T H E M I D D L E E A S T ’ S N O .1 G O L F M A G A Z I N E
EST
1999
Worldwide Golf
JUTANUGARN SISTERS
M AY
2022
DAVID LANGLEY
SUPERSTAR SIBLINGS SET FOR ARAMCO TEAM SERIES
ENGLISHMAN READY FOR MENA TOUR RETURN
SCANDINAVIAN
HISTORIC DEAL BETWEEN EGF AND DP WORLD TOUR SIGNALS NEW DAWN FOR GOLF IN THE UAE
FEATURE
FOCUS
MYGOLF DUBAI OPENS ITS DOORS DUBAI’S FIRST LUXURY INDOOR GOLF VENUE IS READY FOR BUSINESS
Worldwide Golf is the Official Media partner to the DP World Tour in the Middle East and the official magazine of the Emirates Golf Federation
DP WORLD TOUR AT 50 50 STATS TO CELEBRATE THEIR 50TH BIRTHDAY
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VOICE OF THE TOUR KEITH PELLEY,
Chief Executive, DP World Tour Keith Pelley took up his seat as CEO of the European Tour Group in August 2015 and since then has overseen a period of exciting innovation and change, driving the creation of the modern, global Tour it is today.
A
nniversaries are a time to reflect on the past and contemplate the future. That is precisely what we have been doing in recent weeks, as the DP World Tour marked a significant milestone in our proud history. On April 12, we commemorated 50 years since the start of our first official event, the 1972 Open de España at Golf Club de Pals in Girona. Our inaugural tournament was won three days later by Spaniard Antonio Garrido who, alongside the legendary Seve Ballesteros, went on to be the first Continental Europeans to play in the Ryder Cup in 1979. The 1972 Open de España was the culmination of a near 20year campaign led by John Jacobs OBE, the Tour’s Founding Father, to modernise the structure of tournament golf in Europe. Since then, the Tour has evolved into a global sporting organisation. When we marked our 50th anniversary, we had played 1,916 tournaments at 440 different venues and in 50 different countries over the past half a century. A total of 8,468 different players have played on Tour representing 110 different countries. Of those, 557 different players have won, representing 37 different nations. I have had the privilege of being Chief Executive for almost seven of those 50 years, and in that time, I’ve seen a significant amount of change in our game, much of which we have been at the forefront of. What I’m proud of most is that as an organisation we have not been afraid of grasping the opportunities that change can bring. There have been many pivotal moments in our history, including expanding outside of Europe for the first time with the Tunisian Open in 1982, our first event in the Middle East with the 1989 Dubai Desert Classic, creating the Race to Dubai in 2009, launching the Rolex Series in 2017, signing a Strategic Alliance with the PGA TOUR in 2020 and, of course, the launch of the DP World Tour last November. All of these landmark developments have contributed towards us becoming the modern, global Tour that we are today, building on that trail blazed by John Jacobs half a century ago. To commemorate our 50th anniversary, we have a series of activities planned throughout 2022, as we celebrate our past
by utilising the innovation which has become a hallmark of the Tour in recent years. One such example of this is the excellent 50th anniversary video we posted across the DP World Tour digital platforms. Beautifully narrated by Sam Torrance, the Tour’s 1972 Rookie of the Year, it is a brilliant love letter to our evolution and showcases our award-winning content production, which has certainly come a long way since 1972. Innovation is undoubtedly at the heart of our ethos but one thing I always say to our staff we must always ensure that we respect the history and traditions of the game. Our 50th anniversary, in the same year The Open Championship marks its 150th anniversary, offers the perfect opportunity to do just that by pausing to remember what has gone before us and shaped who we are today. The DP World Tour is currently embarking on a run of tournaments across the summer which includes 26 events played in Europe and three groundbreaking co-sanctioned events with the PGA TOUR, two of which will take place in America. We will conclude our 2022 season with the 40th anniversary of the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa, before returning to the UAE for the fifth time this year for our season finale, the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates. That will be our first tournament outside the Majors and World Golf Championships to feature an eight figure prize fund (US$10,000,000), an incredible reminder of progress we have made over the past half a century when you consider the prize fund for the entire 1972 season was €373,615. The DP World Tour Championship will also be our first event in the Middle East since we announced our long-term partnership with the Emirates Golf Federation which will develop golf at all levels in the United Arab Emirates for at least the next decade. Not only we will continue to bring the world’s leading players to the UAE to inspire future generations, but this partnership also includes an enhanced commitment to grassroots golf in the country, alongside a minimum of two Challenge Tour events per year with 30 spots for Emirates Golf Federation invites. It is a partnership we are certainly excited about and one we believe will be an important part in the next chapter of our storied history.
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CONTENTS
24
VIKTOR HOVLAND
14
The likeable Norwegian, who won the Dubai Desert Classic earlier this year, talks of his meteoric rise up the rankings, whether golf needs freshening up and why he always seems to have a smile on his face.
DP WORLD TOUR TURNS 50
We take a look at 50 stats from the last half century to celebrate the Tour’s anniversary.
FEATURES
20 US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW Southern Hills Country Club will play host to the only Major Championship that is exclusively for professional players for the fifth time later this month. 28 DAVID LANGLEY
With potentially life-changing incentives up for grabs it’s all systems go once again for the Englishman on the MENA Tour.
32 THE JUTANUGARN SISTERS
The Thai superstar sisters set for Golf Saudi’s first Aramco Team Series event of the year in Bangkok.
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36
38
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40 SUMMER FUN AT TOPGOLF The UAE’s favourite entertainment destination has two fantastic deals to keep you swinging easy over the coming months.
43 PETE COWEN
The Master PGA Professional has seen enough to believe that Tiger will win another Major following his return to action at the Masters Tournament.
45 JENNY HENNESSY
Jenny Hennessy looks at the importance of giving young female golfers opportunities in the game after 2019 Augusta Women’s National Amateur champion Jennifer Kupcho won the Chevron Championship.
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CONTENTS INSTRUCTION
GEAR
46
PRE-SHOT ROUTINE
Giovvani Losso, PGA Professional at MyGolf, explains why having a pre-shot routine can you help you lower your scores out on the course.
54
GOLF SUPERSTORE OPENS IN MALL OF EMIRATES
Golf Superstore has expanded its business into one of Dubai’s most popular locations with the opening of a new flagship store in Mall of the Emirates.
48
JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Junior golfers from as young as three years old can get into the swing of things at the Claude Harmon III Performance Golf Academy with their dedicated Junior Development Program (JDP), which introduces youngsters to the game in a fun and dynamic way.
50
LEAD THE WAY! Stephen Deane, Head of Academies at Dubai Golf, demonstrates a simple drill that ensure the shoulder muscles work down and put the club into the correct position before the body opens to square the face at impact.
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SET UP FOR SUCCESS Alastair Brown, Head Professional at Emirates Golf Club, demonstrates the difference between striking the ball with an iron and a driver.
58
PING PUTTING LAB DESIGN For several years, PING has made its Putting Lab Designed putters exclusive to its Tour staff players such as Viktor Hovland and Tony Finau but now the same models are available to their customers.
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60 J LINDERBEG LAUNCHES FLAGSHIP STORE IN DUBAI MALL One of the biggest-selling golf apparel brands in the United Arab Emirates, J.Lindeberg, is putting down solid foundations in the Emirates after launching its global flagship store in The Dubai Mall.
EDITOR’S LETTER
Golf isn’t broken but Tiger certainly makes it more exciting
A
lot of people will have you believe that golf is broken and that the game needs freshening up with a wide range of new formats to make it more exciting. These people need to take one look at Tiger’s return at last month’s Masters Tournament to realise that the game is alive and thriving. I think I speak on behalf of most when I say that seeing the 15-time Major champion turn up at Augusta National after 17 long months out was a moment of sheer joy. At the start of the week he didn’t just play a practice round in front of a few fans, he played in front of just about every person who was able to get on the grounds with a huge number of people trying to get a glimpse of the greatest player ever to play the game. On Thursday and Friday at the Masters, ESPN provided wall-to-wall coverage of his return to competitive golf with the broadcaster recording a massive 21 percent increase in ratings for Thursday’s opening round coverage while Friday saw a 31 percent jump. They were both the most-watched days of golf ever on ESPN+. Tiger doesn’t move the needle, he is the needle.
Has golf missed that buzz? Of course it has but Tiger is a once-in-a-generation talent and all good things must come to an end someday. As it will when Tiger puts away the clubs for the last time, although I do still believe he will produce one more unthinkable moment and add to that Major tally. So where does golf go after Tiger? It simply just keeps doing what it’s doing. Tiger may be the main attraction but plenty of other players create a huge buzz – just look at the crowds that follow Rory McIlroy’s every move when he plays in the UAE. Scottie Scheffler was relatively unknown to many golf fans this time last year, but now he’s the hottest player on the planet and has a Green Jacket to show for it. Last year Richard Bland became the oldest first-time winner of a DP World Tour event in his 478th start and has since gone on to enjoy the greatest year of his career. Golf will always produce magical storylines with or without Tiger. Golf doesn’t need fixing, but Tiger does certainly make it more exciting!
Thomas W ragg
ISSUE No.246 MAY 2022 • Published by: Worldwide Sporting Publications Ltd • Published in Dubai by: Prografix • PO Box 24677 • Dubai, UAE (Tel) +9714 340 3785 Editor-in-Chief: Alex Gallemore • Editor: Thomas Wragg (tom@wspdubai.com) Publisher: Mike Gallemore (mike@wspglobal.com) • General Manager Dubai: Richard Bevan (rick@wspglobal.com) Editors: • Production/Design Editor: Thameem Rayyan • Editorial Panel: Mike Gallemore, Alex Gallemore, Richard Bevan, Thomas Wragg • Photography: Getty Images • June 2009 SSN 1- 46805671 • Approval UAE National Media Council: Ref.816 30/5/2007 Trade Licence No. 1/104375/15280 • Worldwide Golf specifies that post-press changes may occur to any information given in this publication and takes no responsibility for goods or services advertised.
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riginally a nine-hole course built in 1911 to compliment the stunning, turreted hotel, known as the Castle in the Rockies, Banff Springs Golf Course extended to an 18hole course with the help of World War I civilian internees. It wouldn’t be until 1927 that the course was really put on the map after illustrious Canadian architect, Stanley Thompson, redesigned it with a budget of $1 million, which made it the most expensive course in the world at the time. The stunning location and magnificent layout ensure golfers are treated to many world-class holes with a breathtaking view in every direction. The fourth hole in particular stands out as one of the
greatest challenges you are likely to encounter on a golf course. Aptly named Devils Cauldron, this par 3 provides heart-stopping views from the elevated green, while the punchbowl green slopes from back to front in order to drain the water off the putting surface as quickly as possible. The green is nestled at the foot of the colossal Mount Rundle and your tee shot must carry across a glacial lake and the avoid numerous bunkers. It truly is a thing of beauty. Amateurs and professionals alike are constantly amazed by its challenging layout. From the actual hole design to the optical illusions created by the surrounding mountains, this course is definitely one for the bucket list.
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URSE Worldwide GOLF 13
Celebrating
YEARS OF THE
DP WORLD TOUR
L
ast month the DP World Tour celebrated its 50th anniversary, marking five decades of magical moments from some of the greatest golfers to grace the planet. On April 12, 1972, the first official tournament in history of the Tour – formerly known as the European Tour – took place at Golf Club de Pals, in Girona, with the opening round of the Open de España. The tournament was the culmination of a near
20-year campaign led by John Jacobs OBE, the Tour’s founding father, to modernise the structure of tournament golf in Europe. Since that day, the Tour has become a global sporting institution, having played 1916 tournaments at 440 different venues and in 50 different countries over the past half a century. To celebrate the occasion, we look at 50 stats, including UAE specific ones, that have defined the history of one of golf’s truly great Tours.
