ROUND 2 | FRIDAY | JANUARY 19, 2024
QUARTET
TIED AFTER DAY ONE Haotong Li, Andy Sullivan, Cameron Young and Rasmus Højgaard all shot opening rounds of fiver under 67 over the Majlis Course
Dubai Golf CEO Chris May shares his memories of this event. PAGE 4
By Harry Grimshaw – Editor, Golf Digest Middle East
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quartet of players are tied at the top of the leaderboard after the first round of the 35th edition of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Chinese Haotong Li, England’s Andy Sullivan, American Cameron Young and Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard all shot opening rounds on Thursday at the Majlis Course of five under 67. It’s a venue that’s a happy hunting ground for Haotong, as the 28-year-old, overcame Rory McIlroy on this very course six years ago to claim his then second DP World Tour title, “I can’t believe it’s six years ago,” said Li “I just had a lot of great memories and hopefully, I can continue to do some magic here.” Sullivan who was bogey-free with his 67, remains positive despite a change in his team and coming back into competition after four weeks off. “I’ve gone back with working with Jamie Gough and just got back to hitting my little fades and being good at what I’m doing. I’m never going to be a bomber, so it’s about control for me and try and do that again.” A hero finish for Cameron Young, who is in the tournament on an invite, in his opening round. Staying patient through his front nine, a birdie-birdie-eagle finish HERO DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC
Majlis Memories
in his closing three holes pushed him up 26 spots. “I think it kind of helped me to just wait for those (shots) to come along, knowing that even or one over through the front nine isn’t bad and you have a chance to shoot, two or three (birdies), and to make those birdies and eagle on the last was tremendous.” Dane Rasmus Højgaard, who has four DP World Tour victories to his name, is looking to be sharper going forward out on the Majlis, “Out here it is very much a ball-striking golf course. If you hit it straight off the tee and you hit it on the greens, you can give yourself some good chances.” The four players lead by one stroke from seven others which includes Dubai based Adrian Meronk and Thorbørn Olesen. While making up the remaining five spots at four under is Rasmus’ brother Nicolai, fellow Dane Soren Kjeldsen, England’s Richard Mansell, Spain’s Sebastain Garcia and South African Louis de Jager. Defending champion Rory McIlroy, who is looking for his fourth Dallah trophy, shot a one-under-par 71 to get his defence underway in Dubai. Play was suspended due to darkness with three groups still with their opening round remaining. They will resume on Friday morning at 07:45 with round two starting on time.
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#DUBAIDESERTCLASSIC
Picture Round-Up
Best Thursday moments from the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. PAGE 1O
Daily Diary with Josh
Joshua Grenville-Wood’s frustration after opening day. PAGE 12
Tournament Town
It’s Family Friday and there’s plenty of activities to do. PAGE 15
DAILY DRAW SHEET & COURSE MAP
Navigate Emirates Golf Club with your guide to the second round groups. PAGE 8-9 PATRON AND OFFICIAL PUBLISHER
DUBAIDESERTCLASSIC.COM
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NEWS
visit golfdigestme.com for the latest coverage
Weather Watch The weather heading towards the weekend looks ideal for both the professionals and spectators. Friday to Saturday sees mostly sunshine with patchy clouds and temperatures remaining between lows of 18°C first thing in the morning warming up to highs around 26°C. Sunday still, looks set to be sunny with just partial cloud. Please don’t forget your SPF and make sure you stay hydrated when out on the course!
