Shana’ah

Leila Aghabi

Siti Latifah

Dominic Morton

Tim Wassink

Fedde Wassink

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ARABIAN GOLF EM I R ATE S G O LF F E D E RATI ON

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

ARAB IAN RANC H E S GOL F C LU B

Grant continues to dominate the Medal

Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi

Secretary General, Emirates Golf Federation

Klynge too hot to handle EGF Celebrate Women’s Golf Day with Strides of Development Last month marked the annual Women’s Golf Day around the world and the EGF celebrated by highlighting their continued development of women players in the UAE with over 100 female players participating in the National Ladies Program over the past two years. “The National Ladies and Junior Development Program, in collaboration with the country’s golf club academies and the Ministry of Education, has been behind the success over the past two years in attracting 100 players from different emirates, including 30 players between the ages of 7 and 13,” said April Varney, coach of the UAE National Ladies Team.

M ON TGO M E R IE GO L F C LUB DUBAI

Souab seals the Medal A hot day greeted players for the recent Member’s Medal but scoring across all three divisions was excellent with Rachida Nasser winning the Ladies title with a 71 ahead of Maxine Minty and Satnam Kaur. Omar Souab clinched the Division A spoils with a 72 with a countback win over Deepak Jain while in Division B a superb 67 saw Ravi Khanna take the title ahead of Rayan Ahmed. The gross prizes went to Marie Fitches (89) and Paul Murnaghan (72).

Christian Klynge took command of the Dubai Creek Red Hot Open last month with a superb score of 44 Stableford points. Josh Kemp scored 43 to take second place with Mohammed Darwish in third one point further back. The gross winner on the day was Hyeonkji Kang with 41.

Ross Grant returned an excellent gross 72 to win last month’s Rivoli Medal supported by De Luca Sartoria, making it back-to-back wins in the event which sees most of the club’s top players tee it up. Grant posted two nines of 36 to win ahead of James Sayer, Steven Campbell and Gary Swan who all shot 73. Subhojit Biswas won Division A with a 68, edging out Padhraic Garvey by three while in Division B Ben Clark posted a 66 to win by two ahead of T.R. Vijayan. Nicola Breeze carded an 88 to win the Ladies Gross while Marta Biswas won the net title with a 76.

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB, DUBAI

Inaugural Scramble a fun success The first ‘three clubs and a putter’ scramble sponsored by IAS International was held last month and coming out on top was the team of Michael Pascall, Jonathon Fisher, Neil Thomson and Dean Robinson with a score of 55.3. Meanwhile, on the day that England took on Scotland in the European Championships, the club held a team pairs matchplay contest before the game at Wembley with teams representing both nations, and unlike the football there was a clear winner as Scotland emerged victorious with a narrow 7-6 victory.

E MIRAT E S GOL F C LU B

Great scoring in the season-ending Scramble A total of 136 players took to the Faldo course for the End of Season Scramble and winning with an impressive net 52 was the team of Russell Yeomans, Rohit Vangimalla, Omar Muhammad and Dmitriy Korshunov. Their winning total consisted of three net eagles, five net birdies and two gross birdies and saw them win by one ahead of the team of Petra Van Walt Meijer, Willem Van Walt Meijer, Birgit Baur- Gallizioli and Massimo Gallizioli. Third place went to Tauseef Khan, Shiba Wahid, Roma Khanna and Ravi Khanna.

SHARJ AH GOL F & S H OOT ING C LU B

You wins as Smith takes Order of Merit glory S A A D IY A T B E A C H G O LF CLUB

Saadiyat Beach sets the standard for sustainability in the region Troon-managed, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club has been nominated for the ‘World’s Best Eco-Friendly Golf Facility’ in the 2021 World Golf Awards, with the winner announced later this year. Sustainability and environmental best practices have been at the forefront of Saadiyat Beach Golf Club’s strategy since opening, embracing their stewardship responsibility on the land they reside on. “With the completion of the Audubon certification, a push for a plastic free environment and changing the irrigation to fully recycle-treated water and the reconversion of all fairways to accommodate for a more sustainable sanctuary, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club continues in its mission to lead the way in the Middle East and become globally recognised as the most sustainable golf course,” said Francisco de Lancastre David, Cluster General Manager at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and Yas Links Abu Dhabi.

Bong Kwon You stormed to victory in the final Orient Travel - Monthly Medal of the season with a superb 65 to win by six ahead of Adam Smith with Sami Butt third on 72. This result helped Smith win both the gross and net Order of Merit supported by Tourism Authority of Thailand titles – a first for the club. Last year’s Net OoM winner, Shaheen Butt, was leading the way for most of the season but a last-even slip saw Smith nip in to take the spoils.