1972 to 2022
A TOTAL OF 1916 TOURNAMENTS HAVE BEEN PLAYED BETWEEN APRIL 12TH 1972 (THE FIRST EVENT), AND APRIL 12TH 2022. IN THAT TIME,
DIFFERENT PLAYERS HAVE TEED IT UP, REPRESENTING 110 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES Worldwide GOLF 14
OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN
557
WHEN THE APHRODITE HILLS CYPRUS OPEN WAS STAGED IN 2020, CYPRUS BECAME THE 50TH DIFFERENT COUNTRY TO HOST AN EVENT IN THE TOUR’S HISTORY
WINNERS
REPRESENTING 37 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
BETWEEN 12TH APRIL 1972 AND 12TH APRIL 2022, THE TOUR HAS VISITED
440 DIFFERENT VENUES OLDEST WINNER ON TOUR
YOUNGEST WINNER ON TOUR
Miguel Angel Jimenez: 50 years, 133 days –2014 Open de Espana
Matteo Manassero: 17 years, 188 days – 2010 CASTELLO MASTERS
OLDEST PLAYER TO WIN ORDER OF MERIT
Lee Westwood: At the age of 47 years, seven months and 20 days – Lee Westwood became the oldest player to win the seasonlong race in 2020.
YOUNGEST PLAYER TO PLAY IN AN EVENT
12 years & 242 days, Ye Wo-Cheng (am), 2013 Volvo China Masters
YOUNGEST PLAYER TO MAKE A CUT 14 years & 169 days, Guan Tian-lang (am), 2013 Masters
OLDEST OLDEST PLAYER PLAYER TO MAKE A CUT TO PLAY IN AN EVENT
OLDEST FIRST-TIME WINNER Richard Bland, 48 years, 101 days - 2021 British Masters
74 years & 211 days, Arnold Palmer, 2004 Masters
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71 years & 261 days, Bob Charles, 2008 New Zealand Open
10 MOST HOLE IN ONES
Seve Ballesteros
Miguel Angel Jimenez
190 Most career top 10s
6
Colin Montgomerie
Victories in one season
1986
82
50 WINS ON TOUR
CONSECUTIVE CUTS MADE Ernie Els (2000 Johnnie Walker Classic – 2007 Johnnie Walker Classic)
PLAYERS TO WIN ON THEIR DEBUT
Barry Jaeckel (1972 FRENCH OPEN)
Hal Underwood (1975 PORTUGEUSE OPEN)
Tom Watson (1975 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP)
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Jarrod Moseley
(1999 HEINEKEN CLASSIC)
Ben Curtis
Shane Lowry
(2003 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP)
(2009 IRISH OPEN)
717 8 RECORD NUMBER OF ORDER OF MERIT TITLES
4
MOST APPEARANCES
Miguel Angel Jimenez
Colin Montgomerie
NUMBER OF PLAYERS TO WIN ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AND ORDER OF MERIT IN CAREER MARTIN KAYMER, JON RAHM, COLIN MONTGOMERIE, NICK FALDO
BIGGEST GAP BETWEEN VICTORIES
16 YEARS
204 DAYS
Anthony Wall
2000
Alfred Dunhill Championship
2016
BIGGEST GAP BETWEEN FIRST AND LATEST VICTORY
168 DAYS Lee Westwood 1996
2020
Scandinavian Masters
Paul Lawrie Match Play
23 YEARS
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championshipv
Tyrrell Hatton & Jon Rahm MOST NUMBER OF ROLEX SERIES WINS
PLAYERS TO WIN AS AN AMATEUR
2007
Pablo Martin Benavides
2009 2009
Danny Lee
MOST PLAY-OFFS IN CAREER
16
Bernhard Langer (Won 8, Lost 6, Halved 2)
Shane Lowry
3
CONSECUTIVE WINS
First golfer with a disability to play on Tour
Brendan Lawlor
Seve Ballesteros
1986
Carrolls Irish Open Johnnie Walker Monte Carlo Open Peugeot Open de France
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Caroline Hedwall FIRST WOMAN TO HOLD SOLO LEAD
2021 Scandinavian Mixed
Number of times players have shared a title – 2
1995
First live event broadcast on the Golf Channel
1986
Trophee Lancome
Bernhard Langer & Seve Ballesteros
Dubai Desert Classic
2002
Andalucia Masters
Langer & Colin Montgomerie
First player born in the UAE to make the cut
Highest number of appearances without a victory on Tour:
552 Josh Hill 2022 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
David Drysdale
Lowest 72hole score to par:
257
ERNIE ELS
GARRICK HIGGO
$3
DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
AHMAD SKAIK AVIV Dubai Championship
2003 Johnnie Walker Classic
2021 Canary Islands Championship
MILLION
-4
-29
Lowest 72hole total
LARGEST FIRST PRIZE
Lowest round by an Emirati on Tour
RECORD CATCH UP BY A WINNER 10 SHOTS:
LOWEST FINAL ROUND BY A WINNER
60
JAMIE SPENCE
IAN WOOSNAM
RAFA CABRERA BELLO
BRANDON STONE
Canon European Masters 1992
1990 Monte Carlo Open
2009 Austrian Open
2018 Scottish Open
JAMIE SPENCE
Canon European Masters 1992
PAUL LAWRIE 1999 Open Championship
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Low 18 HoleScore
59 James Nitties
OLI FISHER
15
2018 Portugal Masters
SHOTS
Largest 72-hole winning margin
Tiger Woods
ISPS Handa Vic Open, 2019
20 MOST STROKES ON ONE HOLE
9 Most birdies in succession
Bernd Wiesberger
unofficial Maybank Championship, 2017)
MOST SUDDEN DEATH PLAY-OFF HOLES NEEDED
2013 Open de Espana
Philippe Porquier 1978 French Open
2000 US Open
$10 M
Longest drive on Tour
477 YARDS
Nicolas Colsaerts 2014 Wales Open
P U R S E
The first DP World Tour event in history outside the Majors and WGCs to feature an eight-figure prize fund – 2022 DP World Tour Championship will boast a $10 million purse
OLDEST DP WORLD TOUR TOURNAMENT OUTSIDE OF EUROPE
MOST ROLEX EVENTS IN ONE COUNTRY
Dubai Desert Classic (1989 –2022)
NUMBER OF EMIRATES WHICH HAVE HOSTED A EUROPEAN TOUR GROUP SANCTIONED EVENT
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4 EMIRATES
Abu Dhabi Dubai Sharjah Ras Al Khaimah
SOUTHERN HILLS SET FOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWDOWN
B
eginning in 1916, just months after the birth of the PGA of America, the PGA Championship perennially showcases the strongest field in golf (a record 99 of the top 100 players in the Official World Golf Rankings competed last year at Kiawah Island) and also features the top 20 PGA Club Professionals. This year’s edition will return to a very familiar course in the form of Southern Hills Country Club, which has already played host to eight Major Championships, including four PGA Championships, making it the PGA’s most frequent venue. Southern Hills, which was only named host of the tournament last year after Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster was pulled from the schedule, last hosted the tournament in 2007, when Tiger Woods captured his fourth Wanamaker Trophy with a two-stroke triumph over Woody Austin. After
making a miraculous return to the game last month at the Masters Tournament, it remains to be seen if Woods will tee it up in the second Major of the year, but he has given fans a glimmer of hope after the PGA of America released the entry list, which included Woods,
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along with 16 other PGA Champions, although there’s no guarantee that Woods will play. The former World No.1 was in visible pain at Augusta National after he had dragged himself up and down and all around the hilly course. But he still appears determined to play in all four Majors this year if his body allows. “I won’t be playing a full schedule ever again, and so it’ll be just the big events,” he said after the final round of the Masters. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to play Southern Hills or not, but I am looking forward to St. Andrews. And so that is something that is near and dear to my heart. I’ve won two Opens there, it’s the home of golf and it’s my favourite golf course in the world. So, I will be there for that one. But anything in between that, I don’t know. I will try, there’s no doubt, this week I will try and get ready for Southern Hills and we’ll see what this body is able to do.”
PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Will Phil Mickelson defend his title?
I
t came as quite a shock last month when Phil Mickeslon decided to skip the Masters, a tournament he has won three times, but it would probably be an even bigger shock if he didn’t defend a tournament he won so gloriously 12 months ago. Lefty became the oldest man to win a Major title at Kiawah Island amid extraordinary scenes as thousands of fans swarmed on to the final fairway to witness the winning moment. It was arguably one of the greatest ever moments the game has witnessed, but that now seems like a lifetime ago following the recent controversy around Mickelson. The six-time Major champion hasn’t played since February after apologising for comments regarding a proposed breakaway league, where he accused the PGA Tour of being “manipulative and coercive” before ironically going on to admit he was using the threat of a breakaway to “reshape” how the Tour operates, and also revealing he’d recruited three other players to the league and that he and other players paid attorneys to construct the proposed league’s operating agreement.
He has been named on the entry list for this year’s Championship but a spokesperson for management company certainly didn’t assure us he would be defending his title. “Phil currently has no concrete plans on when and where he will play,” said Steve Loy, the co-president of SportFive. “Any actions taken are in no way a
reflection of a final decision made, but rather to keep all options open.” While Phil Mickelson remains in a seclusion of his own making – with both the Tour and Augusta National claiming he has not been suspended – it would be a real shame for the golfing world not to see him in Oklahoma.
A new member of the Grand Slam club?
J
ordan Spieth will have a sixth shot at a slice of history at this year’s PGA Championship with a victory putting the Texan alongside esteemed company by winning the career Grand Slam. Spieth, who recently became a father, would join Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players to win all four of golf’s Major Championships. According to the man himself, this could well be Spieth’s best opportunity to join golf’s most elite club. “I think on paper, yes, just given grass types, winds are more similar to what I’m used to at home, and it’s about as close to home as we get for a PGA, at least until we go to Frisco,” said Spieth earlier this year. “It’ll be by far the closest PGA I’ve played to home, and the best chances I’ve had are when courses are played with wind and firmer conditions at PGA Championships. I remember the course being way too
big for me at 14 years old. Hopefully I feel a little differently going back.” As well as the course conditions suiting him, Spieth also comes into the tournament off the back of a win after tasting victory for the second consecutive Easter Sunday at last month’s RBC Heritage at Harbour Town. With the victory, the 28-year-old earned
$1,440,000, which pushed him past $50 million in career earnings, lifting him to $50,578,855. Just 10 other tour pros have broken the $50 million barrier. Spieth sits just over $3.7 million behind Sergio Garcia. A win at Southern Hills would certainly see him close that gap coupled while becoming just the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam.
Ones to watch
Patrick Cantlay
Brooks Koepka
Cameron Smith
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Sam Burns
NEW DAWN FOR
EGF AND DP WORLD TOUR
Ahmad Skaik dreams of DP World Tour win
L
ast month, the Emirates Golf Federation and DP World Tour announced an historic longterm partnership, running until 2031, which is set to give UAE players the chance to shine on the global stage. The new agreement will see a minimum of two new Challenge Tour events being staged in the United Arab Emirates from 2023, for which the EGF will receive 30 invitational spots per event. These spots can be used to trade with other Challenge Tour events on the schedule, giving the EGF invited players the experience of playing on the global stage. The two organisations will collaborate across all levels of the sport in the UAE, from grassroots initiatives right through to the professional game, building on the Tour’s long-term association with the region which dates back to 1989. The relationship with the UAE and DP World Tour has got even stronger over the last 12 months and this announcement is something many golf industry stakeholders in the region have wanted to happen for a while. Although the UAE is home to some of the greatest professional events and courses in the world, we’ve never been able to establish a player on the DP World or PGA TOUR. The talent is growing in the region and these new spots will go a long way to give our local players the opportunity they need under real Tour pressure. That talent was on full display at last year’s AVIV Dubai Championship when Ahmad Skaik heralded a new era for golf in the UAE after he carded the lowest European Tour round by an Emirati with an impressive four under par 68 on the opening day at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The UAE’s No.1 golfer would fall just short of becoming the first Emirati to make the weekend at a DP World Tour event, but it proved the country is capable of producing talent to compete with the very best. “I’m very excited about this partnership between the Tour and the EGF,” said Skaik. “It’s a very exciting opportunity for me and the other young Emiratis coming through the ranks. The announcement came at the perfect time for me as I’ve just about finished with University so my focus is now going to be fully on my golf and trying to take my game to the next level. “The opportunity to play in Challenge
“I’m very excited about this partnership between the Tour and the EGF, It’s a very exciting opportunity for me and the other young Emiratis coming through the ranks.” Ahmad Skaik Tour events across the world will definitely help me develop my game. No matter how you play, if you have the chance to compete against top players then you are always going to learn and know where your level is at. “ The relationship between the DP World Tour and the Emirates Golf Federation is deep rooted and alongside the three Rolex Series events in the UAE these new opportunities is equally as important in terms of growing the game at a grass roots level in the region. Young players now have a way to make a name for themselves without the pressure of going through the Qualifying School or the American college golf system. “Golf in the UAE has been growing a lot
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lately and initiatives like this are going to take it to the next level,” added Skaik. “It’s going to be a goal of many players to earn invites in these bigger events so we’re going to see a lot of players practicing as hard as they can. Also, if I’m playing in these tournaments I could inspire a few of the younger generation – I’m excited for the future and I’m going to make the most of it.” Could we dream of an Emirati winning on the DP World Tour in the future? “Yes, you’re going to see an Emirati win on the DP World Tour and it’s going to be me hopefully in the future!” says Skaik. “If I just fully focus on my game without any distractions and work hard in the gym while competing in tournaments then I think I can do it – that’s the plan.”