Fri 19th
26/18
Mostly sunny and pleasant; breezy in the afternoon
Sat 20th
26/18
The closing stretch
The 17th Hole
Par: 4 • Yards: 359 n the 17th hole in last year’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic there were three eagles, 118 birdies, 276 pars, 35 bogeys and just one double-bogey. The penultimate hole averaged a score of 3.80, making it the fifth easiest hole on the course, as ex-professional turned broadcaster Wayne ‘Radar’ Riley explained. “The 17th hole it’s a classic risk or reward,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it comes at the 17th of your round or it comes at the 71st hole of the championship, you’ve got a chance of making a two, a birdie or others. It’s 359 yards in length and with some help in the air, you can whip it straight over the trees. “If you want to lay up, it’s only going to be a hybrid, a four iron or a three iron just to advance it down towards that green. “There’s nothing fancy about it [the green]. Most things on the right-hand side haven’t changed. Still some shrubbery over on the right as well as the waste area and those big old palm trees. Golf balls have even been known to stay up there on the odd occasion! Over here on the left-hand side, there used to be a lot of low-lying bushes and shrubbery, but it’s all been cleaned up. I love it. It’s just made into a total waste area. “The rough up on the left-hand side is still very thick indeed. It’s overseeded rye, and when the flags on the lefthand side, and you’re on the left-hand side, you are short-sided. It is a big old circular green with a little step in it. This par four is a beauty, and comes at a gorgeous time.”
O
Nice with sun and areas of high clouds
Sun 21st
26/18
Comfortable with partial sunshine
Editor-in-Chief Obaid Humaid Al Tayer
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Editor Harry Grimshaw
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The 18th hole
Par: 5 • Yards: 564 he dramatic 18th final hole has proved pivotal to the outcome of several of the previous 34 championships. In 2023, it ranked as the second easiest hole of the week with an average of 4.56, comprised of 15 eagles, 204 birdies, 117 pars, 32 bogeys and 5 double-bogeys or worse. A hole with plenty of variability, defending champion Rory McIlroy went birdie-par-bogey-birdie over the four days of competition last year. “The famous 18th, here on the Majlis, is 564 yards and it’s a dog leg, a severe one at that from right to left,” explained Riley. “You need to cover that rough over on the left-hand side because it really is dragged in and cuts right down into the fairway as that cambers from left to right so the ball can get away from you. “337 yards to reach the water from the tee, and with these fairways baking up these guys can reach there no worries, [but] you don’t want to go there. “If you do miss the fairway left or right it’s very difficult to find your favourite yardage so usually the guys lay it up down there and give themselves 110 yards. “The green is huge, it’s actually shared with the ninth green. A lot of players will take too much club here and hit it towards this unbelievable amphitheatre of the hospitality suites. It’s a green which tilts severely from back to front, and we’ve seen so many iconic moments here.”
T
NEWS
NO PAIN, NO GAIN D
ubai-based Adrian Meronk may have won the Seve Ballesteros Award earlier this week, but he revealed the search for perfection never stops after carding an opening 68 on Thursday at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. The Pole enjoyed a career year in the 2023 season, winning three times and moving into the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking en route to being voted Player of the Year by his peers on the DP World Tour and being awarded the Seve Ballesteros Award by one of Seve’s sons, Javier, at the start of the week. But that does not mean he is complacent, and the 30-year-old is working on changing his swing to challenge for the biggest titles in the game, with a Rolex Series win available this week. That is not always an easy process and despite the changes giving him some pain this week, Meronk still managed to put himself right in the mix after 18 holes at Emirates Golf Club. “I think we rushed with the swing change a little bit,” he said.
“My lower back is aching, so I think I’m going to take it slowly. Increase my flexibility and stretch the hips, see what’s possible. “To be honest, this week doesn’t really feel what I want it to be yet. So going to have to keep working and hopefully it’s going to get better as the week goes on.” Meronk twice got to five under to lead in the desert on day one but bogeys on the fourth and ninth saw him slip back to four under. The 2019 Challenge Tour graduate has played well at here before, finishing in the top five in 2022, and was satisfied to grind out a score. “I wasn’t hitting my best all day,” he said. “So I just tried to hit as many greens as possible and make putts, which I did. “So I’m pretty happy with the end result. A little disappointed but it’s OK.” Adrian tee’s off for his second round off the first hole at 12:20 local time alongside the reigning Open Champion, Brian Harman and England’s Dan Bradbury.
