Worldwide Golf April 2017 by Worldwide Golf

Worldwide Golf The Middle East’s No.1 Golf Magazine

APRIL 2017, ISSUE 191

EUROPEAN SENIOR TOUR

JON RAHM

JOINS EUROPEAN TOUR WITH RYDER CUP INTENTIONS

SHARJAH SENIOR GOLF MASTERS SUCCESS

PETE COWEN

ON POULTER’S CARD AND STENSON’S POLLEN BATTLE!

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CHIPPING EVERY TIME

WHICH

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WE TALK TO WILLETT’S COACH TO FIND OUT HOW HE MASTERED AUGUSTA AND WHAT IS REQUIRED TO EARN THAT COVETED GREEN JACKET ISBN 978-9948-15-427-3

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

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Executive Editor

Gary Player McIlroy primed for Masters and Grand Slam glory

ITH the Masters taking centre stage this month, I’m pulling for and predicting that Rory McIlroy will win his first Green Jacket and complete the career Grand Slam to become the first player since Tiger Woods to achieve the feat back in 2000. He’s got all the experience in the world and he’s hitting his peak at just the right time. He’s learned how to handle himself the hard way and he’s got the game and the mental strength to make the clean sweep of all four Majors, having won the US Open in 2011, the PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014 and the Open Championship in 2014. Rory’s currently number two in the Official World Golf Ranking, although he’s a good way behind Dustin Johnson. Winning the Masters and completing the Grand Slam would be great for Rory and undoubtedly brilliant for the game. It’s curious that after Danny Willett won the Masters last year, his form suffered. Winning any Major can have a different effect on different players as your life changes, and you have to learn to adapt accordingly. Winning the first of my three Masters titles in 1961 was something special but then it made me all the more determined

to win another, along with more Majors. I know it was also the same for Nicklaus, Hogan and Woods. But everyone is different and we all react differently. This is going to be an emotional Masters for Jack and me when we step up for the ceremonial tee shot at Augusta without Arnold. It will bring back memories of a great friendship that lasted for more than 50 years. It will certainly feel very strange being at Augusta without him. But it’s an honour to start the Masters with the drive off the first tee and I’ll be aiming to get it further than Jack if I can just catch it right.

Most Scary Hole

I’ve always thought that the most scary hole on the Augusta National course is number 12, Golden Bell. Although it’s the shortest hole, I was always relieved to get off the green with a three. Par felt like a birdie and even bogey was a good result. Standing on the 12th tee I would take a line to the back of the trap and try not to bother about the swirling wind. Being the lowest point on the golf course it’s tough to judge the wind and distance on the 12th because the tee box is in a wide-open space alongside the 11th green. This hole is a good example of the importance of course management. If you can plot your

way around Augusta, it’s more rewarding than hitting the ball miles. Mind you, in my day I had to rely on my course management as I was so small and, although I was fit, I couldn’t match the big hitters. I don’t know why players are obsessed with hitting the ball so far. It takes so much skill and strategy out of the game. I was pleased to see the recent rule changes that the R&A and the USGA are considering but one rule that I always find hard to comprehend is that if you hit a drive off the tee and it hits a sprinkler head and flies Out of Bounds, you have to play three off the tee. But if you take a fresh-air shot, you play two off the tee. A fresh-air shot is the worse shot in golf and only the player is to blame but if the ball is diverted Out of Bounds from a sprinkler head, the player has no control over the outcome. Where’s the justice in that? The controversy about whether players should keep referring to the yardage book before playing their shot is another issue. We didn’t have yardage books in our day and they certainly slow up play. Golf is all about using your eye and ‘seeing a shot’ and making a judgement. That is the point of having practice rounds. When everyone is looking at ways of speeding up the game, the use of yardage books on the

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course in tournament play should be banned altogether. I’m pleased that Muirfield has finally agreed to allow women to become members of the famous East Lothian links. The Club has certainly done the right thing in welcoming women members, enabling Muirfield to get back on the Open Championship rota. We must all try to ensure that there are no rules against men or women becoming golf club members where a Major championship is played. I campaigned strongly against the ban on women members at Augusta which, thankfully, was overturned.

First for Sharjah

I was pleased to see South African Chris Williams winning the inaugural Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq last month in a play-off with England’s Gary Marks. It was the first European Senior Tour event to be played in the UAE since Denis O’Sullivan won the Abu Dhabi Seniors Tour Championship back in 2000. It was the first time a Senior Tour event had been played on a 9-hole course – at Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club. It would be good to see more Senior Tour events following suit in the UAE. ■

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APRIL 2017

CONTENTS 38

Cover feature: Magic Mike

The Starter – Masters Special

21 26 29 30

We talk exclusively to Mike Walker, the man behind the swing of defending Masters champion Danny Willett. The unassuming Yorkshireman, who works alongside Pete Cowen, often shies away from the limelight. However, that’s become almost impossible since Willett entered golf’s elite at Augusta last year.

Oh yes, the first Major of the season is finally upon us and we’ve got everything needed to get those Augusta juices flowing in this special Masters Starter.

Pete Cowen Column

PGA Master Professional Pete Cowen gives us the lowdown on who’s hot and who’s not ahead of this year’s Masters showdown.

David Howell Column

European Tour veteran David Howell paints a picture of what it feels like to tee it up at Augusta from a player’s perspective.

Rafa Cabrera Bello Column

The Spanish Ryder Cup star enjoyed a weekend off in the UAE recently and witnessed two great new events – the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters and the Long Drive World Series. He delivers his verdict on both and reveals his Masters excitement.

Tour News

Chris Williams roared to victory in the inaugural Sharjah Senior Golf Masters while the first two WGCs of the season meant huge moves in the Race to Dubai and the first Challenge Tour event of the season in Kenya signalled the start of the 2017 Road to Oman.

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Jon Rahm

The 22 year old Spaniard has joined the European Tour with the intention of making the Ryder Cup team and after two blistering WGC performances, he’s already made his mark.

Nicolas Colsaerts

Golf’s Mr Cool talks about his infamous partying days, his record-breaking driving distance and the young compatriots he predicts are destined for Major success.

Long Drive World Series

The big dogs were out in force at Jumeirah Golf Estates last month and we were there to catch the action.

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CONTENTS GEAR

HOW TO CHOOSE A PUTTER

Jason Ashley, Custom-fit Specialist at eGolf Megastore explains how to select the putter that best suits your game.

PXG FITTING EXPERIENCE

Sam Pain of PXG Middle East reveals the importance of a proper club fitting and what sets a PXG Fitting Experience apart.

STENSON’S SWING ANALYSED

PGA Master Professional Pete Cowen breaks down the Open Champion’s swing.

INSTRUCTION

STRAIGHT AND LONG EVERY TIME

Stephen Deane, Head Professional at Emirates Golf Club, provides some tips to make sure you grip it and rip straight and long consistently.

MASTERS CHIPPING

David Laing, Teaching Professional at the Montgomerie, Dubai shows us how the pros will master the Augusta greens with well-drilled chipping.

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ARABIAN GOLF

We launch the Swing Against Cancer Golf Series, plus all the latest news from the leading golf clubs in the Middle East.

LINNA GOLF

The latest in our series of European Tour Destinations, Linna Golf is set in stunning surroundings in the heart of Finland, where the game is playable through the night during the summer months.

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Editor’s Letter

By Alex Gallemore

ISSUE No.191 APRIL 2017. Published by: Worldwide Sporting Publications Ltd.

Time to boost the fun factor

ITH the success and interest in the Long Drive World Series in Dubai, it got me thinking. Why doesn’t the Tour embrace this fun element and factor it into the structure of its tournaments. The European Tour are shaking things up with the introduction of music on the driving range, new formats like the GolfSixes and the final match play round format at the World Super6 Perth. We all know golf numbers are falling around the world, due to youngsters spending countless hours playing electronic games, posing the question of just how long it takes to play and watch golf, which is a turn-off to the younger generation. With shortening attention spans and the demand for instant entertainment, the shakeup needs to happen quicker, as things are getting progressively worse. Speeding up play will always be a challenge but are four rounds essential? Test cricket is run over 5 days but, thankfully, they’ve got the 20-20 format to attract the younger audience. It might be an idea to evolve the Hero Challenge, the European Tour ran just before the start of last year’s British Masters at the Grove. The professional golf challenge was staged at night and created a fun, yet competitive atmosphere and was a huge success with golf fans, especially the younger audience. Even the nongolfers out there thought it was fun and entertaining.

So why doesn’t the European Tour introduce this formula at every event and run the tournaments over three days, starting Friday with a cut after the conclusion of play on the Saturday? This would free up the Thursday to put together a series of light-hearted and competitive challenges with the players taking part in different skills tests. You could have the top 15 longest hitters in the field having a long drive challenge, and the same goes for the leading putters, bunker and iron players. This could be sectioned for television breaks and it would also promote awareness of the golfers who aren’t just in the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking. That way, the kids can get a kick out of the thrill of putting, chipping and not just trying to smash it miles on the range. I remember, as a junior, putting for hours on the practice green at my local club with my mates for the challenge of a chocolate bar. Or, whoever can chip it in first off the green wins a golf ball from the other players. That was fun but kids these days are just focused on smashing it miles and when they can’t, any interest in the game fades instantly and the temptation to reach for their PlayStation is far greater. The pressure is on the Tour players and the governing bodies to make golf more fun and not get too obsessed with speeding up play.

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Published in Dubai by: Prografix, PO Box 24677, Dubai, UAE. (Tel) +9714 340 3785. Editor-in-Chief: Mike Gallemore. Executive Editor: Gary Player. Editor: Alex Gallemore. alex@wspglobal.com. Publisher: Mike Gallemore. mike@wspglobal.com. General Manager Dubai: Richard Bevan: rick@wspglobal.com. Editors: Todd Staszko, Scott Grayston, 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

Printed by: Raidy, Dubai Distributed by: Al Nisr Distribution LLC PO Box 6519, Dubai, UAE 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.

The Course

Augusta National Home of the Masters since 1934

T IS finally April, which means it's time for the Masters at the famed Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. One of the most alluring sporting venues in the sporting world once again comes under the spotlight as various storylines play out upon its immaculately manicured fairways. Will McIlroy become only the fifth player to win the modern-day Grand Slam by winning the Masters? Can Dustin Johnson continue his current dominance over the rest of his peers? Will Tiger Woods show up? Will John Daly park his R.V outside the gates and sell his wares for a quick buck? All will be revealed over four days in downtown Augusta. The course itself hasn't changed since it was last lengthened in 2006 but the Augusta Executives have bought more surrounding land and there are rumours that in the coming years they will push the tee-box back on the iconic par-5 13th hole. This will make the drive even more difficult than it already is and force big-hitting lefty Bubba Watson into re-thinking his 'cut the corner' strategy. Originally, the nines were played back to front (can you imagine today's pros playing the run-through Amen Corner so early in their rounds) but the decision was made after the first Masters to switch the route. â&#x2013;

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THE MASTERS 2017

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THE GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF AUGUSTA

ACK in 1981 the Committee at Augusta National wanted faster greens for the first Major of the year so they replaced the Bermuda strain that had served them since the tournament’s inception with Bentgrass – and they got what they wanted. As a result, some of the natural undulations in the greens were gradually altered to factor in the faster putting surfaces and, ultimately, scoring came down as putting got harder. At the time, Seve Ballersteros’s five-stroke win at 13-under-par 275 in 1980 (the lowest score since 1976) was seen as the catalyst for the change in grass, but the officials at Augusta had been on the ball with regard

to how slow the greens had been for the previous few years. The advancements in agronomy saw new techniques arrive to

WHEN ZACH JOHNSON WON AT 1-OVER IN 2007 IT WAS AT ONE OF THE COLDEST AND WINDIEST MASTERS ON RECORD. WHEN THE SUN HIDES THE SCORES SOAR. maintain the grass, and, as a result, the healthier strains of Bermuda that were installed in 1975 were overseeded with

rye – which is stiffer when trimmed tight. This created slower surfaces. Scores in the Bentgrass era confirm the changes certainly made scoring tougher. In the last ten years on Bermuda, six of the winning scores were 10-under or higher. From 1981 onwards only one of the next nine winners got into double figures below par. Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and Ballesteros are the only players to have won the Masters on both grasses. “I think these are probably the most severe greens we play anywhere,” Nicklaus said in 1981, when Watson won with a score five strokes worse than Ballesteros the year earlier.

80,000

plants of more than 350 varieties have been added to the Augusta National grounds over the years, but an unseasonably warm winter might mean that Augusta’s blooms have peaked and will be on the decline come Masters week. Still, even if there are no signs of colour in the shubbery, at least the players can brighten the surroundings with their attire...

Rich history of South African success WHILE homebred players have long dominated the Masters, there are several special places in the history books for South African players. The first international victor at Augusta National was nine-time Major winner Gary Player in 1961, and the first international low-amateur was Manny Zerman in 1992. Player won three Green Jackets and has been followed by fellow countrymen Trevor Immelman (2008) and Charl Schwartzel

(2011) making it the second most successful nation in Masters history behind the USA. Zerman and Sergio Garcia (1999) remained the only two international low-amateurs before a run of four in five years from 2010-2014. Last year 49 of the 89 golfers who teed it up were international players, and nonUSA players have outnumbered the Americans since 2007.

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“I only really have two memories of the first two days – the first was on the fifth green when we just looked at each other. Back then their new SubAir system would dry out the greens on Wednesday night, and they'd go from green to yellow in a day and become rock-hard, completely different. The other thing I remember, like everybody else, was him (Woods) chipping in on 12.” – Sir Nick Faldo, on playing the first two rounds with Tiger in 1997.

Spin Back

April 1997

THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF TIGER'S FIRST MAJOR

HIS year’s Masters marks the 20th anniversary of Tiger Woods’ incredible first Major title. The hype leading up to Tiger’s first start in a Major as a professional was palpable. It obviously had some affect on the 21-year-old as he took 40 blows to complete the opening nine holes. However, the fireworks began on the back nine as Woods came back in 6-under to post an opening round of 2-under-par 70. From there on he proceeded to trounce the field, shooting 65-66 before a solid, if relatively unspectacular, final round 69 put the finishing touches to a record 18-under-par score and a 12-stroke victory. Woods became both the youngest and the first non-white player to win at Augusta. Woods even birdied the 11th (statistically the hardest hole in Masters history) in rounds three and four as his procession became the most-watched tournament in golf history with 13.7 million homes in America alone tuning in on Sunday.

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THE MASTERS PREVIEW THE small, invitation-only field is jam-packed with the finest players from around the world but is probably the weakest of the four Majors. Former winners like Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam, Larry Mize, Bernhard Langer and Fred Couples are there to celebrate their past achievements while the 17 first-timers are unlikely to win on such a demanding course. With that said, it's always hard to pick a winner so let's look at who is in form ahead of what promises to be another historic Masters.

Who's Hot?

"Obviously, Sandy Lyle, Sir Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam were the last Brits, a long, long time ago. They were great champions and I still can’t believe I’m going to be in and amongst them – and in the Champions locker room, it's really is mind-boggling for me.” – Danny Willett, 2016 Champion.