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JU ME IRAH GOL F E ST AT E S

Cairns clinches the Dubai Duty Free Golf Cup The 27th staging of the Dubai Duty Free Golf Cup was held on the Fire course last month and on a hot a humid day Mick Cairns emerged victorious with a superb haul of 44 points. The Men’s Division saw Arjun Khanna top the pile on 44 ahead of Alan McNamara on a countback with Sam Kent third with 41 points. Jacqueline De Vries compiled 39 points to win the Ladies Division ahead of Mitsuko Emmerson (37) with Michelle Walsh-Hall third (34) while the Seniors Division was won by Mohammed Al Mosharrekh with 43 points.

TRAVEL WORLDWIDE GOLF

With the scorching summer in the UAE fast approaching, many of us are determined to escape the heat and connect with the world once again as the tourism industry slowly gets back to its feet with more countries easing border restrictions.

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hanks to Emirates Airline, you’ll be able to travel hassle-free and take advantage of discounted prices after the Middle East’s largest airline revealed that there are now 19 countries allowing Dubai citizens and residents to travel quarantine-free. Provided that they have been vaccinated for 14 days or more, travellers can explore 30 cities in Europe, Africa, the US, the Middle East and more.

With that in mind, we’ve selected eight stunning courses from eight of those destinations so you can enjoy a round or two while on your travels. Play well!

1 ROME

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club Fancy getting a sneak peek of the 2023 Ryder Cup venue? The head down to the Ryder Cup course at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, which has recently fully reopened following 18 months of renovation work focusing solely on designing a golf course specifically with the drama of match play in mind.

Located on the outskirts of Rome, the layout was rerouted not only to provide numerous risk and reward opportunities but also to maximise the natural rolling countryside terrain. You’ll also enjoy distant views of the famous Eternal City, including spectacular views of St Peter’s Basilica and of the Castle of Marco Simone which together will provide the backdrop to golf’s greatest team contest in 2023.

The course unfolds in an exceptionally large area, giving players who compete on Marco Simone’s golf course a real sense of freedom.

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2

PHUKET

BARCELONA

PGA Catalunya Resort The spectacular and imposing Stadium Course has been consistently ranked one the best courses in Europe since it opened its doors in 1999. Approximately an hour’s drive away from the magnificent city of Barcelona, the Stadium Course consists of long, tight fairways encroached by beautiful oak trees, evergreens and heather, twisting and winding their way towards small, undulating greens.

Be warned, however, its beauty can distract from the many dangers waiting to do serious damage to your scorecard.

It makes no concessions with its trees pressing onto fairways, strategically placed bunkers and lakes that come into play on no fewer than seven of the toughest holes.

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Red Mountain Golf Club Since opening its doors in 2007, Red Mountain Golf Club has quickly become one of Asia’s top courses and is widely regarded as Phuket’s No.1 golfing destination. Twisting its way through the rugged landscape of an old tin mine, the course offers an exciting variety of play to match the stunning variety of nature.

En route to the course you will begin to understand just why the course was named Red Mountain and it’s difficult to believe a golf course could exist amongst the jungle and red rock.

Whether it be water, changes in elevation, bunkers or wind, be prepared to have everything thrown at you when playing this picturesque course. However, don’t forget to take a step back and take in the tremendous vistas and take plenty of photos from the highest golf club on the island.

PARIS

Le Golf National

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If a golf trip to Paris wasn’t on your bucket list, it certainly should be now. Le Golf National quickly became a must-play European golf course after being propelled into the spotlight by Europe’s titanic triumph over the United States at the 2018 Ryder Cup. The club is home to two memorable courses, L’Albatros and L’Aigle, with the former the true gem of French golf where good course management is the

key to a successful round. The course, which will also host the 2024 Olympic Games golf tournament, combines the traditional feel of a links with the modern features of target golf so be prepared to use every club in the bag.

But the biggest challenge will be conquering the greens, which have been expertly shaped around water features and sprinkled with bunkers

NEW YORK

Bethpage State Park

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One of the most popular and cherished golf courses in the States, Bethpage State Park is home to five 18-hole regulation courses including the world-renowned Black Course, which has played host to the U.S. Open, PGA Championship and will welcome European and American greats for the 2025 Ryder Cup. Located in suburban Long Island in close proximity to New York City, Bethpage’s Black course has a reputation as one

of the hardest courses to host a Major Championship but this doesn’t mean the majestic venue isn’t hugely popular with the average golfer, offering a brilliant championship test from a range of tee boxes.

A trip to Bethpage State Park will come with many challenges, but with huge Major pedigree and renowned toughness, you can tick it off as a true bucket list experience.

CHICAGO

Cog Hill Golf and Country Club

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Located 30 miles southwest of Chicago, Cog Hill Golf and Country Club is home to four 18-hole courses but its most famous is the world-renowned No.4 course, also known as Dubsdread which was derived from the idea that a “dub” or poor golfer should beware of the challenges forthcoming.

You’ll need to bring a tidy and accurate driving game to this natural-style

championship course that places a high demand on shot-making ability by providing tight landing areas combined with heavily bunkered, large undulating greens.

The course has challenged professionals and amateurs alike over the years with Tiger Woods holding the course record after a brilliant round of 62 at the 2009 BMW Championship.

DALLAS

Tierra Verde Golf Club

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You’ll have a difficult task in finding a more beautiful course than Tierra Verde Golf Club, where golf and nature come together in harmony to offer an outstanding playing experience on every hole.

Opened in 1998, and carved from 250 acres of secluded terrain, the course’s unsurpassed layout encompasses a variety of natural

settings with sculpted fairways, strategically placed sand bunkers and water hazards - all accented by stately trees and beautiful native grasses.

The stunning facility also features a stateof-the-art golf learning centre, a lighted driving range, three-hole practice course and large chipping and putting green complex.

SEYCHELLES

Lemuria Golf Course

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Constructed by Rodney Wright alongside former European Tour player Marc Antoine Farry, Lemuria Golf Course is a golfing paradise and the only 18 hole course in the Seychelles.

The spectacular course, which has previously hosted the stars of the Staysure Tour, borders the captivating beaches of both the Small Kerlan Cove and the Grand Kerlan Cove while

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a plethora of palm trees make up the fringe of the fairways on the first 12 holes.

The final six holes, which offers spectacular views, rise and fall over a densely wooded hilly landscape that contains the signature hole on the scorecard; the short par three 15th, where the golf ball drops over 150 feet from tee to green below.

E U R O P E A N

T O U R

D E S T I N A T I O N S

Terre Blanche resort

The world-renowned Terre Blanche resort is located in the commune of Tourrettes, just 35 minutes from the famous coastline of the Côte d’Azur in the South of France.

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EUROPEAN TOUR DESTINATIONS

VENUES

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

UNDER DEVELOPMENT:

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

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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

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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

Featuring one of the ‘Leading Hotels of the World’, Terre Blanche offers unrivaled luxury, and with two championship golf courses amid the beautiful rolling hills it is the perfect base for exploring Provence.

Terre Blanche is situated within 750 acres of unspoiled forest and the resort has taken numerous recent sustainability steps to help preserve the local environment.

With over 175 plant species, 54 bird, 41 insect and 20 species of mammal across the site, this year will see the introduction of a plethora of new initiatives that build on existing protections.

A commitment to plant 100 trees every year for the next 10 years, therefore creating a sustainable forest which resists climate change, is underway, and every blade of grass on both golf courses are being gradually changed to ‘Bermuda Grass Riviera’, which requires 50% less water. Work on that conversion began in 2019 and will be completed in 2023.

For more information: www.terre-blanche.com

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The golf courses sit on and enhance the natural features of the magnificent site, and the signature bunkers of architect Dave Thomas can be found on both: Le Château and Le Riou. This true golfers’ paradise is set in stunning surroundings and brings together performance and love for the game.

Le Château is the more demanding of the two while Le Riou is shorter but enjoys more elevation change and views across the picturesque local landscape.

Away from golf, The Terre Blanche Spa nestles in the heart of a typical Provençal garden. This peaceful haven provides high-quality facilities, from saunas, steam rooms and relaxation rooms to laconium and the magnificent indoor lap pool and outdoor vitality pool. A Michelin-starred restaurant and an outstanding golf academy which boasts European Tour Performance Institute status, complete the picture, with exquisite and secluded real estate opportunities also available. ■

SAUD AL SHARIF FAVOURITE GOLF COURSE IN THE MIDDLE EAST? THE ELS CLUB, DUBAI FAVOURITE EUROPEAN TOUR EVENT? THE SAUDI INTERNATIONAL HARDEST HOLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST? 16TH AT THE ROYAL GREENS FAVOURITE CLUBHOUSE? THE ROYAL GREENS, AS IT’S LIKE A PALACE FAVOURITE GOLFER? TIGER WOODS, HE’S THE REASON I PICKED UP A CLUB GREAT COURSES YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLAY? AUGUSTA NATIONAL AND PEBBLE BEACH MOST PRIZED CLUB IN YOUR BAG? MY UTILITY 3 IRON

WHAT’S IN THE BAG? DRIVER: TAYLORMADE SIM2 MAX 8O

285 YARD CARRY

O

FAIRWAY WOOD: TITLEIST TSI3 15

270 YARD CARRY

UTILITY 3 IRON: SRIXON UDU65 20O

245 YARD CARRY

4 IRON - PW: SRIXON Z765 GAP WEDGE: VOKEY SM8 F GRIND 12O BOUNCE 56O VOKEY SM8 M GRIND 8O BOUNCE 60O VOKEY SM8 M GRIND 8O BOUNCE PUTTER: TAYLORMADE SPIDER X / SUPER STROKE 2.0

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