“We have been working with the Tour for more than 30 years and with DP World’s involvement now with the Tour, it became even more important for us to work together for the future of golf in this region. This partnership will take us to the next level. Having two Challenge Tour events is an important part of this so we can exchange spots with other federations and take our players abroad. That is part of our vision to develop golf here and develop our players to compete in the professional game. Hopefully one day we will have a winner on the DP World Tour, but we need the gradual progress, and taking our players step by step through the Challenge Tour first is important. It will provide tournaments in this region to give players from the Arab world the chance to play at a higher level and compete against other players from different countries.”
GENERAL ABDULLAH ALHASHMI VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE EMIRATES GOLF FEDERATION
TOM PHILLIPS,
PETE COWEN
“Our special partnership with the Emirates Golf Foundation not only demonstrates the DP World Tour’s long-term commitment to developing golf in the United Arab Emirates, but also reflects the strength of the many relationships we enjoy in the country. We are delighted to confirm this partnership following our four hugely successful weeks in the UAE at the start of the year, delivering on the pledges we made at the launch of the DP World Tour in November.”
“There is no better way to test talent than real pressure. Once amateurs start teeing it up on the Challenge Tour they can see first-hand what is required to make it in the professional game, not just on the courses in the UAE but around Europe. Having a great swing or short game is one thing, but competing on a variety of different courses and miles away from home will test the mind. This is experience is priceless and one I hope will give the EGF invitees the opportunity to make it on Tour.”
THE EUROPEAN TOUR GROUP’S HEAD OF MIDDLE EAST
MASTER PGA PROFESSIONAL
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VIKTOR
HOVLAND
Smiling Scandinavian
SENSATION WIDELY REGARDED AS ONE OF THE HAPPIEST PLAYERS ON TOUR – VIKTOR HOVLAND HAS GOOD REASON FOR HIS BEAMING SMILE.
T
he 24-year-old has shot up to sixth in World Ranking since turning professional three years ago after what can only be described as a meteoric rise to the elite level that so many of us dream of. Having enjoyed resounding success as an amateur, including climbing to the top of the rankings and winning the U.S. Amateur, the J.Linderberg Ambassador quickly replicated that form on the professional circuit, becoming the first Norwegian to claim a PGA Tour and DP World Tour event. Three more worldwide wins later, including a maiden Rolex Series triumph at the Dubai Desert Classic earlier this year, it’s safe to say that former Oklahoma State star will be European golf’s talisman for years to come. Here, the 2020 Ryder Cup Rookie gives his thoughts on his rapid rise, what makes him so happy and whether he thinks the game needs freshening up. WWG: You’ve won six times worldwide in under three years since turning professional and have moved up as high as World No.3 earlier this year. Do you ever have moments where you sit back and think, this is crazy, the trajectory I’m on? VH: Yeah, a little bit. It’s kind of crazy. It’s hard to think that way when you’re constantly traveling and playing tournaments. You don’t really have a lot of time to just kind of sit down and think about that too much. It’s always, Okay, I’ve got to work on my chipping, I’ve got to work out, tee time, pro-am, it’s just go, go, go, go all the time and you’re looking forward to the next event. But it was nice, after coming back from Dubai I had a week off, and we had a snowstorm in Stillwater, so I was locked in the house
for three days and ran out of food. I was just in there just in a coma just kind of letting it all sink in. It’s nice to have kind of moments like that where you just kind of don’t do anything and relax, but I try not to get too caught up in the moment either. It’s always, you know, think about the processes, trying to get better, and enjoy the process. WWG: You were six shots back when you won in the Bahamas as well as Dubai and you still managed to do it. What is this mentality of Viktor Hovland that allows you to do it again and again? VH: I wouldn’t say it’s become a habit just yet. Obviously, you have to get things going your way and I would certainly say that I had things going my way in Bahamas last time, and obviously in Dubai, finishing birdie, eagle, birdie, that’s something that rarely happens. And even then, some other guys had a chance to take me out of it. So, you know, I just try to do the best I can. WWG: Something Tiger always talked about was learning how to win. How would you compare your emotions in crunch time now to two years ago? VH: I would say obviously I have gotten better at it because I have won more. But it’s a unique feeling every single time, because, I mean, it’s the same adrenaline, same pressure that you feel. You know, just going back 15 years ago, if I was playing a junior match against a buddy and we had 10 bucks on the line or whatever, just playing a random tournament, you still feel, it’s the same pressure that you feel. But I think the more times I have put myself in that position and I have seen myself do well under those
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circumstances, you kind of get a bit more comfortable every time, but it’s still pretty stressful every single time you’re in there, because time slows down. It’s not like you can just hit one good shot and then win or lose. If you’re coming down the stretch on the back 9, you have to hit good shots upon good shots upon good shots, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, so it’s pretty nerve-racking. WWG: You strike a lot of people as always being very upbeat, very happy. Are you? Where does that come from? VH: I would say I am. I enjoy a lot of things in life, other things not so much, but I try to look forward to the things that I want to do. If there is something that I want to do, I try it. But I guess it’s a lot to do with genes. My mom and dad are pretty happy people. Norway is a pretty happy country. It’s a lot about that. Obviously, I have a pretty good job for a living, so I don’t have a whole lot of things to complain about. WWG: A lot was made about your bunker play at the Arnold Palmer Invitational after finishing 73rd in the field out of 77 in sand saves over the week. How much is that outside noise and internally, is that something you’re really putting on emphasis on and trying to improve? VH: I definitely need to get better around the greens and in the bunkers. Had a tendency of maybe taking a little bit too much sand, trying to get a little closer to the ball. That’s kind of the main focus. But you can say what you want about the bunker play at the Arnold Palmer; if you end up plugged in the lip or on the downslope short-sided, it’s just impossible. I don’t care how good your bunker play is in some of those spots. The stats can be a little deceiving in that way, but I feel like I’m making improvements in the technique and I’m not too worried about it. WWG: You’ve played match play this year and a team event with Collin Morikawa – Do you have any ideas on maybe another format that you’d like to see played on the TOUR and if there’s any room for it? VH: That’s a good question. I really haven’t put too much thought into it. I think these
“We are proud that Viktor chooses to represent our brand and look forward to continuing to follow his journey. Aside from sharing our Scandinavian origin, Viktor personifies J.Lindeberg in so many ways, always pushing himself further and always aiming higher. He has a bright future ahead of him and we are so thrilled for J.Lindeberg to be a part of that.” Hans-Christian Meyer, CEO, J.Lindeberg
events are fun, but as a player, you want to try to test your game in a stroke-play event 72 holes. It’s just kind of the purest form. Obviously, it’s nice to mix it up and play match play and do some team events, but I don’t know if we should incorporate more of them or a completely different format. I don’t really know, and I don’t know where to fit that into the schedule, but I think those ideas are cool, as well. WWG: What was the process of designing your custom PING PLD DS72 putter? VH: I would say the last couple of years with the help of the guys from PING that are out at the Tour events every single week, they’ve shown me how much the equipment matters. I’m putting with a PLD putter, so the head shape is very similar to a few putters that I’ve used before, mainly in college. But I would say, the putters that I used before, they had an insert on them, while this PLD putter doesn’t, it has a milled face. So, there’s a little different feel to it when you strike it and I’ve just come to really like it as it helps my speed control whenever I get on fast greens. One thing we did that was unique to other putter I’ve used before is that put not just a sightline on top of the putter, but also on the bottom so you have two matching lines just to give you another perspective of where you’re aiming. I like more of a copper look in my
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putter and just how that sits in contrast to the green, especially with the white line on the top, it just really pops and makes it easier to aim when I’m putting. Making putts is pretty sweet, it’s a nice feeling, but when you’re in contention and need to make some putts to win the golf tournament golf tournament, when they fall at the right moments that’s pretty sweet as well.
Whats in the Bag ▶ Driver: Ping G425 LST (9 degrees @8.4) ▶ 3-wood: TaylorMade SIM Ti (15 degrees), TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15 degrees) ▶ Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees) ▶ Irons: Ping i210 (4-PW) ▶ Wedges: Ping Glide Forged Pro (50-10S, 56-1-S), Titleist Vokey Design SM8 WedgeWorks (60)t ▶ Putter: Ping PLD DS72
THE
LONGEST WAIT B
y the time David Langley tees it up in the first of the MENA Tour’s Beautiful Thailand Swing events this month, 790 days will have elapsed since the developmental circuit was halted in its tracks by an invisible viral adversary. The two long years, one month, 29 days and counting must surely make the 28-yearold Englishman the owner of a unique record, the leader for the longest time of an Order of Merit race on a recognised tour. Langley hasn’t exactly been sweating on his ‘Journey to Jordan’ lead all that time but there have been moments when he wondered when, and even if, he’d get the chance to see out the season and hopefully seal all the perks associated with becoming OOM champion. Mercifully, there is now a finish line in
sight and fresh new incentives to chase. Offering a combined US$300,000 in prizemoney and, more pertinently, enhanced OWGR points courtesy of co-sanctioning status with the Asian Development Tour (ADT), the Beautiful Thailand Swing hints at the exciting opportunities to come. The golf world has emerged from the pandemic a very different place and the MENA Tour hasn’t been immune to change since the shutters went down on the Middle East and North Africa tour immediately following the Journey to Jordan #2 Championship at Ayla Golf Club in Aqaba on March 4, 2020. Thankfully, the metaphorical goal posts have shifted in the developmental circuit’s favour, geographically so from Europe to the Far East courtesy of a strategic alliance
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with the now fiscally flush Asian Tour. Beyond the four quickfire, 54-hole events in Phuket, you could call the partnership light at the end of what has been a long, dark tunnel for many trying to spark pro careers and pay mortgages in the highstakes, low yield world that is mini tour golf. The alliance is a game-changer for the MENA Tour and its members, the first tentative steps ahead of a proposed full merger. It’s timely to as new OWGR regulations set to be introduced from August 1 mean the combined might of the ADT and MENA Tour will keep open pathways to the elite level that are becoming increasingly less viable on other mini tours. But that is for later. More immediately, Langley will be focused on building on his
“I think the top-10 exemption getting me through first stage of Asian Tour Q-School is probably the one of most interest to me because I was planning on going to Asian Tour Q-School anyway.” DAVID LANGLEY
slender OOM lead which stands at a mere US$705 over compatriot David Hague after five events of what has now been rebranded the ‘2020+ Journey to Jordan’, a season that will eventually span nine events, six countries and more than two years. If we can negotiate the Laguna Phuket Challenge (May 3-5), Laguna Phuket Cup (May 7-9), Blue Canyon Classic (May13-15) and Blue Canyon Open (May 18-20) with his nose still in front, Langley will secure a start in one of the Asian Tour’s new $1.5 million+ International Series events, among other potentially life-changing incentives. “There’s a lot of work to do between now and the end of May to achieve that but It would be great to get the invite to play one of the International Series events,” said Langley who hails from
the parish village of Stokenchurch in south-west Buckinghamshire and calls Berkshire’s Castle Royle his home club. “I know they’ve announced that there’s going to be an event in the UK [the International Series England at Slaley Hall near Newcastle next month], maybe it’ll be that one, that would be cool. But to be honest, all of the all of the incentives are of interest to me.” They include starts in the next two ADT events following the Beautiful Thailand Swing and an exemption to the final stage of Asian Tour Q-school for 2023 – the duel reward for all those who finish inside the top-10 of the final J2J standings. “I think the top-10 exemption getting me through first stage of Asian Tour Q-School is probably the one of most interest to me because I was planning on going to Asian Tour Q-School anyway,” said Langley. “If I don’t have to go through the first stage that’s a big bonus. “At the moment I am obviously committed to playing the EuroPro Tour season during the summer but I’m definitely open to the idea of playing the ADT instead. It just depends on what the schedule looks like and what their requirements are to graduate from the ADT to the (full) Asian Tour (the top seven on the ADT OOM automatically qualify) and then obviously the finances of it all. But if I feel like it’s worthwhile doing, then I will.” When Langley started his MENA Tour journey in early 2020 as a freshly minted pro following an unsuccessful two-year Walker Cup bid, he envisioned his pathway to the big time being Euro centric. That focus only sharpened when he won the
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MENA Tour’s opening event, the Journey to Jordan #1 Championship in Aqaba, before finishing 9th and runner-up at the NEWGIZA Open and Ghala Open in Eqypt and Oman respectively over the proceeding fortnight. That run of results eventually led to an invite to the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic the following January where Langley missed the cut by one but didn’t feel at all out of place, merely miffed his driver suddenly decided not to co-operate fully at Emirates Golf Club. But the global golf landscape has changed enormously since then and so too has Langley’s horizons. He is now spending a lot of time in the United States at St. Simons Island in Georgia where he is a member of the Sea Island Golf Club, the site of the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic. “I live out here with my girlfriend Caroline and it’s rather nice. The golf is very, very good here and the weather is great.” Now, all roads are pointing towards the secondary U.S. Korn Ferry Tour. Or at least they were until Langley was granted invites to the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship (MC) and the Laguna Phuket (T-30) in November and got a taste of the new-look Asian Tour. “Definitely my interest was piqued for the Asian Tour once I got the chance to play the two invites I got from the MENA Tour,” said Langley. “I was definitely getting interested in playing Asian Tour golf even before the big Saudi investment ($300 million over 10 years). Just with my interest in moving more permanently out to America and potentially playing Korn Ferry qualifying in the future etc., the whole European schedule isn’t very friendly to allowing you to go and do Korn Ferry qualifying. So for me, with a look
into the future of basing myself more permanently in America, the Asian Tour has definitely become more interesting to me.” After lockdown in 2020, Langley won on the JAMEGA Tour after forcing his way into a playoff at an event in Bristol with a brilliant 10-under closing round at TPC Greens. After his European Tour debut on the Majlis, he played a relatively full schedule on the EuroPro Tour, mixed with three Challenge Tour starts at the Open de Bretagne in the north of France, The Vierumäki Finnish Challenge and Sydbank Esbjerg Challenge in Denmark, making the cut in Finland. “I think the pandemic came probably at an unfortunate time for me because I was definitely playing really good golf that whole period of time (on the MENA Tour in early 2020). Even after being in lockdown for what was it, for a month and a half or something, even after that I was still playing really good golf and then towards the end of that year kind of tapered off a little bit. “It was a shame I wasn’t able to continue on and capitalise on
on a long way and various different aspects…my short game is much improved from back in 2020, my long game we probably in 2020… didn’t swing it as well but recently me and my coach revisited some of the stuff that I was working on before went out to the MENA Tour and then played really well. “We had gone to see (biomechanical consultation Dr.) Mark Bull who does the 3D thing and he highlighted some things he was working on a couple of years ago, so it’s almost revisiting some stuff that we never really completely fixed but we thought we had, so it’s good to be working on those bits that I know work which gives me a lot of confidence. “I wouldn’t necessarily, like right now at this moment, I wouldn’t say I’m playing better currently then I was before I went out to MENA Tour in 2020 but I’ve definitely got all the ingredients that I need to play better than that year. So I feel pretty confident about the year.” They say good things come to those who wait. Perhaps in Langley’s case, it will come to those forced to wait, and wait and wait some more.
