Golf
Dubai World Championships The climax of the European Tour, the Dubai World Championships sees the top 60 golfers competing for a whopping Dhs27.5million prize money. As the Jumeirah Golf Estates plays host, we cast our eyes over this year's main contenders and have a chat with the always entertaining, Miguel Ángel Jiménez
You’re a previous winner here in Dubai. How does it feel coming back? I have always enjoyed playing in Dubai ever since I first came here in 1990. It’s been incredible seeing how the city has grown. My win at the Emirates Golf Club in 2010 will always be very memorable for me – the crowd always gives me huge support.
With players like Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer dominating the top of the rankings, who’s going to be your biggest competitor? They are all fantastic players – and they’re playing well to have earned the right to play at this tournament. So, I’ll have to play extra well to beat any of them – everyone is younger than me! You do love a drink and your cigars, don’t you? Are you golf’s rock star? Ha, I don’t think of myself in that way at all – I am just being myself. OK, perhaps I am a little different to most of the other guys out on tour but I think that the public can see that I like to have fun out on the course, win tournaments and also appreciate the things that you like off the course as well – like a nice glass of Spanish wine and a cigar. Where did your nickname 'The Mechanic' come from? I can’t really remember exactly when people started calling me that – I imagine it started because people knew that I worked in a garage before I became a golfer. Any plans to retire the old golf bag? Absolutely not. I still love competing and as long as I am able to keep up with the young guys and continue to win tournaments, then there is no reason for me to stop. Don’t write me off yet. Dec 8 to 11, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, free online registration. dubaiworldchampionship.com
Teeing off
As European golf’s big boys fly back into town, Golf Digest's Robbie Greenfield gives us his picks for the tournament
Luke Donald (ENG)
Race to Dubai Rank: 1 World Ranking: 1 The World No.1 has been in sensational form for well over a year now. If, as expected, he goes on to capture the Race to Dubai trophy, he will become the first player in history to win both the US and European Tour money lists. It’s no wonder they call cool hands Luke the Walking ATM Machine…
Martin Kaymer (GER)
Race to Dubai Rank: 2 World Ranking: 4 At only 27, Kaymer has bagged a hat-load of tour wins, won a Major Championship (the 2010 US PGA) and rise, albeit briefly, to the coveted position of world No.1 in the world rankings. Since then, by his incredibly high standards, the he has had a quiet year, but last year’s Race To Dubai champion always plays well in the Middle East.
Rory McIlroy (N.IRE) Race to Dubai Rank: 3 World Ranking: 2 Rory McIlroy is the biggest thing to happen to golf since Tiger Woods. This kid is that good. In June, McIlroy shredded the record-books at the US Open, winning the first of what many believe will be many Majors, and confirming his status as the heir-apparent to the throne left vacant by Woods.
Lee Westwood Sergio (ENG) Garcia (ESP) Race to Dubai Rank: 4 World Ranking: 3 The inaugural winner of this tournament in 2009 (with a frankly ludicrous winning score of 23 under par) Westwood is one of the most popular characters on tour – you won’t find a better player tee to green, or a funnier man to follow on twitter (@westwoodlee) in the field this week.
Race to Dubai Rank: 7 World Ranking: 17 A back-to-back winner just over a month ago, and still one of the most popular figures in golf. After a huge slump in form a few years back led him to declare that he had ‘fallen out of love with the game’, it’s great to see the Spaniard rediscover his passion – and his form, making him one of the favourites to win here this week.
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