OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC 2021 DAILY - ISSUE 1

THURSDAY

JANUARY 28, 2021

ROUND 1

Dubai Delight With golf’s next-gen poster boy and Europe’s hottest player to the fore, another absorbing chapter of ‘the Major of the Middle East’ is set to go

By Kent Gray – Editor, Golf Digest Middle East major champions and Ryder Cup heroes.

American golf’s brightest young star and an Englishman in giddy form. Majlis specialists returning to the once again pristine scene of past glories.

The OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic, since 1989 the standard-bearer for Middle East golf and still today the darling of the Desert Swing, is all set for a fresh chapter befitting the UAE’s golden jubilee.

Reigning U.S. PGA champion Collin Morikawa has returned to Dubai for the second time in six weeks, fresh from two 7th placings on the PGA Tour to start the year following his top-10 finish at December’s DP World Tour Championship.

Even the Californian drawcard, the poster boy for golf’s next-gen, has to doff his cap to Tyrrell Hatton though. The 29-year-old from High Wycombe is the hottest golfer on the planet and returns to Emirates Golf Club after an injury-enforced absence last January still disbelieving that

he snared the Falcon Trophy on Sunday, a fourth exalted title in his past 20 starts.

On cue, the world No.4 and new world No.5 have been grouped with popular 2017 champion Sergio Garcia in a mouthwatering threeball for the opening 36-holes.

Either side of their 8am tee-time on Thursday are groups of equal quality; at 7.50am Justin Rose will tee it up on the Majlis for the first time since 2009 in the company of 2012 champion Rafa Cabrera Bello and reigning titleholder Lucas Herbert. How about defending Race to Dubai champion Lee Westwood, Austrian Bernd Wiesberger and Tommy Fleetwood at 8.10am?

Indeed, survey the start sheet (see p.11) for the 32nd edition of the ‘Major of the Middle East’ and storylines abound. There are world ranking and Ryder Cup points to win or lose, reputations to enhance and lesser names ready to launch a career. Let the fun begin. ◼

Cool, Collected, Collin

Daily Draw Sheet & Course Map Navigate Emirates Golf Club with your guide to the first round groups.

PAGE 9-11

PATRON & OFFICIAL PUBLISHER

The reigning U.S. PGA champion brings hot form to his ODDC debut. PAGE 2-3

It feels so surreal

Fifth in the OWGR, Tyrrell Hatton doesn’t think he’s “anything special”. PAGE 4

Lucas Herbert rewind

The champion recalls a magical Australia Day 12 months on. PAGE 6

@OmegaGolfDubai #MadeForGreatness #TimeToMakeHistory

OM E GA D U BA I D E S E RT C L A SS I C 28–31 JANUARY

NEWS

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“This is going to be a great test” N ot even Collin Morikawa is immune to the charms, and potential heartache, of the Majlis’ iconic 8th hole it seems.

The world No.4’s crash course to learn the Emirates Golf Club layout has stalled a couple of times on the elevated tee with those stunning views out across the Dubai Marina skyline.

“Beautiful. I mean, the 8th hole is a beautiful tee shot,” the 23-year-old Californian said on the

eve of his OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic debut.

“I need to stop getting too lost in the background and actually hit a good tee shot. I haven’t hit one yet…so hopefully that starts tomorrow [Thursday].”

Emirates Golf Club’s signature shot isn’t the only hole the reigning U.S. PGA champion has found taxing.

“This week is going to be a great test obviously.

The course is in great shape for the most part...

“Off the tee, it’s very demanding. Rough is up

morikawa lets rip from the 8th tee during the oddc pro-am on tuesday.

in a lot of places. The fairways are pretty narrow, so that’s going to be key, getting the ball into the fairway off the tee...the greens are pretty small, so we get the ball in the fairway, we hit some good iron shots and make some putts.”

Morikawa is well-placed to do just that. Since his top-10 finish at Jumeirah Golf Estates in December to finish fifth overall in the Race to Dubai, the American has notched two 7th places in Hawaii to start the PGA Tour season strongly.

I need to stop getting too lost in the background and actually hit a good tee shot [on the 8th].”

Editor-in-Chief Obaid Humaid Al Tayer Managing Partner & Group Editor Ian Fairservice

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Images Getty Images, Supplied by Falcon Associates Chief Commercial Officer Anthony Milne

Editor Kent Gray

Publisher David Burke

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“Yeah, it’s huge. Last fall I didn’t really play great golf, and I think it really all started when I came back out here for the DP World Tour Championship and was able to notch a Top-10 and realise, okay, the game is somewhat trending in the right direction. Had to kind of do a little reset.

“Obviously it was a new year. Set some new goals but I came prepared, came ready and I’m starting off the year hopefully on a really strong foot for the rest of the year.”