I wouldn’t say I’m playing better currently then I was before I went out to MENA Tour in 2020 but I’ve definitely got all the ingredients that I need to play better than that year. So I feel pretty confident about the year.” DAVID LANGLEY
that because I think I would have just carried on basically.” At least Langley can draw confidence from his rounds of 71-68-69-70 at Laguna Golf Phuket last November to finish in a tie for 30th at the Laguna Phuket Championship alongside, among others, then 14-year-old amateur sensation turned 15-year-old Asian Tour winner Ratchanon Chantananuwat. “As far as my game goes compared to 2020, I think it’s come on, definitely improved in many ways. My knowledge base of my own techniques has come
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Thailand’s TERRIFIC TWOSOME BY T H O M AS W RAG G
According to a study by Global Odds Index in 2021, the odds of becoming a top tier female golfer in Thailand are 1 in 92,670 or as I like to put it ‘extremely slim’. So, imagine the odds of two sisters not only becoming elite golfers, but also winning on the LPGA Tour multiple times.
M
oriya and Ariya Jutanugarn have done just that over the years. The duo’s 15 wins, which includes two Majors, on the LPGA Tour make them the most successful golfing siblings of all time, beating the likes of Nelly and Jessica Korda as well as Francesco and Edoardo Molinari. The sisters are as synonymous with golf in Thailand as Hideki Matsuyama is with the sport in Japan. They are adored across the country with their faces all over billboard and TV adverts. There’s even a Netflix special about Ariya’s development into the first Thai golfer, male or female, to win a Major Championship and reach No. 1 in the World Ranking. “There’s no secret to our success,” said Ariya. “When you start to love this game, I feel like you can put everything into it and do everything for that. I think that’s a key to be successful. You have
to be happy first, and then as soon as you’re happy you can do whatever.” Moriya added: “I agree with what Ariya said. You have to love it. You have to love the game, and when you love it, you really want it. When it’s become your dream, you just want to do everything to reach your goal and your dream.” The superstar sisters play golf and live life differently, but their goals remain the same – to be the very best out on the course. “We try to help each other a lot, but also we’re really competitive,” said Ariya. “When we practice I want to beat her, and she wants to beat me. Some tournaments it’s like I’m going to play better than you, before we go out, and I’m like, if I beat you today you have to something, but that’s kind of like for fun. I think most of the time we help each other because I feel like no one understands me more than my sister, so that helps.”
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Moriya added: “It’s not like helping, it’s like support. You know, to play, to be a golfer, a professional golfer, you’re on the road all the time, travelling a lot, and you’re not always home. I feel like when you have support from who you love or who is really close to you, it’s very important. I think I I’m very lucky having her support on the road because our careers are pretty much the same, we do the same thing, we play professional golf, so if I need help or I need someone to talk to, no one is going to understand me more than my sister for sure.” GENDER PAY GAP Much has been made of the gender pay gap between in sport for a long time and for good reason. A recent study by the BBC showed worrying findings around golf’s gender pay gap, especially compared to other sports with golf highlighted as one of the three sports lagging behind in the gap between winnings paid to men and women. The sisters have accumulated $16.3 million between them over their careers on the LPGA Tour with 15 first prize cheques contributing towards that total. In comparison, the Molinari brothers have been paid a total of $18.59 million from the PGA Tour with just three wins between the duo. A number of Tours have tried to correct this in recent years with the inclusion of mixed events with the same prize on offer for both men and women, including next month’s Scandinavian Mixed, which is co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour and DP World Tour. “Of course, I would like to see more of these events, because I feel like we work hard, and I know the guys work hard, but we also work really hard!” said Ariya. “Right now, I think women’s golf is getting better and better because lots of people are trying to support and help us. You can see the changes that are being made to keep our game moving up - I really appreciate that. A big supporter of women’s golf right now is both Aramco and Golf Saudi, who kickstart their 2022 Aramco Team Series in Bangkok later this month. The first team event series of its kind on any professional tour takes place across three continents, with five tournaments offering prize funds of $1 million – one of the highest on the Ladies European Tour schedule. Using a unique draft system, team captains will pick one pro teammate, before being allocated a third via a random draw. Completing each team will be one amateur golfer. As well as competing for the team trophy, the professionals will also vie for an individual title, offering Rolex Rankings and Solheim Cup ranking points, and will be part of the Race to Costa del Sol Official Rankings. “I feel really excited to see all the fans in Thailand at the Team Series event,” said Ariya. “We always feel the support from the fans that they’ve been giving to us since
I think I I’m very lucky having her support on the road because our careers are pretty much the same, we do the same thing, we play professional golf, so if I need help or I need someone to talk to, no one is going to understand me more than my sister for sure.” ARIYA JUTANUGARN
we played in Thailand like 10 years ago. I just feel like it’s really home-home. You feel home all the time when you play in Thailand. They just keep showing you the support. That moment can’t get away. Moriya added: “Yeah, it’s the same feeling for me. When you play in Thailand, it’s exciting seeing all the fans that have given us support since we were young and of course it’s nice seeing friends and family, who come and support us at the tournament. It’s stuff like this that makes us feel at home.” CLOSE TO QUITTING Moriya will be hoping to follow in her sisters’ footsteps by winning on home soil after Ariya secured her 11th LPGA Tour title at last year’s Honda LPGA Thailand, beating compatriot Atthaya Thitikul by one stroke. For the first time in 1,015 days, Ariya held a trophy once again, making it all the more special that she did so in her homeland, but she also revealed shortly after that she had seriously considered quitting the game following her trophy drought. So, how is the mindset now? “I’ll always have a bit of a struggle with my game, but I feel like it’s kind of just another challenge for me because my golf is always up and down,” said Ariya. “The challenge is how I’m going to get myself back to where I want to be or be in a position to be able to play well.
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I think it’s kind of fun. The outcome is not always what you want, but I wake up with my little goals every day, what I’m going to do to make myself proud today to reach my bigger goals. So, I think I’m kind of in that way right now. Of course, I’m not my best right now, but it’s just trying to improve myself every day.” The first challenge that both will have to address at Thai Country Club is which player to pick in the draft if, as expected, they are both chosen as captains in a field that includes Charley Hull and Dubai resident Chiara Noja. With no opportunity to pick one another, what does each sister think the other can offer a team? “If you’re going to have Ariya as a teammate you have to make sure you have a lot of patience,” chuckled Moriya. “Out there it could be really fun or it’s going to be like crazy golf!” Ariya added: “Moriya’s really consistent. If you really want to go for it you’re going to have a good teammate because she’ll have your back. She’s not going to really make many bogeys. She always knows how to get up-and-down from pretty tough situations and she’s really consistent. I think that’s the really best thing from her. So, I think if you have her in your team then you’re not going to have to worry about anything, just play your own golf game.” The pair will continue what they’ve always done when they step on the tee for the first Team Series event of the year – inspire. With the likes of compatriots Patty Tavatanakit and Atthaya Thitikul rising through the ranks over the last few years, the sisters may not yet be the country’s top sportswoman but they’re certainly the most celebrated. ■
MyGolf, Dubai
IT’S A BONA FIDE GAME CHANGER By Richard Bevan
T
he wait is over and the UAE’s latest game-changing golf facility is up and running as MyGolf Dubai is set for its Grand Opening on May 20. The timing couldn’t be better for Dubai’s first ever large-scale luxury indoor golf venue as the soaring summer heat approaches. We were lucky enough to get a sneak peak of the place during its soft launch in early April and we were genuinely blown away. From the moment you walk through the entrance into the grand reception area you’re struck with a sense of luxury. The welcome provided by team of accommodating staff is akin to that you’d associate with a 5-star hotel or restaurant as they lead you through to a huge dining/communal space anchored by a 360-degree serving station in the centre of the room where a coffee, soft drinks and a full range of food options can be purchased. Leading off from the communal space are multiple state-of-the-art GolfZon simulators in open and semi open bays which can be booked by the hour for practice or social play. This is also where MyGolf’s PGA professionals provide lessons to players of all levels – from the complete novice to the seasoned single figure handicapper. One very cool and attractive feature
of this huge venue is that is features a number of VIP and VVIP suites which can be booked for private functions and events or for use by corporate or premium membership card holders. We were given a tour of the best of the bunch – the Tiger Woods suite of course! The room is gargantuan with eye-catching artwork adorning the walls, sofas and a built-in bar counter and serving area. This space would perfect for businesspeople looking for a private but fun environment to entertain clients. The simulators are excellent and insanely addictive. Even just practicing on one of the many selectable driving ranges is great fun. Ours was located on the lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris! A target appears on the
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range to show you where you should be landing the ball with each different club selection and after every shot you’re shown a video of your swing along with a full range of stats showing clubhead speed, launch angle etc. Unlike most driving ranges, the bays at MyGolf allow you to practice hitting from different lie angles and surfaces, there’s even a mat with super soft bristles which mimics sand– an extremely useful element to add to your practice regime. After spending about half an hour trying to increase our clubhead speed on the range (did I mention it’s insanely addictive?) we partook in nine holes on the Old Course at St Andrews over a delicious barista prepared coffee. There’s been a lot of talk about MyGolf since company founder Michael Zhao first revealed his plans to disrupt the local golf scene with a new type of indoor golf facility modelled on those which have become so successful in the Far East. Having had the chance to visit this unique venue first hand, we can safely vouch for the fact that he has delivered and then some on his grand vision. They’re currently offering a fantastic summer deal with unlimited gameplay 7 days a week for 3 months along with a host of other great benefits for just AED 3,000 so get yourself down there and bag yourself a summer of cool golfing fun.