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4
LOOKING BACK
MAY’S MAJLIS MEMORIES As we reach this milestone year of 35 editions of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, who best to catch up with, and get to know a thing or two about the past history of the event with than Chris May, CEO of Dubai Golf
H
aving first touched down in Dubai back in 1999, initially for a five-year stint, Chris’ first week of work was in fact at the 1999 Dubai Desert Classic just down the road at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club – the event then just 10 years old previously held at Emirates Golf Club. 25 years on, he is still here! “That was such a great first experience to see just how big the tournament was even back then” said May. “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 a threetime winner of the event.” “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.”
In the development of the tournament over the past three decades, May along with his team at Dubai Golf and the support of the DP World Tour, have seen it elevated into a Rolex Series event three years ago. And in 2022 with the new sponsor, Hero, it has again further transformed the strength of the field, the upgraded prize money to $9 million USD and of course the general aura around the whole tournament. “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, Asia, Europe, and 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 of the world with the number of golf and sporting events
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“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
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE:
Rory McIlroy holing his winning putt last year; Ernie Els in 2005; McIlroy with the Dallah trophy for his maiden professional win, 2009; Tiger Woods teeing off in 2006; Woods infamous fist pump in 2008; Irishman Eamonn Darcy playing his approach into the 18th hole during the final round, 1990.
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 Championship at Yas Links, the DP World Tour now has three Rolex Series events here in the United Arab Emirates. Showcasing to the world the highest quality golf courses that are on offer in the country. “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.”
hard year-round to get the course to peak for this event, but also to have 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 that goes in.”
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OFF THE COURSE
Health Comes First T Dr Margo Mountjoy
he Hero Dubai Desert Classic (HDDC) has taken a pioneering step forward to support the players’ overall mental and physical wellbeing during this month’s 35th edition of the tournament with its new Mental Fitness and Recovery Zone. The Zone will be introduced for the first time as part of the DP World Tour 2024 calendar as the Emirates Golf Club welcomes the elite golfers for the Rolex Series Event. During visits to the Zone, players can prioritise self-care, manage mental Dr Andrew Murray pressure, and maintain focus in the mental fitness area - a new facility addition at HDDC for the golfers while they can also work towards sustaining peak performance levels in the physical fitness recovery zone. Located within SENSASIA Urban Spa at the iconic Emirates Golf Club, the Zone will help provide a positive boost for players’ mindset for the round ahead as well as outside of the golf course, with access to services and consultations to improve their mental and physical wellbeing. The introduction of the Mental Fitness and Recovery Zone comes at a vital time when the DP World Tour is focusing on improving all Tour players’ mental well-being as well as physical fitness while promoting a healthy lifestyle. It fully aligns with the HDDC’s commitment to looking after players’ welfare, equipping them with the tools to manage stress, enhance focus and perform at their best during the tournament. Sports, including golf are known to have overall mental health and well-being benefits, but professional sport can be very demanding of mental health. Evidence is consistent and growing that athletes across sports suffer the same or greater levels of anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder as the general public and this is mirrored by research in golf.
FAMILY FRIDAY It’s not all purely about the golf. In Tournament Town there’s something for everyone, from a 360-degree video booth for all, to face painting, musical performances, and a special rave for kids by FamilyBeatz at 3pm on Friday afternoon. FamilyBeatz is the UAE’s only family-friendly rave. Brought to you by a team of parents and lifelong ravers from the UK, bringing a banging mash up of club classics to get the entire family groovin’ on the dance floor. Visitors can look forward to a wider variety of options off the course than ever before.