It looks like 2021 could be just as challenging as 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on. But the challenges of international travel haven’t dulled Morikawa’s ambition to be a “world player”.

“You know what, this has been an event I kind of knew I was going to come out and play. There were no second thoughts. Obviously with what’s going on with COVID and regulations and bans to travel in and out of countries, you just have to be aware and stay up-to-date with what’s coming at us. You never know. Now we have to test coming back in.

But for my sake, the people around me, my team, all we’re trying to do is be as safe as possible.

“I think The European Tour has done an amazing job with this bubble. It’s very different; I said it last time I was out here, it’s very different than what we have in the U.S. But they are doing it right. Guys aren’t testing positive and even though we’re stuck in our hotel rooms and out on

MORIKAWA

stats

With weekend rounds of 65 and 64 at August’s U.S. PGA Championship, Morikawa posted the lowest closing 36 holes by any golfer in a major. Ever.

His 129 aggregate edged by one a mark held by Woods (2018 PGA), Tom Watson (1977 Open), Nick Faldo (1994 Open), Ian Baker-Finch (1991 Open), and Marc Leishman (2015 Open).

the golf course, at the end of the day, we can come out here and play some golf, which is everything we could ask for.”

There will even be a smattering of invited guests to help create some atmosphere.

“Hopefully, I heard there’s going to be a few fans out there, so that’s going to be exciting to see some people and hear some claps.

“I look forward to it. Done some pretty good prep. Started off the year on a decent note, and look forward to having a solid week here. I’m excited to be back. It’s obviously a long trip over here from the West Coast, 12-hour time difference, but for me it’s exciting, come out here and compete with some guys that I know and some guys that I’ve obviously seen a lot.” –kent gray

WORLD NO.5

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Staying calm and cracking on

T

his time last year Tyrrell Hatton was recovering from wrist surgery. Having won in Turkey just before going under the knife in late November 2019, it wasn’t as if the Englishman was struggling for form but the surgeon deserves much kudos for not snipping Hatton’s gathering form all the same.

The 29-year-old’s four-stroke victory in Abu Dhabi on Sunday continued a giddy 14-month run, a sixth European Tour triumph and a fourth win in his last 20 starts. After starting last year 30th in the world rankings, Hatton is now up to 5th. Only Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa, the latter set for his OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic debut in the same Thursday threeball as Hatton, stand between him and the summit of world golf.

Even the lad from High Wycombe is struggling to come to terms with the purple patch that has seen him win Arnold Palmer’s invitational, the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship and his fourth gold star title in the UAE capital post-surgery.

“The win last week still feels a little bit surreal, alongside with where we’ve moved up to in the world rankings,” Hatton said, presumably speaking on behalf of his team which includes Scottish caddie, Mick Donaghy.

“It doesn’t feel like it was me who won the tournament.”

Don’t you feel like you belong in the upper echelon? “I wouldn’t say I’m uncomfortable with the position I’m in, I just don’t see myself as anything different.

I don’t see myself as anything special. Just going about my business, doing my own thing.

That’s just the way I am, I guess.

“It’s not something that I really worry about. I’m just trying to play good golf and the world rankings take care of themselves if you’re able to do that. Fortunately for me, the last 14 months, I’ve been on a really good run and I’m hoping that continues.”

As well as winning in Abu Dhabi, Hatton won over the internet with his submissive role in the European Tour’s latest social media video, Angry Golfers. If you haven’t seen the ditty, it spawned a “if you’re feeling glum, pop up a thumb” retort which Hatton added to his already colourful repertoire of reactions after a missed shot.

Hatton’s infamous decompression death-stare, often in Donaghy’s direction, followed by a verbalised debrief of any uncooperative shots is one thing that won’t change.

“It’s just a reaction and I’ve always been that way. Talking about the bad shots.

I’m quite calm and don’t get too pumped up over the good ones. I don’t think I fist-pumped once on Sunday in Abu Dhabi. I feel like I’m pretty chilled in that sense, but more vocal if I hit a loose one.”

Does it help you clear the mist for the next shot?

“Not always. I can still bemoaning going into the next shot. But somehow I manage to concentrate enough that I can still hit a good shot even if I’m a bit flustered from the one before. I can still switch it on and I’ll be absolutely fine and can give it 100 per cent on the shot I’m over.”

Refocusing will be the trick this week as Hatton saunters towards an Olympic Games debut in Tokyo and a second Ryder Cup appearance in Wisconsin, COVID-19 restrictions pending.

“I’ve had some good [ODDC] finishes in the past and I’m hoping I can have another good week this week,” he said.

“I played the Pro-Am [Tuesday], the game still felt pretty good. I had yesterday off [Monday], it was a pretty chill day. The game feels good, so we’ll see how we go this week.” –kent gray

I don’t see myself as anything special.”

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WELCOME BACK

Rosey reminders his yardage book might be slightly out of date but there’s no risk of Justin Rose forgetting his last appearance on the Majlis 12 years ago.

“It was 2009 and that was Rory McIlroy’s first European Tour win. I finished second, and I’m glad I could help him along his way,” Rose quipped.

The 40-year-old Englishman hasn’t done too badly himself since then, of course. A four-time European Tour winner when he last teed it up at Emirates Golf Club, Rose now boasts 10 PGA Tour titles to go with 11 European Tour wins including his major breakthrough at the 2013 U.S. Open. He’s also the reigning Olympic champion and enjoyed five short spells as world No.1.

Strangely winless for two seasons, Rose has dipped to 38th place in the world rankings. If he is to have any chance of defending his Olympic title in Toyko and extending his fine Ryder Cup record without one of European captain Padraig Harrington’s picks, a form reversal is needed and quickly.

“After I got to the top of the world ranking, some things didn’t fall into place.

You make the best decision you can at the time thinking it’s the right decision. But hindsight is a wonderful thing. I’ve pivoted as quickly as I can in those scenarios. It’s what my career has been about, I’ve had my ups and downs. When I’m on the slide it makes me want to come out swinging and with my back against the wall a little bit. I like it that way. It keeps me motivated and it keeps me hungry.”

Four rounds in the 70s for a share of 57th place in Abu Dhabi last week wasn’t vintage Rose. But he is adamant his best golf is still before him and importantly feels at home on the Majlis.

“The golf course has come back to me in practice. I had my old yardage book and it’s changed a little bit, the greens have gotten a bit smaller through the years, they’ve crept in a little, so we’ve probably lost a few pin placements.

Strategy-wise that probably makes the middle of the green the acceptable play on a lot of holes.” –kent gray

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2020 OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC CHAMPION

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“It’s an awesome trophy to win” Lucas Herbert

has candidly recalled his European Tour breakthrough, 12 months on from celebrating Australia Day 2020 in style following a wild finale to the 31st OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic.

The now 25-year-old Victorian was the last man standing following a dramatic final day of brutal winds and blown out scores at Emirates Golf Club, beating South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout with a two-putt birdie at the second extra hole.

Herbert and Bezuidenhout both started Sunday six strokes adrift of 54-hole leader Ashun Wu but more crucially 70 and 80 minutes respectively ahead of the Chinese pacesetter. It meant less time battling the worst of the final round’s brutal weather as gusty winds and even rain lashed the Majlis and saw just 14 of the 71 players return scores under par.

Matching 68s got them to -9 for the championship and one by one Victor Perez, Kurt Kitayama, Wu, defending champion Bryson DeChambeau and finally Tom Lewis faded in the turbulence, Lewis’ 74 the best of the vanquished five.

While Herbert traded two bogeys with six birdies in his 68, Bezuidenhout went blemish-free until the 72nd when he inexplicably dumped his third shot into the water fronting the par-5. A par

03 Herbert’s rank in the European Tour’s driving distance category after averaging 316 yards off the tee in Abu Dhabi last week. The Aussie finished T-25 in the UAE capital.

would have given the big South African a second European Tour title but a gritty bogey putt at least gave him a chance in overtime.

Herbert looked as though he’d thrown away any chance of the Dallah in the first hole of the playoff when he sent his second shot into the water with a wild slice and a “oh my god, that’s probably the worst shot I’ve ever hit” response at impact. But he somehow conjured a par with a tremendous wedge from the drop zone after Bezuidenhout sent his birdie attempt rolling past.

“I think I’ve hit a lot worse shots in my career that probably just haven’t got on TV. To be honest, they were the first words that came to my mouth that weren’t swear words and at the time I was pretty keen on not getting fined. I’ve seen that shot so many times now that I’m starting to think I should have just swore on the telecast and that would never have been useable again and I’d never had seen that shot since.

But unfortunately that thing keeps coming back to haunt me. Honestly it was that bad a golf shot, you just had to laugh at it, you couldn’t even get angry.”

Herbert made no mistake at the second time of asking, a gutsy drive and iron approach from 189 yards setting up a two-putt birdie for victory as Bezuidenhout was forced to settle for a par after failing to get up and down from a drop-zone

beyond the green.

It was a dramatic end to an exhausting day as the conditions allowed the ‘Major of the Middle East’ to truly live up to its marketing moniker.

“It felt like a massive monkey off the back at the time,” said Herbert who became the second Australian to win the Dallah trophy, 23 years after left-hander Richard Green beat countryman Greg Norman and Welshman Ian Woosnam in the third of the tournament’s thus far six playoffs.

“I felt like I was good enough to win, I just hadn’t proven that I could do it. It’s a tournament that is not like on the U.S. tour and it’s not a major and yet it is very recognisable worldwide.

“It’s an awesome trophy to win. Obviously the names on that honours board and that trophy are pretty good names, so to get my name on with them is really cool. There was just so much with it, obviously with the timing and it being Australia Day, it was such an awesome win.”

Herbert went on to finish 14th in the seasonlong Race to Dubai with other top 10s at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and Scottish Open. He started the new season with a T-25 finish in Abu Dhabi last week. Only one player has successfully defended the Dallah, Scot Stephen Gallacher in 2014. –kent gray

HOME CLUB HERO SEBASTIAN HEISELE

Local Knowledge

A

back in 2007 and 2008 during breaks from a golf scholarship at the University of Colorado where he graduated with a degree in architecture.

“This event is something of a home event for me because I know the city and this course so well,” said Heisele. “I have lots of memories at the tournament, I’ve caddied and been a marshal before. I can’t wait to tee it up again having made my debut as a player last year.”

The world No. 217, who captured the Challenge Tour’s Open de Bretagne in 2019, made a fast start to his ODDC debut last January. Scores of 70-69 earned him a share of 7th place alongside Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who would go on to lose to Lucas Herbert in a playoff for the Dallah, at the halfway stage. Heisele blew out to a T-66 finish after rounds of 74-83 over a tough weekend for all on the Majlis but few have as much experience to draw on this EDUARD ROUSAUD week. He’s also knows he has the game having finished 4th at the Italian Open en-route to a career-best 110th place in last season’s Race to Dubai.

Heisele is in the second group out at 7.20 alongside 2019 Qatar Masters champion Justin Harding and Spaniard Eduard Rousaud, the current world amateur No.6.

Rousaud played the 2018 Junior Ryder Cup and made a dream start to his maiden major, holing out from the fairway for eagle in his opening hole at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot in September. In November he played back-to-back Challenge Tour events in his homeland and finished inside the top five on both occasions.

s a three-time club champion, Sebastian Heisele’s name already features prominently on the honours board inside Emirates Golf Club. It would be a major shock if he adds it to the decorated roll call of OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic champions this week but then again, golf loves an underdog and especially one with so much local knowledge.

Born in The Netherlands and raised in Dubai, the 32-year-old German will tee it up in the $3.25 million European Tour event for the second successive year on Thursday.

The lanky 1.99m (6ft 6in) right-hander turned professional in 2012 but not before giving hint of his talent by winning the club’s premier strokeplay title three times, first in 2004 and then back-to-

SHERGO AL KURDI

73 Shergo Al Kurdi’s best score in 10 European Tour rounds, achieved in Qatar twice and at the 2019 Saudi International

“Spanish players have enjoyed a lot of success in the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic and I’m excited about playing this year’s event,” said Rousaud. “It is a dream of mine to play on the European Tour one day and I aim to savour this experience.”

Shergo Al Kurdi will compete with Rousaud for amateur honours. The Jordanian 17-year-old, who qualified as the MENA Tour’s leading amateur, has been given the honour of hitting the opening shot of the 32nd edition.

“I have previously played in five European Tour events but this will be my first Dubai Desert Classic. The whole week should be a great experience and I can’t wait to get started. I am also extremely honoured to represent not only Jordan but the entire Middle East region.” ◼

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GOLDEN JUBILEE

A foot for every year

how to mark the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations at a golf tournament that has played such a rich role in the country’s half-century? A 50-foot putting challenge was numerically fitting and much more.

OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic drawcards Collin Morikawa, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and Ian Poulter assembled on the Majlis’ 18th green to mark the milestone and help promote the 32nd edition of the European Tour event.

Reigning U.S. PGA champion Morikawa, set for his debut in the

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) Chief Commercial Officer Walid Al Attar lines up alongside Tommy Fleetwood, Ian Poulter, Collin Morikawa and Justin Rose to mark the UAE’s 50th anniversary ahead of the 2021 OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic.

circuit’s oldest event outside continental European, enjoyed the challenge.

“It’s always fun to be a part of any kind of celebration and the 50th anniversary of the United Arab Emirates is clearly a cause for a big celebration,” said the 23-year-old OMEGA ambassador.

“This is a tournament I’ve been looking forward to for a while and hopefully I can make it a memorable one and take home the trophy in what is an historic year for the UAE.” Simon Corkill, Executive Tournament Director, added: “The UAE Golden Jubilee is a milestone occasion for the country and we are delighted to shine a light on its importance with a gathering of international players on the iconic Majlis course ahead of the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic.

“Since 1989 this tournament has delivered a great number of memories, and with an array of superstars - such as the players involved in this photocall – our 2021 event is sure to produce another exciting climax.”

For the record, Rose won the putt-off with a nearest the pin effort after none of the quartets were able to hole the tricky 50-footer. ◼

DRAW SHEET

Order of Play THURSDAY

JANUARY 28, 2021

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

1. TIME 07:10 • HOLE 1

12. TIME 07:10 • HOLE 10

23. TIME 11:30 • HOLE 1

34. TIME 11:30 • HOLE 10

2. TIME 07:20 • HOLE 1

13. TIME 07:20 • HOLE 10

24. TIME 11:40 • HOLE 1

35. TIME 11:40 • HOLE 10

3. TIME 07:30 • HOLE 1

14. TIME 07:30 • HOLE 10

25. TIME 11:50 • HOLE 1

36. TIME 11:50 • HOLE 10

4. TIME 07:40 • HOLE 1

15. TIME 07:40 • HOLE 10

26. TIME 12:00 • HOLE 1

37. TIME 12:00 • HOLE 10

5. TIME 07:50 • HOLE 1

16. TIME 07:50 • HOLE 10

27. TIME 12:10 • HOLE 1 ◼ Shane LOWRY (IRL) ◼ Danny WILLETT (ENG) ◼ Graeme MCDOWELL (NIR)

38. TIME 12:10 • HOLE 10

◼ Julian SURI (USA) ◼ Zander LOMBARD (RSA) ◼ Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN)

6. TIME 08:00 • HOLE 1

17. TIME 08:00 • HOLE 10

28. TIME 12:20 • HOLE 1

39. TIME 12:20 • HOLE 10

7. TIME 08:10 • HOLE 1

18. TIME 08:10 • HOLE 10

29. TIME 12:30 • HOLE 1

40. TIME 12:30 • HOLE 10

8. TIME 08:20 • HOLE 1

19. TIME 08:20 • HOLE 10

30. TIME 12:40 • HOLE 1

41. TIME 12:40 • HOLE 10

9. TIME 08:30 • HOLE 1

20. TIME 08:30 • HOLE 10

31. TIME 12:50 • HOLE 1

42. TIME 12:50 • HOLE 10

10. TIME 08:40 • HOLE 1

21. TIME 08:40 • HOLE 10

32. TIME 13:00 • HOLE 1

43. TIME 13:00 • HOLE 10

11. TIME 08:50 • HOLE 1

22. TIME 08:50 • HOLE 10

33. TIME 13:10 • HOLE 1

44. TIME 13:10 • HOLE 10

◼ Shergo AL KURDI (AM) (JOR) ◼ Ashley CHESTERS (ENG) ◼ Takumi KANAYA (JPN)

◼ Eduard ROUSAUD (AM) (ESP) ◼ Sebastian HEISELE (GER) ◼ Justin HARDING (RSA) ◼ Guido MIGLIOZZI (ITA) ◼ Alexander BJÖRK (SWE) ◼ Steven BROWN (ENG)

◼ Mike LORENZO-VERA (FRA) ◼ Sebastian SODERBERG (SWE) ◼ David LAW (SCO) ◼ Andrea PAVAN (ITA) ◼ Shubhankar SHARMA (IND) ◼ George COETZEE (RSA) ◼ David LANGLEY (ENG) ◼ Ryan FOX (NZL) ◼ Benjamin HEBERT (FRA)

◼ Haydn PORTEOUS (RSA) ◼ David DRYSDALE (SCO) ◼ Adri ARNAUS (ESP)

◼ Nicolas COLSAERTS (BEL) ◼ Ashun WU (CHN) ◼ Scott JAMIESON (SCO)

◼ James MORRISON (ENG) ◼ Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) ◼ Tapio PULKKANEN (FIN) ◼ Nino BERTASIO (ITA) ◼ Oliver WILSON (ENG) ◼ Thomas DETRY (BEL)

◼ Oliver FISHER (ENG) ◼ Grant FORREST (SCO) ◼ Kalle SAMOOJA (FIN)

◼ Romain LANGASQUE (FRA) ◼ Kristoffer BROBERG (SWE) ◼ Renato PARATORE (ITA) ◼ Chris PAISLEY (ENG) ◼ Callum SHINKWIN (ENG) ◼ Fabrizio ZANOTTI (PAR) ◼ Andy SULLIVAN (ENG) ◼ Jason SCRIVENER (AUS) ◼ Haotong LI (CHN)

◼ Paul CASEY (ENG) ◼ Rasmus HØJGAARD (DEN) ◼ Ian POULTER (ENG)

◼ Justin ROSE (ENG) ◼ Rafa CABRERA BELLO (ESP) ◼ Lucas HERBERT (AUS) ◼ Sergio GARCIA (ESP) ◼ Collin MORIKAWA (USA) ◼ Tyrrell HATTON (ENG)

◼ Bernd WIESBERGER (AUT) ◼ Tommy FLEETWOOD (ENG) ◼ Lee WESTWOOD (ENG) ◼ Antoine ROZNER (FRA) ◼ Matthias SCHWAB (AUT) ◼ Padraig HARRINGTON (IRL)

◼ Sami VÄLIMÄKI (FIN) ◼ Joachim B. HANSEN (DEN) ◼ Adrian OTAEGUI (ESP) ◼ Joost LUITEN (NED) ◼ Thorbjørn OLESEN (DEN) ◼ Scott HEND (AUS) ◼ David HAGUE (ENG) ◼ Laurie CANTER (ENG) ◼ Brandon STONE (RSA)

◼ Nacho ELVIRA (ESP) ◼ Søren KJELDSEN (DEN) ◼ David HOWELL (ENG) ◼ John CATLIN (USA) ◼ Ross FISHER (ENG) ◼ Ross MCGOWAN (ENG)

◼ Stephen GALLACHER (SCO) ◼ Garrick HIGGO (RSA) ◼ Thomas BJØRN (DEN) ◼ Robert KARLSSON (SWE) ◼ Robert MACINTYRE (SCO) ◼ Thomas PIETERS (BEL)

◼ Matthew FITZPATRICK (ENG) ◼ Victor PEREZ (FRA) ◼ Henrik STENSON (SWE)

◼ Matt WALLACE (ENG) ◼ Christiaan BEZUIDENHOUT (RSA) ◼ Miguel Ángel JIMÉNEZ (ESP) ◼ Ernie ELS (RSA) ◼ Aaron RAI (ENG) ◼ Martin KAYMER (GER)

◼ Wilco NIENABER (RSA) ◼ Jorge CAMPILLO (ESP) ◼ Eddie PEPPERELL (ENG)

◼ Alexander LEVY (FRA) ◼ David LIPSKY (USA) ◼ Andrew JOHNSTON (ENG) ◼ Jeff WINTHER (DEN) ◼ Justin WALTERS (RSA) ◼ Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND)

◼ Richard MCEVOY (ENG) ◼ Mikko KORHONEN (FIN) ◼ Chris WOOD (ENG)

◼ Min Woo LEE (AUS) ◼ Marcus KINHULT (SWE) ◼ Pablo LARRAZÁBAL (ESP) ◼ Victor DUBUISSON (FRA) ◼ Wade ORMSBY (AUS) ◼ David HORSEY (ENG) ◼ Robert ROCK (ENG) ◼ Richie RAMSAY (SCO) ◼ Dean BURMESTER (RSA)

◼ Edoardo MOLINARI (ITA) ◼ Sean CROCKER (USA) ◼ Maximilian KIEFFER (GER) ◼ Paul WARING (ENG) ◼ Julien GUERRIER (FRA) ◼ Kurt KITAYAMA (USA)

◼ Matthieu PAVON (FRA) ◼ Matthew SOUTHGATE (ENG) ◼ Alvaro QUIROS (ESP) ◼ Karim EL HALI (MAR) ◼ Richard STERNE (RSA) ◼ Jayden SCHAPER (RSA)

◼ Jordan SMITH (ENG) ◼ Lorenzo GAGLI (ITA) ◼ Joakim LAGERGREN (SWE) ◼ Connor SYME (SCO) ◼ Curtis KNIPES (ENG) ◼ Gavin GREEN (MAS)

9

10

COURSE GUIDE

11

SPECTATOR GUIDELINES Please follow play by walking behind the ropes at all times and use the crossing places where indicated.

Please stand still and be silent while players prepare to hit their shots.

Please observe the requests of the Marshals.

All handheld devices, including mobile phones, must be switched to silent.

SCORE CARD HOLE YARDS PAR 1

458

4

2

351

4

3

568

5

4

180

3

5

451

4

6

485

4

7

186

3

8

459

4

9

488

4

OUT 3626 35 10

549

5

11

169

3

12

476

4

13

550

5

14

434

4

15

190

3

16

436

4

17

359

4

18

564

5

IN

3727 37

TOTAL 7353 72

INSIDE THE ROPES

12

Caddie Confidential

We go inside the ropes with Andy Sullivan’s looper Tom Ridley for a fascinating insight into the four-time European Tour winner’s prep for the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic

A

ndy tweeted “Not quite on it this week but lots of positives moving forward” after his T-25 in Abu Dhabi. Give us your reflections from the season opener?

Very rusty. Obviously, it is hard to stay at home for a month over Christmas hitting it into a mat. He likes to enjoy himself as well so we will let him off. It is difficult to get straight back into the form he was in at the end of last year but it’s good that he managed to shake off a lot of rust off towards the weekend especially. We saw a bit of the game we saw at the backend of last month so we are excited for the next few weeks.

What do you do in the days between events? A day off or all work and no play?

It used to be very much a day off and a bit of relaxing but Andy turned into Andrew recently and he is working hard, he is at the gym, not so much at

the golf course. He is trying to shift a few Christmas pounds, still got a long way to go though…

How’s the boss feeling heading in the ODDC? He is feeling great. He’s always wanted to win this golf tournament, he has come close a couple of times and he loves the course.

THE SULLY

And the Majlis, how’s it playing?

It is playing pretty long actually, a couple of new tees, the rough’s pretty juicy in a few spots and the rough around the green is quite big so I would say getting the ball on the fairway mostly and then the second shots are the big part of how well you’ll do this week. The greens are still rolling nicely so I’d say it’s more the second shots this week.

Sullivan’s stroke average of 69.32 was the European Tour’s lowest in 2020. The tour average? 71.01.

He was also 5th in greens in reg last season at 72.77 percent.

Let’s rewind to the caddie crossover piece you did with GolfTV last week, recording a six on the 9th at Abu Dhabi. Not the worst score on that

file

tricky par-4 but did your caddie, Andy Sullivan, perform up to expectation?

We have an old saying: You are only as good as your player and I was awful so you can work out the rest!

A new appreciation for the pressure the guy you normally hand the clubs to is under then?

I was extremely nervous mainly because I haven’t hit a shot in six months and the last time I did, it was not very good. So maybe a warm-up would have made me have slightly less nervous. The appreciation comes when there are about 5000 people on tee box and around the green but don’t tell him that.

Do you still play?

My home club was Wentworth but I haven’t been a member there for 14 years now. I think I got down to one at Wentworth itself and then went to a slightly easier club to get to scratch because I couldn’t get around a Wentworth. It’s a bit too hard!

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Sully’s 53rd in the OWGR, close to the tipping point. What the goals for 2021?

When we get to the top 50 it opens a lot more doors, especially over in America. As for goals we just want to keep doing what we are doing, focus on the process and the results will come by themselves.

Sum up 2020, the win at the English Championship, T-3 at the BMW PGA, T-2 at the Golf in Dubai Championship and plenty of other top results besides. 12th in the Race to Dubai… getting back to where Sully belongs?

I think 2020 was a learning experience for all of us, especially Sully. The lockdown did him a world of good, he really knuckled down, came out on tour hungrier for the game again. Stopped all the mucking around, got his head down and focused, he matured as well. He came back after a long, long break and he was ready to go and he showed it; getting 4th on the first week and winning after week three, it was very nice getting the win out of the mind. The only thing Sully wanted to do

I am very much looking forward to this year and getting Sully back to exactly where he belongs.” after a five-year wait was to win. You try and take the focus off winning by just doing what you are doing and it was really nice to get that one out of the way. As soon as he won, that was like weigh off the shoulders and more good results came.

It was a great year and I am very much looking forward to this one and getting Sully back to exactly where he belongs. ◼

14

PICTURE THIS

Matthew Fitzpatrick and caddie Billy Foster

Hole-in-one lure David Howell

Motivate Media Group Pro-Am Team (L to R): Dean Cheesley, Wilco Nienaber (Pro), Annabel Angel and Jack McCluskey

15

Pablo Larrazรกbal

Ian Poulter

16

STAT ATTACK

Majlis Memories All the key OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic facts and figures to enhance your viewing pleasure.

MOST WINS

3

Ernie Els1994, 2002, 2005

CHAMPIONS 1989 - Mark James 277 (-11) 1990 - Eamonn Darcy 276 (-12) 1992 - Seve Ballesteros 272 (-16) 1993 - Wayne Westner 274 (-14) 1994 - Ernie Els 268 (-20) 1995 - Fred Couples 268 (-20) 1996 - Colin Montgomerie 270 (-18) 1997 - Richard Green 272 (-16) 1998 - José Maria Olazábal 269 (-19) 1999 - David Howell 275 (-13) 2000 - José Coceres 274 (-14) 2001 - Thomas Bjørn 266 (-22) 2002 - Ernie Els 272 (-16) 2003 - Robert-Jan Derksen 271 (-17) 2004 - Mark O’Meara 271 (-17) 2005 - Ernie Els 269 (-19)

2006 - Tiger Woods 269 (-19) 2007 - Henrik Stenson 269 (-19) 2008 - Tiger Woods 274 (-14) 2009 - Rory McIlroy 269 (-19) 2010 - Miguel Angel Jiménez 277 (-11) 2011 - Alvaro Quiros 277 (-11) 2012 - Rafa Cabrera Bello 270 (-18) 2013 - Stephen Gallacher 266 (-22) 2014 - Stephen Gallacher 272 (-16) 2015 - Rory McIlroy 266 (-22) 2016 - Danny Willett 269 (-19) 2017 - Sergio Garcia 269 (-19) 2018 - Li Haotong 265 (-23) 2019 - Bryson DeChambeau 264 (-24) 2020 - Lucas Herbert 279 (-9)

CONSECUTIVE WINS Stephen Gallacher 2013 and 2014

WIRETO-WIRE WINNERS

Eamonn Darcy, 1990 Seve Ballesteros, 1992 Ernie Els, 1994; José Coceres, 2000 Rory McIlroy, 2009 Sergio Garcia, 2017

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PLAYOFFS

Lowest 18-hole score 61 (-11), Ernie Els, 1994

Lowest first 18-hole score

61 (-11), Ernie Els, 1994

Lowest first 36-hole score

195 (-21), Stephen Gallacher, 2013

Lowest 72-hole score

Miguel Angel Jiménez 4th Hole, Rnd 2, 1990 Chris Moody 11th Hole, Rnd 3, 1990

1989

Mark James beat Peter O’Malley

128 (-16), Tiger Woods, 2001

Lowest first 54-hole score

HOLESIN-ONE Mark McNulty 11th Hole, Rnd 3, 1990 José Coceres 7th Hole, Rnd 2, 1992

1992

Seve Ballesteros beat Ronan Rafferty

264 (-24), Bryson DeChambeau, 2019

Lowest under par winning score 264 (-24), Bryson DeChambeau, 2019

Lowest final round by a winner 64 (-8), Bryson DeChambeau, 2019

139 149 LOW CUT (-5), 2018

Wayne Westner 7th Hole, Rnd 1, 1995 José Coceres 4th Hole, Rnd 1, 1996

1997

Richard Green beat Greg Norman and Ian Woosnam

Roger Wessels 7th Hole, Rnd 2, 1996

2006

Stuart Cage 8th Hole, Rnd 1, 1999

Tiger Woods beat Ernie Els

2010

Miguel Angel Jiménez beat Lee Westwood

Peter Hedblom 15th Hole, Rnd 2, 1996

6 SHOTS

Biggest final round comeback by a winner: Lucas Herbert, 2020

2020

Lucas Herbert beat Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Henrik Bjornstad 7th Hole, Rnd 4, 2002 Brad Kennedy 4th Hole, Rnd 2, 2004 Yasin Ali 7th Hole, Rnd 1, 2005

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño 4th Hole, Rnd 2, 2007 Miguel Angel Jiménez 7th hole, Rnd 1, 2008 Louis Oosthuizen 11th hole, Rnd 2, 2009 David Howell 7th hole, Rnd 1, 2011 Keith Horne 4th hole, Rnd 2, 2011 Raphaël Jacquelin 7th hole, Rnd 3, 2011

YOUNGEST WINNER

Mark O’Meara, 47 years and 54 days, 2004

(Dubai Creek)

Stephen Gallacher 4th Hole, Rnd 4, 2005

(+5), 1989

OLDEST WINNER

Peter Downie 16th Hole, Rnd 1, 2000

Nobuhito Sato 15th Hole, Rnd 1, 2005

HIGH CUT

Rory McIlroy 19 years and 273 days, 2009

(Dubai Creek)

Alvaro Quiros 11th hole, Rnd 4, 2011 Stephen Gallacher 15th hole, Rnd 1, 2012 Martin Kaymer 7th hole, Rnd 2, 2012

LARGEST WINNING MARGIN 7 shots, Bryson DeChambeau, 2019

Alvaro Quiros 4th hole, Rnd 4, 2015 Grégory Bourdy 11th hole, Rnd 3, 2017 Matthew Southgate 7th hole, Rnd 2, 2018 Alexander Levy 5th hole, Rnd 3, 2018 Kristoffer Broberg 7th hole, Rnd 1, 2019 *All at Emirates G.C. unless noted

18

PRO-AM

TEAM SULLY SIZZLE

englishman andy sullivan captained the Byrne Equipment Rental II team to victory in Tuesday’s OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic Pro-Am on the Majlis. With Simon Hickson, Richard Taylor and John Deeb at his side, the four-time European Tour winner and world No.53 enjoyed the happiest of hit-outs ahead of the $3.25 million event.

Byrne Equipment Rental II’s 20-under total in the tour shambles format, where ‘par is your friend’ for the amateurs, won on a countback from Robert MacIntyre’s BMW II team of Gurbax and Gurinderjot Singh and Satnam Kaur and Thomas Pieters’ wasl III quartet featuring Maura Duggan, Ivan Fornazaric and René Kofod-Olsen. ◼

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to thank the following for their invaluable support of the 2021 OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic, held at Emirates Golf Club from January 28 - 31

European Tour

Dubai Health Authority

Dubai Police

Dubai Golf

Roads and Transport Authority

Dubai Civil Aviation Authority

Dubai Sports Council

Dubai Civil Defence

Dubai Tourism & Commerce Marketing

19

omegawatches.com

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Time will tell, but one thing is for sure, the winner will be wearing an exceptional watch home: OMEGA’s Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Co‑Axial Master Chronometer.

An elegant 41mm timepiece in 18K Sedna™ gold with a sun‑brushed blue dial in a horizontal “teak” pattern, inspired by the wooden decks of luxury sailboats.