HDDC23 Daily News Round 2

WEATHERING THE STORM

Dubai Desert Classic shines through after adverse weather at Emirates Golf Club as Thomas Pieters leads the way with plenty of action in store today

The Hero Dubai Desert Classic managed to weather the storm.

Following some valiant efforts through the night and long into the day, the action got rolling at Emirates Golf Club after the adverse weather conditions that swept across the UAE on Wednesday and into the early hours of yesterday morning forced the tournament organisers to close the course to spectators and suspend play for some of the world’s top golfers early on.

The Emirates Golf Club ground staff earned their stripes in spectacular fashion by getting the Majlis Course back up to tournament standards for the eventual afternoon start, where the likes of World No. 1 Rory McIlroy and 2018 Masters winner Patrick Reed began their quest to claim the second Rolex Series event of the DP World Tour season.

While 22 of the scheduled 44 groups managed to complete the majority of their rounds (12 players made it to the clubhouse before play was called off for the day, thankfully due to bad light and not bad weather), it was 2022 Abu Dhabi HSBC champ Thomas Pieters who managed to grab top spot of a

very embryonic 2023 leaderboard on five-under after completing 15 holes of his first round.

The Belgian leads the pack by one stroke, with stars such as Tommy Fleetwood, Reed and 2023 Abu Dhabi HSBC champion Victor Perez lurking alongside Matthew Jordan, Daniel Gavins and Oliver Wilson.

Gavins, the 2021 ISPS World Handa Invitational victor, was one of that handful of players to get 18 holes under his belt after flirting with the lead all day, and he can rest easy this morning as a whole host of rivals face an early start to complete their first rounds.

World No. 1 McIlroy lies on two-under through 15 holes alongside a massive group that includes Robert MacIntyre, former Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjørn and American amateur Michael Thorbjornsen.

With half the field still to get their campaign under way, early risers are in for a treat with a packed day of golfing action on the cards. While the weather is set to improve, there will be no on-site parking for visitors at Emirates Golf Club today, and spectators are urged to use public transport.

Driving

Double

By Matt Smith – Editor, Golf Digest Middle East

Weather Watch

Umbrellas and waterproofs could be required for all you golf fans this weekend as some wet weather is forecast. Rain is expected on Friday, with some showers possibly continuing until Saturday, before clearing in time for the big finale on Sunday.

UP TO THE CHALLENGE

this morning to suspend play.

“Matthew Perry, the Golf Course Superintendent, and his team did a fantastic job, and it was quite an incredible effort to get the golf course ready.

They say these things are sent to try us, and the course management team at Emirates Golf Club were certainly pushed hard by Mother Nature to get the Majlis Course in playable tournament-standard.

Battered by heavy rain since Wednesday, the course was still too wet by Thursday morning and organisers were forced to delay the start of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic while Emirates Golf Club Course Superintendent Matt Perry and his team worked tirelessly through the night to get the famous Majlis Course back on track, with play beginning at 1.15pm yesterday.

While the likes of Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry played a waiting game to get on the first tee at the DP World Tour Rolex Series event, with $9 million on the line, it was all systems go for Perry and the logistics teams as they plotted the best course of action to get the stars on the fairways.

“We had a lot of rain yesterday afternoon so the first decision that was made was to minimise the number of people on site by playing behind closed doors, including closing hospitality,” said Simon Corkill, Tournament Executive Director. “This decision was taken last night for the safety of everybody.

“From yesterday afternoon until 6am Thursday we had about 40 millimetres of rain, which affected the playing surfaces around the golf course. So, we took the decision very early

“It’s a huge team effort when you are faced with a situation like this, everybody from the DP World Tour team, Falcon and Associates, the staff at Emirates Golf Club, we’re all pulling together to focus on the key areas that need to be addressed and what we need to do next. I think we did really well to play today, so it’s a very positive day in that respect.”

Mike Stewart, DP World Tour Tournament Director for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, added: “The caIl was going to be very hard for large numbers of people to reach the venue after heavy rain, which affected the playing surfaces and caused flooding around the golf course, access roads, and Dubai in general. So, we took the decision very early this morning to suspend play.

“The biggest issues from the golf club’s perspective were the bunkers and some of the waste areas which had flooded really badly, so they had to get those bunkers pumped out. Most of the waste areas were pumped out, also pushing water off greens, pushing water off fairways. We had a team of about a hundred people working on this and that took several hours. On top of that, the team had to do the usual prep of cutting the tees, cutting fairways, cutting greens, cutting aprons, cutting new holes, all the regular daily tournament preparation. Matthew and his team did an amazing job.”

The Emirates Golf Club team works through the night to get course back on track

Images

Getty Images, Supplied by Falcon and Associates

Pieters primed for a push

Belgian eyeing another Rolex Series crown in the UAE

Thomas Pieters marked his biggest victory just over a year ago when he claimed the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as the event set up home in its new residence at Yas Links. While it is early days at the 2023 Hero Dubai Desert Classic, the Belgian has maneuvered himself into a comfortable position to go for a second Rolex Series event on the DP World Tour in a 12-month span.

After adverse weather and a late start, Pieters took a one-stroke lead into Friday morning with three holes of his first round still to play, with Tommy Fleetwood and Daniel Gavins among his closest chasers.

Reflecting on a first day in overcast conditions on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis Course, Pieters said: “I think it played fair. Obviously, they guarded against some of the

conditions, and they moved a few tees forward on holes like 12, where you normally are hitting long irons, and you’re hitting short wedges. If you found fairways and had ball-in-hand, it was definitely playable.

“It was tough to judge because the wind was switching the whole day, but I will try to do the same thing when I am out in the morning. I’m finishing 7, 8, 9 — these are tough holes. If I can finish with three pars, I’ll have a very nice opening round.”

Gavins, who won the 2021 ISPS Handa World Invitational for his biggest win to date, added: “I feel pretty good. I struggled quite a lot off the tee which is a bit frustrating, but my kind of putting kind of held me. I holed quite a lot of nice putts to keep me going. Disappointed with the tee shots but I’ll sort that.”

With the recent announcement of Hero MotoCorp expanding its golf portfolio with the sponsorship of the Dubai Desert Classic, Chairman and CEO Dr Pawan Munjal took time out to explain how the company’s connection with the sport all began, while offering some insights into the future

Hero’s association with golf is now well established, including events in India and the one with Tiger Woods in the Bahamas. How did it all begin and what was the inspiration?

Hero MotoCorp has had a long and cherished association with golf.

It all started back in 1995 when we sponsored a hole-in-one in an international tournament in India. That was the beginning of a relationship that has gone from strength to strength over the years.

Our association with golf is truly global, as we have been partners of the PGA Tour, DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour), the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour in the past. We have been the title sponsors for

SPEAKING WITH:

DR PAWAN MUNJAL

Get to know Hero MotoCorp

CEO — the man behind the Dubai Desert Classic’s title partnership

By Matt Smith

the Hero Indian Open for the men since 2005 and the women since 2010. Both these events are on their respective European Tours.

What has inspired me over these decades is the growth of the sport in India and indeed across the world. It is

Hero MotoCorp’s

Dr Pawan Munjal is a visible presence at all Hero events, including when Stephen Gallacher claimed the Hero Indian Open in 2019 at DLF Golf & Country Club

truly gratifying to see the young Indian golfers — both men and women — who are now competing globally with remarkable results.

Golf is about patience, a long-term vision, grit, consistency and above all integrity and these are the key traits that are applicable to business and life as well. So when I started playing myself, I could easily instil these qualities which have stood me in good stead over the years.

Having already been involved with sports around the world, the year 2023 sees Hero add two more events to the portfolio in the Middle East with the Hero Cup in Abu Dhabi and Hero Dubai Desert Classic in Dubai. How do you see this partnership?

The Hero Cup and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic have further strengthened our long-term association with the DP World Tour. The Hero Cup is a unique platform that brings together established and emerging golfers from Great Britain & Ireland and Continental Europe in preparation for the iconic Ryder Cup. Similarly, the Dubai Desert Classic is an

association with the DP World Tour is a partnership that we value immensely

3

How many events sponsored by Hero on the DP World Tour — in India and the UAE

8

Times Hero has been the main sponsor for Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas

$9m Prize money on offer for the 2023 Hero Dubai Desert Classic

iconic tournament and brings with it a rich legacy.

Hero MotoCorp has rapidly grown into a global brand with a footprint in more than 43 countries across multiple continents including Asia, Africa, South and Central America and Middle East. Moreover, this region holds a special place in my heart, as I unveiled VIDA — Powered by Hero — our new emerging mobility brand in Dubai in March 2022. Our association with the DP World Tour, therefore, is a partnership that we value immensely.

You are quite the golfer yourself. How is your game going?

I have been fortunate enough to have played at some of the best golf courses in the world. My work keeps me very busy with a tight schedule and lot of travelling. So I play whenever time permits me. I usually try to play early morning on weekends.

And do you have any favourite golfers you like to follow on the course or check on their scores each week?

I am a fan of the sport, first. So, I am

always cheering for exciting action. I keep myself updated with young and upcoming players.

How do you rate the UAE courses? Do you have the favourite?

The courses here are fabulous. They are an added motivation for me to come to the UAE as often as I can. As I said earlier, I have played on courses across the world and I can say the ones here can hold their own. The Emirates Golf Club in Dubai is truly remarkable in terms of the playing conditions and the hospitality.

You were inducted into the Asia Pacific Golf Hall of Fame for your contributions to the sport. How have you seen the sport develop in your home and what are your plans to grow the game further?

The growth of the game in India and

many other Asian countries has truly been gratifying for us. This is the motivation for us to keep promoting the game and the emerging players. When we came into golf in the late 1990s, it was still in its early stages; now two-and-a-half decades later, the scenario is totally different — from the quality of courses to the number of talented players coming from small cities and towns in India.

Even at the global level, we are trying to create platforms — such as the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, the Hero Cup in Abu Dhabi and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic — that enable us to take the sport forward and provide a platform for the youth and budding golfers to showcase their talent.

Finally, did you manage to catch up with Tiger at the Hero World Challenge? Did he give any hints about his hopes for the year ahead? Yes, we spent some quality time together during the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in November and early December last year. Tiger is an icon and an inspiration to everyone across the globe. I am eagerly looking forward to seeing him in action whenever he chooses to play in a tournament.

I have courses across the world and I can say the ones in the UAE can hold their own

Hero is also involved in Tiger Woods’ World Challenge in the Bahamas

Dr Munjal is quite the golfer himself, and plays whenever he gets a chance

for Dubai Golf’s Chris May

By Matt Smith

NEW-YEAR EVOLUTION

When it comes to witnessing the evolution of the Dubai Desert Classic over the past 35 years, few can have more first-hand experience than Dubai Golf Chief Executive Officer Chris May, who oversees the smooth running of events at Emirates Golf Club for this famous event which traditionally signals that the new DP World Tour season is truly up and running.

“I think I have lost count,” May chuckles when asked how many Desert Classics he has been a part of. “I was just trying to work out how many myself, because when I first came to the UAE, I was at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, and my first week of work was the Desert Classic when it was held there in 1999.

“That was such a great first experience to see just how big the tournament was even back then.

“It has obviously grown hugely since then and now we have the elevation to a Rolex Series event for the past two years and with our new sponsor, Hero, this year has again made a huge difference to the strength of the field, the prize money and the general feel around the whole tournament and the week.”

May has followed the evolution of the tournament since his early days.

“I have been at every Desert Classic since the nineties and the real years of

growth were when Tiger Woods first came out to play in 2001 — the crowds were like I have never seen before and the event sold out for the first time.

“We were very lucky to see Tiger play here in his prime and also win here twice in 2006 and 2008, all while doing some amazing things on the golf course.

“There have been many, many other special occasions here such as Rory McIlroy’s first professional win in 2009 — it is all the more special when you look at what he has achieved now and now he returns to Emirates Golf Club as the world No. 1.

“I recall Rory even coming across here as a kid with some friends — he is a great example to the kids of today — and he was out at 6.30am on the par-3 course playing over and over, showing such dedication from an early age and he is a great example to many, many people and it is great to see him back here.”

As the competition has grown, it has become sewn into the fabric of Dubai’s community.

“The Classic is a great event in its own right as a tournament, but it has become so much more,” May explained. “It is a social event, a meeting point and a major occasion on the UAE calendar, not just for the local community but also for the global golfing world, which comes here each year — travelling thousands of miles from the US, from Asia, from Europe, from Australia just to play 18 holes in the Pro-Am, for example. That tells you it is special.

“It is a privilege to be involved in this event in any form. It is pretty special. We sometimes get spoilt in this part

Keeping up the high standards at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic is a constant challenge

Above: Rory McIlroy is back at Emirates hunting a third Dubai Desert Classic crown

Top right: The Northern Irishman has fond memories here, having won in 2009

Right: Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club hosted the Dubai Desert Classic in 1999 and 2000

Below: The Desert Classic witnessed some amazing shots from two-time champ Tiger Woods in his prime

of the world with the number of golf and sporting events and opportunities, but when you hear from people who are experiencing it for the first time and they say: ‘Wow. What an event,’ with the condition of the course and the way they are looked after with the Arabian welcome and the hospitality is second to none.

“Along with the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links, we are very lucky to have three Rolex Series events here in the UAE, and I really enjoy seeing people experience it for the first time and see their reaction.”

With such experience and highstandards comes the challenge of improving that experience for visitors at the Dubai Desert Classic — from near and far — year on year, and May knows that you need to stay ahead of the game.

“We work across the board with [tournament organisers Falcon & Associates] and the DP World Tour year on year, looking to improve all the time and benchmarking ourselves against the best tournaments globally — and in other sports too, not just golf.

“With the Dubai Desert Classic in particular, since its elevation to the Rolex

Series, we have seen vast improvements, not just from the player perspective, but also for the media, the stakeholders and, of course, the spectators.

“Our responsibility first is the golf course and making sure that is in the best possible condition. The team work really hard year-round to get the course to peak for this event, but also

Inset: Dubai Golf CEO Chris May has lost count of the number of Dubai Desert Classics he has witnessed

to have the world-class standards for the other 51 weeks of the year. Along with the weather and the accessibility to play the same courses as the best players in the world, that is what makes the UAE so popular year-round for visitors from around the world, and this week is the pinnacle of all the effort

Above: Bryson DeChambeau drew massive crowds when the big-hitting American won here in 2019

Order of Play FRIDAY

JANUARY 27, 2023

Plan the day watching your favourite players with this guide to the groupings and tee times.

Here are the remaining Round 1 pairings to begin this morning. Round 2 tee times will be announced today on the completion of Round 1

23. TIME 08:20 HOLE 1

◼ Chase HANNA (USA)

◼ Ockie STRYDOM (RSA)

◼ Julien BRUN (FRA)

24. TIME 08:30 HOLE 1

◼ Edoardo MOLINARI (ITA)

◼ Ludvig ABERG (AM) (SWE)

◼ Matthieu PAVON (FRA)

25. TIME 08:40 HOLE 1

◼ Luke DONALD (ENG)

◼ Jorge CAMPILLO (ESP)

◼ Sebastian SÖDERBERG (SWE)

26. TIME 08:50 HOLE 1

◼ Tyrrell HATTON (ENG)

◼ Francesco MOLINARI (ITA)

◼ Shane LOWRY (IRL)

27. TIME 09:00 HOLE 1

◼ Adrian MERONK (POL)

◼ Sepp STRAKA (AUT)

◼ Ewen FERGUSON (SCO)

28. TIME 09:10 HOLE 1

◼ Jordan SMITH (ENG)

◼ Shubhankar SHARMA (IND)

◼ Thorbjørn OLESEN (DEN)

29. TIME 09:20 HOLE 1

◼ Rasmus HØJGAARD (DEN)

◼ Rafa CABRERA BELLO (ESP)

◼ Lucas HERBERT (AUS)

30. TIME 09:30 HOLE 1

◼ Dan BRADBURY (ENG)

◼ Thriston LAWRENCE (RSA)

◼ Grant FORREST (SCO)

31. TIME 09:40 HOLE 1

◼ George COETZEE (RSA)

◼ Maximilian KIEFFER (GER)

◼ Alexander BJÖRK (SWE)

32. TIME 09:50 HOLE 1

◼ James MORRISON (ENG)

◼ Marcus KINHULT (SWE)

◼ Justin WALTERS (RSA)

33. TIME 10:00 ♦ HOLE 1

◼ Daniel HILLIER (NZL)

◼ Tapio PULKKANEN (FIN)

◼ Mikael LINDBERG (SWE)

34. TIME 08:20 HOLE 10

◼ Marcel SCHNEIDER (GER)

◼ Angel HIDALGO (ESP)

◼ Marc WARREN (SCO)

35. TIME 08:30 HOLE 10

◼ Oliver BEKKER (RSA)

◼ Ross FISHER (ENG)

◼ Marcus HELLIGKILDE (DEN)

36. TIME 08:40 HOLE 10

◼ Zander LOMBARD (RSA)

◼ Adrian OTAEGUI (ESP)

◼ Hennie DU PLESSIS (RSA)

37. TIME 08:50 HOLE 10

◼ Ashun WU (CHN)

◼ Sean CROCKER (USA)

◼ Henrik STENSON (SWE)

38. TIME 09:00 HOLE 10

◼ Sam HORSFIELD (ENG)

◼ Kalle SAMOOJA (FIN)

◼ Jeff WINTHER (DEN)

39. TIME 09:10 HOLE 10

◼ Alexander LEVY (FRA)

◼ Richard BLAND (ENG)

◼ Andrew JOHNSTON (ENG)

40. TIME 09:20 HOLE 10

◼ Jason SCRIVENER (AUS)

◼ Ian POULTER (ENG)

◼ Espen KOFSTAD (NOR)

41. TIME 09:30 HOLE 10

◼ Calum HILL (SCO)

◼ Louis DE JAGER (RSA)

◼ VAN DRIEL, Darius (NED)

42. TIME 09:40 HOLE 10

◼ Joost LUITEN (NED)

◼ Daan HUIZING (NED)

◼ Søren KJELDSEN (DEN)

43. TIME 09:50 HOLE 10

◼ Issa ABOU EL ELA (AM) (EGY)

◼ Niklas NØRGAARD (DEN)

◼ Santiago TARRIO (ESP)

44. TIME 10:00 ♦ HOLE 10

◼ Jacques KRUYSWIJK (RSA)

◼ Johannes VEERMAN (USA)

◼ JC RITCHIE (RSA)

ROLL WITH IT

Padraig Harrington enjoying life as one of the DP World Tour’s elder statesmen

By Matt Smith

Three majors, 36 professional wins, four Ryder Cup victories and the added bonus of a US Senior Open title last year to boot — it is safe to say that Padraig Harrington can be pretty satisfied with his lot as a 51-year-old elder statesman of the game.

The thing is... he is still hungry for more.

Fresh from worrying the young pups with a fourth-place finish — two behind winner Victor Perez — at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship last week, the Irish veteran is in town for this week at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

Despite trudging around the world’s greatest courses on a knee that “needs replacing sooner or later”, Harrington knows he can still spar with the best of them on his day.

“Yeah, I feel good,” Harrington said ahead of his opening round at Emirates Golf Club. “I felt good about my game at the end of the year, so it was nice to start off maybe a little quicker than I expected. Normally I wouldn’t be that good the first weekend, but it is always good to be in contention again. You want a chance, and certainly I’ll look back at last week and have a few regrets.

“Hey, when get to my age, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesdays are not very exciting. It’s hard to get up on those days but this [the Majlis] is a big, big golf course, and with this rain, it’s going to get even longer.

“But obviously if it’s wet, it’s going to be quite a difficult test.” Not wanting to harp on about his age, Harrington recalls what the Dubai horizon was like when he first took part here in 1998.

“There was nothing there when I teed it up first,” he laughed. “The only thing on the horizon was the Hard Rock Cafe. That was it. Now we have this skyline and the city has changed so much.”

But one thing that Harrington recalls from each visit to Emirates Golf Club is the risky approach shot to the final green — the very shot that was Rory McIlroy’s undoing last year.

“For me, I would still say the most memorable and perilous shot is second shot on 18,” Harrington said. “That has the player under pressure. So everybody thinks it’s a beautiful hole, the 18th, and what a beautiful shot, but the players are sweating it a bit, especially if you’re in contention. So yeah, the second shot on 18 is the one that does it for me.”

Reflecting on the new Dubai Duty Free sponsor, Harrington added: “It’s brilliant that Hero are moving in now and supporting the Dubai Desert Classic. This is one of our marquee events now for 25 years on tour. It’s an event that it’s just one of our best events. This is a championship golf course. It truly is a big test. For Hero to take title sponsorship and sort of guarantee its place in golf here, that’s very important.”

Harrington first underwent surgery on his troublesome right knee eight years ago, and he admits that it needs further attention — but only when the time suits him.

“I need three months, six months of that, and so that’s not going to happen for a few years and at the moment I’m going to take my chances and put up with what I’ve got,” he said.

“I’m trying to keep myself somewhat okay. It’s always been a balance, and when I get older, the rest side is winning out.”

SILVER LININGS

Sepp Straka aims to shine in the showers at Emirates Golf Club this weekend

Rain is rarely a golfer’s best friend, but one man who was beaming at the prospect of a damp week at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic is Austrian Sepp Straka.

The 29-year-old may hail from Vienna, but he plies his trade mostly on the PGA tour, having remained in the United States since graduating from the University of Georgia and turning professional in 2016.

That decision has certainly not done him any harm as he has risen to No. 27 in the world and comes to Dubai on the back of a stellar 2022, which saw him just miss out on the FedEx St Jude Championship and Sanderson Farms Championship in playoffs to Will Zalatoris and Mackenzie Hughes respectively. But the crowning achievement was claiming his maiden crown at the Honda Classic at the PGA National in Palm Beach, Florida, back in February.

As luck would have it, Straka’s fortunes changed that week almost exactly a year

Easy come, easy go

Min Woo Lee just missed out on the biggest success of his young career last week at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, finishing T2, one stroke behind winner Victor Perez at Yas Links in the DP World Tour Rolex Series event.

But the laidback Australian is taking the near miss in his stride as he sets off once more in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, following a sparkling beginning to life on the tour, with two titles in South Africa and Scotland already under his belt.

“It’s been awesome,” he said. “I had a nice year last year, and I have started off on the right foot this year. It was a close call in Abu Dhabi last week, and it has come together, I think, as I am putting less pressure on myself and doing the best I can on each shot.

“I think it’s just not caring about winning too much.”

Coming into a damp Desert Classic, Lee — who is the younger brother of LPGA star Minjee Lee — is still on a learning curve.

“I don’t think I’ve played here that much,” he said. “I think I played here once or twice, but I think it suits longer hitters, which is nice for me, but the rough is up, so I need to hit it somewhat straight.”

“While I don’t worry too much about the winning, I aim to get to the majors this year and creep up the top 50 in the world,” he added. “I think that’s one of my goals for the first half of the year, and get as low as I can and try to get to the top 30, top 25 by the end of the year.”

ago as the rain began to fall in Florida, so he fancies his chances in Dubai this week, too, with the skies overcast and a course that is suited to his game.

“Yeah, I love it,” the recent Team Europe Hero Cup star said after getting out to see the Majlis Course before the deluge. “It’s tight off the tee, firm greens, and I think it will be a great test.

“The course plays very similar to what I am used to in the States on the PGA and the weather will make it interesting.”

After helping Continental Europe to victory in the Hero Cup over Tommy Fleetwood’s GB&I team, Straka missed the cut at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, and is solely focused on a better week on Dubai before firming up his plans for the year.

“It’s hard to tell right now,” he said of his schedule. “I don’t really know much about it yet. It all depends on how I play and all that going forward. So it is a bit up in the air.”

Double vision

Team Europe Junior Ryder Cup captain Stephen Gallacher hunting for someone to follow in his footsteps

By Matt Smith

You only have to look around the grounds at Emirates Golf Club this week to see proof, as past winners are celebrated on the flags and posters across the Majlis course.

In the 35-year-long history of the Dubai Desert Classic, one record has stood the test of time — Stephen Gallacher’s stunning back-to-back triumphs in 2013 and 2014.

Ernie Els, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have won the title multiple times, but Scotsman Gallacher is the only man to have successfully defended his crown.

Now Gallacher is once again back in Dubai as he looks to make a little more history and join Els with a hat-trick of titles in the DP World Tour Rolex Series event (and beat a certain world No. 1 McIlroy to the punch).

Ever the realist, however, at 48 Gallacher knows he is nearing the end of his playing days at the top of the game and is now ready to help pay it

forward as Team Europe’s Junior Ryder Cup captain ahead of the clash with the United States in Rome this September.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Junior Dubai Desert Classic, where he kept a close eye on some potential stars of the future, Gallacher looked back on some sensational moments on the famous Majlis Course.

“I’ve got some great memories and I’ve had some of the best times on a golf course of my life out here,” Gallacher said. “I’ve managed two holes-in-one, won it twice and shot a 10-under 62,” he said. “Magical things just seem to happen for me here in the UAE. When I come back here to a place that I love it always brings out great memories. You feel a couple of inches taller just walking out onto the tee.”

With that extra confidence boost that he gets here at Emirates Golf Club, Gallacher is not quite ready to hang up his clubs just yet.

“I wouldn’t be here if I thought I

STATS CLASSIC

130

Players in the field for the 34th Dubai Desert Classic this week

47

Age of Mark O’Meara, the oldest Dubai Desert Classic winner in 2004, one year younger than Gallacher is now

62

Gallacher’s best score on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis Course in 2013

couldn’t win,” he said. “It is getting a bit more difficult at my age but hopefully I can produce something like my best over the week,” he said. “But then again there is only so much you can do to prepare yourself well and hope it all happens. And if it doesn’t there isn’t much you can do.

“There are 130 guys playing this week and anybody can win. You look at the Rorys and Shane Lowrys and the guys that are playing really well. The talent is unbelievable. It’s a really, really strong field.

“But there are a lot of elements involved as well. Conditions change during the day and you have to adapt and innovate.”

Innovation is something golf has seen in recent times, with each generation seemingly bigger, stronger and driving longer than the last. Gallacher attributes this to the key figures who changed the face of golf forever.

“Tiger Woods without a doubt, and Rory McIlroy,” he said. “We’ve got some great figureheads and great ambassadors of the game that people look up to. You only have to look now at how young and fit the kids are.

“That is all because of the athleticism Tiger brought to the game which led to kids becoming pros at a much younger age thanks to the evolution of golfing technology.

“When I was a kid I used my father’s old cut-down clubs, while now there are clubs for every age every level as you grow up. Golf has definitely gotten more professional and has changed a lot.

“But you still need to do the 10,000 hours thing. It’s hard work. You don’t get good at it by not working hard and practising. You’ve got to want it more than the guy that’s next to you that’s working equally as hard. So it’s between the ears, then its fitness, then it’s your technique and then repetition over and over.”

As Junior Ryder Cup skipper, Gallacher has one thing top of the agenda for his team, when they finally assemble at Marcom Simone Golf Club, just days before the senior teams do battle on the same course — have fun.

“We are here at the Junior Dubai Desert Classic to try to get the participation levels up and increase awareness about the fun you can have on a golf course; to showcase the facilities and hopefully unearth a new Tiger Woods or Nelly Korda along the way.

Left: Gallacher was at the Junior Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday to watch the next generation of hopefuls

“It is the same when I take my guys to Rome — the singles are played on exactly the same set-up as the main guys on the Thursday just before. I mean, what an opportunity that is to experience something amazing first-hand. The stands are up and the tournament conditions will create such a buzz, and just like here ahead of the Desert Classic, you just want them to get out there and have fun.”

Top: Stephen Gallacher, 48, is a two-time Hero Dubai Desert Classic champion

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STRAKA STRIKES

Sepp Straka had the perfect warm-up to a chilly Hero Dubai Desert Classic by taking top spot in Wednesday’s Pro-Am on the Majlis Course. Helped by teammates Jake Skelton, Jason Joyce and Josh Plotkin, Austrian star Straka posted a score of 33-under to claim a threestroke lead from Ian Poulter’s quartet. The Englishman’s team edged out Team Shane Lowry on 30-under thanks to a better back-nine count.

BIG BREAK

FIVE NAMES TO WATCH THIS WEEK AT EMIRATES GOLF CLUB

TOM MCKIBBIN

Northern Ireland

Age: 20

A young lad from Holywood Golf Club making waves on the DP World Tour? Sound familiar? McKibbin hails from the same club as a certain Rory McIlroy and looks ready to live up to expectations with a string of top-20 finishes in his young career.

MIN WOO LEE

Australia Age: 24

Quite a celebrity already, Lee has tasted victory at the 2020 ISPS Handa Vic Open and the 2021 Scottish Open, defeating Matt Fitzpatrick in a playoff, but is still living in his sister’s shadow a little. Sibling Minjee is a two-time major winner on the ladies’ circuit.

LUKAS NEMECZ

Austria Age: 33

Quite a bit older than star compatriot Sepp Straka, Nemecz is something of a late bloomer, having just regained his DP World Tour card last year. He looks to be making up for lost time however and enjoys playing in the UAE, with a T3 at last year’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship ensuring his card was safe.

OLIVER HUNDEBØLL

Denmark

Age: 23

The latest product from the Danish production line that has seen twin brothers Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard hit the heights on the DP World Tour, Hundebøll has come through the Challenge Tour and Sunshine Tours, and is now targeting bigger prizes on the DP World Tour.

LUDVIG ÅBERG

Sweden

Age: 23

This one has been tipped for the top for a while despite his young age, as he has charted his course through the US college system at Texas Tech. The Swede claimed a clutch of titles on his way to becoming the world No. 1 amateur in September and his potential was realised when he won the Ben Hogan Award for best college player last year.

Sepp Straka and his EGA 2 teammates — Jake Skelton, Jason Joyce and Josh Plotkin — were the stars of Wednesday’s Dubai Desert Classic Pro-Am

We would like to thank the following for their invaluable support of the 2023 Hero Dubai Desert Classic, held at Emirates Golf Club from January 26 - 29