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DRAW SHEET
ORDER OF PLAY
FRIDAY
JANUARY 19, 2024
Plan the day watching your favourite players with this guide to the groupings and tee times. 1. TIME 07:10 ♦ HOLE 1 ◼ Lorenzo SCALISE (ITA) ◼ Adam BLOMME (SWE) ◼ Espen KOFSTAD (NOR)
+2 E E
32. TIME 11:30 HOLE 10 ◼ Alejandro DEL REY (ESP) ◼ Ricardo GOUVEIA (POR) ◼ Tom VAILLANT (FRA)
E +2 +3
+1 +7 +4
33. TIME 11:40 HOLE 10 ◼ Santiago TARRIO (ESP) ◼ Scott JAMIESON (SCO) ◼ Daan HUIZING (NED)
-1 -3 -2
+2 +5 +1
23. TIME 11:50 HOLE 1 ◼ Tom MCKIBBIN (NIR) ◼ Zander LOMBARD (RSA) ◼ Matthew SOUTHGATE (ENG)
E -1 +2
34. TIME 11:50 HOLE 10 ◼ Fabrizio ZANOTTI (PAR) ◼ Niklas NØRGAARD (DEN) ◼ Adrien SADDIER (FRA)
+3 +1 +2
14. TIME 07:40 HOLE 10 ◼ Jayden SCHAPER (RSA) ◼ Thriston LAWRENCE (RSA) ◼ Daniel BROWN (ENG)
+1 +3 +4
24. TIME 12:00 HOLE 1 ◼ Adrian OTAEGUI (ESP) ◼ Jordan SMITH (ENG) ◼ Romain LANGASQUE (FRA)
+3 +2 -1
35. TIME 12:00 HOLE 10 ◼ Dale WHITNELL (ENG) ◼ Simon FORSSTRÖM (SWE) ◼ Daniel GAVINS (ENG)
+1 +2 +9
-1 +1 +7
15. TIME 07:50 HOLE 10 ◼ Pablo LARRAZÁBAL (ESP) ◼ Marcel SIEM (GER) ◼ Luke DONALD (ENG)
+1 E -1
25. TIME 12:10 HOLE 1 ◼ Yannik PAUL (GER) ◼ Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) ◼ Francesco MOLINARI (ITA)
+2 -3 E
36. TIME 12:10 HOLE 10 ◼ Rafa CABRERA BELLO (ESP) ◼ Todd CLEMENTS (ENG) ◼ Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN)
-2 +1 +3
6. TIME 08:00 HOLE 1 ◼ Calum HILL (SCO) ◼ Manuel ELVIRA (ESP) ◼ Dylan FRITTELLI (RSA)
E -1 +2
16. TIME 08:00 HOLE 10 ◼ Tommy FLEETWOOD (ENG) ◼ Cameron YOUNG (USA) ◼ Ryan FOX (NZL)
-3 -5 +3
26. TIME 12:20 HOLE 1 ◼ Brian HARMAN (USA) ◼ Adrian MERONK (POL) ◼ Dan BRADBURY (ENG)
-1 -4 E
37. TIME 12:20 HOLE 10 ◼ Haotong LI (CHN) ◼ Richard MANSELL (ENG) ◼ David LAW (SCO)
-5 -4 +2
7. TIME 08:10 HOLE 1 ◼ Bernd WIESBERGER (AUT) ◼ Paul WARING (ENG) ◼ Aaron COCKERILL (CAN)
+2 +2 -1
17. TIME 08:10 HOLE 10 ◼ Tyrrell HATTON (ENG) ◼ Rasmus HØJGAARD (DEN) ◼ Thorbjørn OLESEN (DEN)
+2 -5 -4
27. TIME 12:30 HOLE 1 ◼ Rory MCILROY (NIR) ◼ Nicolai HØJGAARD (DEN) ◼ Adam SCOTT (AUS)
-1 -4 -3
38. TIME 12:30 HOLE 10 ◼ Oliver WILSON (ENG) ◼ Jamie DONALDSON (WAL) ◼ Angel HIDALGO ESP)
+3 E -1
8. TIME 08:20 HOLE 1 ◼ Mike LORENZO-VERA (FRA) ◼ Stephen GALLACHER (SCO) ◼ Hurly LONG (GER)
E +1 +7
18. TIME 08:20 HOLE 10 ◼ Jorge CAMPILLO (ESP) ◼ Sebastian SÖDERBERG (SWE) ◼ Joost LUITEN (NED)
+2 E E
28. TIME 12:40 HOLE 1 ◼ Rikuya HOSHINO (JPN) ◼ Antoine ROZNER (FRA) ◼ Ewen FERGUSON (SCO)
+2 +3 +2
39. TIME 12:40 HOLE 10 ◼ Johannes VEERMAN (USA) ◼ Marcel SCHNEIDER (GER) ◼ Gavin GREEN MAS)
-1 E +5
9. TIME 08:30 HOLE 1 ◼ Kevin CHAPPELL (USA) ◼ Ross FISHER (ENG) ◼ Matteo MANASSERO (ITA)
+3 +3 +4
19. TIME 08:30 HOLE 10 ◼ Grant FORREST (SCO) -3* ◼ Thomas BJØRN (DEN) +4* ◼ Julien GUERRIER (FRA) +2*
29. TIME 12:50 HOLE 1 ◼ Joaquin NIEMANN (CHI) ◼ Nathan KIMSEY (ENG) ◼ Guido MIGLIOZZI (ITA)
-3 +2 +1