MyGolf Dubai
WWG: People can pay as they play but you also offer memberships – how has the uptake for those been and can you give us a summary of the different levels of membership and the benefits on offer? MZ: We have different tiers which include Bronze, Silver, Gold which are accessible to the golf community. In addition, we also offer exclusive tiers such as Platinum and Royal Black which are invitation only memberships. Our Programs come with different benefits which include access to MyGolf community, VIP suites, VVIP suites booking and Invitation to networking events. We’ve recently had a private event held at the facility where a lot of high-net-worth individuals were present. This is the benefit of becoming a member at MyGolf. The real benefit offered at our facility is who you get to meet, members don’t just want to play golf, but they want to connect, socialise and network.
Michael Zhao
CEO and Founder of MyGolf Dubai
Worldwide Golf: You’ve created an amazing facility and a great addition to the Dubai golf scene, gives us your thoughts on how it’s turned out and does it match the vision you had? Michael Zhao: Looking back at where we first started and how it turned out, I can say its beyond the vision I’ve had. Its crazy what dreams can do. I’ve been in the facility over 100 times during the last 6 months and every touch was carefully picked out to match the “luxury experience” I had envisioned. My Vision was not to be just a facility but a social networking concept where people can come and connect. WWG: You’ve rolled out a ‘soft launch’ during April – how has business been and what’s the reaction from the public been like? MZ: We’ve seen a lot of success since, a lot of people just come in and ask what is this place? What’s indoor golf? We’ve seen a lot of interest with our golf simulators. The minute they find out you can play 190+ golf courses, they get excited. We’ve had some members even say it’s addictive. Its beyond our expectation, we have received a lot of interest in our social platforms and networking events. Visitors love the idea of connecting and playing golf.
WWG: The VIP and VVIP suites are spectacular – what is your vision for how these will be used and what special services come with those? MZ:Our VIP and VVIP suites are eye catching. They were specifically designed to immerse and enjoy the game of golf and to connect. You can have business meetings, host networking events of 15-20 people in VVIP suite, be it corporate or private events. I find myself in my own element when I’m in the VVIP suite - every detail, every piece is precisely crafted. I usually invite my social network to come and enjoy playing golf in the comfort and privacy that MyGolf offers. WWG: People can also get golf lessons at MyGolf – how has this aspect of the business been doing and what makes MyGolf a good choice for people learning the game? MZ: A huge part of MyGolf’s success is the golf academy. We’ve rolled out our academy since we soft launched and are 70% booked for the next 2 months. The PGA pros are excited to see how successful it’s been. MyGolf is the perfect facility to learn golf, unlike traditional golf courses, MyGolf is equipped with Golfzon simulators and you get all the data and statistics regarding your game and performance. For example, ball speed, distance, accuracy – it’s all there in real time. During the summer, it’s easier to learn golf indoors in the UAE because of the heat. At MyGolf you can learn and practice every day in cool conditions. Our simulators give golfers near to real life experience and players can develop their game a lot faster at MyGolf. WWG: You just mentioned the hot summer months and that’s where MyGolf can really stand out from other golf facilities due to it being in a nice cool indoor space. Do you have any offers running to attract visitors during that period? MZ: Yes, we’re expecting a lot of members during the summer, to escape the heat. that’s why we made a special summer offer. Cooler Summer Package. The
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membership is valued at 7,000 AED and the price is only 3,000 AED for 3 months membership during the summer. You will get unlimited access to semi-private and Open Bays, five complimentary one-time guest passes, 10% off on F&B & 10% off on academy lessons and packages. We’re also putting together new offers including a hole in one competition (which will be announced at a later stage) and during May we will start hosting tournaments at MyGolf Dubai. WWG: Have you gained passing trade from people visiting Dragon Mart and also the local community? MZ: Yes, we’ve had a lot of walk-ins from different parts of the world coming to check out MyGolf Dubai. Its something new in the region and there is no concept like MyGolf. People are impressed by how luxurious the facility is. It definitely catches the eye - no one can walk past MyGolf without being captivated and pulled in. There are a lot of leisure and recreational facilities in Dragon Mart 2 but MyGolf is leading the way as a premium entertainment experience. We’ve also had a lot of local press and influencers try out MyGolf Dubai and we are happy with the support we are getting from the local community. WWG: What sorts of food to do you have on offer? MZ: We offer a wide range of delights sandwiches, pizza, sushi, cheese boards and small bites. I personally love having the cheese boards and the seafood platters. Whenever I’m at the facility I order a cup of espresso for the mornings and cheese boards while we’re in the VVIP suite playing. We also have a pre-booking concept for private dining rooms which include a premium dining experience. We are the first to make golf not just about golf but about the experience. WWG: Now that you have opened the facility what else is planned for the coming months at MyGolf? MZ: Our grand opening is planned for May 20. We’ve learned a lot since the soft launch, we want to grow our community and we are looking forward to growing it together with our members. We are excited for what the future holds and this is just the beginning.
For more information visit: www.mygolfdubai.com info@mygolfdubai.com +971581601983
EXPERIENCE LUXURY SUMMER GOLF
AT TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB, DUBAI
Looking for the perfect summer venue to play the game, sharpen your skills and sample an array of delicious dining outlets? Look no further than Trump International Golf Club, Dubai, where you can enjoy the Trump Golf Summer Lifestyle experience with their fantastic Luxury Golf
Summer Pass or Summer Academy Packages. From the world’s best par 3 course and Dubai’s only floodlit double-ended TrackMan driving range to air-conditioned swing studios and an extensive choice of all-day dining promotions, it’s hard to find a better spot to play the glorious game this summer.
AWARD WINNING LUXURY GOLF
Luxury Golf Summer Pass holders can take advantage of four months (June 1 to September 30) of unlimited access to the stunning Gil Hanse designed 18 Hole Championship standard course, which has been nominated for best Course in the UAE and Dubai at the World Golf Awards. Despite the warmer climates causing difficulties in course management, the staff at the club work around the clock to ensure course conditions remain pristine throughout the summer. In addition to the Championship course, you’ll also receive
unlimited access to the best floodlit PAR 3 course in the world. The magnificent layout, which is also designed by Gil Hanse, came out on top against a number of prestigious venues across the world to scoop the top prize at last year’s World Golf Awards. With undulations and hazards that mimic the Championship course, the 9-hole track provides beginners with a challenging yet fun golfing experience. Progressive tees provide avid golfers with opportunities to perfect their game on the immaculately maintained course.
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TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB, DUBAI
STATE-OF-THE-ART PRACTICE FACILITIES The state-of-the-art practice facilities enable you to keep perfecting your game from dusk until dawn with putting greens and short game areas on both the Championship course and PAR 3 course. The club is also home to Dubai’s only floodlit double-ended TrackMan driving range, allowing you to escape the heat while taking advantage of the cooler climate in the evening. When purchasing a Summer Academy package, which are available for a wide range of abilities, you’ll receive a tailor-made enhanced tuition experience from one of the club’s top-class professionals.
EXCLUSIVE DINING PRIVILEGE DISCOUNTS For the Foodies there’s much on offer this Summer to experience Trump Golf Dubai’s myriad of all-day dining promotions. PRATO is home to exquisite Italian dining and offers wonderful brunches, roasts, authentic Italian fare and your favourite breakfast specials. 71 Sports Bar shows the latest sporting events from across the world while Embers Lounge, their indoor smoking venue, offers some of the best cigars in town coupled with a host of premium beverages whilst you catch the latest sporting events on the big screens. If you’re looking for a quick bite after you’ve finished your round or lesson, make sure you enjoy your exclusive dining privilege discounts or use your VIYA points at the Caddy Shack Drive-in, which offers a host of delicious delights including gourmet burgers and boozy shakes as well as easy bites. The venue also hosts entertainment throughout the week including an outdoor cinema experience for kids.
THE PERFECT FIT Looking to kit yourself out in some new golf fashion clothing for the Summer? The Trump Pro Shop has some great summer apparel collections from exclusive brands such as Greyson, Travis Matthew, EP PRO, Fairway and Greene and the latest from B Draddy. The shop also stocks other pioneering hardware equipment in the region from top golfing brands. Keep an eye out for their summer sales to pick up some bargains! If it’s a new set of clubs you’re looking for then book an appointment at the TaylorMade fitting studio with the new Stealth range a firm favourite amongst golfers in the UAE and beyond.
“The Summer Pass is a great opportunity to experience the Trump Golf lifestyle and enjoy our Gil Hanse designed courses which are in great condition throughout the year. We add to your dining and retail experiences by offering great deals to enhance your summer golfing benefits.”
Casper B. Schonfeldt, General Manager
For your chance to win a Luxury Golf Summer Pass worth AED 6,000 scan the QR code to enter our competition!
For more information on the Luxury Golf Summer Pass and the Summer Academy Packages please call 042453939 or visit www.trumpgolfdubai.com.
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TOPGOLF DUBAI
THE UAE’S ULTIMATE SUMMER ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION
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s the scorching summer edges ever closer in the UAE, you might be thinking about taking cover and putting the clubs away for a few months. But think again, as the UAE’s favourite entertainment destination, Topgolf Dubai, has two fantastic deals to keep you swinging easy over the coming months with both the Summer Fun Pass and RAKBANK Dubai League bringing enjoyment for everyone, all summer long.
SUMMER FUN PASS W
hether an established golfer, looking for a regular pastime, seeking the perfect environment for group play and team building or a complete golfing novice looking for some fun entertainment – the Summer Fun Pass is a one-stop-shop for all your needs. The three-month membership, which is priced at just AED 2,399, includes weekday unlimited gameplay on Topgolf’s signature games, including Topgolf, Quick 9, Topshot and Angry Birds. What’s more, the Summer Fun Pass also allows the membership holder to bring up to five guests along to play with them, completely free of charge! Now that is what we call good value. All guests, along with the pass holder, will also receive 10% off Topgolf’s extensive food and drink menu while taking in the stunning views of Dubai Marina. “With the golf courses in Dubai busier than ever, Topgolf really is the place to be this Summer,” said Mike Walton – Director of Operations, Topgolf Dubai. “With the Topgolf Summer Fun Pass, you can enjoy unlimited Topgolf gameplay throughout the day
from Monday to Thursday in our climate, controlled bays, as well as 10% off food & beverage and lessons – all for what adds up to under AED 800 per month… it’s a no-brainer!”
WHAT MAKES TOPGOLF THE PERFECT SUMMER VENUE? Two words everyone wants to hear in the UAE in the summer – air conditioning. Topgolf Dubai welcomed newly installed AC units last year, enabling guests to enjoy outdoor fun on the third floor without breaking a sweat! As well as unlimited gameplay, F&B discounts and air-conditioned bays, the pass holder can also get 10% off both lessons and events at the venue. If that wasn’t enough bang for one’s buck, you’ll also receive a 12-week voucher book, which grants the pass holder to complimentary delicious delights, including Mac Bites and Waffles. The Summer Pass also grants holders to complimentary lifetime membership for themselves and accompanied guests. To purchase, please contact membership at membership@topgolfdubai.ae
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SUMMER FUN PASS 2022 VALID 1ST JUNE - 31ST AUGUST AED 2,399 - 3 MONTH MEMBERSHIP FEE ✓ Access to play Topgolf Signature Games and Points Tracking System ✓ Weekday unlimited gameplay (Monday - Thursday, Opening - 5PM) ✓ Complimentary Lifetime Membership for Pass holder and Accompanied Guests (6 People Per Bay) ✓ 10% OFF Food & Beverage (Discount Must Start and End in the Bay) ✓ 10% OFF Event Bookings (Does Not Include Topgolf Suites) ✓ 10% OFF Lessons ✓ Upgraded clubs (limited supply) ✓ F&B Voucher booklet
RAKBANK DUBAI LEAGUE
L
ooking for a bit more competition at Topgolf this summer? Look no further than the RAKBANK Dubai League, which pits teams against one another over five action packed weeks. The unmissable tournament, which is open for teams of up to six players, gives you and your mates the opportunity to go head-to-head against other eager teams on the night over two signature Topgolf games with 20 shots played during each. The first three weeks of the tournament are dedicated to the Group Stage as teams aim to bank as many points as possible in order to determine what knockout section they will be entered into, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the Players League and the bottom two securing a spot in the Social League. This is where it really heats up. From here it’s elimination time as teams try and secure a spot in the final and get their hands on the top prize, which is up to AED3000 credit to spend at the venue,
a AED250 retail voucher per player and free entry to the next Dubai League. It’s important to note that during all five weeks, the top four players from a possible six in each game are counted towards the total score for the night while teams must also have a minimum of four players from their named team each week to compete. As well as enjoying a great night with some friendly competition, teams will also enjoy 10% off F&B during the nights, which gives you the chance to savour some of the delicious delights on offer, including their signature Topgolf Wings and Topgolf Stack O’ Nachos. “The RAKBANK League has been a fantastic addition to our Dubai venue, offering a competitive but fun evening every Tuesday,” said Cameron Levy, Operations Manager - Topgolf Dubai. “It’s been great to see the growing popularity since we launched the competition and to also welcome all skill levels by having two brackets to compete in. We look
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forward to another successful RAKBANK Dubai League starting on 17th May.” The best thing about the Dubai League? It costs just AED300 per team, per week meaning it works out at just 50AED each for a team of six! To secure your team, please visit www.topgolfdubai.ae/play/league
DUBAI LEAGUE
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
17TH MAY - 14TH JUNE EVERY TUESDAY 7PM - 9.15PM PRICE: AED300 PER TEAM, PER WEEK
PUT YOUR BEST
30 TEAMS | FivE WEEkS | F
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PETE COWEN COLUMN
Why you should never write off Tiger
I
remember when Tiger pulled out of the 2017 Dubai Desert Classic and many critics and even some fans thought that was the end of his career. I said in my Worldwide Golf column back then that Tiger would be back, as competitive golf is in his blood and that fire was still burning bright. It was great to remind those critics of their wrongful forecast when Tiger did the unthinkable and won his 15th Major at the Masters in 2019. When a phoenix keeps on rising from the ashes it certainly silences any doubters and this year Tiger was remarkable. Considering what he has gone through since that car crash last February I was blown away to see him at Augusta never mind making the cut. Those slopes certainly took it out of him and come Sunday he was just playing on empty and managed to keep going through sheer will. What a remarkable individual and when I get asked if I think he will win another Major my answer remains yes!
Tiger will win again
Why you might ask? It’s simple, it’s Tiger and don’t be surprised to see him lift the Claret Jug at St. Andrews. It’s flat and not that long, so managing his leg will be far easier than round Augusta. Equally as important is his knowledge of the course and he has won The Open there before, although it’s hard to believe that was 22 years ago! Tiger’s one of a few 40 plus year-olds that still could take it to the youngsters that are dominating the world ranking. But you would struggle to look past Scottie Scheffler at the moment. He’s a great guy and his coach, Randy Smith (pictured), is a friend of mine,
which makes their success story even more enjoyable to watch. I remember a few years back before Scottie turned professional Randy said he was special. His swing was unique but the standout ingredient that Scottie had was competitive spirit and you can’t teach that. Paired with his remarkable chipping and fearless putting makes him a huge threat at any Major this year when the pressure is on.
Generation Game
These young players are just exciting to watch, especially when they have no distractions but then there is always a spell when life gets in the way and golf can’t be everything. Apart from family commitments, as you get older those missed putts and troublesome swing gremlins start to play on your mind more. Jordan Spieth is a prime example of a player who’s fighting his eye off the tee –his gremlin is the swing goes under and away from him. That is why you see his practice move dress rehearsing completely the opposite movement, but it is very difficult for a player to get away from a default. If your eye is saying I can’t do this and you are saying to yourself you can, that is a very difficult thing to overcome. You should always let your eye lead the way. Jordan’s win at Harbour Town the week after he missed
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the cut at the Masters was not a huge surprise. His eye could lead the way and navigate the course with a three wood off most tees. Jordan’s wedge play is one of the best and you need to see him live on the course to appreciate the shots he pulls off. His putting might not be at the same level as it was back in 2015 but he chips in more than anyone else I know. That isn’t luck, that is a remarkable short game. That is why he’s one to keep a close eye on round St Andrews in July.
Trust your eye
The one thing age gives you is experience and many top players build a schedule based on courses that suit their eye. For example, it is believed that you need to draw the ball round Augusta yet Scottie Scheffler hits a fade, but his eye could see the slopes and contours to put the ball in the right positions. He let his eye lead the way. Finally, it is great to see Shane Lowry back in form and topping leaderboards. He’s been working on his putting with Stephen Sweeney who used to work in Dubai and what they’ve found seems to be working. Any coach starting out needs a development programme to make it on Tour. The moment one of your players breaks out and wins something the interest spreads like wildfire, as you become flavour of that given time. It can last months, years or even a decade. But for any coach in any sport, popularity is always based on results.
NEW STORE AT MALL OF THE EMIRATES
NOW OPEN
“We are delighted that Golf Superstore in Mall of the Emirates is now open and ready for business. To have a golf store in one of Dubai's greatest locations is very special. We can’t wait to welcome our loyal customers and new consumers to our new flagship store, which offers the best golf products available in the UAE.”
Stuart Taylor - General Manager Prosports International
www.golfsuperstore.ae Book your custom fitting: +971 43 588 010
JENNY HENNESSY
Kupcho an inspiration for up and coming players
A
pril was an exciting month for golf worldwide, with all roads leading to Augusta. Scottie Scheffler won the tournament in style, displaying a dominant performance from start to finish. His humble and mature nature as world no.1 is hugely admirable. I look forward to seeing him lift many more titles in the future, as this is only the beginning for 25-year-old Scheffler! My favourite to win, Rory McIlroy finished in sheer glory as he holed out from the bunker on 18 to finish second. With Shane Lowry finishing tied third it was certainly a solid week of golf for the Irish. To put the spotlight back on the ladies, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur took place just before the Masters Tournament. This event was first introduced in 2019, aimed to inspire greater interest and participation in the women’s game. Jennifer Kupcho, the then topranked world amateur and senior at Wake Forest University, was crowned champion of the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Fast forward three years, Kupcho has just been crowned a Major champion at the 2022 Chevron Championship. The Chevron Championship is one of the five Major
Championships of professional women’s golf, held annually at the Mission Hills Country Club in California. Jennifer followed in the footsteps of some of golf’s greatest female players who have also lifted this title; Lydia Ko, Lexi Thompson and Annika Sorenstam to name but a few. The sheer joy as Kupcho took the leap into the famous ‘Poppie’s Pond’ with her caddie and husband was wonderful to see. Just like Scottie Scheffler, Jennifer Kupcho is only at the beginning of her career, and we must acknowledge the steps and opportunities it has taken to get to where she is today. Seeing the first Augusta National Women’s Amateur Champion now a Major champion speaks volumes for the numerous efforts being made all over the world to promote women’s golf. It reminds me of how fortunate I was to be a junior member of a golf club where just as much attention and encouragement was given to the girls than to the boys, as I know this isn’t the case everywhere. I would be lying if I said the junior boys didn’t intimidate me, because they absolutely did! The number of junior boys was probably close to ten times the number of junior girls. At Lahinch Golf Club, junior golf was on a Friday afternoon, you paid €3 to enter the weekly competition, this entry free also
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included a Mars bar or a can of Coke, the big decision every week of deciding which treat to devour added such excitement to my junior golf experience! Kevin Glynn, the junior convenor at Lahinch would often ask the junior boys to step aside, as he cleared the pathway towards the first tee and let the handful of junior girl participants tee off before, or sometimes in the middle of all the boys. Time and time again we would plead with Kevin to let us tee off after all the boys, but Kevin insisted that ‘ladies go first!’. It was daunting to say the least to have anything from fifty to one hundred junior boys gazing up at the tee box as we all attempted to make solid contact on the first tee. At the end of every summer I would count back to all the times I managed to not mess up the first shot in front of all the boys! It’s another example where golf can help you in life, through learning to cope outside of your comfort zone. At the end of the day, “golf is the closest game to the game we call life” - Bobby Jones.
Jenny, Founder of Chicks with Sticks
PRE-SHOT ROUTINE F
or the next instalment of our ‘back to basics’ series we’re going to focus on the pre-shot routine. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a tour pro it’s essential that, before hitting a shot, you check that you have your fundamentals right. You should have a mental checklist that you go through each time you step up to the ball and make sure you don’t hit the shot until you’re satisfied that each of these basic set up elements is correct. In this article we’ll be using an iron shot as our example.
BY
GIOVANNI LOSSO
PGA PROFESSIONAL, MY GOLF DUBAI.
Lorem ipsum
THE COOLER
SUMMER PACKAGE
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INSTRUCTION
1 2
CHOOSE YOUR TARGET Choose your target standing behind the ball – in the video alongside this article I’m playing my second shot on the first hole at Harbour Town so my target is the green. Look down the target line and choose a spot a few feet in front of the ball. Keep your eye on that spot and approach the ball by setting your clubface pointing to the near target. Make sure the club is on the leading edge.
3 4 5 6
BODY ALIGNMENT Once the club is set, align your body parallel to the target line with the butt of the club pointing at your first belt loop left of your navel.
CORRECT GRIP When it comes to the grip, hold the club up vertically and take your grip, making sure it is in your fingers. Keep a 45-degree angle.
POSTURE
Push your rear end out, bend at the hips with the knees slightly flexed and place the club down behind the ball.
PRACTICE SWING Next, take a practice swing and focus your mind on the shot and the target you are aiming for. Try
to hit the turf in front of the ball, toward the target. Feel the swing and then step back up to the ball.
STRIKE THE BALL Take one last look at your intended target. Focus on the front of the ball and take your swing striking through the ball
and hitting the turf in front of the ball. Then come to a full finish and hold your finish until the ball lands.
Book a lesson at My Golf Dubai, the UAE’s first luxury indoor golf and entertainment lounge, and we will assist with your every golfing need! Visit mygolfdubai.com, call +971 43863535 or email: info@mygolfdubai.com
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JUNIORS GOLFERS SWING EASY AT THE CLAUDE HARMON III PERFORMANCE GOLF ACADEMY
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unior golfers from as young as three years old can get into the swing of things at the Claude Harmon III Performance Golf Academy with their dedicated Junior Development Program (JDP), which introduces youngsters to the game in a fun and dynamic way. The eight-week program gives kids the opportunity to move through each designated level of the program at their own pace with each level offering new challenges in line with their ability and encourages them to put in more time and effort as they improve while developing a love for the game. Golfers who show great potential can also use the Program as a pathway into the Elite Golf Program, which combines both education and golf in one to help students achieve their goals of college golf in the USA and beyond.
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JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
WHAT DOES THE JDP CONSIST OF? Beginning with the Active Start group, juniors between the ages of three and five are given the ideal starting point to learn the game through game-based learning, which helps them develop a variety of skills that can be transferred to their golf education while helping them progress more effortlessly in their game. “We like to keep it as fun and easy as possible when introducing juniors, or as I like to call them ‘the little ones’, to the game so they are able to grasp the concept of what we are trying to achieve,” said Teaching Professional Amy Condon, who leads the program. Once the junior athletes have progressed
We like to keep it as fun and easy as possible when introducing juniors, or as I like to call them ‘the little ones’, to the game so they are able to grasp the concept of what we are trying to achieve” Amy Condon, Teaching Professional
on from Active Start they will enter into the Fundamentals Class, where they will begin to focus and work on more golf specific principles. “The Fundamentals section is where we start seeing the personalities shine through,” says Condon. “They start to become aware of how important the likes of grip are and how posture affects the direction of the ball.” During these sessions it’s important to note that the top-class coaches at the Academy, which is based at the Els Club, don’t just focus on golf skills. The golf school has always implemented the Long-Term Athletic Development (LTAD) approach whereby they develop both golfing and physical skills as part of the program. This type of approach also focuses on each student’s biological age rather than chronological age, which means late bloomers and early developers are treated fairly and equally. After conquering the Fundamentals Class it’s time to dive into the Course Ready group, which focuses more on getting out on the course and playing the game rather than worrying too much about technique.
“Course Ready is one of our most popular programs amongst our junior golfers,” says Condon. “This is where we get to see the competitive side of everyone. They even try to take on the coaches who delivered the class. Therefore, the coaches must be at the top of their game!” The final stage of the Junior Development Program comes in the form of the Tournament Ready stage. This class, which is structured for youths between the ages of 9 and 16, helps enhance performance thus creating a pathway for those who wish to play and complete in events. “We like to take them out onto the course as this allows us to assist them with course
management and helps us analyse if they can replicate what they have been practicing onto the course,” says Condon. “This also helps them gain experience in knowing what to do and what not to do when playing the game.” Alongside the JDP, the Claude Harmon III Performance Golf Academy also offer a free practice session during the week to allow athletes to ingrain what they have learned throughout their weekly coaching sessions. What’s more, there is also a weekly on-course session with PGA professionals to allow and encourage the children to experience what it is like to apply their knowledge and skill on course.
To learn more about the Junior Development Program please visit the below link for more information; www.elsclubdubai.com/ch3/ or contact; AmyC@Ch3performancegolf.com
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LEAD THE WAY! T
oo many students open the shoulder early and never get the downforce or the club into the correct delivery position. This leads to inconsistency and a lack of power no matter the level of the golfer. This lead arm drill is a great way to ensure that the shoulder muscles work down and put the club into the correct position before the body opens to square the face at impact.
BY
STEPHEN DEANE,
HEAD OF ACADEMIES, deanopro DUBAI GOLF
DUBAI LEAGUE Worldwide GOLF 50
INSTRUCTION
When doing the drill, it’s nice to put your hand on the lead shoulder to feel the shoulders load up as you make an upswing You can then let the lead shoulder muscles work back or sit back down into position this is the move we want to perfect. To many students don’t allow the shoulder muscles to sit back down before they release the club and rotate through impact into their finish.
The beauty of this exercise is that you easily learn how to draw or fade the ball dependent on how you move after the shoulder sits down into position.
For more insight please watch the attached video and please come along and visit us at one of our three Academies
PUT YOUR BEST TEAM FORWARD 30 TEAMS | FivE WEEkS | F&B DiScOUnTS | EnTER nOW
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SET UP FOR
SUC CESS
I
’m often asked if I use the same swing for both my irons shots and shots with a driver – the answer is no as the intention of both shots is different. When hitting the ball with an iron we are aiming to strike slightly downward to compress the ball and with the driver we strike slightly upward to launch the ball.
BY
ALASTAIR BROWN,
HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL, EMIRATES GOLF CLUB
FUN PASS
A SLICE OF SUMMER Worldwide GOLF 52
INSTRUCTION
SHOT WITH IRON
I TRY TO TAKE CARE OF THESE SWING DIFFERENCES AT MY SET UP OR ADDRESS POSITIONS. NOTICE THE DIFFERENCES IN STANCE WIDTH, BALL POSITION, SPINE ANGLE AND SHOULDER POSITIONS. For irons I set up with a neutral spine angle, stance is hip width apart, ball position is centred and my shoulders are more on top of the ball. This will enable me to cover the ball at impact and get that desired downward strike on the ball.
SETUP
IMPACT
SHOT WITH DRIVER
SETUP
For the shot with my driver you can see I’m tilting my spine slightly away from my target to the right, my stance is slightly wider than what it was for my iron shot and this will help me not only keep balanced but help flatten out the base of my swing arc. The ball position is up opposite my lead foot. My shoulders are also tilted more behind the ball. The widened and flattened arc base before the ball and the ball position pushed forward will allow for my intended upward strike on the ball.
IMPACT
During your practice sessions make sure to blend in your differences at set up but also, it’s a great idea to rehearse what impact would feel like from these different set up positions. Again, you can clearly see the difference in my body angles for a driver and an iron shot, which will produce the very different hitting outcomes I intended. Get into
your intended set up for each shot, don’t even make a swing but go straight into your impact position and hold this position for at least 10 seconds to get a real good sensation of the angles and pressure on your body. This also allows you to get an excellent visual of where you need to be to hit your intended shot successfully.
If you’d like some more advice and tips, you can join me at the Peter Cowen Golf Academy at Emirates Golf Club to better understand your swing and take your game to the next level.
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Golf Superstore opens in Mall of the Emirates
Golf Superstore has expanded its business into one of Dubai’s most popular locations with the opening of a new flagship store in Mall of the Emirates.
T
he new store, which is located on the ground floor near P.F. Chang’s, is the only stand-alone golf store currently in Dubai’s second largest mall and stocks some of the hottest products on the market. Customers will enjoy an unrivaled experience at the flagship store with a wide selection of clubs available, including the Titleist Vokey Design SM9 Wedges, PING G425 driver and the Callaway Rogue ST MAX Fairway Wood. What’s more, golfers will be have the opportunity to browse a wide range of premium and fashionable apparel from brands such as Ralph Lauren, Footjoy and Peter Millar. “We are delighted that Golf Superstore in Mall of the Emirates is now open and ready for business,” said Stuart Taylor, General Manager of Pro Sports International’s Golf Division. “To have a golf store in one of Dubai’s greatest locations is very special. We can’t wait to welcome our loyal customers and new consumers to our new flagship store, which offers the best golf products available in the UAE.” The store also boasts a full custom fitting service, using Trackman Technology, which is carried out by one of their PGA qualified professionals.
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GEAR TEST By Alex Gallemore
B
ack in November 2015, an unknown American startup company, PXG, released their first generation iron. It was priced at the high end of the market and many critics thought it was going to be a limited production run before their founder Bob Parson’s would run out of financial ammunition and loss of heart fighting against the manufacturing establishment. The PXG GEN1 iron was impressive for an initial product launch and although it didn’t quite match the performance of the leading brands, you could see PXG was game and not scared of trying something new. For that reason alone, I wanted the brand to succeed. All they needed to do was maintain the image and keep on pushing the R&D envelope. Fast forward six years and PXG are now winners on both the PGA and LPGA Tours thanks to Bob Parson’s deep pockets and US Marine Corp grit, a combination overlooked by the establishment. This month the GEN5 iron range is out in the UAE and it’s fair to say the brand has got it’s mojo back in terms of premium brand placement. Their 0211 range is a great product and is ironically the iron I currently play but the lower price point removed a layer of image status and shine. Their new GEN5 range has restored what I first found appealing with PXG. They look unique; the quality is high end and the top end price is premium but not ludicrous.
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PXG 0311 GEN5 CHROME AED 10,500 4-PW PXG 0311 GEN5 BLACK LABEL ELITE AED 13,650 4-PW
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE GEN5
THE MODELS: Tour Performance- For professionals and low handicap amateurs. Small head and top line with minimal offset to promote workability. Players Performance – This head is slightly larger with more forgiveness and offset. You can still work the ball but larger profile and stronger lofts make this ideal for the low to mid handicapper. Xtreme Performance – As the name suggests this is the larger of the three that is designed to hit it straight and far, even when you are having an off day. All three 0311 GEN5 iron models are available in Xtreme Dark finish and PXG has labelled them Black Label Elite. The black DiamondLike Carbon (DLC) finish is significantly more durable than PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition), which means that premium dark finish you paid for will not fade like a golfer’s sun tan in winter!
THE TECHNOLOGY
X2COR - This is PXG’s latest polymer core material designed for the GEN5 and is lighter than the previous polymer so the weight saving could be used to increase the MOI and forgiveness. POWER CHANNEL TECHNOLOGY- A U-shaped channel is built into the internal surface of the face to increase deflection and transfer the energy to increase ball speed and launch. PRECISION WEIGHTING- There are five tungsten heel/toe weights and one large weight located near the CG on the back of the head. The larger weight can be changed during a fitting to find your optimal swing weight but the others are not interchangeable. 5X FORGED- Each iron is five-times forged from 8620 soft carbon steel to increase its strength and prolong the life of the grooves while enhancing the overall feel and looks ULTRA-THIN FACE- PXG still have the thinnest face in golf at just 1.55mm thick and combines well with the latest polymer to perform across the face, even on miss-hit strikes.
THE TEST (PLAYERS PERFORMANCE HEAD)
Shafts fitted: Project X LZ 6.0 I’ve always had a fairly good swing speed but I tend to spray it all over the face, especially when the timing is off. So, unlike a driver where I’m focused on performance data, when I’m choosing irons I’m
impressed by two things – dispersion and average distances. The PXG irons, with their ultra thin face and polymer insert, have always delivered on distance and feel. The downside of that pairing can be a broad range in average distances. The new polymer and Power Channel Technology have certainly played a part in terms of performance when compared against the GEN4 head. GEN4 ‘P’ 7-iron GEN5 ‘P’ 7-iron
Ball Speed 114.8mph 116.1mph
Total Distance 179.1 yards 183.5 yards
Spin 5511 rpm 5133 rpm
The GEN5 launched slightly lower and ran out further than the GEN4, therefore it might be worth weakening the lofts slightly to assist with your carry distances and gapping. The GEN5 was tighter on dispersion compared to the GEN4 both in average distances and direction. There were no hot strikes and the face felt more stable. The Players head will be their best seller as it can fit a wide range of handicaps, but it’s worth considering a mixed bag based around the P head, depending on whether you are needing more forgiveness or shot shaping. The XF head is monstrously long and has great feel for a distance club
THE VERDICT The contrasting colours of the heel to toe weighting milled surround certainly works in terms of making the clubs stand out from the crowd! At first glance it appears that the contrasting colours surrounding the tungsten screws are larger weights, but this is just aesthetics. The clever milling and the use of black DLC do the job in making these irons pop compared to a traditional colour or finish. It’s just a shame the five tungsten weights in the heel and toe weighting could not be interchangeable in the same way you can adjust a driver during a fitting. Imagine if you could speed up the toe through impact to help eradicate a slice or slow it down to counter a draw! Unfortunately, this cannot be done with the GEN5 as it would play havoc with the balance and MOI of the club. Maybe one day we might be able to cure a slice by just adjusting the heel to toe weighting … but until then aim a little further left.
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GEAR TEST
PXG 0311 GEN5 DRIVER AED 2495
By Alex Gallemore
PXG 0311 GEN5 DRIVERS
stable structure and internal geometry that generates high frequency vibrations making the GEN5 drivers feel and sound better than any previous model.
IT’S GOOD SIGN WHEN A DRIVER LOOKS MENACING By Alex Gallemore
I probably buy more drivers than any other club in the quest for more distance and hope of finding more fairways. If I spent that money on lessons and improving my swing, I would probably hit a Persimmon further than my current carbon faced high-tech creation. But like most of us, I get my wallet out each year and pluck for the easy option, buy more tech to plaster over the swing faults. PXG’s previous GEN4 XF model driver nearly made it into the bag for the whole of 2021 but I just could not adjust to the glaring silver foil crown. I just kept on staring at it and just thought: “Why didn’t PXG just make it matte black like the rest of the club and stick with their dark theme. You wouldn’t build a stealth plane and paint the wings silver! “ Thankfully my wish has come true and their latest driver has dialled in the looks but does it perform?
THE NEW 0311 GEN5 MODELS
0311 GEN5 – Deep face and compact 460cc head. Designed for distance by boosting ball speed and lowering spin. Available in 7.5, 9 and 10.5 degrees with an adjustable hosel of +/- 1.5 degrees. 0311 GEN5 XF– A larger profile and longer face from heel to toe compared to the GEN5. As a result it is more forgiving with a mid spin rate. Available in 9, 10.5 and 12 degrees with an adjustable hosel of +/- 1.5 degrees.
THE TECHNOLOGY
PRECISION WEIGHTING The 0311 GEN5 drivers come with one (2.5g) light and two heavy (7.5g) weights that are interchangeable to dial in preferred spin and bias settings. Fitters will also have weights up to 20 grams and can be used to adjust the head mass. SUPPORTED WEIGHT STRUCTURE PXG has anchored the weight ports to the outer wall to create a stiff,
FULL AV CARBON FIBRE CROWN The light weight carbon crown saves vital weight which is redistributed to optimise the centre of gravity and add forgiveness. PXG has also stiffened the carbon using Aluminium Vapour Technology which reinforces the face and as result increases ball speed. HIGH SPEED FACE Made from high-strength Ti412 titanium alloy that helps generate face deflection and spring to create faster ball speeds.
THE 0311 GEN5 XF TEST
(All drivers set at 100 with a Hzrdus Smoke Yellow 60g X flex shaft) GEN4 XF GEN5 XF GEN5
Ball Speed 156.5mph 156.9mph 157.8mph
Total Distance 268.3 yards 274.2 yards 276.8 yards
Spin 2783 rpm 2441 rpm 2205 rpm
The GEN5 XF was marginally longer than the GEN4 and produced a stronger flight and tighter dispersion. The 0311 GEN5 was the longest but not as forgiving as the two XF heads
THE VERDICT Fast face, carbon crowns and adjustability are not new technologies but what PXG have done is kept things high end in terms of materials and finish. It’s not quite the longest driver in 2022 but it’s one of the most forgiving and hitting fairways is where it matters the most. Now that dreaded GEN4 silver crown has been replaced with a matte back finish the GEN5 is arguably the best looking driver in 2022 but the stand out feature is its acoustics and feel. My Rogue ST might be benched for a few months!
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PING PLD PRECISION MILLED PUTTERS AED 2495
PING PUTTING LAB DESIGN
EVER WANTED TO PUTT LIKE A TOUR PRO? NOW YOU CAN! By Alex Gallemore
One of the most iconic putters in the world is the PING Anser. Crafted initially as a prototype in the home garage of PING’s founder Karsten Solheim back in 1959, this centre shafted putter, with it’s trademark sound, took the professional and amateur game by storm. Over the decades we have seen countless Major champions waving a PING putter aloft after sinking the winning putt and now golfers will have access to precision milled putters like the ones seen on Tour, and they can even customize their own putter with a Tour-level fitting experience. “The PLD program allows us to bring golfers more of what we do best – design and build the highest-performing custom putters in the game,” said Ping President John K. Solheim. “It offers nearly endless possibilities. Golfers can craft their own custom design through PLD Custom, choose the proven performance of a PLD Milled model or add to their putter collection by acquiring a PLD Limited. It gives golfers a chance to play what the pros play and own a piece of PING history.” “We established the PLD name several years ago as an extension of the PING Putting Lab, where we’ve been fitting some of the top players in the world for more than 20 years. Until now, access to the master fitters who deliver these custom putter experiences has been limited to the best players in the game. We can now bring golfers what they’ve been asking for either through a virtual or in-person experience.” PGA Tour players such as Viktor Hovland, Tony Finau and Bubba Watson use PING PLD precision milled putters, and now anyone can have access to those Tour-proven putters. Each of the heads (Anser, Anser 2, DS72 and Prime Tyne 4) are machine milled from forged 303 stainless steel.
Anser Slight Arc / 350g / Matte Black finish Ping black graphite shaft Lie Angle: 20° +/- 4° Loft: 3° +3°/- 2° Anser 2 Slight Arc / 350g / Satin finish Chrome stepless steel shaft Lie Angle: 20° +/- 4° Loft: 3° +3°/- 2° DS72 Straight Stroke / 365g / Satin finish Chrome stepless steel shaft Lie Angle: 20° +/- 2° Loft: 3° +3°/- 2° Prime Tyne 4 Aerospace grade, machined aluminium hosel / Strong Arc / 360g Matte Black finish / Matte-black stepless steel shaft Lie Angle: 20° +/- 4° Loft: 3° +3°/- 2° “The PLD Milled is an exciting addition to our putter line,” said Solheim. “We’ve identified a couple of our most popular models from the past and some newer designs that have attracted a lot of attention in the last couple of years. We’ve given the new putters a very clean, premium look to emphasise the precision process they undergo before they are ready for play. As we collaborate on new designs with our engineers and tour staff through the PLD program, we’ll add new models to bring golfers the latest in tour-proven performance on the putting green.”
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J.LINDEBERG OPENS ITS GLOBAL FLAGSHIP STORE IN THE DUBAI MALL O
ne of the biggest-selling golf apparel brands in the United Arab Emirates, J.Lindeberg, is putting down solid foundations in the Emirates after launching its global flagship store in The Dubai Mall, with eGolf CEO Dean Cheesley playing a big part in increasing sales of the premium brand since taking over as J.Linderberg’s official distributor in 2020. eGolf has increased the brand’s sales to record heights by 205% in the UAE and has also introduced J.Lindeberg women’s apparel to the market. Within six months of launching its stockist Spring Summer 2021 collections to the UAE market, J.Lindeberg has been a major contributor to the company’s apparel sales. “Since we became the official brand distributor in January 2020, the brand has really taken up a step to the next level across our golf business,” said Cheesley at the grand opening of the store, which is currently the brand’s largest store globally. Located on the ground level in the world’s largest and most famous shopping mall, the 270 sqm retail outlet stocks the full range of J.Lindeberg’s sport and fashion collections that include golf, racket, ski, outdoor, active and athleisure collections, and is the first store globally to showcase the brand’s new interior direction. The new store celebrates the brand’s Scandinavian heritage with a sophisticated and clean aesthetic and has
been inspired by the iconic J.Lindeberg bridge logo, featuring a geometric play between curves and straight lines throughout the store, as well as colourful surfaces and repetitive graphic elements that create a futuristic and luxurious ambience. “The store offers everything that the brand has available,” added Cheesley. “Because it’s the flagship store, golfers can find exclusive styles that won’t find anywhere else in the region. They can also experience men’s fashion and athleisure for the first time as previously we have only introduced the golf assortment across the region.” FIRST STAND-ALONE STORE The first stand-alone store opening for J.Lindeberg in the Middle East marks a significant milestone for the brand and is not only a celebration of the incredible success it has achieved in the Middle East, but symbolises the exciting new era under the leadership of CEO, Hans-Christian Meyer. “J.Lindeberg’s goal is to inspire the UAE’s energetic urbanites to aim higher and live life to the fullest,” said Meyer. “Every part of the new flagship store lives and breathes the brand’s sophisticated sporting energy and brings to life the Scandinavian progressiveness that we stand for. “Dubai is renowned for its booming retail and fashion offering, and we wanted to offer
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shoppers from around the world access to the full J.Lindeberg retail experience. As one of the world’s most desirable function and fashion brands, it only seemed natural for us to launch the brand’s flagship store in one of the most famous shopping destinations in the world.” CHANGING THE FASHION LANDSCAPE The brand was first introduced to the golf market in the 90s when founder, Johan Linderberg, called on five-time PGA Tour winner Jesper Parnevik to be his muse out on the course. The partnership changed the golfing fashion landscape when Linderberg dressed Parnevik in vibrant pink pants – something the golf world hadn’t seen before and established Parnevik as a style icon of golf. These days J. Linderberg has a number of high profile players wearing the premium and fashionable clothing, including Viktor Hovland, Nelly Korda and Matt Wallace. “Johan Linderberg was a visionary when he looked at the whole of the golf industry back in the 1990s,” added Meyer. “He started styling Jesper Parnevik in fashion on the golf course and back then you weren’t fashionable on the golf course. “Players wore oversized pleated clothing that was navy and beige but we changed that by bringing in fashion and colour. That is still the DNA of the brand – we are fashionable but with function.”
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ARABIAN GOLF EMIRATES GOLF CLUB
Perera finishes strongly in Masters Par 3 event Gayan Perera played his last five holes in two under gross to win the US Masters Par 3 tournament on a better back six from Russell Yeomans after both men had posted a net 27. In the Gross Division, James Yeomans was top dog afer putting together an impressive run of 6 pars for a gross 28, while Phil Elkhoury with finsihed three back on 31.
Bhatia and Wang combine for Greensomes glory
Team Munro on top in Pro-Am Steve Munro, Anca Mirela Mateiu, Anca-Luciana Pirvu and Dorin-Mirel Mateiu played a game of two halves to win the latest Dubai Golf Pro-Am Series event after finding superb scoring form coming home following a slow start on the front nine. Louis Gaughan, Darragh Duggan, Frank Duggan and Maura Duggan finished three points off the pace in second, while David Gray, Pranav Rai, Dhiraj Rai and Vivek Kapur claimed third spot. In the Professional Division, Jackson Bell edged out Michael Bolt by one shot with a gross 70, which three birdies and six pars on the back nine.
Anish Bhatia and Candice Wang dovetailed brilliantly to fend off 56 other pairings and claim top spot in the annual Greensomes Championship. Two impressive rounds of golf, including a net 67 on Faldo and net 65 on Majlis, saw them combine for a total of 132 and a two-shot victory over Paul Byrne and Victoria Anikina. In the Gross Division, Adam Tarhouni were victorious with a total of 150, beating Naima Maya and Najla Bartette by five strokes. ABU DHABI CITY GOLF CLUB
Leppard on the hunt in April Medal Mark Leppard joined the winner’s circle for the very first after shooting an outstanding net 60 to get his hands on the final medal of the season. Victor Peña was crowned Gross Division championship with a gross score of 74, while Yashavant Chavan took top spot in Division A. Charles Batchelor and Bala Raju Karri were the final winners on day after carding a net 66 and 67 respectively to claim Division B and C. SHARJAH GOLF & SHOOTING CLUB
JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES
Majmudar masters the Earth course
Eagles on tap for Kilcullen Claudia Kilcullen breezed to a five point win the latest Lounge Spa Ladies tournament with an impressive 42 points, which was helped with four net eagles. Sheila McIlroy was the nearest challenger on 37 points in second just edging out Gill Stevens by one shot in third.
Yash Majmudar slipped into the Green Jacket after a round of 69, which included five birdies and an eagle, saw him win the Masters Championship by two strokes from Drew Foxcroft. David Bainbridge completed the top three with a 72 while Raghav Gulati finished three shots further back in fourth. In the Stableford Division, James Leeman scored 42 points to take top spot, which included an impressive 23 points on the front nine before coming home with 19 points to claim the victory.
TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB
Thomson’s Albatross joy Jackie Thomson struck gold on the par 4, 12th hole at Trump International Golf Club, Dubai after sinking an albatross hole in one for the second time. Hats off to Jackie, that’s some feat!
Chitti on song in Monthly Medal Rajesh Chitti played some of his best golf of the season with four net birdies and two net eagles soaring him to the top of the leaderboard on 67 in the latest Monthly Medal. The unlucky runner up was Fatih Bozkurt who on any other day would have surely been victorious with a score of four under par sixty-eight. In the Gross Division, Sami Butt posted a solid score of 74, which saw him top the Division and take home the final prize on offer.
Geekie masters the greens
Gordon Geekie mastered the greens, which had similar speeds to those at Augusta National, to secure the Masters Par 3 tournament with an impressive level par. In the Net Division, Tim Wassink shot a net three under on the final day to take first place on a countback from Alan Clark, while Lucy Woods was crowned champion of the Ladies Division with a great score of net four under.
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I N
T H E
B A G
W I T H
TOBY BISHOP Favourite club in the bag and why?
When I stand over the clubs I tell myself they are all my favourite! But the putter is performing well right now so it’s definitely the hottest.
Favourite player?
I’m quite enjoying Billy Horschel right now being a fellow Gator. He’s also like a mentor to the team out in Florida so he’s a good role model for me. Having said that, Rickie Fowler was my idol growing up – I loved the vibe he brought to golf in making it attractive for the juniors to get involved.
Driver: Callaway Rouge ST Triple Diamond Woods: Callaway Epic Speed Irons: Callaway Apex TCB 4 - PW Wedges: Callaway Jaws 50 °, 56 °, 60 ° Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Fantasy fourball?
Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Moe Norman
Best Course in the UAE?
Trump International Golf Club, Dubai or Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
Course you’d love to play but haven’t? Augusta National
Favourite par 3 hole in the UAE?
7th at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. When the pin is on the right front of the green on the National Course, it’s not too inviting with the water and rocks around it, so I definitely feel I can hit a good shot and gain some on the field there.
Item you never leave behind on your travels? Earphones – Music is always playing when I’m travelling or practicing.
Bryson or Books?
Brooks in Majors, Bryson outside of Majors!
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