5 minute read
Editor’s Letter
A jampacked January awaits
As the spectators return to line the fairways, the new year brings a plethora of events for avid fans
By Matt Smith
We had quite a year in 2022 as the emergence of LIV Golf caused tsunami-level waves across the golfing world, creating divisions among the top tours, player bans, a multitude of star names speaking but both for and against the new arrival, and even a dusting of court cases.
But with 2023, let’s try to go out with the old and in with the new as January always brings with it a plethora of exciting tournaments to get to grips with both home and abroad.
The fans were back in droves at the recent DP World Tour Championship to witness Jon Rahm make history with a third title at Jumeirah Golf Estates as Rory McIlroy picked up his fourth Race to Dubai title.
It was such a welcome sight after the Covid-19-impacted events in recent times, even as the UAE managed to step in and host some rapidly organised events to fill the void as other competitions fell victim to the pandemic. The packed galleries ground the 18th green as Rahm strolled up to roll in the winning putt allowed us to get a feeling of a return to normality after a couple of years without spectators cheering on their favourite players.
And the best is yet to come.
Golf fans in the UAE are in for a jampacked January (and February) as the world’s top golfers come back to town for four straight weeks of thrills and spills on the courses across the country.
From the Ryder Cup-style Hero Cup and Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in the capital, to the flagship Dubai Desert Classic and the return of the Ras Al Khaimah Championship at Al Hamra, the top players on the DP World Tour will keep the party swinging all month and beyond.
Following that quartet of quality action, all eyes will be on Saudi Arabia as the Saudi International returns for its fifth edition at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club just outside Jeddah at King Abdullah Economic City. Harold Varner III will be aiming to emulate Dustin Johnson and become a twotime winner in the Asian Tour flagship event and steal the limelight once again before the ladies head to town.
The Saudi Ladies International takes place in mid-February and will mark a
picture perfect
The Gallery in Tuscon, Arizona, will host one of the 14 LIV Golf tournaments slated for 2023’s second season
moment in history on the Ladies European Tour and in the golfi ng world as the best in the world will compete for $5 million, marking the fi rst time ever that an equal purse will be on off er for male and female versions of the same tournament.
It will be a busy time for both Luke Donald and Suzann Pettersen, as the respective European Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup captains will be keeping a close eye on the action as they begin to assemble their options for the big tournaments against the might of the United States come September. While there are some certainties on the team sheets — from Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick and John Rahm to Georgia Hall, Charley Hull and Leona Maguire — there are also dozens of others who will be out to impress in the Middle East opening stages of the year and play themselves into the equation.
January is always one of the best months to get out and enjoy the golf — playing and watching — without having to work up too much of a sweat, and organisers of all the events across the UAE will ensure a fun time will be had by all, whichever event you wish to attend, with dedicated kids days, player meetings, coaching classes and plenty of off -course entertainment to keep fans young and old occupied.
The second season of LIV Golf is also upon us and the 14-event schedule is rapidly taking shape, with seven venues already confi rmed for the 2023 calendar.
Mexico, Australia, Singapore, Spain and the United States have been earmarked for tournaments as stars such as Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia and reigning champ Dustin Johnson will fight it out among 12 established team franchises for an unprecedented $405 million in prize purses.
The revamped Asian Tour is bringing major events to the region once again as the International Series has circled dates in Oman and Qatar among its early 2023 competitions, meaning — once again — the Middle East will be at the heart of the top golfi ng action as the new year gets us rolling into an action-packed 2023.
editor-in-chief Obaid Humaid Al Tayer
managing partner & group editor
Ian Fairservice
editor Matt Smith art director Clarkwin Cruz editorial assistant Londresa Flores instruction editors Luke Tidmarsh, Euan Bowden, Tom Ogilvie, Matthew Brookes, Lea Pouillard, Alex Riggs
chief commercial officer
Anthony Milne publisher David Burke
general manager - production
S. Sunil Kumar production manager Binu Purandaran
THE GOLF DIGEST PUBLICATIONS editor-in-chief Jerry Tarde
director, business development
& partnerships Greg Chatzinoff international editor Ju Kuang Tan
GOLF DIGEST USA editor-in-chief Jerry Tarde general manager Chris Reynolds editorial director Max Adler executive editor Peter Morrice art director Chloe Galkin managing editors Alan P. Pittman, Ryan Herrington (News) chief playing editor Tiger Woods playing editors Phil Mickelson, Francesco Molinari, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Tom Watson
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