40. TIME 12:50 HOLE 10 ◼ Laurie CANTER (ENG) +1 ◼ Joshua GRENVILLE-WOOD (UAE) +3 ◼ Jeong weon KO (FRA) -3
10. TIME 08:40 HOLE 1 ◼ Chase HANNA (USA) -2** ◼ Andrea PAVAN (ITA) +1** ◼ Frederik KJETTRUP (AM) (DEN) +1**
20. TIME08:40 HOLE 10 ◼ Adri ARNAUS (ESP) +4** ◼ Jesper SVENSSON (SWE) +3** ◼ Michael THORBJORNSEN (AM) (USA) +1**
30. TIME 13:00 HOLE 1 ◼ Jeff WINTHER (DEN) ◼ Nacho ELVIRA (ESP) ◼ Shubhankar SHARMA (IND)
-2 +3 E
41. TIME 13:00 HOLE 10 ◼ MJ DAFFUE (RSA) ◼ Lukas NEMECZ (AU) ◼ Søren KJELDSEN (DEN)
-1 -3 -4
+5 E +1
42. TIME 13:10 HOLE 10 ◼ Sebastian GARCIA (ESP) ◼ Ugo COUSSAUD (FRA) ◼ Gunner WIEBE (USA)
-4 -3 +2
+4 +3 +3
11. TIME 07:10 HOLE 10 ◼ Sean CROCKER (USA) ◼ Ockie STRYDOM (RSA) ◼ Casey JARVIS (RSA)
E +3 E
21. TIME 11:30 HOLE 1 ◼ Marcus KINHULT (SWE) ◼ Kevin TWAY (USA) ◼ Marcus HELLIGKILDE (DEN)
-2 -1 +2
12. TIME 07:20 HOLE 10 ◼ Marco PENGE (ENG) ◼ Ashun WU (CHN) ◼ Richie RAMSAY (SCO)
+5 +6 -3
22. TIME 11:40 HOLE 1 ◼ Padraig HARRINGTON (IRL) ◼ Julien BRUN (FRA) ◼ Marcus ARMITAGE (ENG)
3. TIME 07:30 HOLE 1 ◼ Matthew BALDWIN (ENG) ◼ Andy SULLIVAN (ENG) ◼ Edoardo MOLINARI (ITA)
E -5 E
13. TIME 07:30 HOLE 10 ◼ Connor SYME (SCO) ◼ Daniel HILLIER (NZL) ◼ Nick BACHEM (GER)
4. TIME 07:40 HOLE 1 ◼ Hennie DU PLESSIS (RSA) ◼ Matthew JORDAN (ENG) ◼ Louis DE JAGER (RSA)
-1 -1 -4
5. TIME 07:50 HOLE 1 ◼ Callum SHINKWIN (ENG) ◼ Kalle SAMOOJA (FIN) ◼ Jens DANTORP (SWE)
2. TIME 07:20 HOLE 1 ◼ James MORRISON (ENG) ◼ Clément SORDET (FRA) ◼ Jason SCRIVENER (AUS)
* One hole remaining ** Two holes remaining
31. TIME 13:10 HOLE 1 ◼ Eddie PEPPERELL (ENG) ◼ Matthias SCHWAB (AUT) ◼ Maximilian KIEFFER (GER)
Main Entrance
Al Khail Metro Station
D
DR
GG
MV
KZ
Tournament Town
C
General Parking Public Access
B
A
PL
2
MC
Clubhouse
1
9
VIP
GENERAL PUBLIC
TG
MT
E
16
18
TV Compound
8
3
12
13
17
14
4 7
10
SP
6
PT
5
15
YDS
469 351 601 180 451 485 186 459 488 3670
HOLE
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 OUT
11
3356
446
420
170
443
412
165
550
321
429
MTRS
35
4
4
3
4
4
3
5
4
4
PAR
YDS
3758 7428
TOTAL
564
359
463
190
434
554
476
169
549
IN
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
HOLE
6793
3437
516
328
423
174
397
507
435
155
502
MTRS
Pre booked Taxis
Taxis
Solar Panels
Jones Picnic Lounge
MV Marshals / Volunteers
SP Skyline Pavilion
72
37
5
4
4
3
4
5
4
3
5
PAR
PT Public Bar & Viewing Terrace
MT EGC Members Terrace
TG Top Golf Public Deck
MC Media Centre
VIP Hospitality
DR Driving Range by Callaway
GG Grey Goose Bar
PL Players’ Lounge
KZ Kid’s Zone
Medical
Parking Area
Walking Path
Water Dispenser
Public Grandstands
Public Catering
Scoreboard
Giant Screen
Merchandise
Toilets
General Public Access
Ticketing
SPECTATOR MAP 9
10 PICTURE ROUND-UP
Sunrise over the Majlis Course
Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez of Spain MJ Daffue of South Africa
Tom Vaillant of France
Rafa Cabrera Bello of Spain
