ROUND 1 • THURSDAY • JANUARY 27, 2022 • ISSUE 1
NEW ERA Welcome to the 33rd edition of the ‘Major of the Middle East’, an event intent on embracing an exciting new future while clinging on to all the best parts of its rich history.
MORIKAWA MAKEOVER
By Kent Gray – Editor, Golf Digest Middle East
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new title sponsor. Upgraded $8 million Rolex Series status. An enhanced spectator experience. And freshly renovated greens, the perfect canvas for those enchanted by the DP World Tour’s shiny new Rolex gold star to display their extraordinary talents. Welcome to a new era for the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic where, despite all the exciting new developments, some things thankfully never change. Like the assembly of another stellar field for the 33rd ‘Major of the Middle East’, this year featuring three of the world’s top-10, multiple major champions, a plethora of Ryder and Presidents Cup heroes and serial DP World Tour and PGA Tour winners. After Thomas Pieters’ cool march to victory in Abu Dhabi on Sunday to herald the resumption of the 2021-22 DP World Tour season, the stage is set for another epic chapter in the history of the oldest event on tour outside of continental Europe. The only head-scratcher? Who will add their name to the famed roll call of champions at Emirates Golf Club. If the OWGR is your preferred barometer, No.2 Collin Morikawa, No. 5 Viktor Hovland and No.8 Rory McIlroy are the players to watch. But in the case of Morikawa and McIlroy at least, the form book isn’t overly flash; Morikawa slyncddc
struggled to a five-over par share of 62nd at Yas Links and was tied 68th here last year on debut. That said, form is temporary, class permanent and after capturing the Claret Jug, a WGC title, the DP World Tour Championship and Harry Vardon trophy as the first ever American to become European No.1 last year, Morikawa oozes the latter. McIlroy, meanwhile, is trending nicely. Looking to add a third Dallah trophy to his 2009 and 2015 collection, the 32-year-old Northern Irishman won the PGA Tour’s CJ Cup in October and started 2022 with a topsy-turvy share of 12th place in Abu Dhabi. It was a performance that spoke volumes of his resolve. There was a birdie on the 36th hole to make the cut on the number before a spectacular eagle on the 9th and a run of three birdies in his next four holes during the final round to briefly propel the four-time major champion into contention. Hovland was the best of the top-10 trio last week, finishing T4. Like McIlroy, there was a back-nine blip or two but don’t be surprised if the in-form Norwegian betters his T23 on debut in Dubai last January. Perhaps Pieters is the player to beat after his one-stroke victory over Dubai adopted Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello and India’s Shubhankar Sharma? To achieve a Rolex SeriesDesert Swing double the Belgian will... Turn to page 3 slyncdubaidesertclassic.com
Blown away in Abu Dhabi, the world No.2 has hit the reset button.
BEING SAM BENNETT
The PGA Tour star in training isn’t about to waste his sponsor invite. PAGE 05
LOCAL PIED PIPER
Dubai amateur Josh Hill will be one of this afternoon’s main drawcards. PAGE 10
Daily Draw Sheet & Course Map Navigate Emirates Golf Club with your guide to the first round groups. PAGE 8-9
PATRON & OFFICIAL PUBLISHER
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