▶ JORDAN SPIETH

▶ HIDEKI MATSUYAMA

Still only 23 and a two-time Major winner. 2016 was defined by his Masters meltdown and he’ll be desperate to right that particular wrong. His record is T2, Win, T2 in three appearances. Not bad, huh? If he putts as well as he did when he won in 2015, the rest of the field could be playing for second place.

Won his first WGC event in November in Shanghai and successfully defended his Phoenix Open title in February. Been on a rich streak of form and has two top tens in his previous two Masters starts.

▶ RICKIE FOWLER Wasn’t totally convincing in closing out victory at the Honda Classic but showed his class on the back nine. That will have done his confidence the world of good.

▶ MARC LEISHMAN The Aussie won his second US PGA Tour title in style at Bay Hill. Played in the final group alongside Adam Scott when his compatriot won The Masters in 2013. Runner-up at the 2015 Open.

▶ SERGIO GARCIA Magnolia Lane is a place where Garcia has not had much success before, but the newly engaged Spaniard is happier both on and off the course. Could this finally be his year for a Major? Five missed cuts, three top tens and not much more to write home about make this an unlikely venue for him to break his duck…

▶ DUSTIN JOHNSON ▶ RORY MCILROY Came back from a two-month lay-off with a rib injury with top tens in Mexico and Bay Hill. Looked sharp and will be ready for another attempt at completing the career Grand Slam come Masters week.

▶ HENRIK STENSON Hasn’t won since his remarkable Open triumph at Royal Troon last July but always a presence on leaderboards wherever he plays. Missed out on the WGC-Match Play in order to maximise playing time in the run-up to Augusta.

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Underlined the fact he’s currently the best player in the world with victories at the WGC-Mexico and the WGC-Match Play. It’s hard to look past him if his short game is in sync. T6 and T4 in his last two Masters starts.

THE MASTERS 2017

Strong Debutant C l a s s

▶ TYRRELL HATTON

No first-timer has won the Masters since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979. Let's assess the chances of some of the firsttimers teeing it up at the Masters.

Played solidly on the US Tour this year with three top tens. He has got the game but does he have the temperament to challenge in the biggest events?

▶ THOMAS PIETERS

▶ BILLY HURLEY III

▶ JON RAHM

Finished runner-up at Riviera and had a share of fifth at the WGC-Mexico Championship. the 6' 5" Belgian has the mental strength and the talent to do well at the notoriously difficult track.

Produced one of the feel-good stories of 2016 after winning his first PGA Tour title, seven years after his duty as a US Navy Lieutenant ended. Hurley was ranked 607th in the world and was playing on a sponsors' invite when he beat Vijay Singh by three at Congressional Country Club.

Has taken to life as a professional with ease since June last year. Stunning rise up the rankings thanks to victory at Torrey Pines, a fifth place at Pebble Beach, a share of third in Mexico and runner-up in Austin. Can he keep his form going down Magnolia Lane...?

▶ WILLIAM MCGIRT At 37 he's played in only four Majors but won last year's Memorial at Muirfield Village. He's statistically strong off the tee but weak around the greens.

▶ TOMMY FLEETWOOD

▶ ALEX NOREN Won four times last year but hasn't hit the same highs this year. A streaky player and hit-and-miss with the driver but he can take advantage as Augusta isn't too penal from the tee box.

▶ ADAM HADWIN

The Abu Dhabi champion punched his ticket with a stunning runner-up finish in Mexico. Being reunited with his former long-term coach has reignited his game. Danny Willett won in the Middle East and then Augusta last year. Can Tommy emulate him?

The Canadian is having the best year of his career to date. He's already shot 59 on the US PGA Tour and won his first title at the Valspar Championship and he even agreed to move the dates of his honeymoon so he can play the Masters.

“Today the golf ball goes so far, Augusta National is about the only place, the only golf course in the world, that, financially, can afford to make the changes that they have to make to keep up with the golf ball. I don’t think anybody else could ever do it.” – Jack Nicklaus

Who's Cold? ▶ TIGER WOODS

▶ JASON DAY

▶ BUBBA WATSON

There is little chance that the four-time Masters champion will tee it up this year as he still suffers back spasms after multiple surgeries over the years.

The Australian has been up and down in 2017. A T5 at Pebble Beach was followed by 64th at Torrey Pines. He withdrew from the first WGC event of the season in Mexico citing an ear infection and then finished 23rd at Bay Hill where he was the defending champion.

He already has two Green Jackets and has the ability to pick apart Augusta at will, but this season Bubba has struggled, withdrawing from the Genesis Open, missing two cuts in Phoenix and Tampa and not contending at the nocut WGC in Mexico.

▶ JUSTIN ROSE Failed to trouble the scorers in Mexico, finishing 38th. Does have two top tens this year but yet to hit his stride. Good record at Augusta with no missed cuts in 11 outings and a runner-up finish in 2015.

▶ MARTIN KAYMER The German is playing well and recent results have been encouraging, but his natural left-to-right ball flight does him no favours around Augusta. In nine outings he has missed five cuts and his best return is T31 in 2014.

▶ ZACH JOHNSON

▶ PATRICK REED

The 2007 winner has made a slow start to 2017. A short hitter by today’s standards and needs to be at his very best to manage his way around the course as he lacks the firepower to get on in two on the scoreable par-5s, particularly on the back nine.

Has anybody even seen Patrick Reed on Tour since his Hazeltine heroics? One top ten (the Tournament of Champions in January) is his only notable result so far in 2017. He won a WGC title back in 2014 on his rise to fifth in the World Ranking but in 12 starts has never contended in any of the Majors.

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▶ BROOKS KOEPKA Another player suffering from a Hazeltine hangover. Big-hitting Brooks has missed more cuts than he's made in 2017. He has posted four top tens in the Majors but his game looks to have deserted him in the early stages of this season.

STARTER Roles Reversed When Tommy Fleetwood clinched his second career title at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship (right) he held off Dustin Johnson by one stroke. At last month’s WGC-Mexico Championship Johnson got his own back with a one-stroke win over the Englishman (left).

Jack beats his age by six

Muirfield back on Open Rota after vote

US PGA Tour players want their Tour to break from USGA Rules

Male members at Muirfield have finally allowed the club to accept women members and as a result will be back on the Open Championship rota. The R&A removed Muirfield as a host venue last year after the club failed to change its policy last year. However, under increased pressure, the members have relented and they will now host The Open again and lady golfers.

Stricker has a Senior moment on debut

In an anonymous player poll among the pros on the US PGA Tour, the majority want the Tour to create its own set of rules, breaking away from the USGA's. The vote was 62% - 38% in favour while 88% of those questioned believed that the USGA and PGA should not move away from Donald Trump-owned courses. On the issue of whether golf belongs in the Olympics, 68% said yes and 56% want the Tour to not disclose disciplinary action.

BY THE NUMBERS

7,835

Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City is the highest golf course above see level (in feet) that a US PGA Tour event has ever been played on.

Lee Westwood teed it up in his 56th WGC in Mexico – an all-time appearance record.

Winning is hard at any level – even on the relaxed three-round Senior circuit. Just ask Steve Stricker. Playing in his first event on the US PGA Tour Champions the former Ryder Cup player was leading by two with three holes left but whiffed a 4-foot putt on 16 and then bogeyed 18 after finding water to hand Tom Lehman the trophy.

Former World No.1 Stacy Lewis has posted 13 runner-up finishes on the LPGA Tour since her last victory in 2014 in Arkansas. Keep knocking on the door Stacy, it's got to open again one of these days...

MONTH-BY-MONTH ANALYSIS AS ANDREW ‘BEEF’ JOHNSTON TACKLES THE US PGA TOUR Not a lot has been happening on the golf course for Beef, but he has been hanging out with John Daly in Florida and he was a roving reporter for Sky Sports during their coverage of the Valspar Championship in Tampa Bay…

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Dustin Johnson became the sixth player to win on their first start since becoming the World No.1 at the WGC-Mexico Championship, and is the first since Adam Scott in 2014. He then added the WGC-Match Play for good measure.

BEEF WATCH

Jack Nicklaus shot a round of 71 at the annual Els for Autism event in Florida last month – six strokes better than his age – and helped his team to second place in the event. Nicklaus joked: "Just when I was getting my handicap up there, I had to go and not only shoot just my second round under 80 since November, but better my age by six shots with a 71 – and I don’t recall getting a trophy this big for any secondplace finish in my career!"

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Columnist

Pete Cowen

Stenson has to ‘Master’ pollen issue

he Masters is looking more difficult to predict than ever this year. I can see Jordan Spieth having a really good tournament and he must be one of the favourites. He’s in good form and he’ll feel he’s got something to prove. He didn’t play particularly well at Austin but match play golf is a totally different cup of tea to stroke play. Louis Oosthuizen is looking good. I’m back working with him again and he’s swinging it well. He’s another player who believes he’s got something to prove, having come so close to winning it on two occasions. He’s as good as gold and he loves Augusta National. He’s keeping himself fit and there are no signs of his back problems recurring. There are not that many big names in the Masters field this time and many of the former Ryder Cup stars from both teams are not in there. Nevertheless, it will still be a great event that everyone wants to watch. There are so many serious contenders. Thomas Pieters had a tied fifth finish in the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship to secure his American Tour card. He should be happy with his progress but he’s hungry for more success. Danny Willett is swinging all right but he’s mentally not in the right place. When Mike Walker and I were at The Ryder Cup we thought Danny would be up there with the best but it didn’t happen. It can happen to players when they win a Major. They can slip backwards. But they can’t lose their talent – it doesn’t just disappear. It will be interesting to see how he handles his first drive off the tee at Augusta. I think he could either hit it straight down the middle or miss it all together. When the Masters is over we might see a different Willett, hopefully the Danny who won the 2016 Masters. We all thought he was bullet-proof but events have proved us wrong. I’m hoping Henrik Stenson will take a different approach to the Masters this time. It’s unfortunate that he seems to pick up illnesses so easily. He’s a big strong guy but he seems that he’s invariably got some illness or another. He’s always suffered from pollen and Augusta is full of it. It might be one of the most colourful courses in the game but it must be the worst place to be if you suffer from a pollen allergy. When he played in the WGC-Mexico Championship he had altitude sickness which affected his game. He always says he’s doing too much but he doesn’t cut back on his schedule. We’ve talked about that many

times. Henrik also likes to play an event the week before he plays a Major, which is why he’s playing the Shell Houston Open. We’ve sat down and worked out what he has to do to win the Masters. He’s got to get 24 birdies so we need to work out which holes he can do that. He’s going to have eight bogeys. He certainly can’t win it by playing defensively. He’s got to take the bull by the horns. He’s never gone into the Masters when he’s been playing well. He’s got to tell himself, ‘I haven’t done so well playing it as I did it before, so I’ve got to change something.’ He’s got the game to win it, as he’s proved so often, but he’s got to change his approach. If he can overcome the pollen problem he could be a contender. Ian Poulter is on the verge of losing his PGA Tour playing card and he’s got just two weeks to save it. He’ll probably return to the European Tour but it’s likely that he can get back into the world top 50 quickly so it’s not the be all and end all of things. He’ll just have to get used to travelling a bit more, like the rest of us. He’d be better focussing on the big money Rolex series events towards the end of the year. It’s unfortunate that Graeme McDowell is not in the Masters. He’s playing all the events he can in the US to try and get back into the top 50, which isn’t easy. You can play well on the US PGA Tour and miss the cut. The competition is high but he’s still exempt for another two years. It’s also unfortunate that many of our European Tour stars are setting their sights on success in the United States. Matt Fitzpatrick is trying to earn his card for the US and he’s playing well. Hopefully, though, Matt will play Wentworth. Fitz’s brother, Alex, is an up-and-coming youngster to watch for the future. He’s aiming to play college golf in the US next year and he’s an explosive talent. With a 127mph TrackMan swing speed he can certainly get it out there and is strong as an ox. He knocks it 40 yards past Matt and is four years younger, though he doesn’t have Matt’s mindset but is confident all the same. Definitely one to watch out for.

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Columnist

David Howell

Major season is finally here

ugusta National, the Masters, means spring is in full swing and the Major golfing season is upon us once more. Our TV screens will be filled with colour and most of us will be watching avidly, with a little jealousy coursing through our veins. Who doesn’t wish to be at Augusta if you’re a golf fan? I have been lucky enough to play in three Masters Tournaments. Each was a total thrill but my abiding memory was watching the fans on the Monday seeing Augusta for the first time. My coach put it succinctly: “It was like watching people entering St Paul’s Cathedral, who look totally in awe. They can’t quite believe they are actually there.” Augusta is the same for the players to some degree. Even the stars of the game are delighted to be there. They act slightly differently; they’re more humble than most weeks, feeling a little more like a guest than a star, which is nice, quite frankly. Augusta National has done an amazing job over the years in building up this aura of wonderment and it all goes into the mix of making it a very special week indeed. So what of this year’s contenders? Who could spring a surprise? Traditional theory says a rookie won’t win, Fuzzy Zoeller being the last to don the Green Jacket back in 1979. But I don’t buy into this anymore. Jordan Spieth almost broke this spell, showing that whilst experience is a good thing, it doesn’t outstrip good golf. But having the mental capacity to really challenge at the death is a trait that few players possess. Spieth has it in bucketloads and this year we might just find out if any of the new crop of guys have the star mentality to match him.

Augusta Specialist Spieth is my favourite for Masters glory for various reasons – he’s played well this year, won at Pebble Beach in a canter and is an Augusta specialist. His meltdown last year was incomprehensible to some, but I saw it slightly differently. He wasn’t hitting the ball all that well and when the pressure really grew, it showed. But I reckon he is now more in control of his game and he’s the man to beat. Rory McIlroy is an interesting contender. Fresh after coming back from injury he had a slim chance to win at Bay Hill, where he fell just short, but momentum is shifting in his favour. Augusta looked made for him when he built that huge lead back in 2011 and lost it. Ever since, I have felt that his ability to judge a situation of whether

to attack or defend has held him back but that is changing. His putting has improved in the last six months, so everything is going nicely for him. As World No.2 he is slightly under the radar due to the brilliance of Dustin Johnson, but if Rory plays like we know he can, it could well be his year.

Wonderful ball striker Speaking of Dustin – I never get the feeling that Augusta really suits either him or World No.5 Henrik Stenson. Henrik is a wonderful ball striker and I predict a strong showing but not enough to go all the way. As for Dustin, I’d say he’ll go close. He’s World No.1 and that brings the ultimate confidence that goes with it. He won in Mexico on a course that didn’t play to his strengths, and consolidated his place at the top, so all in all you would be a brave man to suggest he won’t be in the hunt. Three others to mention: Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm. Rose is probably the best player from tee to green and has been working on his putting with Phil Kenyon. He’s come close a few times at Augusta and I get the impression he feels he will win it one day. I rate his chances as very good. After the heroics from Danny Willett last year, another European who is on good form, Tyrrell Hatton, is now in the top 15 in the world but with only one win. He’s been incredibly consistent in the last two years. He is flying up the rankings, and enjoying the ride, fully focused with great belief in himself. At Bay Hill, he just about led the putting stats, so everything is going for him. As a rookie, Augusta is not that tricky to learn, although he is prone to losing his head, which can be fatal at Augusta. Finally, Jon Rahm looks like he’s set for the big time. For years we felt that Sergio Garcia would become the next Spanish winner of the Masters and although I wouldn’t write that off, Rahm, much like Hatton, is flying at the moment. He has no experience but also no scars from Augusta, which might give him the edge. ■

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Columnist

RAFA ENJOYS THE ACTION AT THE SHARJAH SENIOR GOLF MASTERS ALONGSIDE FIANCÉ SOFIA LUNDSTEDT OF THE EUROPEAN TOUR, DAVID MACLAREN, HEAD OF THE EUROPEAN SENIOR TOUR AND NICK TARRATT, DIRECTOR OF THE EUROPEAN TOUR’S DUBAI OFFICE.

Rafa Cabrera Bello Two great new events for the UAE golf scene

enjoyed a rare weekend off recently and it was a great to spend some time at home in Dubai. What did I do with my time off? I watched some golf of course! I was lucky enough to have a break in my schedule when two great new events were taking place in the region and I wanted to show my support for both of them. First up was the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq. It was the first time the European Senior Tour had visited Sharjah and it was a great event. I got to see several old friends and some Spanish players whom I respect a lot. To meet the likes of Santiago Luna and Miguel Angel Martin - these are people who were in their prime when I started my career so it was very special for me to see them out playing on the European Senior Tour. I’ve got very fond memories of watching Costantino Rocca’s exploits in the 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama, when he beat Tiger Woods to help Europe to victory, so it was exciting to reconnect with those memories while watching him in action in Sharjah. The tournament was played on a nine-hole course and it seemed to add another exciting element as players had to play each hole twice – which meant they had to revisit holes that they’d dropped shots on earlier in the round. It’s something I wouldn’t be surprised to see happening on the European Tour in the future, although it would have to be a limited field. Our Chief Executive, Keith Pelley, is always looking for new fresh angles for tournaments in order to attract more spectators, sponsors and partners so it could be a possibility. I think that it would be fantastic if, in the future, the European Senior Tour had its own Middle East Swing like we have on the European Tour which has events in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Dubai. Those tournaments are very well-regarded by the players and I’m sure the Senior Tour members would love the chance to play more in a region that has so many great courses.

The other event I attended was the Long Drive World Series which took place at the European Tour Performance Institute and was great fun. They even got me up to try my luck against UK Long Drive Champion Lucas Dornan. I said I’d only do it if Lucas hit his drives ‘Happy Gilmore’ style, which he did and still managed to beat me! I’ve never been involved in an event like that before – it was very entertaining and incredible to see how far the competitors could hit the ball. I think it’s wonderful for Dubai to host as many of these exciting new events as possible, it adds another aspect to the golf scene and I’m sure it will attract more spectators to golf. These guys use a whole different technique to hit the ball as far as they can whereas us professional players try to hit it far but with control. Back to my own game and I’m excited about playing in the Masters for a second time. I enjoyed my debut last year and think I played well (Rafa finished tied 17th, the highest finish by a Spanish debutant in the history of the tournament). I was just a few shots off the lead in the third round but unfortunately the conditions were very difficult that day and the greens were extremely tough. Nevertheless, I was very proud of my performance and the experience I gained last year will help me to play better this year. You need to know the Augusta golf course very well – it’s a very demanding track and it requires quality in all the characteristics of the game, such as driving, iron play, chipping and putting. Having experience and knowing all the nuances of that course is very important. One of the most endearing memories I have from the Masters was as a child watching Jose Maria Olazabal’s two wins at the tournament. Watching those victories was what inspired me to become a golfer.

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RAFA CABRERA BELLO IS A JA RESORTS & HOTELS AMBASSADOR.

WILLIAMS SHINES IN SHARJAH SHOWPIECE T

HE inaugural Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq reached a thrilling conclusion as South Africa’s Chris Williams claimed his first title in six years at the first hole of a sudden-death play-off against Englishman Gary Marks. “Words fail me. After eight years on the Tour to finally getting my second win is just amazing,” said Williams, whose last victory came at the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters presented by Stapleford Forum. “I’ve been playing well and scoring well in South Africa leading up to this event, playing in as many Pro-Ams as I could to keep my game sharp. So that gave me a lot of confidence going into this week.” Like all the players in the field, Williams was highly impressed by the Peter Harradinedesigned course at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club – the first time a Senior Tour event had been played on a nine-hole layout. “The course was amazing, the fairways were very good and the greens were magnificent,” said the 57 year old. “Everybody I’ve spoken to enjoyed playing this golf course. We didn’t know how a nine-hole course was going to work but it’s been tremendous and it really gives you food for thought.” The event also marked the first time the European Senior Tour had visited the emirate of Sharjah and it’s first return to the UAE since the Abu Dhabi European Seniors Tour Champonship in 2000. If they were looking to

make an impression, the organisers, and title sponsors Shurooq, could scarcely have hoped for a more captivating final day. Overnight leader, South African James Kingston, got off to a slow start but Williams, who had broken the course record with a 65 in the opening round, caught fire again playing the front nine in just 32 blows, which included a spellbinding run of birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie from the fourth to the seventh holes. But as Kingston continued to struggle for momentum on the second circuit of the nine-hole track, it was Marks who seized the initiative, carding three birdies on the bounce from 13 to 15 to move into a share of the lead with Williams. The pair remained locked together with matching pars over the remaining three holes before each signing for rounds of four under 68, 13-under 203 for the tournament, meaning a return trip down the 18th for a play-off. Marks hit his tee-shot to the middle of the fairway while Williams, just as he did in regulation play, found the light rough on the left. Both players were on the edge of the green with their approach shots. Marks knocked his putt around seven foot past and missed the return. Williams rolled his five foot putt

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David MacLaren Head of the European Senior Tour

"The inaugural Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq was an unqualified success. Every aspect of the tournament was world class and our players were consistent in their praise of both facilities and hospitality. We look forward to returning to Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club in 2018 and to again bringing the many features of Sharjah to a global TV audience”.

past and sunk his follow-up for par and victory. “I got off to a great start today,” said Williams. “I was five under through seven holes and then Gary came back with three birdies on the back nine. But nothing is easy out here, and you’ve got to work hard for these wins no matter where they are.” Marks, who revealed that he hadn’t played much golf over the close season, was disappointed not to close out the victory but said he could take plenty of positives from his performance as the opening event of the 2017 season. “I suddenly caught up with about three or four holes to play and the prospect of getting into a play-off, or winning, became a reality,"said Marks. "For two thirds of the round Chris had a good lead and was three or four shots clear of me at one point after his spurt on the front nine. I was just trying to hold on and hole some putts, which wasn’t really happening. Then I made three birdies on the trot and Chris dropped a shot so the complexion of the game changed completely. “I was thrilled to get into the play-off. It was obviously an unfortunate way for it to end for me, but it was much more than I could have hoped for coming into the tournament as I hadn’t been playing before this week.” Last season’s Order of Merit runner-up and Rookie of the Year, Magnus Atlevi, joined Kingston in third place at 12-under

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;After extensive testing I chose the best golf ball for my gameâ&#x20AC;?

Left to right: John Mills (amateur winner), H.E. Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal (CEO Shurooq), Chris Williams (professional winner), Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmad Al Qasimi (Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council), H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani (Vice President, Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club), Peter Harradine (course designer), David MacLaren (Head of the European Senior Tour), Ahmad Al Qasir, (COO Shurooq), Martin Duff (Director of Golf Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club). par while England’s Roger Chapman finished fifth at 10-under and reigning European Senior Tour Number One Paul Broadhurst finished sixth at nine under. H.E. Marwan Bin Jassim Al Sarkal - CEO of title sponsors the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) said: “I congratulate Chris Williams for being the hero of the championship and have nothing but praise for the high level of performance of all the players in the field this week. "It’s been a great achievement by Sharjah in hosting and organising this event, which has attracted some of the Senior Tour’s best players. We thank the European Senior Tour and all the partners and sponsors who contributed to making the event such a success.” Sheikh Mohamed Al Thani, Vice President of Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club said: “We feel proud and honoured to be the host venue for the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq which reflects on the stature of the emirate of Sharjah, which is one of the best destinations for golf and championships in the world.” Williams echoed the sentiments of the players in the field when he commended the success of the inaugural Sharjah Senior Golf Masters and talked of his optimism that this week’s event could be the first step towards the establishment of a Senior Middle East Swing to mirror the highly popular three-event Swing on the regular Tour. “I’d love to see around seven events out here but this is a good start and this is how it happens, by opening doors

Pos

Name

Nation

To Par

Total

Prize Money

Chris Williams

RSA

-13

203

€ 59,550

Gary Marks

ENG

-13

203

€ 39,700

Magnus P Atlevi

SWE

-12

204

€ 24,812

James Kingston

RSA

-12

204

€ 24,812

Roger Chapman

ENG

-10

206

€ 17,984

Paul Broadhurst

ENG

-9

207

€ 15,880

André Bossert

SUI

-8

208

€ 14,292

Stephen Dodd

WAL

-7

209

€ 11,380

Santiago Luna

ESP

-7

209

€ 11,380

Steen Tinning

DEN

-7

209

€ 11,380

Runner-up Gary Marks in action on the immaculately presented nine-hole Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club course.

and establish contacts. This region is a Mecca for golf. People come from all over the world to play in the UAE. There are a lot of courses and some great players have taken up residence in the area so there’s no reason the Senior Tour can’t go forward from here.” Sharjah’s successful first foray into the

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world of professional tour golf sent a powerful message to the golging world that there’s a new popular venue on the scene and the inaugural Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq heralded the start of what promises to be an exciting new dawn for the European Senior Tour in the region.

RAI HEADS ROAD TO OMAN RANKINGS AFTER KENYA WIN Englishman Aaron Rai narrowly missed out on promotion to the European Tour when he finished 18th on last year’s Road to Oman Rankings but he put himself in prime position to achieve that goal this time around by winning the first event of the season as the 2017 Challenge Tour schedule got underway at the Barclays Kenya Open. Rai, whose mother is Kenyan, was cheered on by the Nairobi crowds as he turned in a scintillating final round performance, carding seven birdies in a round of 6-under 65 to beat Frenchman Adrien Saddier by three shots for his first title. “It feels amazing,” said Rai who finished 17 under par for the tournament. “It couldn’t have been a better event to win, with it being Kenya, and with the support of all the Kenyan people as well. There’s a big Indian population here and it was amazing having my mum here.

‘Amazing’ “She was born in Kenya and this was the first time she’d been back to Kenya in the 47 years since she left so I couldn’t have picked a better tournament for this to happen. It’s been amazing to have her here. It was something we had planned a couple of months’ ago. She wanted to come last year but couldn’t because of work commitments but she certainly picked a good year, the way the week turned out.” Rai started the final round one stroke behind fellow countryman Matt Wallace, but he went out like a rocket with three birdies in a row from the second, completing the front nine of the Muthaiga Golf Club course in 33 blows, before matching that score down the back nine.

“There were some butterflies throughout, and I guess a bit of that is natural, but I think we dealt with it all pretty well and I just feel very fortunate to have won this week. I just tried to stick to the same game plan I’d had all week. It’s never a good time to change anything on the fourth day, especially if you’ve got yourself into a good position, so I just tried to do the same things today as I had for the previous three days. “I got off to a very good start and that definitely helped me play my own game and not worry too much about what anyone else was doing. I never felt it was mine until we were on the green on the last hole. You can never take anything for granted in this game until the last putt is made and you know it’s yours. “It’s been an amazing week and something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.” Saddier also came agonizingly close to European Tour promotion last year, finishing

17th on the Road to Oman and birdies over the final two holes ensured that he finished in outright second place, one shot ahead of Italian Francesco Laporta and Wallace. Ranking after 2017 Barclays Kenya Open

Pos 1 2 3 5 7 9

Name Aaron RAI Adrien SADDIER Francesco LAPORTA Matt WALLACE Adrian MERONK Rhys DAVIES Wil BESSELING Jacques KRUYSWIJK Matthew BALDWIN Jaco AHLERS Louis DE JAGER

Country (ENG) (FRA) (ITA) (ENG) (POL) (WAL) (NED) (RSA) (ENG) (RSA) (RSA)

Played Points (1) 35200 (1) 24200 (1) 14300 (1) 14300 (1) 9900 (1) 9900 (1) 6600 (1) 6600 (1) 4840 (1) 4840 (1) 4840

GRADUATE WATCH: MARCUS ARMITAGE MARCUS ARMITAGE was one the 16 graduates from last year’s Road to Oman rankings to be promoted to this year’s European Tour following the season-ending NBO Golf Classic Grand Final in Muscat, Oman. The Englishman has battled to find his feet on the main tour, having so far finished in the money on only two occasions. Armitage spent only one full season on the Challenge Tour prior to making the step up to the European Tour so the 29 year old is learning each and every week. He knows that it takes just four good rounds in a row to change everything. Last year he won the big money Foshan Open in the closing stages of the season to all but secure his European Tour card. Worldwide Golf: Give us a quick

recap of your experience so far. Marcus Armitage: The European Tour has been great. My first event was at Leopard Creek in South Africa which was one of my dreams to go there. I missed the cut by one but I’m gradually getting into it. The tournaments are a lot better and the level is much higher with so many outstanding players. WWG: How have you found this step up? Do you feel comfortable competing against these guys? MA: I feel fine around the players. It’s the same game. I can only do my best and hope. It’s a learning curve for me but the objective when I go out on the course is still the same – to try and win. WWG: Have you set any goals for yourself this season?

MA: I’m just focusing on the small things. to see how far that gets me. I’m soaking up as much experience as I can, focusing on trying to win. WWG: How did the Challenge Tour help in playing events such as the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final in preparing you for life on the Tour? MA: The Challenge Tour gets you used to travelling to a lot of different countries and playing on different grasses. That has put me in good stead for this year. The NBO Golf Classic Grand Final was a higher level, featuring the top 45 players on the Road to Oman so that was great

Worldwide 33 WorldwideGOLF GOLF 34

preparation for the step up in level this year. WWG: You played in the seasonending NBO Golf Classic Grand Final last year and finished tied 10th - tell us about that experience? MA: It’s a magical course and I really enjoyed playing there. The wind can get up but that’s part of the challenge. It’s a great layout and it’s a wonderful event.

Race to Dubai movers and shakers Fleetwood and Rahm make huge moves after WGCs With the World Golf Championships breaking new ground in Central America at the WGCMexico Championship, England’s Tommy Fleetwood took full advantage with a superb runner-up finish behind World No.1 Dustin Johnson to secure 984,271 Race to Dubai points and dramatically increase his lead on the ranking. But he’ll have his work cut out to stay ahead of the European Tour’s newest member, Jon Rahm. The Spaniard finished tied third in his WGC debut in Mexico to earn 468,117 points and then added a runner-up finish behind the indomitable Johnson at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin to win another 969,207 points and move into second place. Fleetwood’s compatriot Ross Fisher also excelled at Club de Golf Chapultepec with a share of third place with Rahm and added a fifth place finish in Austin for another 276,386 points to move up to third place in the Race to Dubai, having been in 132nd place prior to travelling to Mexico. Sergio Garcia finished in tied 12th place for in Mexico for 123,622 and lies in fourth place in while Japan’s Hideto Tanihara finished fourth in Austin to claim 505,472 points which moved him into fifth place in the ranking.

Destination Dubai for Fichardt after Joburg victory Darren Fichardt set himself up for a first appearance at the DP World Tour Championship since 2014 with his fifth European Tour victory at the Joburg Open. The South African made a huge move up from 107th on the Race to Dubai to 18th thanks to a 187,697-point haul and he is targeting a third career appearance in the season-ending event in Dubai. Finishing in a share of second place were England's Paul Waring and Welshman Stuart Manley and they both earned 109,065 points for their efforts. Waring moved from 63rd to 22nd while Manley made a huge move from 231st to 42nd.

The Race to Dubai trophy Darren Fichardt celebrates with his caddy

SSP Chawrasia on course for DP World debut Tommy Fleetwood

Jon Rahm

By wrapping up his fourth European Tour title at the Hero Indian Open, SSP Chawrasia collected a whopping 275,828 points to move from 194th to 18th on the Race to Dubai. The win puts Chawrasia, whose four titles have all come on home soil, in with a great chance of qualifying for a maiden outing in the DP World Tour Championship in November. The Indian’s best season on Tour came in 2011 when he finished 80th on the Race to Dubai with 392,702 points. So far this season after just seven events he has 289,309 and is well-placed inside the top 20 on the ranking. Scott Jamieson and Matteo Manassero finished in a share of third place to earn 93,177 which moved them both inside the top 60 on the ranking. The Italian moved from 98th to 47th with SSP Chawrasia Scotland’s Jamieson jumping from 77th to 39th.

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Tour News Date: Feb 23 - 26 Event: The Honda Classic Venue: PGA National, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Date: Feb 23 - 26 Event: Joburg Open Venue: Royal Johannesburg & Kensington GC, Johannesburg22www

FOWLER SURVIVES EARLY STUMBLE TO WIN

FICHARDT WINS ON HOME SOIL

Rickie Fowler bounced back from going out in 37 to coming home in 34 to win The Honda Classic by four strokes for his fourth US PGA Tour title. Morgan Hoffman and Gary Woodland moved up the leaderboard to finish in a share of second place as Martin Kaymer, Tyrrell Hatton and Wesley Bryan failed to make a late surge. Pos. Name 1 Rickie Fowler T2 Morgan Hoffmann T2 Gary Woodland

Country USA USA USA

Darren Fichardt won the rain-shortened Joburg Open by one stroke from Welshman Stuart Manley and England’s Paul Waring to win his fifth European Tour title and his first since 2013. Those first three finishers all earn their place in the field for The Open at Royal Birkdale as a result.

Score

Total

Pos. Name

-12 -8 -8

268 272 272

1 2 2

Date: March 2 - 5 Event: Tshwane Open Venue: Pretoria CC, Waterkloof, South Africa

Darren Fichardt Stuart Manley Paul Waring

Country RSA WAL ENG

Score

Total

-15 -14 -14

200 201 201

Date: March 2 - 5 Event: WGC-Mexico Championship Venue: Chapultepec GC, Mexico City, Mexico

JOHNSON ON TOP – AGAIN BURMESTER SEALS MAIDEN TITLE Dean Burmester clinched his first European Tour title with a threestroke win over Jorge Campillo and Mikko Korhonen at the Tshwane Open. Burmester shot back-to-back weekend rounds of 6-under-par 65 to move up the leaderboard and taste victory for the first time. Pos. Name 1 2 2

Dean Burmester Jorge Campillo Mikko Korhonen

Country RSA ESP FIN

Score

Total

-18 -15 -15

266 269 269

Dustin Johnson underlined his status as the No.1 ranked player in the world with a one-stroke victory over Tommy Fleetwood at the WGC-Mexico Championship. Johnson held off the challenge from a strong contingent of Europeans with Ross Fisher and Spaniard Jon Rahm a stroke further back with Belgian Thomas Pieters in a share of fifth place alongside American Justin Thomas. Pos. Name 1 2 3 3

Dustin Johnson Tommy Fleetwood Ross Fisher Jon Rahm

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Country USA ENG ENG ESP

Score

Total

-14 -13 -12 -12

270 271 272 272

WORLD ROUNDUPS Date: March 9 - 12 Event: Hero Indian Open Venue: DLF Golf & CC, New Delhi, India

Date: March 9 - 12 Event: Valspar Championship Venue: Innisbrook Resort, Tampa Bay, Florida

HADWIN CLINCHES NARROW FIRST WIN

CHAWRASIA ROMPS TO TITLE DEFENCE SSP Chawrasia stormed to his fourth European Tour title with a 10-underpar total and a superb seven-stroke victory over Gavin Green at the Hero Indian Open. Chawrasia, whose four wins have all come in his homeland, shot rounds of 72-67-68-71 to leave the rest of the field in his wake.

Canadian Adam Hadwin collected his first win on the US PGA Tour after former Amateur star Patrick Cantley missed a par putt on the final green. Cantley, who has only started two events in the last two years due to injury, failed to get up-and-down to force a play-off, leaving Hadwin with a tap-in par for a one-stroke win.

Pos. Name 1 2 3

S.S.P Chawrasia Gavin Green Scott Jamieson

Country IND MAS SCO

Score

Total

Pos. Name

-10 -3 -2

278 285 286

1 2 3

Adam Hadwin Patrick Cantlay Jim Herman

Country CAN USA USA

Score

Total

-14 -13 -12

270 271 272

Date: Mar 16 - 19 Event: Arnold Palmer Invitational Venue: Bay Hill Club and Lodge, Orlando, Florida

LEISHMAN POWERS TO ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL VICTORY Australian Marc Leishman roared through the leaderboard to win the first staging of the Arnold Palmer Invitational since the passing of Palmer at the age of 87 last September. Leishman eagled the 16th to move one shot clear and closed out a onestroke victory as the chasing pack failed to birdie the difficult final hole. World No.2 Rory McIlroy had a lengthy birdie putt to tie Leishman's score but rolled it seven feet past the cup and then missed the par putt to drop into a share of fourth place alongside Tyrrell Hatton. American duo Kevin Kisner and Charley Hoffman finished alongside each other in second place while England's Tommy Fleetwood continued his good form with a share of tenth place.

Kisner Pos. Name 1 Marc Leishman T2 Kevin Kisner T2 Charley Hoffman

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Country AUS USA USA

Hoffman Score -11 -10 -10

Total 277 278 278

Magic

Mike U

nless you are part of the inner circle of life on Tour the name Mike Walker wouldn’t register in any way. Learning his craft from Pete Cowen over the past ten years, Mike has worked with some of the best players in the business but like Pete, the quiet unassuming Yorkshireman from the north of England, keeps himself-tohimself and goes about his job under the radar of the media and the golfing spectators. Even when Danny Willett won the Dubai Desert Classic, Mike was still able to keep a low profile. That all changed in the early morning of April 10th 2016 when Danny knocked in the final putt on the 18th green at Augusta. All of a sudden people wanted to know how the Englishman managed to keep his cool and more importantly his swing under immense pressure. At that point everyone wanted to know who was behind crafting the 2016 champion’s swing – Mike’s cover was blown. Worldwide Golf caught up with him to ask how Danny won the Masters, how the players gear up for the opening Major of the season and why Thomas Björn talks with a Yorkshire accent! Worldwide GOLF 38

FEATURE

MIKE WALKER

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How and when did you first start working with Danny? Mike Walker: About three years ago Danny’s management company approached Pete Cowen and myself for a second opinion of his swing. He’d just missed the cut in Switzerland and wanted to sort things out. His main problem was conceptual – how he understood his golf swing and what he was doing by keeping the golf club in front of him. He was picking the club up in the takeaway and then it was dropping in the change of direction and he couldn’t understand why. He was trying to keep the club in front of him a bit too much. He would then adjust things in the transition phase and that’s where Pete and I stepped in. Danny puts in a lot of graft on the range and it wasn’t long before we were able to get him setting the club on the right path. How has your life changed as a result of Danny winning the Masters? Mike Walker: Ironically, not much has changed for me. I’m now probably known more by the general golfing public as a leading coach and not just Pete’s number two. There has been a lot more media attention although I’ve always tended to keep my head down and involve myself with the lads on Tour. But when one of your players wins a Major people tend to be a little more interested in the behind-the-scenes stuff. I’m pretty much flat-out working with our players, so things were never going to change that much for me. It was great to receive the appreciation and that all the hard work standing on the range pays off. What are the main challenges as a coach preparing your players for the Masters? Mike Walker: It’s very hard to periodise a player’s training in golf. In more physical-based sports, it’s easier to get an athlete to peak for certain weeks but it’s difficult to do that in golf. In terms of coaching and talking to players as they prepare for a Major, I’m not doing anything radical or different. The key for the player is to try and ensure that the weeks leading up to it are organised in a way that will help them perform at their best when the Major comes along. Tour players are just like the rest of us – many have families and commitments, so most of the preparation is down to scheduling. Playing just the right number of golf events without burning yourself out is key to success. How does the Masters differ from any other tournament? Mike Walker: It’s true to say that a rookie will struggle to win the Masters. It’s no surprise that Fuzzy Zoeller was the last to achieve the feat back in 1979 as course knowledge is what makes Augusta National tough to negotiate. You need to know where the safe areas are, not just on the greens but also on the fairways. Everyone knows what the greens are like but normally finding the fairway is good enough. Being on the wrong side of the fairway can short side your approach to the green and you just can’t play for the centre, hope to two putt and move on. The likelihood is you will be in three-putt territory.

Below: Augusta’s 10th hole has a huge elevation drop from tee to green and catching the down slope is crucial to give yourself a chance of finding the safe part of the green.

Is it true you were in bed at home when Danny won last year and you missed a flight the following day? Mike Walker: Yes, it is. I went to bed just before they made the turn in the final round. Spieth looked comfortable at the top of the leaderboard. I had just fallen asleep when my phone started going mental. At that point I realised something dramatic had happened. It was when Jordan made a quad at the 12th. I was out of bed immediately, glued to the television. Danny was hitting it great and looked full of confidence. When he knocked in that final putt the celebrations started! I will not go into too much detail but I’d set my alarm for 04:00 am in order to catch the morning flight to the Spanish Open. I never heard the alarm and it’s still the only flight I’ve ever missed! Will you be watching the whole event this year? Mike Walker: I will be in an airport at Atlanta! But with Danny defending and with Matt Fitzpatrick looking good, I guess anything can happen. I just hope I don’t miss the flight. But I might not be too

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FEATURE

MIKE WALKER

Which are the toughest holes at Augusta and why? Mike Walker: Obviously there are plenty of tough holes around there and the three that standout are holes 4, 10 and 11. The 10th is ok if you hit a good drive but you’re still left with a lot of club into the green. If you miss it right and end up in the bunker and the pin is cut on the right it’s extremely difficult as it all slopes down to the left. Hole 11 has gotten longer and longer so you’re hitting more club into a green - and that is not an easy approach on the eye with any club, let alone a long iron. The fourth is hard because it’s just such a long par-3. The greens are so unconventional, throwing a long club at them means it’s difficult to get the ball to stop and behave the way it normally would. Danny won it last year because of his precision with his irons but he putted absolutely unbelievably that week as well. He actually hit fades all week. There’s only really holes 2 and 13 where you need to draw it, and you can arguably hit a 3 wood off the tee on 2 and try and draw it around the corner and let the slope take it down the fairway and it’s easier to shape a 3-wood than a driver.

bothered if the circumstances are the same again! What’s the best bet you have ever won with one of your players? Mike Walker: I don’t really bet but back in 2010, Pete had been at the Masters and I hadn’t, and came back home before the opening round and my friend’s father-in-law asked him for a tip and he said to back Phil Mickelson – and he went and won it. Danny went off on an automotive shopping spree after his win - did you follow suit? Mike Walker: Nope, but Danny kindly gave Pete and me a nice watch each. Which was good of him and meant a lot to us both.

Above: Augusta’s 11th hole is one of the most challenging off the tee and with a long iron approach. Water left, awkward chip from the bail out on the right and a tricky green. It doesn’t get much harder than that unless you can emulate Larry Mize’s 1987 winning chip. You know the one ... it left Ballesteros and Norman scratching their heads in disbelief.

Since you started coaching, how has the professional swing changed? Mike Walker: Mechanically, you are always looking to find ways to improve your efficiency and performance in the golf swing but the mechanics haven’t changed massively. I just think that more recently the experts in the physical world and the advancements in technology have added to the understanding of the mechanical process and possibly validate things that have been done in the past – or have been thought in the past. We have more access to what is happening in a muscular sense and that is helping create positions that we want in

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Do you believe Danny would have won if he hadn’t been paired with Lee? Mike Walker: We will never know, but people forget that Danny was 12th in the world at the time and tied third at the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral just a few weeks before and had regularly been coming down the final stretch with the likes of Day, Fowler and Dustin Johnson. He’s one of the game’s elite iron players. Just look at his stats from 200 yards in, it’s one of the best in the game. That’s what won him the Masters. To be that accurate from that distance enabled him to find the safe areas and leave himself makeable putts.

FEATURE

MIKE WALKER

“What drives you is trying to be the best you can be. I have now had a little taste of what it’s like to be at the pinnacle of your game. That Masters Sunday was incredible. Regardless of what happened after it, no one can take away the feelings I had on that Sunday,” - Willett

the swing. The mechanics are still the same, there’s just more insight into how the body moves. How do you coach players who differ so much physically – like Chris Wood and Matt Fitzpatrick? Mike Walker: Again, we work closely with the players’ physical coaches. Chris has a quirky movement with his shoulder but once we knew how it functioned we knew how to structure the mechanics of his swing and fitness routine. Matt Fitzpatrick has worked hard with Kevin Duffy, his fitness coach, and has also started to add more muscle, naturally, as he’s matured. Matt has never been a short hitter but we did find that he was a little steep into the ball with the driver. Changing his attack angle paired with more strength means he can comfortably hit it past the 300-yard mark. You have to travel the world to look after your players but what happens when some are playing in the States and some are in Europe? Mike Walker: The lads all understand that the bigger events such as the Majors and WGC events will always take preference. But between Pete and I we manage what goes on in the States and in Europe pretty effectively. What is it like working with Pete and what does he mean to you as a friend and mentor? Mike Walker: Without Pete I wouldn’t be where I am today. I will be forever in his debt for what he has done for me. It’s great to be around him after all these years. Not many coaches talk to each other about their business. But this is where Pete and I differ. We talk all the time about everything and that’s priceless. Phil Kenyon, Pete and yourself are the go-to guys on the European Tour and you’re all Northerners. How do your international players react to the humour and no nonsense approach to life? Mike Walker: They all get used to us pretty quickly and it hasn’t taken us long to convert some of the lads to our way of thinking. In fact, Thomas Björn

has started to develop a Yorkshire twang in his accent and Henrik Stenson’s got arguably the driest, quick-witted sense of humour out there. With John Rahm and Kevin Na becoming European Tour members do you see a shift in US PGA Tour players playing an international schedule? Mike Walker: The European Tour’s Rolex Series will be a huge pull for many international players looking to schedule from May onwards. With event prize money of over seven million, it’s definitely got the big-name players thinking, especially with the final events and the DP World Tour Championship rounding the season off when there’s not much happening on the US PGA Tour. Do you think 18 holes is too long these days? Is the European Tour correct in trying to introduce new ideas such as music on the range and the GolfSixes tournament at the Centurion Club? Mike Walker: In my opinion, I think it’s quite hard for the governing bodies because to get the best players appearing on leaderboards you need more 18 hole rounds of competition so the cream

rises to the top. So a tournament of 18 holes or shorter, it’s got more chance of throwing up a random winner. But if the top players are already qualified and in some kind of elite Premier League for a shorter-format event, then it could potentially be more interesting. The stuff they’ve done with adding music at the driving ranges and a more ‘stadium’ style scenario is all great. But in terms of format – why not shake it up a bit. There will be an element of finding out what is successful and what isn’t by doing it and I’m sure they’ll get it right eventually. I think they have to do something because at grass roots level everybody is saying participation levels are down and that the game is too slow. Given the choice of the States or Dubai, where would you chose to base yourself? Mike Walker: Dubai over the years has become a home from home for me but I’d struggle from April to September. So I’m going to be greedy and say, the States for the hot months and Dubai for the rest.

Prediction for this year’s Masters: I think it’s similar most years. When I was younger, Fred Couples always used to pop up at Augusta, and I think there are certain course specialists out there so you look for people who’ve done well there in the past. Lee Westwood always does well there – he’s like a Fred Couples in that he’s seemingly always there or thereabouts. He’s so precise with the long game and clearly likes the course. He is a natural fader of the ball so it dispels that myth that you have to draw it. So the usual suspects and then anybody that’s playing well in the run-up should be in contention. Louis Oosthuizen and Lee are a couple of usual suspects and Bubba Watson – but he has been struggling recently. So I’ll go with Louis. He’s been showing glimpses of form and he likes the place.

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Rahmbo:

Young Blood I

T’S been a meteoric rise from former amateur star to US PGA Tour winner – and now Jon Rahm is coming home to compete on the European Tour with a view to becoming a Ryder Cup regular. The Spaniard hit the headlines in January this year with his breakthrough victory at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. Then he played his way into contention on his first World Golf Championships start at the Mexico Championship last month, finishing third, and then took on the best player in the world, Dustin Johnson, in the Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin, Texas, and took him to the final hole. Worldwide Golf ’s Todd Stazsko charts the making of Rahm – or ‘Rahmbo’ as he’s affectionately known on Tour – from a small town in the Basque region of northern Spain to the upper echelons of professional golf, with his Masters debut just around the corner.

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FEATURE

JON RAHM

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FEATURE

JON RAHM

JON RAHM HAD A 100 PER CENT RECORD GOING INTO THE FINAL OF THE WGC DELL TECHNOLOGIES MATCH PLAY BUT WAS IN DANGER OF GETTING BLOWN AWAY ON THE FRONT NINE STANDING AT FIVE DOWN AFTER EIGHT HOLES AGAINST WORLD NUMBER ONE DUSTIN JOHNSON BEFORE HE MOUNTED A STUNNING FIGHTBACK TO TAKE THE MATCH DOWN TO THE FINAL HOLE.

“Unfortunately for me, I had the hottest player on earth. But it shows me that I can compete with someone like DJ and any other player, even if I had probably one of my worst front nines possible.” – Jon Rahm SPAIN’S JON RAHM PROUDLY RAISES THE TROPHY AFTER HIS BREAKTHROUGH WIN AT THE FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN AT TORREY PINES.

BACK in 2012, a young Jon Rahm had his eyes set on life in Madrid and furthering his education in his homeland’s capital. Rahm’s golfing potential hadn’t gone unnoticed but awareness from overseas was almost non-existent and it seemed that the opportunity to earn a golf scholarship in the United States had passed him by. That was until Tim Mickelson, golf coach at Arizona State University (ASU) and brother of five-time Major winner Phil, received a tip-off from a Spanish friend about Rahm’s enormous potential. Mickelson put his trust in his friend’s opinion and offered Jon a scholarship to ASU – without ever having seen him swing a club. Rahm and his parents accepted the offer and a couple of months later Rahm arrived in America as a 17 year old speaking very little English but ready to start a new chapter in his life. Fortunately, for both Jon and Tim there was another player on the ASU golf team who could speak Spanish and Jon, being a quick learner, soon picked up English by listening to rap artists Eminem and Kendrick Lamar. It was a tough juggling act to adapt to a new way of life while managing to work on his golf game, his education and a new

Worldwide GOLF 49

language. But Rahm kept his head down and despite having to work on his studies his golf game improved remarkably. He received the Ben Hogan Award as the best college player at both Junior and Senior level and left ASU last year, second on the all-time winners’ list behind its most famous alumni – Phil Mickelson. At the time of Rahm’s graduation both he and Tim Mickelson had decisions to make. Mickelson was coming to the end of his five-year spell as a coach at ASU and Rahm was looking to turn professional. The duo looked at each other’s situation and decided to join forces as agent and golfer. Rahm took to the professional game with ease in June 2016, shortly after winning Low Amateur honours with a share of 23rd place at the US Open. His debut as a pro saw him finish in a share of third at the Quicken Loans National at Congressional CC and the following month he finished runner-up at the RBC Canadian Open. These results saw him earn enough money to clinch his playing rights for 2017 and he capped his 2016 campaign by coming eighth at the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf, alongside Rafa Cabrera Bello. By the end of January, Rahm’s name was on everybody’s lips. The 22-year-old had become the latest first-time winner on

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FEATURE

JON RAHM

LIKE ALL GREAT BALL STRIKERS, RAHM KEEPS HIS BODY ROTATING THROUGH IMPACT WHILE KEEPING THE CLUB IN FRONT.

RAHM IS POWERFULLY BUILT AND AVERAGES 305 YARDS OFF THE TEE. HE HAS A BOW IN THE LEFT WRIST ... VERY SIMILAR TO DUSTIN JOHNSON. COULD THIS BE A NEW TREND?

the US PGA Tour with a superb three-stroke victory at Torrey Pines – sealing the win with a sensational 60-foot eagle putt at the last. The victory moved Rahm’s standing in the game to a new level. Sensing that he was ready to compete with the best players in the world he joined the European Tour on the eve of the WGC-Mexico Championship with a clear goal in mind – making Thomas Bjørn’s 2018 Ryder Cup Team. “It means a lot to become a Member – I’m European after all,” says Rahm who followed up a third place finish in Mexico with second place at the Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin –not a bad return from his first two WGCs. “I’ve always wanted to play in The Ryder Cup and be a European Tour Member. I know I’ve taken a different approach to my professional life compared to other Europeans who went to college in the United States but I thought it was my best shot so I took it,” said Rahm. “I knew at one point that I was going to be a European Tour Member. I just didn’t realise that it would happen so early on in my career.” Rahm was a keen follower of European golf prior to his move Stateside and he wants to make his mark on the European Tour as so many of his compatriots have done before him. “The first golf I ever watched was the Volvo Masters in 2007 at Valderrama. Justin Rose

was playing the third and he holed out for a hole-in-one,” said Rahm. “There are so many great events and I have memories of watching them all – Miguel Angel Jiménez winning the French Open, Pablo Larrazabal winning the French Open and then defeating Sergio Garcia in a play-off at the BMW International in Germany a couple of years later –so many great events and wonderful memories. “Every golfer’s dream is to play in The Ryder Cup. It’s the major team event we all aim for as professionals and you get to share it with 11 other guys, the captains and caddies. I think that if you win the Cup, it creates a bond for life, which is something I want to be a part of. Thomas Bjørn did text me after my win at

Torrey Pines and said he wants to chat. I think I know what that will be all about and I want him to know how much it would mean to me to play in The Ryder Cup. It’s an ultimate life goal of mine and I will work very hard to try and get it.” Rahm has rocketed up the list in the last three months and is now comfortably in the top 50 on the Official World Golf Rankings (14th at the time of going to press) – meaning guaranteed eligibility for the four Majors and the World Golf Championships, so he can pick and choose his schedule to suit him. While nothing in golf is a certainty, it looks as if Jon Rahm is here to stay as European Golf’s brightest new talent. ■

QUICK FIRE RAHMBO FACTS: ●

Rahm was ranked 551st in the world as he turned professional in June 2016. After his third place finish at the WGC-Mexico Championship he moved up to 25th and then surged up to 14th after his runner-up finish in Austin.

●

Rahm signed with TaylorMade for 2017 – his full rookie season as a professional. He plays the M2 Driver, the M1 Fairway Metal, P750 Tour irons and Milled Grind Wedges and the TP5X ball.

●

Should Rahm qualify for the 2018 Ryder Cup, he would be the 11th Spaniard to have represented Team Europe.

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FEATURE

NICHOLAS COLSAER TS

Playing it cool Belgium’s NICOLAS COLSAERTS talks exclusively to Worldwide Golf ’s Scott Grayston about his infamous partying days, his record-breaking driving distance and the young compatriots he predicts are destined for Major success.

RARELY do you meet a person, never mind a golfer, who exudes magnetism and swagger but is also as down-to-earth and as laid back as they come. Nicholas Colsaerts is that man. Golf’s equivalent of “The Dude” from The Big Lebowski is one cool customer. He doesn’t take himself too seriously but don’t be fooled by his endearing off-course personality. When he steps onto the tee, he’s all business. You don’t win two European Tour titles and play in The Ryder Cup without having some serious game and Colsaerts, who finished tied fourth in last year’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, is capable of matching the best in the world on his day. 

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FEATURE

NICHOLAS COLSAER TS

COLSAERTS proved his worth when he made one of the most stunning debuts in Ryder Cup history in 2012. The 34 year old was paired with Lee Westwood in the afternoon fourballs where they had the unenviable task of taking on Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker. Colsaerts duly produced the performance of his life, rolling in eight birdies and an eagle to claim a vital blue point almost single-handedly. The former Challenge Tour player had the chance to compete against Woods for the first time in a while at this season’s OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic and despite the former World No.1’s withdrawal after just one round, Colsaerts remains full of admiration for his Medinah rival. “There’s such a great buzz when Tiger features on the European Tour,” he says. “I’m not sure if he holds a grudge against me for what happened at Medinah because we’ve never actually spoken about it but he did shake my hand on the 18th and it felt genuine! When you are passionate about the sport and compete against someone who plays at the top of their game, then you’ve got to tip your hat and admire the effort.”

Phenomenal Distance

A key feature of Colsaerts’ game is his phenomenal distance off the tee and never was it demonstrated more clearly than at Celtic Manor when he blasted a 447-yard drive to enter the European Tour record books at the 2014 Wales Open. It was a feat that explains his nickname as ‘The Belgian Bomber’. “I hated the first nickname they gave me, which was ‘Muscles from Brussels’ as it was already taken by Jean-Claude Van Damme,” he laughs. Famously fond of House music, Colsaerts once admitted to fearing he’d be dead by 30 during his wild night-clubbing days. He’s made it four years past that but he might not have done had he not begun working with coach Ken Berndt in Australia at a time when he was partying more than he was practicing. Berndt not only transformed his game, but also his lifestyle. “I worked with Ken at the A-Game Academy,” says Cosaerts, “and not only did it help my game, but because I was away from

BELGIUM’S NICOLAS COLSAERTS L AND THOMAS PIETERS 3RD LEFT WITH THEIR CADDIES BRIAN NILSSON AND ADAM MARROW DURING A PRACTICE ROUND ON DAY 3 OF THE RIO 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES AT THE OLYMPIC GOLF COURSE .

friends and family for so long, it also gave me a lot of thinking time, which helped me change my approach to my career, and to life in general.” These days Colsaerts is far more focused on the course than the nightclubs but he still loves his music so he was delighted when the European Tour introduced it to the driving range this season. “I’m an avid music fan so I think it’s great that they have tracks playing on the range at tournaments,” he says. “Although there have been some dodgy music choices, like the Final Countdown which they played a few times at the Dubai Desert Classic – it might be a classic but it certainly wouldn’t be on my playlist!

On the Decks

“I started listening to music when I was really young. I asked my parents to set me up with an old turntable at home and I began listening to Motown and 60s music. Later I moved into electronic music when I was about 12 years old and I haven’t looked back since. I keep digging here and there to find new tracks and trends and delve into the electronic scene.” Two of Colsaerts’ younger

NICOLAS COLSAERTS CELEBRATES A BIRDIE PUTT ON THE 17TH GREEN AS TIGER WOODS LOOKS ON DURING THE AFTERNOON FOURBALL MATCHES FOR THE 39TH RYDER CUP AT MEDINAH COUNTRY CLUB.

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compatriots have taken the limelight away from him in recent years by making a huge impression since emerging on the scene. Thomas Pieters followed in Colsaerts’ footsteps when he earned a shock wildcard pick for last year’s Ryder Cup where he was arguably the best performer on the European team, winning four out of five matches. Thomas Detry won by 12 shots at the Bridgestone Challenge last season – the largest winning margin in European Challenge Tour history, which helped pave the way towards him earning his European Tour card. Big things are expected from these two young men who both look up to Colsaerts as a major role model.

Pieters and Detry

“It’s up to them (Pieters and Detry) how far they go,” he says. “Pieters has been playing very well for the last couple of years. There are still a few steps that he needs to get over and I’m sure that he feels the same. There’s no doubt he is a very promising talent, who does everything really well. Detry also has huge potential and has the more flair out of the two. “Both the guys know that if there is something they want to ask I will always be there and try to give them the best advice possible. Pieters is up and running and knows where he’s heading but it’s Detry’s first year so he still seeks my advice every now and then. He’s done incredibly well so far and I don’t really see him slowing down.” Colsaerts is seen as the veteran of Belgian golf but don’t even think of inquiring about his future plans. I tried that, asking him where he saw himself at 40, and the answer came back in typical ‘Dude’ fashion. “I don’t even know what I’m going to do tomorrow!” One thing seems certain. The endearing, music-loving Colsaerts will continue to entertain the galleries around the world with his shot-making and easy-going personality. ■

FEATURES

LONG DRIVE W ORLD SERIES

LONG DRIVE

WORLD SERIES’

BIG DOGS RIP IT UP AT JGE

he inaugural Long Drive World Series proved to be a phenomenal spectacle played out to a pumping soundtrack in front of a packed audience of over 1,000 fans at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai last month. The event featured eight of the longest hitters in the world and two wildcard picks – one of which was eGolf Megastore representative, Ricky Dominguez, who won a spot among the elite after hitting a drive

351.7 yards in the X-Golf simulator at eGolf Megastore’s Al Wasl branch. Dubai-based Dominguez unfortunately couldn’t handle the heat in the qualifiers as he failed to land a drive within the designated landing zone but the other wildcard pick Ryan Reisbeck advanced all the way to the final before losing to two-time Long Drive World Champion Tim Burke for the title and the lion’s share of the £50,000 prize fund. The muscle bound

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competitors looked more like wrestlers than golfers, apart from 19-year-old Emil Rosberg, who edged out two-time World Champion Joe Miller for a podium finish and more than made up for his lack of size with his larger than life personality. The Long Drive World Series proved to be a refreshingly different addition to Dubai’s golf scene and don’t be surprised to see the big dogs back in the UAE next year after the success of this first showing.

Tim Burke (pictured left)

2017 Long Drive World Series Champion

I am glad to come out on top in these tough conditions. I had some difficult matches especially against Miller and Reisbeck but I just concentrated on hitting the centre of the face of the ball and just tried to stay loose, almost feeling like a noodle. It is the first time that I have ever travelled this far (from the USA to the UAE), so the jetlag was pretty bad. It almost made me feel relaxed, though, because I was so tired. The adrenaline wasn’t kicking in like it normally would be but I enjoyed the experience. I have never seen so many people at a long drive event before so that was great. Everything went smoothly and I am glad that I got the win today. The future of the Long Drive World Series looks bright. I see great people, great sponsors and great competitors down here. I would like to thank the fans who showed up, I really appreciate it and can’t wait for the next one.

Julian Small

Managing Director, Club Operations at Jumeirah Golf Estates

It was a brilliant event and I think golf needs to start looking at these types of fun events. Jumeirah Golf Estates hosts the DP World Tour Championship and to have the inaugural event of the Long Drive World Series is another great first for Dubai. There is a big opportunity to raise the game from here. When you host an inaugural event you learn a lot and I think we are really going to make grow this into something very special.

Emil Rosberg

Third place finish

I have been playing ‘normal’ golf all my life, but five years ago I found out that I can hit the ball a long way so I started focusing purely on that. Last year I went for my first tournament and I knew that this is what I want to do. The adrenaline of standing on the tee box with people screaming and shouting is an incredible experience and I think that more folks should try it out. My advice to the people who want to get into it is that it is okay to scream as you hit the ball! You should also hit the gym as much as you can. The game is a mix between strength, speed and technique, so you don’t have to bench press 50 kg or squat 200 times; you just need to have the right muscles to keep things going. The event has been great and my friends are crazy about the Series, they wanted to join me on my trip here! Hopefully later on I will have my own crowd going with me. The audience was awesome and the atmosphere was electric.

Joe Miller

Two-time Long Drive World Champion It has been a fantastic event! It has not gone great on my part but for what they have done here has been incredible, they really did a great job. Everyone here is here for a reason, the guys here are the best in the world and hats off to them for playing so well. Off the back of this event I can see that the Series has the potential to seriously grow in the region. The people working behind the scenes are very ambitious. I hope Dubai can be a fixed venue for the Series, everyone here has been brilliant and the reception was fantastic. This city could be the next ‘home of golf’.

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IN T ROD UCING

Learn more at titleist.co.uk/917

T H E S TA N DA R D FOR COMPLETE P E R F O R M A N C E. N E W T I T L E I S T 9 1 7 D R I V E R S . M A X I M U M D I S T A N C E, F O R G I V E N E S S A N D P R E C I S E A D J U S T A B I L I T Y. E x p e r i e n ce 917 d rivers for yourself. Visit titleist.co.uk/91 7 to le a rn mo re.

EQUIPMENT PUT TERS

inding the best putter to suit your stroke may seem like a perplexing task but with the help of eGolf Megastore’s Custom-fit Specialist, Jason Ashley, you can make the right choice and shave a few shots off your card. Worldwide Golf headed down to the UAE’s newest golfing paradise – The Trump International Golf Club, Dubai – to pick Jason’s brains about what to look for in a short stick and the differences between the most superior putters on the market, all of which can be purchased and fitted at eGolf Megastore.

What to look for?

With all the various options out there on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right putter. Where the face is at impact is the most important thing – the ball will start 95-98% where the face is pointing at impact, so that dictates direction as well as the effect the vertical face angle or loft has on the way the ball rolls, which helps control your speed. These aspects are

crucial in finding the right putter that will help you point the face to your target at impact. When you hit 10 or so balls from the same spot, you want them all to start in a very

similar direction. Starting lines will show you have the right type of putter for your stroke. This to me is the most crucial aspect of getting the right putter for your stroke.

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GOLF GEAR

Jason Ashley

Custom-fit Specialist at eGolf Megastore I believe putter choice is not just personal preference but it’s far more to do with selecting one that matches your type of stroke. Consistency is key, and that comes from delivering the putter face as square to the target line as possible as many times as possible. A repetitive impact position is the goal, with a variety of designs and balances of putters it’s crucial to get one that will help you deliver the putter face as consistently as possible.

JASON ASHLEY IS PICTURED IN FRONT OF THE CLUBHOUSE AT THE TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB, DUBAI

Toe Hang Explained Different shapes and sizes

face balanced

slight toe hang

moderate toe hang

advanced toe hang

Type of stroke

Distance control

The type of stroke you have will help you choose the correct style putter. If you arc the putter and rotate the face open and closed through the stoke then a toe-weighted (toe hanged) or semi toeweighted putter would suit you more. If your stroke is relatively straight back and straight through, then a face-balanced putter would work better for you. These are general principles and there are exceptions to the rule so it is always good to try out different styles.

Distance control comes from a few different things, strike, tempo of stroke, stroke length and how hard you hit it. From a fitting perspective it’s very important to be consistent presenting the face vertically, that will have a big role in how high or low you strike the ball on the face and how much or how little loft you have on the putter at impact. Both aspects influence how the ball will roll, getting the right neck, bend or angle the shaft goes into the head at is crucial in a consistent impact position and will help you control your pace.

Head to eGolf Megastore

When we are custom-fitting for a putter at eGolf Megastore we take all of these considerations into account to determine what suits you. We stock the widest range of putters in the UAE, helping you to find the one that feels exactly right.

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EQUIPMENT

PXG FIT TING EXPERIENCE

THE LOWDOWN:

PXG FITTING

EXPERIENCE o matter what brand of clubs you play, getting a proper fitting is essential if you want your bats to reach their full potential in terms of the benefits they can bring to your game. We’re all different shapes and sizes and our swings differ hugely so it’s crucial that you get your clubs set up in a way that suits you and your game.

Worldwide Golf: You’ve run a few PXG Fitting Experiences recently – tell us about those. Sam Pain: Over the past couple of months we’ve held Fitting Experience days throughout the Middle East at PXG’s selected partner facilities. We’ve already stopped by Yas Links, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, The Els Club, Trump International Golf Club Dubai, Al Hamra, eGolf Megastore, Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Almouj Golf in Oman.

Parsons Xtreme Golf, the brand that is currently taking the industry by storm with its ‘no expense spared’ approach to club manufacturing have taken the process to a new level with their ‘PXG Fitting Experiences’. They’ve held events at clubs across the region recently so we caught up with Sam Pain of PXG Middle East to find out what the experiences are all about and what the reaction has been from the local golf community.

WWG: What’s the feedback been and what does a PXG Fitting Experience offer? SP: We’ve had excellent feedback from both the golfers who’ve joined us and the facilities hosting us for the day. A PXG Fitting Experience offers the consumer something completely different to a typical manufacturer demo day. It starts with our Master Fitters being equipped with a complete matrix of premium shafts which have been carefully selected by PXG

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SAM PAIN, PXG MIDDLE EAST

engineers for their superior performance. No manufacturer is offering the depth of shaft options that PXG are and the consumer instantly recognises that from our set up on the range. WWG: How ‘deep’ is PXG’s shaft matrix? SP: In the irons, high performance shafts such as Recoil, Accra, Mitsubishi, Aerotech and Fujikura are offered in addition to tried and tested performers from Nippon, Project X, True Temper and KBS. There are currently 61 shaft options available to pair with the PXG 0311 irons, which is about four times more than any other manufacturer offers on their product. WWG: What can customers expect from a PXG fitting experience? SP: Noticeable differences in performance and feel. The first reaction we get is always the best. They notice the trampoline-like effect off the face or the buttery soft feel at impact. But most of the time they notice both. WWG: What is a PXG Master Fitter and what factors do Master Fitters take into consideration when selecting the perfect set up for each individual? SP: Master Fitters are meticulously trained by the engineers and designers who build PXG clubs and are PXG’s best of the best product and fitting experts. In a fitting environment, they concentrate on factors such as face angle, launch angle, ball speed, spin rate, attack angle and club path to identify the best head-shaft combination for optimum distance, control and consistency. WWG: How can our readers arrange a Fitting Experience? SP: They can attend any of the PXG Fitting Experience days held this April in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, enquire at any of the facilities we’ve visited previously or log on to www.PXG.com for more information.

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SWING SEQUENCE BY PE TE CO WEN

Henrik Stenson

Henrik is one of my players who I have taught for over 15 years. I am going to analyse his swing technique with a pitching wedge. As everyone knows, he has a pretty solid golf swing but he makes a diﬀerent noise when he strikes the ball because of the amount of compression he generates. Here’s a step-by-step analysis of the reigning Open champion’s swing sequence.” – Pete Cowen, Master PGA Professional

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1 In the first photograph you can see how much of a simple posture Henrik has with his arms hanging pretty naturally and shaft positioned under his hands. It is a soft set-up which you’d expect with a wedge.

5&6 His left arm is vertical with the club coming out under his chest and as the hips clear and the left shoulder moves it has squared the clubface up at impact. It’s very stable impact conditions.

2 He winds his shoulders and sets his left arm and club into an excellent position. The wedge can easily work up like this.

7 Henrik completes the follow through with total body control to the finish.

3&4 His shoulders are loaded here. In an ideal situation, I’d love that right arm to be sat down a little bit more but that’s Henrik’s idiosyncratic movement. He lets his right elbow fly a little bit which I don’t particularly like but it doesn’t bother him because when he changes direction it comes back into the slot pressuring the ground.

8 Henrik always looks like he holds the club off but it’s purely because he’s had very little rotation through the impact area.

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HEIGHT 6ft, 2in WEIGHT 90kg BIRTHDAY 05/04/1976 TURNED PRO 1998 CLUBHEAD SPEED 116.79 mph

INSTRUCTION

STRAIGHT

LONG EVERY TIME BY STEPHEN DEANE, HEAD PROFESSIONAL, EMIRATES GOLF CLUB

In this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s article we will keep things simple and explain the correct setup to optimise your distance and accuracy with the driver! I will identify and instruct you on the three key positions that will inevitably improve your performance off the tee.

BOOK, PLAY AND SHOP WITH THE GOLF CENTRAL APP Available now to download

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THE HEAD SHOULD BE POSITIONED WITH A SLIGHT TILT AWAY FROM THE BALL SO IT SITS COMFORTABLY BEHIND THE CLUB HEAD. AGAIN, THIS WILL ENCOURAGE AN UPWARD CONTACT WITH THE BALL BUT ALSO A NEUTRAL PATH FOR THE CONSISTENCY WE’RE AFTER IF MAINTAINED DURING THE SWING!

THIS PICTURE SHOWS THE HEAD POSITION BEING MAINTAINED OVER THE BLUE MARKER AS WE APPROACH IMPACT. THIS IS THE KEY POSITION FOR A CONSISTENT CLUB PATH AND POSITIVE/UPWARD ATTACK ANGLE WHICH ULTIMATELY GIVES YOU THE DISTANCE YOU ALL DESIRE!

THE BALL POSITION ON THE LEFT HEEL TO ENCOURAGE AN UPWARD HIT/ POSITIVE ATTACK ANGLE.

THIS ONE’S VERY OBVIOUS, THE CLUB SHOULD BE POSITIONED BEHIND THE BALL BUT AROUND TWO TO THREE INCHES AWAY RATHER TIGHT UP AGAINST. I FEEL THIS KEEPS THE SHOULDERS MUCH MORE SQUARE AND ENCOURAGES MORE OF A THOROUGH SWING RATHER THAN A HIT.

PLEASE PUT THESE THREE SIMPLE TIPS INTO PRACTICE AND IF YOU’D LIKE MORE INFORMATION PLEASE WATCH THE ATTACHED VIDEO OR VISIT THE TEAM AT THE ACADEMY HERE AT THE EMIRATES GOLF CLUB, DUBAI.

WATCH THE VIDEO AT WorldwideGolf

Book 18 holes at Emirates Golf Club or Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club on the Golf Central App and receive a voucher to spend in the Pro Shop for the full value of your round. Offer applies to visitor rate bookings, valid until 25/05/17. Voucher to be used within 48 hours of play.

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INSTRUCTION

LET THE MASTERS INSPIRE YOUR PRACTICE AT THE ADDRESS MONTGOMERIE DUBAI

ITH THE MASTERS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, THE WORLDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TOP PLAYERS WILL BE WORKING ON TRAJECTORY CONTROL. WITH THE UNDULATING GREENS AND CRAFTY PIN PLACEMENTS AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL, CONTROLLING THE HEIGHT AND DISTANCE OF APPROACH SHOTS WILL BE THE KEY TO A GREEN JACKET.

by DAVID LAING

Teaching Professional The Address Montgomerie, Dubai

MASTER YOUR WEDGE PLAY Many golfers have a one-dimensional view on their short game and would see a huge difference by developing variety in trajectory of wedge shots. 1. Play two balls from each tee with your sand wedge and pitching wedge. 2. Play another two balls from a different distance on the way to the green with the same clubs. 3. Be creative, introduce other irons and possibly hybrids for your shots around the green. Learn about how they will fly and react on landing.

SAND WEDGE PITCH I N G WE DG E The pitching wedge will give you a lower ball flight that will release on landing and the sand wedge will give a higher flight that will stop quickly. Bearing this in mind, approaching a flag at the front of the green will be far more accessible with a sand wedge and higher trajectory. A flag at the back of the green will be easier to access with a pitching wedge and lower ball flight. This practice method will help develop feel for distance control and an understanding of when to use each club. In a 30-minute session around the par 3 course you will have just hit 36 planned wedge shots you can learn from. A lot more effective than racing through balls with no target or intention on the range.

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THINK RHYTHM

When working on feel for the length of swing and distance control avoid thinking about the technical aspects of the swing! 1.

Feel a gradual acceleration from takeaway to the completion of the follow through with the same length of swing each side, the smoother the better. Listening to your favourite music in your ear phones can help you relax and pick up a good vibe when working on the wedges. You will probably spot Rory with his ear phones in on the range at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Masters.

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WORK ON YOUR OWN MASTERS MAGIC

At Augusta we always see sparks of brilliance where players have such a clear picture in their mind of the shot in hand. No moment encapsulated this better than Tiger holing an iconic chip from the left side of the 16th green and going on to win the Green Jacket. These are moments when the players are using feelings and instincts. That is what I would like you to bring out of your short game.

HOW DO YOU CREATE YOUR OWN MASTERS MAGIC?

Start with a very basic chip shot and try more creative shots from there. The goal is to chip the ball in the hole. 1. Plan your shot: In your mind picture where you need to land the ball, how it will bounce, react and roll to fall in the hole. 2. Feel the shot: Make practice swings to develop the feel for the shot in your mind. 3. Commit: Make a commitment in your shot to trust the practice swings you have been making. 4. Evaluate or celebrate: If you miss, work out whether you missed your landing spot or chose the wrong landing spot. Then adjust and keep going till the ball goes in the hole. When you make it, celebrate because you have just created your Masters moment! This is how any golfer will create great feel for their short game without having to worry about the technique of the shots. Try to keep going until you hole out, it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take you much time!

The Troon Golf Academy at the Address Montgomerie Dubai is the perfect place to improve your skills. You can even try a short game lesson with David on our 9-hole floodlit par 3 course.

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N E W S F R O M T H E L E A D I N G C LU B S I N T H E R E G I O N

Arabian GOlf

S H A R J A H G O L F & S H O OT I N G C LU B, H O S T VENUE OF THE OPENING SWING AGAINST C A N C E R G O L F S E R I E S E V E N T O N A P R I L 13 T H .

THE COMPETITORS LINE UP FOR THE 2016 MIKE CLARK GOLF DAY.

LOCAL GOLFERS JOIN FORCES FOR

SWING AGAINST CANCER GOLF SERIES W

orldwide Golf, in partnership with Sixteen10, is proud to announce the 2017 Swing Against Cancer Golf Series which will give local amateurs and professionals the chance to play for some outstanding prizes while raising money for a great cause at the same time. The series will take in five qualifiers across the UAE, culminating in the star-studded Mike Clark Golf Day on the Fire Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates on October 26th. The winning amateur of the series will be treated to a ‘money can’t buy’ golf experience which will see them teeing it up alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson and Matt Fitzpatrick in the Rolex Pro-Am for the DP World Tour Championship. It doesn’t end there either – the winning player will also receive hospitality tickets to the tournament, an invitation to the players’ beach party, a two-night stay at Atlantis, The Palm –

where the Race to Dubai’s top 60 players will also be staying - and a golf lesson with renowned coach to the stars, Pete Cowen – the technician behind the swings of multiple Major winners! The pros, meanwhile, will play for a AED 5,000 cash prize plus a 5-star golf holiday worth AED 10,000. President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan declared 2017 “The Year of Giving” in the UAE and there are few worthier causes in the region than the Friends of Cancer Patients charity. The non-profit organization, founded in 1999, under the directives and patronage of her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, is dedicated to helping cancer patients and their families as well as raising awareness about the world’s deadliest disease. “We’re delighted to be supporting this wonderful charity with a series that we’re sure

TEDDY SHERINGHAM IN ACTION AT LAST YEAR’S MIKE CLARK GOLF DAY.

ARABIAN GOLF SWING AGAINST CANCER GOLF SERIES P73

FORMER ENGLAND RUGBY CAPTAIN MIKE TINDALL WAS ONE OF THE SPORTING STARS WHO TOOK PART IN LAST YEAR’S MIKE CLARK GOLF DAY. THE WORLD CUP WINNER HAS CONFIRMED HIS PARTICIPATION IN THIS YEAR’S EVENT.

“We are privileged to be hosting the opening event of this great charitable initiative and will set the Championship course up in impeccable condition as a fair and testing challenge of golf. Get involved, put your skills to the test and unite as a community.” – Phil Scott, Operations Manager, Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club

A CHARITY AUCTION FEATURING UNIQUE SPORTING MEMORABILIA HELPED LAST YEAR’S MIKE CLARK GOLF DAY RAISE US$50,000.

will capture the imagination of the region’s golfers,” said Worldwide Golf’s Richard Bevan. “Who wouldn’t want to experience teeing it up alongside the stars of the European Tour and then go to a party with them and stay at the same 5-star hotel before watching the Race to Dubai’s climatic tournament in VIP luxury as well as getting a golf lesson off arguably the world’s best coach into the bargain? It’s the stuff of dreams. “The fact that each and every player who takes part in the series will also be helping to raise much needed funds and awareness to help fight back against a disease that has touched most people in some way, makes this something that we’re really proud to be involved with.” The series will kick off on April 13th, at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club and players will be treated to a golf course in prime condition, having recently hosted the inaugural Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq as the European Senior Tour visited the emirate for the first time. “Sharjah Golf & Shooting club are incredibly proud to be hosting the season-opener of the Swing Against Cancer Golf Series,” said Golf Operations Manager Phil Scott. “The club,

ARABIAN GOLF SWING AGAINST CANCER GOLF SERIES P74

THE CELEBRITIES ENTERTAIN THE GUESTS AT LAST YEAR’S MIKE CLARK GOLF DAY.

its owners, colleagues and members are passionate about joining forces and enabling the Friends of Cancer Patients charity to work towards its vision to unite a community and drive towards a common goal of improving awareness, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and ultimately curing cancer across the UAE. CHARITABLE INITIATIVE “We are privileged to be hosting the opening event of this great charitable initiative and will set the Championship course up in impeccable condition as a fair and testing challenge of golf. Get involved, put your skills to the test and unite as a community.” Next up will be the sold out Ladies InterClub Challenge Final at Abu Dhabi Golf Club on April 18th which will see female members from 11 clubs throughout the region go head to head. “We are so pleased to be able to incorporate the biggest Ladies Amateur Event on the UAE Calendar into the Swing Against Cancer Golf Series,” said Women’s Golf Middle East Manager Sandy Meyer. “To be able to support this charity event, especially against such a terrible disease, is important to all our lady golfers! We are looking forward to an exciting qualifier at Abu Dhabi Golf Club on April 18th with over 110 ladies involved.” The Els Club will host a qualifier on May 18th, followed by the Links Group Pairs event at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club on May 19th. After a break for summer the series will get underway again with the DSA Open, taking place on the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club on September 14th. Steve Kelshaw, Managing Director of title sponsor DSA Architects International, said: “Making a difference to people’s lives is a core belief within DSA. It is therefore in this spirit of delivering real results, that we partner and support the Swing Against Cancer Golf Series. With 2017 being noted as the year of giving, we look forward to seeing great progress as we all do our bit to ultimately remove cancer from our society.” Three amateurs and one professional will proceed from each qualifier to the Grand Final, which is the Mike Clark Golf Day. There’s no limit to how many qualifiers players can take part in and places can also be booked directly in the Mike Clark Golf Day which last

TEDDY SHERINGHAM, MIKE TINDALL AND ROB MCCAFFERY TAKE PART IN A Q&A SESSION.

“The Swing Against Cancer Golf Series will enable individuals and companies to support the ﬁght against cancer through –Dr Sawsan Al Madhi a meaningful game.” year featured footballers Teddy Sheringham and Trevor Steven, rugby star Mike Tindall and TV presenter Rob McCaffrey with a great day of golf followed by a sumptuous gala dinner. US$50,000 RAISED LAST YEAR “The Swing Against Cancer Golf Series is a concept created following the fourth successful year of the Mike Clark Charity Golf Day which raised $50,000 for the Friends of Cancer Patients charity,” said Reza Sazegar, Managing Director of Sixteen10, the company he set up in honour of his good friend Mike Clark – the former Jumeirah Golf Estates employee who sadly died from bowel cancer on October 16th, 2012. “Our vision is to unite a community to fight for one common goal; to improve awareness of cancer in the UAE and raise money to help prevent, diagnose, treat and cure patients with cancer and ultimately help eradicate it from society.” Dr. Sawsan Al Madhi, Director General of Friends of Cancer Patients Society, added: “We are deeply appreciative of the ‘Swing

Against Cancer Golf Series’ initiative, which has been launched following the success of the Mike Clark Golf Day and which will further raise funds for Friends of Cancer Patients. As a non-profit society which works to meet the cost of treatment for cancer patients and to provide them and their families with practical as well as emotional support, our society is totally dependent on money derived from such charitable activities. “The Swing Against Cancer Golf Series will enable individuals and companies to support the fight against cancer through a meaningful game, giving professionals and amateurs the chance to play friendly and competitive rounds all for a great cause. We are delighted that Worldwide Golf is supporting Sixteen10 with the initiative, with the funds that will be raised from it perfectly encapsulating the UAE’s Year of Giving.” Tickets for all events in the Swing Against Cancer Golf Series can be purchased at www.800tickets.com. For more information please visit www.swingagainstcancer.com

“AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS UNITING TO FIGHT AGAINST CANCER” www.swingagainstcancer.com

WIN!

PROFESSIONALS

G O L F

S E R I E S 2017

QUALIFIER DATES

Qualifying for the Grand Finale @ Mike Clark Golf Day

April 18

April 13

May 19

Ladies ICC Final

Links Group Pairs

September 14

DSA Open - On Majlis

AED 5,000 + GOLF BREAK A M AT E U R S

DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP PRO-AM

May 18

October 26

Grand Finale on Fire

To get involved select the qualiﬁer(s) you wish to play and BOOK NOW Top 3 Amateurs and winning Professional progress from each qualiﬁer

BOOK NOW: 800TICKETS.COM

GRAND FINALE @ MIKE CLARK GOLF DAY

E M I RATES GOLF F EDER ATIO N EMIRATES GOLF FEDERATION’S ARABIC SCHOOLS INITATIVE GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH The groundbreaking Arabic Schools Initiative, which is led by the Emirates Golf Federation and supported by DP World and the European Tour, has proved a resounding success in its goal of introducing more local children into golf, with the programme now entering its second phase. The first phase, which began in 2016, saw introductory lessons given to over 6,000 schoolchildren by coaches from Golf DXB. The team have now created after-school programmes at six different schools to further develop interest in the sport in a move which highlights the progression that has been made since the initiative launched in September of last year. The goal is for the innovative scheme to produce a pool of young golfers who can go on to join the Emirates Golf Federation’s National Junior Development Programme and one day represent the UAE in the National Team at a senior level. “We’ve seen a lot of interest, not only from the schools but also from the surrounding community,” said Robert Fiala, Emirates Golf Federation’s Membership, Sales and Marketing Manager. “We are trying to create awareness and interest in the game. Obviously, it is going to take some time as the initiative is on a grassroots level so hopefully within the next six months we can actually see some golfers play some holes on the course. The kids have enjoyed it very much. It is something that is keeping them healthy and active. We are seeing a lot of uptake and it is something that will continue to develop.”

JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES

Aaron Williams, of Golf DXB added: “If we can introduce the game of golf to the kids and make them start playing and practicing at this age - in five to ten years’ time there are going to be numerous golfers that will emerge from the UAE and hopefully they will have the potential to become professionals. “The introductory sessions and after-school programmes have gone very well and the Emirates Golf Federation have supported everything we’ve done, and that is really how it should be to get more UAE golfers on the course.” Hend Al Suwaidi, a student at the Al Mizhar American Academy where one of the afterschool programmes is taking place said: “I would say that golf became my favourite sport because it is challenging. Everyone can play it but it needs patience and dedication, and I love to challenge myself and learn new things about hitting the ball and standing correctly.”

UAE National Teams at Jumeirah Golf Estates – European Tour Performance Institute.

U-18 AND U-15 EGF NATIONAL GOLF TEAMS PREPARE FOR SAUDI GCC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP AT JGE ETPI THE Under-18 and Under-15 UAE National Teams prepared for their participation in the 2017 GCC Golf Championship at the European Tour Performance Institute at Jumeirah Golf Estates. Their 4-week programme focused on their short games and scoring ability and also involved mental preparation for the tournament, which takes place in Saudi Arabia from April 11 – 16. Mark Gregson-Walters, Director of Instruction at JGE’s ETPI, said: “We are very excited to be part of the 18 and under and the 15 and under teams’ final preparation before the GCC Golf Championship. “We have a vast amount of experience at the European Tour Performance Institute, which we shared with the team to refine their games and prepare them for the event in Saudi Arabia.”

YAS LINKS GOLF CLUB SELVARAJ TRIUMPHANT IN AUDI MEDAL

NICK KANE DOMINATES DDF MARK FAHY MEMORIAL NICK Kane was crowned champion at this year’s Mark Fahy Memorial Golf Tournament sponsored by Dubai Duty Free after scoring 43 points. With Kane taking the overall prize, David Richardson won the Men’s Division – also with 43 points – well clear of Paul Byrne (37) and Matt Neno (36). Harry Sheedy shot the best gross score on the day (77) while the Ladies Division saw Evelyn O’Brien compile 32 Stableford points to win by one from Nicola Chittenden.

YOUNGSTER Jonathon Selvaraj topped the pile in Category ‘A’ of last month’s Audi Medal’s Category with a net score of 67, six strokes better than Club Captain Slan Sheepwash who finished second. In Category B (hcp 15+), Phil James was winner with a net 70, leaving James Hickman in second place with a net 73 while the best gross score on the day came from Dan Kirkwood as he shot a gross 68, four under par.

SELVARAJ SECURES HIS SECOND WIN IN TWO WEEKS WITH ETIHAD TRIUMPH JUNIOR member Jonathon Selvaraj secured 40 Stableford points to finish top of Division ‘A’ in last month’s Etihad Open and continue his fine run of form. Alan Sheepwash took second place on 38 points, two clear of third-placed Ryan Riley. In Division ‘B’ Bak Send Tan scored 37 points to win ahead of Teresa Sheepwash by two shots with Alex Hambleton in third place.

SHARJAH GOLF AND SHOOTING CLUB FIREWORKS FROM FISHER IN ORIENT MONTHLY MEDAL KELBRICK AND MURIHEAD SEAL THE BMW AGMC MIXED OPEN Steve Kelbrick and Alison Muirhead were at their very best as they won the BMW AGMC Mixed Amateur Open with a score of 75 which meant that the pair of Carl Downham and Evelyn Sword had to settle for second place for the second successive season. In the Net Division Andrew Tyson and Ping Li shot a 67 to win by one stroke ahead of Giorgio and Ornella Parigi.

NATHAN Fisher fired an impressive 3-under-par score of 69 to win last month’s Orient Travel, Malaysia Truly Asia Monthly Medal by one stroke from Adam Smith and M.Y. Cho. Smith took second place after a countack while there were also good scores from Max Hibbert (71) and Hassan Yazdi (72) on the day.

CENTRO CLASS FROM NAMIR AL NAIMI Namir Al Naimi clinched last month’s Centro Medal with a score of net 34, four shots better than runner-up Mohammad Shafiq, while David Murphy won the gross prize after winning on a countback with Faizeen Bhyat.

ARABIAN GOLF LOCAL NEWS P77 D U B AI CREEK GOL F C LUB LIND-EERLIGH STROLLS TO VICTORY IN LADIES INTERCLUB CHALLENGE INGRID Lind-Eerligh from EGC compiled 37 points to win the recent Ladies Interclub Challenge by one point from ADGC’s Young Souk Choi. Home player Beatrice Galeppini finished in third place after losing out to Souk on a countback, while in the team event EGC led the way with 245 points ahead of ADGC and DCGYC.

MARCUS NIELSEN CLINCHES DUBAI CREEK JUNIOR MEDAL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE MARKUS Nielsen shot a nine-hole score of 29 to claim the Dubai Creek Junior Medal Championship recently while Jacobo Fisas won the Boys’ Category with a score of 32 ahead of Shreyas Bawkar by four. Hannah Alan defended her Girls’ Category title with a score of 35.5, just 0.5 ahead of Reema Al Heloo, while Aarnay Nath won the best gross prize after shooing a level-par 35.

MEGO HAN KEEPS HOLD OF SOFITEL LADIES MONTHLY MEDAL DEFENDING champion Mego Han carded a round of 68 to retain the Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach Medal with the Division ‘A’ title going to Glory Xavier (69) and the Division ‘B’ title to Vijaya Brahmachary (74).

KIM CHIANG BAGS PING DUBAI CREEK LADIES AMATEUR OPEN KIM Chiang of Arabian Ranches won this year’s PING Dubai Creek Ladies Amateur Open after carding two under par 68 to win by five from Deborah Change. Glory Xavier won the Silver Division with a score of 66, four strokes clear of Sakura Kawakami, while Shiba Wahid scored an impressive net 60 to win the Bronze Division by seven strokes from Vanessa North.

E M IRATES GOLF CL UB

BEATRICE GALEPPINI SECURES NARROW WIN IN OMA EMIRATES MEDAL BEATRICE Galeppini claimed last month’s OMA EMIRATES Medal Championship with a net score of 67, one stroke clear of Sun-Ok Jung. In Division ‘A’ both Chris Cornwall and Dhruv Chopra managed scores of 70, however it was Cornwall who claimed the title on a countback over the last three holes while in Division ‘B’ Alok Pant carded 72 to win by three from Conor Byrne. Michael McGinley won the Best Gross prize after carding a two over par round of 73 while Stephen Clarke topped the pile in the Senior Division with a 66 and Sun-OK Jung won the Ladies Division.

T H E E LS C LU B HENDRICKX ROCKS THE CAMEL TROPHY

THEA Hendrickx clinched this year’s Ladies Camel Trophy with a superb haul of 40 points over the Majlis Course. In the Silver Division (0-18 hcp), Hyun Kyung Bae claimed the winner’s prize with a score of 37 points, one clear of Veronica Elias, while in the Bronze Division (19-42 hcp) Swati Singh sealed a one-point win over Shiba Khan with a 39-point tally.

MICHAEL HERB TOPS THE PILE ON +1 FOR BLACK TEE MAJOR MICHAEL Herb topped the pile with a +1 score in the Individual Bogey format played at this year’s Black Tee Major tournament. Taking second place with a -1 score was David Crackness with Liam Thornton on -2. The Ladies winner on the day was Dori Gantt with a -4 score.

ELS CLUB WINS THE TROON INTERNATIONAL CUP

RAJINDER RAZDAN LIFTS CHAIRMAN’S CUP

RAJINDER Razdan clinched this year’s Chairman’s Cup with a onepoint win over David Moody and Joe Smith after compiling a Stableford haul of 38. In Division ‘A’ Yasser Refai won on a countback with Imran Qayyum after the pair finished on 37 points while in Division ‘B’ Tej Chabra defeated Kish Bandopadhyay on a countback to take the spoils.

DEBORAH CHANG TAKES LADIES CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP DEBORAH Chang claimed this year’s Ladies Club Championship title after scoring a total of 151, two strokes clear of Natalii Gupta. Chang shot consistent rounds of 75 and 76 for the win, while coming in third place with a 162 tally was Monica Palao. Defending champion Viv Caley won the Silver Division after rounds of 71 and 72 gave her a winning total of 142, while Maureen Platt topped the pile in the Bronze Division with a score of 145.

TWENTY players from The Els Club and 20 players from Agalarov Golf Club in Russia faced off in this year’s Troon International Cup and the

THE TRACK, MEYDAN GOLF GUPTA MASTERS MEYDAN FOR AGMC JUNIOR OPEN

ARJUN Gupta was crowned the AGMC Junior Open Champion at The Track Meydan after carding an excellent 67 for a three-stroke win over Joshua Hill. In the net competition Gavin Ingram shot a gross 76 for a superb net score of 62 to take the spoils by four strokes from UAE National Reema Al Heloo.

home side took full advantage of their local knowledge as they romped to a 17-9 victory. A rematch in Moscow is scheduled for July later this year.

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AL HAMRA GOLF CLUB

BEN LONG AND ANNELIE ROBINSON CROWNED CLUB CHAMPIONS BEN Long carded two identical rounds of 77 to be crowned 2017 Al Hamra Men’s Club Champion while Annelie Robinson shot a 200 total to win the Ladies Championship by three from Paula Svensson. Long cruised to a huge 15-shot win over Jae Woong Lee (169) with Callum Bird in third place on 175. In the Net Division John Wilby secured the top spot with a 142 total, 11 clear of Dave Hoggins with Mike Dunn in third place. The Ladies Net Division was won by Wilma Fernandes with a 153 total ahead of Sharon Derbyshire.

MUIRHEAD’S PURPLE PATCH CONTINUES ALISON Muirhead clinched this year’s RAK Ladies Open by an impressive five strokes as she won her fourth EGF Order of Merit event in succession. Muirhead, who was runner-up in the event in 2016, carded nines of 35 and 36 for a total of 71 as she finished well clear of Kim Chiang with Kate Bibby in third place with a 79. Natali Gupta clinched the Net division with a 71, two strokes clear of Hyeonji Kang who, in turn, defeated Deborah Jang on a countback.

GHALA GOLF CLUB, OMAN

BIRD AND HOGGINS TOPS IN MARCH MEDAL Callum Bird and Dave Hoggins took the top honours in the gross and net divisions respectively in last month’s Medal competition. Bird, carded an 83 to win by two shots from Dave Faulkner while Hoggins secured a one-stroke win over Maggie Neil with a 73.

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DOHA GOLF CLUB AL RUMHY DOMINATES AT OMAN NATIONAL GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP Azaan Al Rumhy won the Oman National Golf Championship by a staggering 14-strokes at Ghala Golf Club last month. Al Rumhy shot a two-day total of 150 to win while scores of 176 (gross) saw Sanjoli Singh win the Ladies title and a score of 172 (gross) helped Rashad Al Harthy to the Junior title.

ROSS GRANT AND UZMA MIR CROWNED CLUB CHAMPIONS

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RAS AL HAMRA GOLF CLUB, OMAN

SAM HOBDAY RUNS AWAY WITH MUSCAT OPEN TITLE

Ross Grant clinched a four-stroke win to seal the 2017 Men’s Club Championship while Uzma Mir defeated her daughter Nada to win the Ladies Club Championship. Scotsman Grant opened up a three-stroke lead after a 76 on day 1 and despite some wobbles on day two he sealed a comfortable victory in the end, ahead of Sweden’s Linus Byberg with South African Ruan Jordaan in third place. In the Ladies event Uzma opened up a staggering 13 stroke lead over Nada but gradually over the second round her led was whittled down, and a double bogey on the final hole saw the two finish in a share at the top of the leaderboard. However, Uzma showed great character to win the first playoff hole with a par to take the victory.

SAM Hobday was at his brilliant best as he finished four strokes clear of Yaseen Le Falher to win the 2017 Muscat Open. Hobday shot a course-record 70 and then a 73 to seal the victory with a two-day total of 143 while Nasser Yacoob took third place with a 153 tally.

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ARABIAN GOLF LOCAL NEWS P79 GOLF DXB

LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE TO LEARN GOLF IN DUBAI?

BY JEN JACKSON

EARNING how to play golf may seem daunting to the uninitiated. Irons? Wedges? Don’t even get me started on terms like launch angle, clubface and the various mysteries behind getting down to a decent handicap. It’s no surprise that I often find golf newcomers completely put off and confused by the thought of learning golf. Golf doesn’t help itself either. To the outsider, golf can portray the image of a ‘members’ only club’ and feel inaccessible to a large amount of the public. This is exactly the perception that I’m trying to change. Instead of focusing on the technical aspects, how about we just concentrate on why Golf is the amazing sport it is. Never have I felt more free and relaxed than when I’m on a golf course, hitting great shots, playing with good friends. The golf course is a place where you can forget about the stress of your working life and enjoy being in the great outdoors. The satisfaction and reward you get from hitting a great drive or holing a difficult putt isn’t something to be overlooked either…

In an effort to open up the game to more people, Golf DXB has designed the ‘Learn Golf DXB programme.’ The aim is that new players and complete beginners can come along to a group session in a relaxed and social environment to get to grips with the sport. The classes are completely affordable and there are group sessions on every day of the week. The great thing about this is that it’s not only fun to attend but they really work. This kind of environment

supports new players to ask questions without feeling intimidated and play in a group of people of a similar ability. Many of our ‘Learn DXB ‘players have gone from not being able to hit a single shot, to actually being able to get out and enjoy the course having discovered a new sport to love in the process. If you’d like to get involved just give Mike a call on +971564644175 or email at mike@golfdxb.com.

AL AIN EQUESTRIAN, SHOOTING & GOLF CLUB ROBERT HORRIDGE CLINCHES CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

JIMMY SHANAHAN AND RONAN BARRETT WIN PAIRS OPEN TITLE Jimmy Shanahan and Ronan Barrett carded a net 62 to win the Pairs Open Champions title by one stroke ahead of defending champions Eric and Melissa Smith. The best gross prize on the day went to Robert Horridge and Jeff Glasgow who between them had seven birdies to post a 68 while the best mixed pair was Lady Captain Hye Sook Jee and Ed Chaffin with a net 66.

ROBERT Horridge was crowned the Men’s Club Champion after an eightshot victory over defending champion Wajahat Chaudhry. Horridge shot a 143 total with Chaudry finishing on 151 and Mihail Bucataru in third place on 155. Doug Angus won the Net Division with a fivestroke win over Bader Miles with David Miles in third place. The Division ‘A’ title went to Justin Jones on 140, two clear of Ronan Barrett while Phil Miller took the spoils in Division ‘B’. An excellent score of 167 saw Sakura Kawakami easily defend her Ladies Club Championship title by a whopping 24 strokes ahead of Karen Gladish. Charmaine Bakker won the net title with a 143, two strokes clear of Lady Captain Hye Sook Jee.

NIGHT GOLF’S BATTLE OF THE CAPTAINS LADY Captain Hye Sook Jee won the recent Night Golf event courtesy of a last six holes countback after tying with Men’s Captain Harry Van Wyk and Zahid Hussain on 20 points. Van Wyk took second as he had a better last six holes while Hussain took third.

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LINNA GOLF Set in stunning surroundings in the heart of Finland, Linna Golf is a championship course where the game is playable through the night during the summer months.

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www.europeantourproperties.com

About European Tour Properties European Tour Properties is a network of world class golf venues, all of which have a close relationship with the European Tour, one of the game’s leading global sporting organisations. Our internationally-recognised network currently spans Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia. We are proud to present a collection of Member Venues that all boast the hallmark of tournament quality and which offer extensive off-course facilities, guaranteed to provide a memorable golfing experience for members and visitors alike. Many of them are close to famous cities and all offer a wealth of golf, leisure and accommodation choices. For those seeking the ultimate golfing lifestyle, a number of our Member Venues offer elegant and secluded real-estate opportunities.

Destinations LE GOLF NATIONAL FRANCE

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THE DUTCH THE NETHERLANDS

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SAUJANA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB MALAYSIA LONDON GOLF CLUB UNITED KINGDOM TERRE BLANCHE HOTEL SPA GOLF RESORT***** FRANCE

CONSTANCE BELLE MARE PLAGE MAURITIUS MARCO SIMONE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB ITALY

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LINNA GOLF FINLAND QUINTA DO LAGO PORTUGAL

Destination Under Development ROSSINGTON HALL UNITED KINGDOM

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XQUISITE Linna, set amidst the beautiful pine and birch forests of Finland, offers a secluded and pristine golfing experience. The first USGA standard golf course in Finland, Linna Golf was designed by architect Tim Lobb for European Golf Design (EGD), the golf course design company of the European Tour and IMG, and opened in 2005. Only 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the capital, Helsinki, and just 75 kilometers (46 miles) from Finland’s ‘second city’ of Tampere, this idyllic course in Hämeenlinna offers a great variety of landscapes and terrain. The course is built on the undulating grounds of Vanajanlinna Manor and spans over 100 hectares. Linna Golf has successfully hosted many big events, such as the Finnish Open in 2007, The European Amateur Championship in 2010 and the European Amateur Team Championship in 2014, won by Spain. The Championship course makes full use of the beautiful natural environment with rocky outcrops, water features and woodland creating a varied and challenging round of golf.

2017 schedule, the European Tour Properties Senior Classic will be played from June 21 - 23, finishing on a Friday. The tournament will rotate annually through various Member Venues of the European Tour Properties portfolio, starting in Finland. David MacLaren, Head of the European Senior Tour and Head of European Tour Properties, said: “The creation of this event heralds a new chapter in the commitment of the European Tour to the expansion of our international schedule.

Interaction “We are confident that the first European Tour Properties Senior Classic will be a huge success and welcomed by our players and fans alike.” The tournament will be played in the popular Alliance format, giving amateur golfers the opportunity to tee it up alongside the Senior Tour’s finest during the first two tournament rounds.

ETP Senior Classic The superb accommodation and conference facilities found within the historic setting of the Vanajanlinna hotel, located right next to the course, complete the Linna experience, with the former hunting lodge perfectly complementing the quality of the golf course with exceptional guestrooms and fine Finnish dining. Clubhouse Suites offer further residential choices. Linna Golf will play host to the inaugural European Tour Properties Senior Classic later this year – the second new event added to the European Senior Tour Schedule. Joining the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq as a new addition to the

For further information visit www.linnagolf.fi

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MacLaren added: “The European Senior Tour offers the chance for interaction with players whose names are familiar to all of us, and who take great pride in showcasing their skills and personalities to a wide audience. “The creation of a brand new tournament to represent and promote our network of world class venues is a momentous point in the development of European Tour Properties. “Its growth into a global family of high quality venues now allows us to take an important step and the creation of this bespoke tournament will help showcase everything that we believe makes our member venues the pre-eminent choice for travelling golfers, club members and all who aspire to spend time in world class golfing environments. “Holding an event in the Land of the Midnight Sun gives us the potential to stage one of our rounds in the evening, which would certainly be a unique opportunity for our members and also their Pro-Am partners.” n

FIVE THINGS

THINGS YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT ME…

Joost Luiten I WAS IN THE DU TC H SKI JUMPING T E A M UNTIL I WAS 1 0 YEA RS OLD BU T THEN MY DA D M A DE ME STOP BECAU SE I BROKE BOT H M Y ELBOW A ND M Y NOSE .

AGE: 31 FROM: BLEISWIJK, NETHERLANDS TURNED PROFESSIONAL: 2006 PROFESSIONAL TOUR WINS: 8

M Y U N C L E TO O K M E TO A G O L F C O U R S E FO R T HE F I R ST TI ME W HE N I WAS S E V E N YE A RS O L D.

I D O N ’ T L I K E M Y OWN B I RT HDAY! I J UST HATE B E I N G T HE C E N T RE O F AT T E N T I O N .

I HAVE THREE O LD ER B ROTHERS AND NONE OF THEM PLAY G OLF OR EVEN CA RE ABOUT IT!

T HE F I R ST PUT T ER T HAT I E V E R U S ED WAS T HE ST. AN D R E W S WO O DEN PU T T E R T HAT M Y UN C L E PL AYE D WI TH.

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TO BREAK THE RULES, YOU MUST FIRST MASTER THEM. THE VALLÃ&#x2030;E DE JOUX. FOR MILLENNIA A HARSH, UNYIELDING ENVIRONMENT; AND SINCE 1875 THE HOME OF AUDEMARS PIGUET, IN THE VILLAGE OF LE BRASSUS. THE EARLY WATCHMAKERS WERE SHAPED HERE, IN AWE OF THE FORCE OF NATURE YET DRIVEN TO MASTER ITS MYSTERIES THROUGH THE COMPLEX MECHANICS OF THEIR CRAFT. STILL TODAY THIS PIONEERING SPIRIT INSPIRES US TO CONSTANTLY CHALLENGE THE CONVENTIONS OF FINE WATCHMAKING.

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IN STAINLESS STEEL