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Adam Scott of Australia
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Motivate Media Group Managing Partner Ian Fairservice hosting the annual Gentlemen’s Lunch The Clubhouse at Emirates Golf Club
Adrian Meronk of Poland
Padraig Harrington of Ireland
Joaquin Niemann of Chile
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DAILY DIARY
Daily Diary with Joshua Grenville-Wood
“ONCE YOU MAKE A MISTAKE IT’S EASY TO GET FRUSTRATED AND THEN YOU KEEP MAKING MISTAKES.”
I
’m pretty disappointed after today’s opening round. I shot 75, three over par, which wasn’t what I had planned. I really hit it pretty poorly most of the day. I managed to get something going a bit on the back nine but then had just a really poor finish. I wasn’t even in that bad a place coming off the 15th green. I was level par and then I just hit a poor tee shot on 16, which led to a bogey. Then 17 and 18, as you know, are birdie opportunities, especially with my length. Hit a good drive on 17 and then a slightly poor chip onto the green and ended up
STATS
Grenville-Wood
+3
Opening round 75
3
DP World Tour appearances
three-putting from 12 feet because I was just too aggressive at the wrong time. Then standing on the 18th tee I was still pretty angry with myself and I chose the wrong club off the tee and hit my driver instead of my three-wood. Misjudged the wind and put it in the bushes, chipped out, and then my third shot was a big push right into the water. My head had gone. It was a good save at least, up and down from 70 yards, to save bogey. Just that wrong club on the 18th tee and I lost it from there really. It is what it is. It’s strange because I felt good this morning before my round, my warm-up was good, and everything felt good. I was just ready to play. I didn’t start great and had a bit of a ropey swing but I managed to find something around the turn. I tried to press on but couldn’t, and especially with the wind, it was getting tougher out there, but we try again tomorrow.
Frustrating really, because I had expectations for myself about how I wanted to play today, but as the wind picked up with the pins as tucked as they were, it wasn’t easy out there. Then once you make a mistake it’s easy to get frustrated and then you keep making silly mistakes. It was great though having my mum, dad, brother and coach out following me. Plus it’s nice to have familiar faces to talk to and take my mind off my game! I’m sure they will try to cheer me up over the next hour or so! Anyway, I’m just going to forget about today and move on. I’ve got to go out there tomorrow (Friday) and shoot four or five under, like I know I can do around here, and think of it as a new day and try again. I’m teeing off on the 10th tomorrow at 12:50, so fingers crossed I can have a better round and I hope to see even more support from the fans which really pushes me on.
COMPETITION
13
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PROMOTE INCLUSIVITY
HEROES OF HOPE T
he Hero Dubai Desert Classic partnered again with Heroes of Hope, a sports charity working with People of Determination to promote inclusivity and provide diverse sports programmes to allow for the development of key sporting, social and interpersonal skills. Returning following the successful partnership in 2023, Heroes of Hope will feature as part of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic’s development programmes to inspire the next generation of golfers and providing new opportunities in sport at the grassroots level. The non-profit organisation, founded in 2019 by Hollie Murphy, and aligned with Al Jalila Foundation Dubai, held golfing clinics in the build-up to this year’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic alongside Pros from Pete Cowen Academy, with the Heroes of Hope stars featuring in the final clinic alongside South African professional Thriston Lawrence to kick off the week at Emirates Golf Club. Heroes of Hope has worked with over 180 athletes, providing the community with key development pathways through physical activity and inspiring ‘Believers & Achievers’.
ACTIVATION
TIME
LOCATION
ACT
TIME
Friday – 19 January
10:00 - 18:00 Tournament Town Caricature Artist 13:00 - 18:00 Tournament Town Glitter Box 12:00 Tournament Town Golf Course Comedy Act 12:00 Tournament Town Bubbling Golfer 13:00 Tournament Town Golf Course Comedy Act 13:30 Tournament Town Bubbling Golfer 14:00 Tournament Town Golf Course Comedy Act 14:30 Tournament Town Stage Bubbling Golfer 14:00 - 16:00 Tournament Town Free Face Painting 15:00 Tournament Town Family Beatz Event 18:30 Tournament Town Live Music 23:00 Finish Finish
Saturday – 20 January
LOCATION
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ACT
Sunday – 21 January
T N E M A TOURN TOWN
10:00 - 18:00 Tournament Town Caricature Artist 10:00 - 18:00 Tournament Town Glitter Box 11:00 Sustainability Corner DIY Workshop 11:30 Sustainability Corner Seed Bombs Workshop 12:00 Tournament Town The Swingin Green Brass Band 12:00 Tournament Town Tall Tee Toppers 12:30 Sustainability Corner Urban Farming Workshop 13:00 Tournament Town Green Gents 13:30 Tournament Town Blossom Buggy 13:30 Sustainability Corner Jenga 14:00 Tournament Town The Swingin Green Brass Band 14:30 Tournament Town Green Gents 14:30 Sustainability Corner Diy Workshop 15:00 Tournament Town Blossom Buggy 15:00 Tournament Town Tall Tee Toppers 15:30 Sustainability Corner Seed Bombs Workshop 16:00 Tournament Town Green Gents 16:30 Tournament Town Blossom Buggy 16:30 Sustainability Corner Urban Farming Workshop 17:00 Tournament Town The Swingin Green Brass Band 17:00 Tournament Town Tall Tee Toppers 17:30 Sustainability Corner Jenga 18:00 Tournament Town Stage Live Music 23:00 Finish Finish
10:00 - 18:00 Tournament Town Caricature Artist 11:00 Sustainability Corner Diy Workshop 11:00 Tournament Town Green Gents 11:30 Tournament Town Blossom Buggy 12:00 Tournament Town The Swingin Green Brass Band 12:30 Sustainability Corner Seed Bombs Workshop 13:00 Tournament Town Green Gents 13:30 Tournament Town Blossom Buggy 13:30 Sustainability Corner Urban Farming Workshop 14:00 Tournament Town The Swingin Green Brass Band 14:30 Tournament Town Green Gents 14:30 Sustainability Corner Jenga 15:00 Tournament Town The Swingin Green Brass Band 15:00 Tournament Town Blossom Buggy 15:30 Sustainability Corner Diy Workshop 16:00 Sustainability Corner Seed Bombs Workshop 18:00 Tournament Town Stage Live Music 22:00 Finish Finish
E L U D E SCH
Driving long-term prosperity for Dubai with exceptional assets and experiences
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT