Worldwide Golf

MIDDLE EAST’S No.1 GOLF MAGAZINE

Issue 121, DECEMBER 2010

Official Media Partner Middle East

The Invitational

G-MAC becomes Ambassador for the region’s greatest Pro-Am

WWG TEAMS UP WITH JIMÉNEZ LEE WESTWOOD SWING TIPS DRIVING RANGE ARABIAN GOLF

ISBN 978-9948-15-427-3

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NEWS & VIEWS

Official Publication of The Emirates Golf Federation & The Arab Golf Federation

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GARY PLAYER INTRODUCTION

Pictured left to right: George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour poses with The Ryder Cup alongside European Tour Members, US Open Champion Graeme McDowell, Open Champion Louis Oothuizen and US PGA Champion and The Race to Dubai winner Martin Kaymer.

INTERNATIONAL ROuTE RuLEs

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’D like to add my congratulations to The European Tour and to their players for an outstanding year that was showcased by a memorable Dubai World Championship.

Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, who won the Qatar Masters in January, was a worthy winner and Martin Kaymer fully deserved to be crowned Europe’s No. 1, but it was a bizarre ending to the Championship.

At the second hole of the play-off Ian Poulter faced a 30-foot putt to stay in the competition, with Karlsson needing to hole out from just four feet. But as Poulter started to line up his putt he took the pressure off the Swede by incurring a penalty stroke.

I’ve never been superstitious and I bet that Poulter wishes he wasn’t after accidentally dropping his ball on to his ‘lucky’ coin ball marker and calling a one-shot penalty on himself. That effectively ended the contest although Poulter left his putt short and Karlsson holed his. It might not have been the deciding factor but it proves that Ian’s coin doesn’t know it’s supposed to be lucky.

Poulter had a wonderful start to the season, beating fellow Englishman Paul Casey in the 36-hole final of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona. He was also the man in form heading into the Dubai World Championship having won the UBS Hong Kong Open the previous week. His willingness to play anywhere in the world has helped him to rise to eighth place in the Official World Golf

Ranking. I’ve always argued that pro golfers who are prepared to play all around the world will become better players as a result. When I started out in the game we had to play wherever the opportunity arose.

It might have been hard work with all the travelling involved – which was much more arduous than today’s

“The players on The european Tour are now reaping The rewards of playing all around The globe.” gary player faster and more luxurious aircraft – but I was aware that playing on a different style of golf course in a different climate in different countries week in week out made me a better and more adaptable player.

The players on The European Tour are now reaping the rewards of playing all around the globe throughout the season. Graeme McDowell, who won his first Major at the US Open in June, commented in Abu Dhabi recently that he thought that the European players were better equipped than their US counterparts to handle

any sort of golf course because they play different courses every week.

US PGA Champion Kaymer made a similar comment after The Ryder Cup when he attributed much of the success of The European Tour players to the wide variety of golf courses they play, saying: “It possibly makes us more complete golfers and maybe mentally we’re not afraid of new places, new people and different courses and playing conditions.”

I’ve got the utmost admiration for Martin and he’s got it exactly right. With a few notable exceptions like Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer and today, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, most American players don’t like to leave the United States unless it’s to play in a Major or a World Golf Championships event or The Ryder Cup. The European Tour Schedule moves around the world and its co-sanctioned events in South Africa and Asia provide the opportunity for golf fans everywhere to see the stars of the game in action in person.

As I write my Introduction and Column for Worldwide Golf I’m heading off to the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City where World No.1 Lee Westwood will be heading a world class field over the demanding Gary Player Country Club course.

Gary Player Worldwide Golf, Executive Editor

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Over 100 destinations worldwide

Contents

24

11

Regulars

Features

1

GARy PLAyER INTRODUCTION

65

ASSISTING AMELIA

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ERNIE ELS COLUMN

67

TROON TUTORIAL

GOLDEN TICKET QUALIfIERS fOR THE INVITATIONAL HOSTED By ABDULLAH AL NABOODAH

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CLAUDE HARMON III ARABIAN GOLf

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fINAL RACE TO DUBAI RANKING

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LOCKER ROOM

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A QUICK 9.. WITH GRAEME McDOWELL

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GROOM ROOM

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ROSS fISHER COLUMN

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IN THE BAG: CLUB PRO

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CLUBHOUSE QUICKIES

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GREG NORMAN COLUMN

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EUROPEAN TOUR NEWS

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DIVOTS NEWS ITEMS

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Official Media Partner Middle East

MIDDLE EAST’S No.1 GOLF MAGAZINE

G-MAC becomes Ambassador for the region’s greatest Pro-Am

OffICIAL WORLD GOLf RANKING

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GARy PLAyER COLUMN

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WORLD ROUND-UPS

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WOMEN’S GOLf MIDDLE EAST

Editor-in-Chief: Mike Gallemore Executive Editor: Gary Player

32 WGC-HSBC CHAMPIONS: Francesco Molinari ends a four-year title drought in Shanghai with his first World Golf Championships victory.

37 RUTH’S CHRIS: We run the rule over one of Dubai’s finest steakhouses.

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mike@wspglobal.com alex@wspglobal.com Tel: +44 01625 535081 fax: +44 01625 537487

24 THE INVITATIONAL: US Open Champion Graeme McDowell signs up as official Ambassador for the game’s most eagerly anticipated Pro-Am.

The Invitational

DRIVING RANGE: NISSAN SKyLINE

ISSUE No. 121, DECEMBER, 2010 Published by: Worldwide Sporting Publications Ltd, 54 Alderley Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire, England, SK9 1NY

22 WORLDWIDE GOLf’S Alex Gallemore enjoys an unforgettable day with the inimitable Miguel Angel Jiménez in the Dubai World Championship Pro-Am.

Issue 121, DECEMBER 2010

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11 DUBAI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Sweden’s Robert Karslsson is crowned Desert King as Germany’s Martin Kaymer wraps up The Race to Dubai.

WWG TEAMS UP WITH JIMÉNEZ LEE WESTWOOD SWING TIPS DRIVING RANGE ARABIAN GOLF

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Official Publication of The Emirates Golf Federation & The Arab Golf Federation

fRONT COVER: Robert Karlsson

Editor: Alex Gallemore Publisher: Mike Gallemore Senior Editor: Richard Bevan Editorial Assistants: Todd Staszko, James Reeves, Tabitha Florence Design Manager: Mark Frain Technical Manager: Mark Collinge Editorial Panel: Gary Player, Mike Gallemore, Alex Gallemore, Richard Bevan, Todd Staszko

Published in Dubai by: Prografix, PO Box 24677, Dubai, UAE (Tel) +9714 340 3785 Advertising & Marketing: David Burke davidb@wspdubai.com (009715) 05519363 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.

39 OMEGA: The luxury watchmaker has become one of golf’s biggest supporters with its continuing sponsorship of some of the game’s key tournaments.

47 TREVOR BELCHER: The one-armed golf champion reveals how his game has improved dramatically since using the revolutionary ProGolf IQ programme.

Printed by: Raidy, Dubai

June 2009 SSN 1- 46805671 Approval UAE National Media Council: Ref.816 30/5/2007 Trade Licence No. 1/104375/15280

BPA Worldwide Audited Average Monthly Qualified Circulation 14,636 (July-Dec 2009)

WWGcolumnist

ERNIE ELS is the most successful South African golfer of his generation. Els, nicknamed ‘The Big Easy’ due to his easylooking swing, has won three Majors and seven World Match Play Championships during a career that spans close on two decades. Els has two US Opens to his name and won The Open Championship at Muirfield in 2002.

Already looking forward to next season

HOME SWEET HOME Ernie’s life and his game have benefitted from his decision to relocate to the USA to catch some sun during the winter months but there’s nothing quite like returning home to South Africa.

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T’S around this time of the year, especially with snow falling across much of England, that I appreciate even more why we chose to switch our base from London to West Palm Beach in Florida. As much as I love Wentworth, and we’ll continue to spend a bit of time there during the summer months, this was a smart move in more ways than one. The kids are in great schools, the weather is perfect and the facilities at the Bear’s Club are just incredible.

To be honest, it’s like paradise and just being here I feel like I have more energy to work on my golf game. You wake up to blue skies pretty much every day and, at this time of the year, temperatures are consistently in the high-70s to mid-80s. It makes you want to jump out of bed and get started.

When I’m here between tournaments I usually go to the gym in the morning and then go straight to the golf course

“i was happy To be There, supporTing The european Tour and giving iT 100% as i always do.”

– ErniE Els and hit balls for a couple of hours. After that I’ll have a bite to eat and usually play a few holes, either on my own or with friends. It’s pretty perfect, really.

Being here I can also drop into our new offices, which are up and running now, and catch up with my business manager and the team at Ernie Els Design. Things are going extremely well on that front. Albany in the Bahamas has just opened for play and it looks

amazing. At the end of November I popped over there for a day with our head of design Greg Letsche and we walked the course and played a few holes prior to the official opening at the end of this year. It really is a very special place.

Ernie Els Design also has some exciting new projects in the pipeline, including a couple of new golf courses in Malaysia. Emerging golf markets such as this will be exciting growth regions for golf course design in the next decade or so and we want to embrace that. It was certainly fun visiting Malaysia for the inaugural CIMB Asia Pacific Classic on the US PGA Tour. The golf course and the setting were great and everybody – the sponsors and the fans – got involved and made the players feel very welcome.

I think that from now on they can really take that tournament to the next

level. It’s a great time of the year and there are so many good tournaments in Asia that you can play them as a group.

A lot of the top players will begin to see the appeal in that.

Great week It was a great week also in the sense that my game was in really good shape, especially from tee to green.

I’d say it’s the best I’ve swung the club since the early part of this year and although I didn’t win the golf tournament it put me in good spirits going into the WGC-HSBC Champions. That’s become one of those tournaments that none of the top players wants to miss.

Although that turned out to be another top-10 finish for me, my 11th of the 2010 season, this was one of those rare tournaments where two players – Lee Westwood and Francesco Molinari – really separated themselves from the field. To be honest, the rest of us spent the final day just fighting it out for third place.

I was thinking about my game on the long flight home from Shanghai.

My long game is in great shape. I have a new driver in the bag, Callaway’s latest Diablo Octane Tour, which features a new material called ‘forged composite’. The Callaway Tour reps told me it was developed with the help of Lamborghini…so it appeals to the golfer and the petrol head in me. It feels great and I’m getting it out there a long

Above: Ernie Els prepares to play his second shot into the eighth hole during the first round of the 2010 Nedbank Golf Challenge at the Gary Player Country Club Course in Sun City, South Africa.

Bottom left: Ernie tees off on the sixth during the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic.

Bottom right: Ernie plays his second shot into the 18th during the second round of the Dubai World Championship. way, averaging 290 yards – not bad for a guy in his 40s!

Really, when I get some proper form on the greens I can start aiming high again. As everyone knows I have not had total confidence on the greens this year, but it’s coming back.

It’s just the consistency is not quite there yet, but I’m already looking forward to next season and I’m very excited about what I might be able to achieve. It’s wide open at the top of the World Ranking again and in my mind I feel that I can be a contender.

I didn’t quite put it all together in the desert at the recent Dubai World Championship, The European Tour’s grand finale. Some sections of the media gave me a bit of a hard time a few months ago, suggesting that I wasn’t going to be there and that I

didn’t like the golf course. That was pure sensationalism. As a golf course designer, I would never criticise other people’s work and the truth is I was happy to be there, supporting The European Tour and giving it 100 per cent as I always do.

Plus I could stay all week in one of the villas at the Els Club Dubai, which in many ways feels like my home club away from home.

Talking of home, as I post this report I’m about to jump on the plane out of Dubai and straight to South Africa for the Nedbank Golf Challenge. After that I’ll probably be done for the year and I’ll start my three-week winter break in our lovely house by the beach in Herold’s Bay. That’s my ultimate chill-out time with the family and I love it. n www.wwgolf.biz

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YOUR LAST CHANCE TO EARN A PLACE IN THE GRAND FINAL FOR THE INVITATIONAL THE Worldwide Golf Midweek Open at Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras Al Khaimah, on Thursday, December 9th, is the last opportunity for golfers to earn their place in the Grand final to be played at yas Links Golf Club, Abu Dhabi.

The top 15 adults and top 10 juniors at Al Hamra Golf Club will go forward to the Grand final and the winning adult and winning junior of the Grand final will then receive a Golden Ticket to play in The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah at yas Links on January 17th. The Al Hamra Midweek Open will begin with a 1.0pm shotgun start, details on how to enter are below:

ENTRY FEE

ONLY AED 450 AED 150 JUNIORS

LIMITED SPACES ARE AVAILABLE

To enter please email goldenticket@theinvitational.com

Grand Final taking shape after qualifier under the floodlights at the Faldo Course at Emirates Golf Club

WITH just one qualifying event left to go, the field for the Grand final at yas Links is taking shape after a handful of lucky golfers booked their spot with impressive performances at the UAE Qualifier under the floodlights at the faldo Course at Emirates Golf Club last month. Pictured below are some of the winning juniors and adults.

Junior Qualifiers: Andy Matthews of Emirates Golf Club and Worldwide Golf Editor Alex Gallemore are pictured with Hrithik Kurana, Jai Bhalla, Aryan Chordia, Arkesh Bhatia, Anastasia Bakal and Kasper Kristiansen.

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Adult Qualifiers, left to right: Sami Hajri, Emirates Golf Club’s Andy Matthews, Worldwide Golf Editor, Alex Gallemore, Maurice Murphy, Paul Barbone, Jehanzeb Awan and Grant McNair

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Sweden’s Robert Karlsson proudly holds the Dubai World Championship Baton, while Germany’s Martin Kaymer stands by the Harry Vardon trophy for winning The Race to Dubai at the presentation by HH Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.

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DWC FACT FILE: There were two Aces at this year’s Dubai World Championship - Charl Schwartzel and Ignacio

A

fTER four captivating days of quality golf in Dubai that highlighted exactly why The European Tour is far and away the best tour in world golf right now, Sweden’s Robert Karlsson was crowned King of the Desert at the Dubai World Championship while Germany’s Martin Kaymer became the youngest European No.1 in 21 years after winning The Race to Dubai.

“It’s a very proud moment,” said 25-year-old Kaymer. “Not only for me, but my family, friends and the people that helped me achieve this.”

Karlsson, who clinched the Dubai title at the second hole of a nail-biting play-off with Ian Poulter that ended devastatingly for the Englishman when he received a one-stroke penalty for dropping his ball on his marker, said: “It’s a fantastic field, and obviously when we have all of the best players in Europe together, the way it looks now, it’s going to be a great field - so to win here is fantastic.”

In years gone by the golf season used to go somewhat flat following the conclusion of the Majors and The Ryder Cup but not so since The European Tour installed the new Race to Dubai format with the thrilling finale on Greg Norman’s Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

While the US PGA Tour’s FedExCup series has attracted widespread criticism for its inability to capture the imagination of golf fans, drawn out as it is over a month on the calendar, and its failure to reward the player who performs the most consistently over the whole year, The Race to Dubai and DWC have got it spot on.

Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and Kaymer rightly entered the Dubai showstopper as the only two players capable of lifting the Harry Vardon Trophy for topping the table.

McDowell had won three titles, including the US Open, while Kaymer had scooped four, including the US PGA Championship, 4 12

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Garrido struck gold on holes 6 and 4 respectively during the first round.

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FACT FILE Paul Casey, a Dubai World Championship debutant, was the biggest hitter averaging 301.8 yards off the tee.

“iT’s been a fanTasTic year i Think. all of The goals ThaT i seT for myself, for my career, everyThing happened This year. To win The race To dubai, become europe’s no. 1, To play The ryder cup, and To win a major.”

– Martin KayMEr so it was only fair that the season’s best two performers should enter the final event battling it out to be declared Europe’s top dog.

With a bulging purse of US$7.5 million to play for – and US$1.25 million for the winner - with a further US$7.5 million Bonus Pool to be divided between the top 15 finishers on The Race to Dubai everything was still to play for.

McDowell, who had made up over a million euro on Kaymer with a blistering end to the season that included victory at Valderrama, needed to finish in the top three, ahead of his rival, to take the spoils. In the event it was probably just one event too far for Europe’s Ryder Cup star McDowell, who despite weekend rounds of 69, 68 finished 6-under 282 tied with Kaymer in 13th place. But the man who secured his place in the history of the game by sinking the winning putt for Europe

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at Celtic Manor in Wales this year just months after a stunning US Open victory at Pebble Beach, refused to be downbeat after the most incredible year of his career.

“It’s been a dream season and it just so happened that Martin had an unbelievable season as well,” said McDowell, who also won The Celtic Manor Wales Open as part of his European Tour triple haul this year.

“It’s just been a great year for European golf and I’m just very proud to be part of that.

“My greatest moment was the putt on the 16th (at Celtic Manor). There’s nothing like The Ryder Cup. “To give Martin a run for his money this week was very good, but things didn’t really go my way - it’s a golf course which continues to frustrate me.

“I played unbelievably well this weekend, but could barely buy a putt.”

It was the perfect end to a sensational season for Kaymer who was frustrated to miss out on last year’s Race to Dubai after breaking his foot in a go-karting accident and missing 10 weeks of the season having been in pole position at the top of the table.

“It’s been a fantastic year I think,” said Kaymer

who received a whopping US$1.5million payout from the Bonus Pool, taking his season’s earnings to €4,461,011. “All of the goals that I set for myself, for my career, everything happened this year. To win The Race to Dubai, become Europe’s No. 1, to play The Ryder Cup, and to win a Major.

“Last year I was close to winning The Race to Dubai but I had that little go-karting accident that kicked me out of it.

“But that gave me the belief I could do it, that I could win The Race to Dubai and become one of the best players in the world and that’s what I’ve done.

“I have already set a few goals for next year and it would be nice to do what all the great athletes do and prove their achievements and that’s what I will be trying to do.”

Best Player on the Planet The tournament provided a thrilling end to the season with the crowds out in force at Jumeirah Golf Estates and millions more watching around the world on television.

The European Tour has covered itself in glory this year, providing three of the four Major champions, winning The Ryder Cup and producing the World No. 1 in Lee Westwood and the Dubai World Championship highlighted exquisitely the quality the Tour has in the ranks.

Defending champion Westwood, still not quite running at full steam after a prolonged spell on the sidelines with injury, showed exactly why he is currently considered to be the best player on the planet by dragging himself into contention with three consecutive birdies on 14, 15 and 16 in the final round before coming up just short, one-stroke outside the eventual play-off mark of 14-under as a final birdie eluded him over last two holes.

“I didn’t really deserve to have a chance, the amount of shots I’ve squandered all week,” said a typically forthright Westwood who shot 4

Floodlit golf on the Faldo e golfbooking@dubaigolf.com t +971 4 380 1234 www.dubaigolf.com

FACT FILE: There were 16 different countries represented in the 60-man field and England had the most players with 14.

69,67,71,68. “It’s just not been like me at all. I’ve been very sloppy out there, especially on the greens. And you know, that’s just how the week went. I rallied and made three great birdies and a good up-and-down at 17. I was in a good position at 18 and just turned it over too much, tried to hold it against a left-to-right wind. It’s just one of those things. It’s my first week back after two weeks off again, so you know, I can’t be too disappointed I suppose.”

Spain’s big-hitting entertainer Alvaro Quiros, winner in Qatar last year and runner-up this year, showed his love of the desert once more with a fine display that saw him tie with Westwood at 13-under. Quiros was left to rue an opening 72 as subsequent rounds of 67, 69 and 67 made him the best performer over the last three days. He had the chance for an eagle putt at the last that would have got him into the play-off but it slid just wide.

“I was watching the leaderboard just on the right edge, but I was conscious that I needed to make the putt to make eagle and try to force the leaders to make some birdies,” said Quiros who won his National Open in Spain in May and finished 14th in The Race to Dubai. “But after watching the line of the putt, it was good, and didn’t break as I was expecting.

“It was a good season and to finish in the top 15 in The Race to Dubai, too, and top-50 in the world I set as a target to be exempt in the Masters next year, so I’m happy.”

The final round was edge of the seat stuff from start to finish and too close to call with any one of a number of players in with a chance of victory. Poulter, on 12-under, had gone out with a two-stroke lead over Worldwide Golf’s Ross Fisher who followed his blistering tournament leading second

round 64 with a third round 71 to lie in second place alongside the ever improving Francesco Molinari and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee.

Karlsson lurked one stroke further back tied with Westwood at 9-under while Paul Casey also had an outside chance 8-under with Quiros.

Missed Chances Fisher had a forgettable last day, failing to find a single birdie and dropping shots four, seven, 10 and 12 as his putter deserted him and he slipped down the leaderboard into a share of 13th at 6-under with a closing 76. Molinari, a winner in at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai three weeks earlier, also faded with a final round 71 to leave him in share of sixth place at 11-under tied with Paul Casey – another player who had his chances of victory but fell just short as he closed with 69. The Englishman highlighted some missed chances on the greens during his third round 71 as the key reason for his coming up short but took some consolation from the fact that he’s finally put his injury worries behind him.

“To finish three back from the leaders, considering I had a four-putt and two three-

putts yesterday should have been better,” said World No. 7 Casey.

“Overall the season has been good. It was July when I really didn’t feel anything from the rib muscles which I tore last year and that was great to finally get over that. Having said that I haven’t won so you know it’s disappointing.

I played some great golf but you have to measure yourself by victories and I haven’t done that this year.” Rory McIlroy also ran out of days, shooting stellar weekend rounds of 66,67 and ending on a high with an eagle at the last to take fifth place on his own. The 21-year-old is already looking forward to next season when he’s committed himself to The European Tour in order to make sure he’s up there gunning for The Race to Dubai again. “I’m much further down in The Race than I would want to be so I’m looking forward to concentrating on Europe next season and challenging for the top spot again,” said McIlroy who finished 13th on the season-ending table.

With a logjam at the top of the leaderboard it was going to take something special for somebody to make a move and Poulter delivered it on the 12th hole when he chipped in from off the green to take the outright 4

“i was waTching The leaderboard jusT on The righT edge, buT i was conscious ThaT i needed To make The puTT To make eagle and Try To force The leaders To make some birdies,”– alvaro Quiros

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HOME OF THE

FACT FILE: The 2010 field contained 51 different European Tour winners, five former European Tour Number Ones and seven Major champions. Between the 51 winners they have amassed a total of 251 European Tour victories.

“buT i should noT drop my ball on iT. iT’s been my lucky marker since The sTarT of The year and has goT my kids’ names on. There are always posiTives, buT righT now i’m noT seeing Them.” – ian poultEr lead, one ahead of Karlsson. The Englishman produced a short game master-class all day with putt after putt finding the centre of the cup and he looked in the mood to add to his victories at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and the Hong Kong Open this year. But the 12th was to be his final birdie in regulation, a narrowly missed 20-footer for the title on the 18th running agonisingly wide to take the contest to added holes.

Devastating Form It was fitting that Karlsson should in the end be crowned winner. The big Swede loves the desert – he won in Qatar at the beginning of the season and he showed devastating form all week in Dubai. Karlsson led the tournament by one from impressive rising Korean star Seungyul Noh after a blistering opening round 65 and, but for a stuttering second round 75, was among the top scorers all week, shooting 67,67 over the weekend to set the clubhouse target of 14-under 274. He had started the final round three behind but got himself right in the thick of things with a birdie-birdie-eagle start over the first three holes and his sublime wedged approach to the final hole, which landed three feet from the pin to set up a crucial birdie, was pure poetry.

With Poulter - playing in the final group on the course - missing his Championship putt on the 18th and closing with 70 to match Karlsson at 14-under the two players returned to play the hole again.

Class Under Pressure Both found the left semi-rough off the tee and then emulated one another with wonderful 8-irons into the fairway, keeping to the right of the dangerous falaj that runs up the middle of the closing hole. Poulter then wowed the crowds with a stunning sand wedge from around 80 yards, stiffing it to three feet in what was almost a carbon copy of Karlsson’s in regulation before his rival showed his class under pressure with another wonder shot of his own. What a show! With both players knocking in their birdie putts it was back to the 18th tee once more. Each went left off the tee again before Poulter got a lucky break with a good lie from the woodchip and played another cracking shot into the fairway, with Karlsson also on the money, landing his shot a few feet further forward. Poulter then miscued slightly, leaving his approach 30 feet short and right while Karlsson again produced the goods with another sublime wedge to four feet. Then came the bizarre incident that

saw Poulter penalised and effectively ruined his chance of victory. To say the tournament was decided on the flip of a coin would be too easy for us journalists as in reality, Karlsson was always likely to sink his short putt while Poulter had his work cut out with his 30 footer, but it was an unfortunate ending to a captivating event all the same. The cruel twist saw Poulter drop his ball onto his ‘lucky’ marker as he went to prepare his putt, causing it to flip over, which according to the rules of the game means a one shot penalty. In the event he missed his putt and with the pressure off, Karlsson calmly stroked home for victory.

“It’s a strange rule because if I had dropped the ball on the middle of the marker and it had not moved there’s no penalty,” said a despondent Poulter, who moved up to eighth in the World Ranking.

“But I should not drop my ball on it. It’s been my lucky marker since the start of the year and has got my kids’ names on.

“There are always positives, but right now

I’m not seeing them.” Asked how frustrating it was, the 34-year-old added: “About 20 world ranking points (actually 23), a lovely trophy and about $400,000 - that much frustrating.

“It’s a shame it’s just ended the way it has and it’s not a consolation for me that Robert holed the putt in any case.”

But nobody could deny Karlsson deserved his moment in the sun after a solid display that reminded everyone why he was himself Europe’s No.1 just a few years ago before becoming blighted with injury and illness.

“It has to be the biggest win of my career when you consider the field of players we had,” said Karlsson who finished sixth in The Race to Dubai. “It was a strange day to say the least. To start birdie-birdie-eagle is not what you expect to happen when you are three behind. Then there was the one-shot penalty. It’s not the way you want to win, but these things happen in golf. The rules are there for a reason, but some of them look very hard at stages. In one way that’s the purity of the game.

“I didn’t really like being up against Ian. He has a really good record and is a feisty player.

I was happy he dropped that shot in a way as it made my putt easier,” he added with a smile.

And with that the curtain came down on one of the greatest seasons in the history of The European Tour.

RACE TO DUBAI

As of November 29, 2010

THE FINAl 2010 R ACE TO DUBAI R ANkINg Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Name Martin KAyMER Graeme McDOWELL Lee WESTWOOD Ian POULTER francesco MOLINARI Robert KARLSSON Ernie ELS Charl SCHWARTZEL Miguel Angel JIMÉNEZ Louis OOSTHUIZEN Edoardo MOLINARI Paul CASEy Rory McILROy Alvaro QUIROS Luke DONALD Ross fISHER Peter HANSON Rhys DAVIES Anders HANSEN Padraig HARRINGTON Richard GREEN fredrik ANDERSSON HED Danny WILLETT Retief GOOSEN Simon KHAN Stephen GALLACHER Grégory HAVRET Joost LUITEN Thongchai JAIDEE Darren CLARKE Matteo MANASSERO David HORSEy Simon DySON Seung-yul NOH Gonzalo fDEZ-CASTAÑO Peter LAWRIE y. E. yANG Alejandro CAÑIZARES Raphaël JACQUELIN Gareth MAyBIN Damien McGRANE Sergio GARCIA Søren KJELDSEN Ignacio GARRIDO Brett RUMfORD Jamie DONALDSON Richie RAMSAy Oliver WILSON Henrik STENSON Gary BOyD

Country

Tournaments Played

GER NIR ENG ENG ITA SWE RSA RSA ESP RSA ITA ENG NIR ESP ENG ENG SWE WAL DEN IRL AUS SWE ENG RSA ENG SCO fRA NED THA NIR ITA ENG ENG KOR ESP IRL KOR ESP fRA NIR IRL ESP DEN ESP AUS WAL SCO ENG SWE ENG

22 24 14 15 27 21 15 24 29 23 28 14 16 25 13 22 22 31 27 14 26 27 25 12 28 30 28 28 23 28 19 30 28 20 29 32 14 28 32 27 31 14 28 32 24 27 32 27 15 28

Prize Money

Rank

€4,461,011 €3,896,996 €3,222,423 €3,027,008 €2,799,692 €2,296,486 €2,261,607 €2,207,965 €2,179,418 €2,070,763 €2,009,337 €1,888,850 €1,821,050 €1,750,255 €1,678,072 €1,393,686 €1,322,391 €1,218,636 €1,166,041 €1,145,017 €1,128,465 €1,110,525 €1,062,416 €994,342 €972,686 €931,931 €928,672 €905,441 €892,418 €892,388 €890,402 €882,339 €873,818 €869,921 €860,106 €845,718 €845,034 €806,510 €789,148 €784,076 €782,719 €771,156 €757,513 €754,388 €753,673 €748,459 €740,694 €738,598 €718,404 €715,106

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100

Name

Country

John PARRy Marcus fRASER Chris WOOD Robert-Jan DERKSEN Grégory BOURDy Thomas BJÖRN Robert ROCK Thomas AIKEN Johan EDfORS Søren HANSEN James MORRISON Shane LOWRy Bradley DREDGE Richard fINCH Richard BLAND Pablo MARTIN Nicolas COLSAERTS Mikko ILONEN Paul LAWRIE Andrew DODT Christian NILSSON Wen-chong LIANG David DRySDALE Jeev Milkha SINGH fabrizio ZANOTTI Anthony WALL Ross McGOWAN Rafael CABRERA-BELLO James KINGSTON Marcel SIEM Oliver fISHER Rafa ECHENIQUE Graeme STORM David LyNN Alexander NOREN Peter WHITEfORD Stephen DODD Pablo LARRAZÁBAL Peter HEDBLOM Michael HOEy Mark fOSTER Steve WEBSTER José Manuel LARA Keith HORNE Paul WARING David HOWELL Shiv KAPUR Maarten LAfEBER Tano GOyA Phillip PRICE

Tournaments Played

Prize Money

35 24 27 28 30 31 33 28 26 31 28 31 26 31 28 26 27 25 25 21 24 13 33 15 30 24 28 30 24 28 29 30 30 27 26 29 24 31 27 27 28 29 32 18 25 32 32 24 31 29

€706,108 €696,773 €694,465 €690,480 €639,564 €634,441 €629,315 €628,041 €623,760 €610,704 €518,750 €501,728 €494,370 €474,852 €451,271 €440,294 €423,513 €418,587 €412,293 €405,081 €403,626 €400,897 €394,699 €393,449 €385,587 €384,606 €383,392 €380,947 €380,527 €370,556 €352,209 €349,987 €346,774 €341,125 €339,829 €334,271 €333,759 €332,500 €326,856 €322,120 €321,033 €319,418 €295,191 €292,495 €289,758 €285,161 €277,161 €276,660 €274,857 €264,558

ENG AUS ENG NED fRA DEN ENG RSA SWE DEN ENG IRL WAL ENG ENG ESP BEL fIN SCO AUS SWE CHN SCO IND PAR ENG ENG ESP RSA GER ENG ARG ENG ENG SWE SCO WAL ESP SWE NIR ENG ENG ESP RSA ENG ENG IND NED ARG WAL

E x p l A N AT I O N O F T H E E U R O p E A N T O U R R A C E T O D U B A I 2 0 1 0 The Race to Dubai on The 2010 European Tour International Schedule featured 48 tournaments, including six new events, and culminated at the Dubai World Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The 2010 European Tour International Schedule launched with four events in South Africa and travelled through four continents before building to a thrilling climax in Dubai last month. The curtain came down on The 2010 Race to Dubai with Sweden’s Robert Karlsson finishing the year in style by winning the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World while Martin Kaymer secured The Harry Vardon Trophy by finishing European Number One ahead of Ryder Cup colleague Graeme McDowell. The third edition of The Race to Dubai begins this month and will again conclude with the Dubai World Championship in December 2011.

ThE RACE To DUBAI BoNUS PooL BREAkDowN 1 US$ 1,500,000 2 US$ 1,125,000 3 US$ 750,000 4 US$ 600,000 5 US$ 525,000

6 US$ 450,000 7 US$ 412,500 8 US$ 375,000 9 US$ 337,500 10 US$ 300,000

11 US$ 262,500 12 US$ 243,750 13 US$ 225,000 14 US$ 206,250 15 US$ 187,500

HOW THEY FINISHED

Dubai World Championship 1 2 3 3 5 6 7 8 9 9

Robert Karlsson Ian Poulter Alvaro Quiros Lee Westwood Rory McIlroy Paul Casey Francesco Molinari Thongchai Jaidee Luke Donald Seung-yul Noh

SWE ENG ESP ENG NIR ENG ITA THA ENG KOR

-14 -14 -13 -13 -12 -11 -11 -9 -8 -8

65 69 72 69 71 70 71 68 74 66

75 66 67 67 72 67 67 69 67 73

67 69 69 71 66 71 68 69 69 74

67 70 67 68 67 69 71 73 70 67

274 274 275 275 276 277 277 279 280 280

€910,349 €606,897 €314,070 €314,070 €218,484 €168,021 €168,021 €147,477 €131,090 €131,090

RoRy’s TRicked... To A Tee As one of the best players in the game, World No.10 Rory McIlroy is used to getting out of tricky lies. But the 21-year-old from Northern Ireland was left with no escape when golf’s leading trick-shot specialist and former European Tour pro David Edwards roped in the Ryder Cup star to help with one of his trick shots during the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World.

Edwards, who entertained huge galleries all week at Jumeirah Golf Estates, had McIlroy lie prone on the ground while Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen held a long tee on his face before Edwards crashed a full blooded drive from the tee.

Regarded as the best trick show entertainer in the world, Edwards currently holds the world record for his famous Scissor Hands shots - 310 balls in just three minutes - which was one of many stunts that proved popular with pros and spectators.

Edwards also showed off his talents with a variety of unusual golf clubs including a double headed iron, a club with the head of a hammer, extra long drivers and clubs with rubber shafts.

PLAyeR’s GiVe PoULTs soMe LiGHT ReLieF Despite his heartache at missing out in Dubai, Ian Poulter was straight on his Twitter site reporting that he was “receiving a little banter from the boys.”

Rory McIlroy reportedly said: “Poults may not have

won the Dubai World Championship, but he could be in with a shout for the tiddlywinks world championship!”

Lee westwood, thanked him for the extra £93,203 Bonus Pool money he earned as a result of Poulter finishing second in the tournament, meaning Westy retained third place on The Race to Dubai rather than dropping to fourth.

“Just gave Poults a big kiss he feels better now!”

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21

A DAY I’LL NEVER FORGET WORLDWIDE GOLF EDITOR, ALEX GALLEMORE, DESCRIBES HIS EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME FOLLOWING HIS EMIRATES AIRLINE INVITATION TO PLAY IN THE DUBAI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PROAM WITH THE MAGNIFICENT MIGUEL ANGEL JIMÉNEZ AND ‘HARSH,’ THE CADDIE WITH THE NEVERSAYDIE ATTITUDE.

W

I might have hit my best drive of the day on the first tee but everyone was laughing with my caddie, who was still finding it hard to fathom the straps on my carry bag!

23

www.wwgolf.biz

E’VE all had those restless nights, pondering and anticipating something that’s giving cause for concern. Normally it’s my credit card or bank statement. But I’ve never lost any sleep over a game of golf – until recently!

Emirates Airlines kindly invited me to make up one of their teams in the Dubai World Championship Pro-Am, two days prior to the start of The European Tour’s $15 million showdown. In true Emirates fashion I knew that my professional for the day would be a top draw, and I wasn’t disappointed to find I was teaming up with the current Dubai Desert Classic champion, Miguel Angel Jiménez.

I was also delighted to have a late tee time, which meant I could savour the day and groove my swing on the range in order to impress Spain’s Ryder Cup hero and prepare my winning speech. Mentally, I was feeling confident until that restless night before the big day, when the nerves and realism kicked in.

The last ball I hit found a watery grave so teeing it up with one of the greatest names in world golf needed an ultra-calm approach.

However, my relaxed game plan didn’t quite go according to plan. The concoction of excitement, nervousness and adrenaline had me checking the time from 4.30 in the morning, five hours before I was to be announced on the first tee. After hourly checking my watch I decided to get ready and head out to the course.

Meeting the Stars Having registered, I headed off to find my locker. I walked into the compact locker room to find Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Charl Schwartzel and their caddies having a laugh.

Feeling completely out of place I glanced at my locker number and embarrassingly returned to the attendant to seek out my rightful place. The guy smiled, took my key and led me straight back to where I’d come from.

This time I bravely said hello to the players as the attendant put the key in the locker with my name on it, which nestled between those of Lee Westwood and Miguel Angel Jiménez.

As more big name players flooded into the locker room, chatting between themselves about everyday life, I was impressed at how

FLYING HIGH WITH EMIRATES AT THE DUBAI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PRO-AM

A picture that years to come. will sit next to my desk for

Miguel signs H arsh’s

‘Lake ball’ at th e end of the roun d.

relaxed they were in each other’s company.

Mind you, I thought, they must see each other nearly every other day.

Completely in awe of the situation I headed off to the range in a last ditch effort to groove my swing. After a brief chat with Graeme McDowell at the entrance to the driving range I went to hide down at the bottom of the range, hoping no one would see me, but you can’t hide from anyone out here. My warm up hook, followed by a fat and a borderline shank was providing endless entertainment for the many players, managers and coaches sitting in judgement on the Clubhouse balcony

Driving Range Disaster No matter how many tutorial tips I tried to recall, my game continued to deteriorate.

Many balls later I met up with my young caddie, named ‘Harsh.’ Someone knew what they were doing when they paired us together. His name, ironically, summed up my game perfectly.

I realised that this was going to be an interesting day when we made our way to the tee with my new-found friendly bagman, Harsh, struggling to get to grips with the carry straps on my golf bag. He compromised by ignoring the straps altogether and hugging the bag to his chest.

He told me he’d been reading up on how to become the perfect caddie. I asked what his handicap was and he replied: “I’ve never played golf before or even been on a golf ‘pitch’.”

As I tried to explain, it was a golf course and not a pitch, I started to laugh, which helped me tremendously to relax. After a quick photograph with the team and the Emirates girls it was down to business.

Jiménez was first to be announced on the tee and he riffled his opening drive straight

“I TURNED TO SEE MY CADD CADDIE, ‘HARSH,’ WAIST DEEP IN WATER IN THE LAKE WITH A HUGE SMILE ON HIS FACE TRIUMPHANTLY HOLDING MY BALL ALOFT. SADLY, IT WASN’T MINE.” down the middle. I was next up with my ‘reload’ ball prepared for an immediate call-up, neatly concealed in my pocket.

But thanks to the modern day technology I managed to launch one down the middle, just behind Jiménez, who was lulled for a minute into thinking he’d got a solid player in his team. He was soon to find out that I was just a one-hit wonder. After walking to my ball he looked at his yardage book and caddie notes and said: “You’ve got 157 yards to the pin. You need to hit it 148, about 15 feet right of the pin. Don’t worry if you are a couple of yards short as the slope will help you.”

Harsh handed me my trusty eight iron and with Jimenez’s words of wisdom still fresh in my mind I promptly hit a huge block 15 yards right of the green!

Ultimate Professional The Ryder Cup star sauntered over to me, smiled forgivingly and then gave me some advice I was more accustomed to hearing.

“OK Alex. Just a nice little wedge, not too high, into the middle of the green.” During the rest of the round Miguel was the ultimate professional. He gave my playing partners and myself tips and encouragement when required – which was nearly every shot! He concentrated on his game but the whole day was about having fun and we couldn’t have had a better ‘fun-loving’ professional than Miguel. The highlight of the round for me came on the treacherous 16th. I hit what was arguably the best drive of the day down the centre of the fairway just short of the green. It

took a wicked bounce right and ended up in the lake.

I knew Jiménez and my playing partners were in good shape so I said to my caddie: ‘Harsh, don’t bother looking for it. I’m out of this hole. I continued to walk to the green, where Miguel was eyeing up his birdie putt.

As he stood up I saw he and Mike, his caddie, had tears of laughter rolling down their cheeks. Missing the joke, I turned round to see Harsh waist deep in water in the lake with a huge smile on his face triumphantly holding my ball aloft. Sadly, it wasn’t mine. As he walked to the green it was apparent he’d not bothered to take off his shoes and socks before wading into the water as he squelched all the way to tend the pin.

Passing me he said proudly: “Got it – a Callaway 3. I knew I could find it.”

I just didn’t have the heart to tell him I was playing a Titleist. Even though I continued to mess up the closing holes I could relax knowing that it was all good fun and that thankfully, I didn’t have to play golf seriously enough to make a living from the game.

As for the day, I can’t thank Miguel Angel Jiménez and Emirates Airlines enough. To have the opportunity to play Greg Norman’s magnificent Earth course in Championship condition and make a new friend out of the defending Dubai Desert Classic Champion is going to take some topping.

At the beach party that evening at The Atlantis, Miguel, his caddie Mike, and I laughed until we cried, reminiscing about Harsh, the caddie who would take on any task. ■ www.wwgolf.biz

23

!"#$%#&'(&$"))*+',-./'0 0(12' 03/4'(3564'13,,4'73.,

!8%+&99'7)"+: 0(12' 036/4'(36/4'136/4'73;//

becomes Ambassador for The Invitational

Graeme McDowell poses with the US Open trophy at Yas Links Golf Club in Abu Dhabi, venue for The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah taking place on January 17, 2011.

24

www.wwgolf.biz

U

S Open Champion Graeme McDowell threw his weight behind the most prestigious Pro-Am in the region when he teed it up at last month’s Dubai World Championship as an official Ambassador for The Invitational hosted

by Abdullah Al Naboodah.

Excitement is already growing for what promises to be another captivating and entertaining spectacle of golf as the event, which pairs 52 European Tour Professionals with 52 amateurs, globally, from the world of sport, entertainment and commerce, enters its fifth year.

McDowell, who wore The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah logo on his shirt throughout the seasonending finale at Jumeirah Golf Estates, explained at a Press Conference at Yas Links Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, that having been an Ambassador for the

Al Naboodah Group for the past three years he was now proud to be an Ambassador for The Invitational.

The Invitational’s Tournament Director James Bowring also revealed that Kyle Phillips’ stunning new Yas Links layout in Abu Dhabi will host the event on Monday January 17 – the week of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship – for the first time following two years at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

Grown in Stature “The Invitational is one of the best Pro-Ams in world golf,” said McDowell, who finished in a share of 13th at the Dubai World Championship and second on The Race to Dubai. “It’s an event all The European Tour players want to play and a tournament that every amateur would die for. Over the years The Invitational has grown in stature and

prestige. It’s competitive but it’s also a lot of fun and the atmosphere on the golf course is always tremendous.

“We’re all pleased to support Abdullah and his event. He has done so much for golf in the region and he’s widely respected in the world of golf. The Invitational raises an enormous amount of money for local charities and we’re all looking forward to the event.

“I’ve never played Yas Links so it will be a new experience for me,” said McDowell, who learned to play on one of the game’s most renowned and toughest links courses, Royal Portrush, in Northern Ireland. “Kyle Phillips has a great reputation as a golf course designer and his Kingsbarns Course at St. Andrews, which hosts the Alfred Dunhill along with the Old Course and Carnoustie, is a magnificent links course.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about Yas

Pictured below from left to right: Chris White, General Manager of Aldar Golf, Yas Links; Graeme McDowell, tournament host Abdullah Al Naboodah and Tournament Director James Bowring.

Links. It will be a unique experience to play a links course in the desert. It’s going to be a bit warmer than the links courses I’m used to but if the wind blows then it might make me feel more at home!”

Yas Links will certainly provide a spectacular setting In which to hold the highly regarded event. The golf course forms part of a world-class leisure development on Yas Island, created by Aldar Properties, which is home to the Yas Marina Formula 1 Circuit, venue for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and the spectacular Ferrari World, the world’s largest indoor theme park.

Extraordinary Links The extraordinary links course, which stretches out along three kilometres of the Abu Dhabi coastline and features nine seashore greens, marks the first outing in the Middle East for world-renowned designer Phillips and tournament host Abdullah Al Naboodah has been hugely impressed with what he’s seen of Yas Links. “Yas Links is the first genuine links course to be built in the Middle East and it is a really stunning golf course. I’m sure all the Tour pros and the amateurs will enjoy the experience,” said Abdullah.

“I first visited the development a year ago and loved the place instantly. Yas Links is completely different from the other courses in the UAE and I have been in constant touch with the club about its progress. The positive reviews speak for themselves and Kyle Phillips, who I am a big admirer of, has created something very special.”

Chris White, General Manager of Aldar Golf, Yas Links, said he was delighted to

“The inviTaTional is one of The besT pro-ams in world golf. iT’s an evenT all The european Tour players wanT To play and a TournamenT ThaT every amaTeur would die for.”

– graeme mcdowell be hosting the event. “It’s a tribute to Kyle Phillips’ design and to all the achievements we’ve made here at Yas Links that Abdullah should chose Yas as the venue for such a prestigious charity event within only a year of us opening.

“The golf course has matured in an amazingly short space of time and I’m sure all the players will be pleased with the Yas experience. This is a unique event with a glittering line-up of players, built around Abdullah’s strong, personal relationships with the players, and it works perfectly with Yas Links, the only links style course in the region.”

The 18-hole one-day tournament will see competitors playing for a prize fund of US$500,000 of which US$150,000 will be donated to local charities and by the winning professionals to the charities of their choice.

Among The European Tour players who have already confirmed their participation in The Invitational are World No.1, Lee Westwood, McDowell, Ross Fisher, Oliver Wilson, Simon Dyson and Henrik Stenson.

Amateur spots in The Invitational hosted

by Abdullah Al Naboodah are among the hottest tickets in town and WWG readers

have been given a great chance to win their place in the field by competing in our Invitational Qualifiers. The top 15 players from each Qualifier earn their place in the Grand Final where two Golden Tickets to The Invitational are awarded to the top adult and top junior player. The last chance to earn a place in the Grand Final is the UAE Qualifier at Al Hamra GC on Thursday, 9th December (full details on page 6).

Golden Ticket One man who secured his Golden Ticket with plenty of time to spare was Englishman Steve Gray who won the UK Qualifier at Heythrop Park Resort in Oxfordshire in July.

Gray (12) won a three-man play-off to secure the golfing trip of a lifetime, partnering a European Tour star at The Invitational.

Another man lucky enough to have a guaranteed spot is tournament host Abdullah Al Naboodah who partnered Lee Westwood to victory in last year’s event.

Asked whether he will be partnering The Invitational Ambassador, McDowell, this time around, Abdullah replied: “I partnered Lee Westwood in the pairs last year and we won, so I can hardly get rid of the World No.1 this time.” n www.wwgolf.biz

25

QUICK 9 WITH GRAEME MCDOWELL

A QUICK 9 HOLES WITH… Graeme McDowell 1) What’s your favourite golf course?

Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland – my home club and one of the best links courses there is.

2) What age were you when you broke par for the first time on an 18-hole course – what did you shoot and where?

I think I was 14 years old and I shot 68 on the Valley Course at Portrush.

3) Who would make up your fantasy fourball of golfers?

Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods – when they were all in their prime.

4) Who would make up your fantasy fourball of non-golfers?

Chris Rock, Billy Connelly and Jim Carey – just for the laugh factor.

5) If you weren’t a pro golfer what would you be?

A mechanical engineer. I studied this in college before golf intervened!

6) What’s your favourite sport away from golf?

I’m a big darts fan. The PDC World Championships is a great event and Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor is a great Champion!

7) Which football team do you support?

Manchester United.

8) What’s your all-time favourite movie?

The Shawshank Redemption or Gladiator.

9) Who or what would you purchase a ticket to watch?

The Northern Ireland football team in a World Cup Final!

www.wwgolf.biz

27

WWGcolumnist

ready for The challenge of 2011 Pictured left to right: Ian Poulter, Luke Donald, Peter Barrett of Genworth Financial, Ross Fisher and Joanthan Orr of The European Tour, pose with a Genworth Putts 4 Charity cheque for $50,000 following the second round of the Dubai World Championship.

I

’M looking forward to a well earned month off over Christmas to relax and enjoy some time with my family and friends after what has been a year of ups and downs. I’ll take plenty of positives out of this season but there’s also plenty to work on for next season.

Winning the 3 Irish Open in my first event with Wobbly on the bag was a huge moment for me, especially with my management company, Horizon, being Irish. It’s an event with a great history and tradition and it was one that I always wanted to win, so to be able to keep a class act and home favourite like Paddy Harrington at bay to take the title was really special.

I also got my first taste of The Ryder Cup and helping Europe regain the Cup was definitely the highlight of my career so far. Having experienced the drama of that tournament once I want to make sure that I’m there again in two years time at Medinah Country Club in Chicago.

When I wrote my last column I said that I wanted to win one or even two more events to challenge for The Race to Dubai. I had my chances and I’m disappointed that I wasn’t able to do so. As with much of the season, putting was the area that let me down and it’s something I’ll be working really hard to improve before next season.

I was right up there at the WGC-HSBC

Champions in Shanghai, in a great position after 10 holes in the final round.

I hadn’t putted that well all week but the rest of my game was great so to play the next five holes in 6-over and finish in a share of 16th place was really disappointing. There was big money at stake and big World Ranking points on offer as it’s become one of the biggest events we play outside the Majors but that’s part and parcel of golf. You win some, you lose some.

BIg pARTY The result in Shanghai meant that I went to the Dubai World Championship without a chance of topping The Race to Dubai, which wasn’t what I wanted.

But at the same time it may have taken some of the pressure off me. The week started really well as I celebrated my 30th birthday with a big party at my house with all my family and friends before heading out to Dubai where I was joined by my wife, Jo, our daughter Eve, Jo’s mum and dad, her brother and his girlfriend.

The fact that I had the family there, combined with knowing that I couldn’t win The Race to Dubai enabled me to relax and enjoy my golf a bit more than last year. Again, my putting wasn’t great but I was really pleased with my ball striking, particularly in the second round when I had one of my best ever

weeks from tee to green and equalled the Earth course record with an 8-under 64 to share the lead with my good mate Ian Poulter. I entered the final round, two strokes behind Poults with a great In THE knOW WITH chance to win the Championship but I just couldn’t get the putter going. I took ROSS FISHER 35 putts and shot 76, which is not how you win a golf tournament.

Ross finisheD Overall, I’m really pleased with my tieD 16th at the game and if I can iron out the problems WoRlD golf with my putting I feel I can win a lot of ChamPionshiPstournaments because tee to green I’m in hsBC ChamPions the best shape of my life. I want to make in shanghai anD sure that I’m challenging for the top spot tieD 13th at the in The Race to Dubai again next year, like DuBai WoRlD ChamPionshiP. I was in 2009. his final RaCe to I’ll sit down over Christmas and work DuBai Ranking out my schedule for next season but I Was 16th While his think it will be fairly similar to this year.

CuRRent offiCial One event that I’m definitely playing is WoRlD golf Ranking is 31.

The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah at Yas Links Golf Club in Abu Dhabi on January 17.

The Pro-Am event just gets better and better every year – Abdullah loves his golf and he really knows how to run a good tournament which raises a lot of money for good causes. He won the team title with Lee Westwood last year and they’re partnering up again this year so we’re going to have our work cut out stopping them making it two in a row.

That’s it for me for 2010, have a great festive season and I’ll see you next year! www.wwgolf.biz

29

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FAST FACE DESIGN Large maximum ball speed and optimum launch area for increased distance potential.

The new 910 drivers deliver total performance with improvements in distance, shot control, looks, sound and feel. 910 drivers feature a fast face design and high performance weight distribution, and our new SureFitTM Tour hosel technology inspired by the bending adjustments previously done exclusively on Tour Vans. Now 910 provides all players with the opportunity to have their loft and lie independently adjusted for a more precise fit. To experience improved distance and shot control through your own tour-van-in-a-hosel, see your local authorised Titleist fitter, or go to titleist.co.uk for more information.

Pro Sports International, PO Box 26723, Dubai, UAE.

FRANCESCO’S WAIT IS OVER Having made his debut in The Ryder Cup in October without a victory to his name in four years, Francesco Molinari was feeling the heat as he stood alongside his more decorated European colleagues – including older brother Edoardo who had won twice in the summer.

However, he finally got the monkey off his back with a stunning victory over the newly crowned World No.1 Lee Westwood at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

F

RANCESCO Molinari acknowledged that it was finally “his time” as he edged out current World No.1 Lee Westwood to complete a gripping wire-to-wire victory at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions.

“It feels really special,” smiled Molinari after winning his first WGC title in just his fifth attempt.

“I’m obviously amazed with the way I played and to have the number one player in the world trailing you by one shot – it’s not easy.

“In a sense I feel for Lee because he probably deserved to win the tournament as well. I’ve been in his position a few times so I know it’s not easy, but finally it was my time.”

The Italian Ryder Cup star hadn’t won on The European Tour since triumphing at his home open in 2006 and with six runner-up finishes in the last four years he was starting to get anxious as to when his next win would come. However, Molinari closed out his victory in fine style ahead of one of the strongest fields of the year after leading from day one and hanging on during the final 18.

“I was under pressure all the time, pretty much from the first round,” he said. “I played great, not only the way I hit the ball but also the way my mind was working all week. I managed to stay calm and play my game and I holed putts when I had to hole putts.

“It’s definitely the best I’ve putted and chipped and I think that was the difference compared to the many second places I’ve had in the past. It was just the perfect week.”

‘IT’S DEFINITELY THE BEST I’VE PUTTED AND CHIPPED AND I THINK THAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE COMPARED TO THE MANY SECOND PLACES I’VE HAD IN THE PAST. IT WAS JUST THE PERFECT WEEK.” FRANCESCO MOLINARI

FRANCESCO MOLINARI

Molinari fired an opening round 65, followed it with a 70 and then hit back-to-back weekend rounds of 67 for a 19-under-par total. Westwood opened with a 66 and then posted identical scores to Molinari to settle for his fourth runnerup spot of the season while Molinari became the first player to lift the stylish Old Tom Morris Cup. Westwood did hang on to the No.1 position on the Official World Golf Ranking with his performance which came after a relaxing three week break from the golf course.

“I felt rusty the first couple of days,” said the Englishman. “I made two bogeys during the week and none on the weekend. That’s pretty good after three weeks off and hardly hitting the ball.

“The rankings come as a consequence of playing well, and I’m playing well and I know I am.

Today is just very typical of how I’ve played for the last two years.”

Luke Donald and Richie Ramsay finished in a share of third place on 9-under-par while Rory McIlroy finished fifth on his own on 8-under. Tiger Woods finished on 7-under-par and in a share of sixth place with six players including Paul Casey and Ernie Els. ■

Above: Francesco Molinari is congratulated by his elder brother Edoardo after his victory at the WGC-HSBC Champions.

Right: Runner-up Lee Westwood shakes hands with his Ryder Cup colleague Francesco Molinari after the Italian wins his first WGC title in Shanghai.

WGC-HSBC Leaderboard 1 2 T3 T3 5

FRANCESCO MOLINARI LEE WESTWOOD RICHIE RAMSAY LUKE DONALD RORY MCILROY

-19 -18 -9 -9 -8

65 66 69 68 71

70 70 68 70 71

67 67 71 68 71

67 67 71 73 67

269 270 279 279 280

€860,153 €483,836 €267,006 €267,006 €179,199

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33

EGF card holder benefits 15% off Dinner a’la Carte Menu Food Bill – valid from Saturday till Wednesday.

10% off Dinner a’la Carte Menu Food Bill – valid on Thursday & Friday.

20% off lunch a’la Carte Menu Food Bill – valid from Sunday till Thursday.

All above offers not valid with any other discounted offer or on set or promotional menus.

All above offers not valid on Xmas, Boxing Day, New Year Eve, New Year Day & Thanksgiving.

THE 19TH HOLE – A GOLFER’S PARADISE

ruth’s chris brings something special Ruth’s Chris steak house has come along way since its founder Ruth Fertel took a chance by mortgaging her house in the United States to buy a small steak house, listed in the classified section of her local newspaper, on the corner of Broad and Ursuline in New Orleans.

More than four decades have passed since Ruth’s dream became a reality and what a dream it turned out to be. Her entrepreneurial skills and passion to deliver the highest standards has made Ruth’s Chris one of the world’s premiere steak houses.

Until recently you would only have been able to taste a Ruth’s Chris signature steak, seared to perfection at 1800 degrees and topped with fresh butter so it sizzled its way on to your table, if you lived in America or could plan a Stateside business trip.

There are many people in Dubai who appreciate quality and premium brands so it was only a matter of time before Ruth Chris established itself in the Emirate. Perfectly located, just off Sheikh Zayed Road in The Monarch Dubai, Ruth’s Chris has quickly established itself one of the finest steak houses in the UAE. Great food though, is just part of a memorable dining experience but the key to success is putting all the pieces together. “Maintaining high standards is a team effort which starts the moment the fresh produce arrives from America,” said General Manager, Michael G. Szczepanski. “Our chef, Paul DeVisser, and his team have a wealth of experience and have delighted pallets the world over. But it’s by working together we give our diners a meal they would savour for that special occasion. Everyday, before we open for business we all sit down for lunch and enjoy the meal as a big family. This family spirit gives everyone a sense of unity and clear vision to do the job that is required to deliver excellence.”

However, first impressions are normally the most lasting. Ambient lighting from crystal chandeliers and high-sided leather dining chairs set the easy-going tone and create the ideal atmosphere for a relaxed, friendly meal with friends or the perfect privacy for any special occasion.

Once you have sampled the delights of the Ruth’s Chris steak house you’ll be surprised how many special occasions you have!

Last month Ruth’s Chris won The What’s On Awards 2010 Best Steak House in Dubai.

By ALEX GALLEMORE R uth ’ s

C hris

S teak

H ouse

–

O ne

S heikh

Z a y ed

R oad ,

T he

M onarch

D ubai

There’s one good thing about

becoming a member.

Somehow, you always end up as a winner.

Like everything else at Yas Links Abu Dhabi, the membership rates are unbeatable. While here, treat yourself to more than just a game at this prestigious 18-hole golf course. Unwind with a swim in the pool, soak in spectacular views of the coast, relax tensed nerves with a luxurious steam bath or celebrate a win at Hickory's - an all-day restaurant.

You can also enjoy a comprehensive tournament schedule, or even pick valuable pointers while practising day or night at the state-of-the-art Yas Links Golf Academy. If you're looking for an ideal and unmatched spot to tee off, give us a call. The grass, as you will notice, is definitely greener on this side.

For membership enquiries and bookings, please contact +971 2 810 7777 or email info@yaslinks.com

OMEGA and Golf: a passionate partnership IN 1860 The Open Championship was first held at Prestwick Golf Club, southwest of Glasgow. In those days the champion was awarded a red leather belt with a silver buckle. The silver Claret Jug wouldn’t be introduced until 1872. When the first Open was played, a Swiss watchmaker named Louis Brandt had already been making watches in his workshop for 12 years. He would certainly have been surprised to see how both OMEGA, the company he founded, and international competitive golf would evolve in the next 140 years. And he could never have imagined that his beloved watchmaking company would one day be so closely involved with the Royal & Ancient Game.

GOLF sponsorship is a vital part of OMEGA’s brand strategy and the famous watchmaker’s name is associated with some of the sport’s best international events.

Omega has long been title sponsor of the European Masters, played each September in the beautiful Alpine setting of Crans-Montana, Switzerland. The tournament, steeped in history and tradition, is the oldest on the European continent and is one of the leading events in the Swiss sporting calendar.

Promoting golf as a global game For many years, OMEGA has promoted golf as a global game and in 2009, the Omega European Masters became the first golf tournament ever to be co-sanctioned both by the European and Asian Tours, forging a strong bond between two of the world’s most dynamic golfing regions. The 2010 edition was also co-sponsored by these major tours and the tournament featured stellar performances from top golfers from both continents.

Omega Mission Hills World Cup OMEGA is also the title sponsor of the World Cup of Golf. The World Cup, which has been played since 1953, is the only truly international golf team event in the world. Currently, two-man teams from 28 nations are invited to compete for

the title. The next edition of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup will be contested in November of 2011 at a new venue, the Mission Hills Resort on Hainan Island in Southern China. The 28 qualifying teams will be competing for a record prize fund of US$7,500,000.

OMEGA is particularly proud of its title sponsorships of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the OMEGA Dubai Ladies Masters.

These outstanding events, in cooperation with our ‘golf in DUBAi’ partners, are perfect expressions of our enthusiasm for the globalisation of this great game.

(l-r) Dr David Chu, Chairman of the Mission Hills Group, 2009 Omega Mission Hills World Cup winners Francesco and Eduardo Molinari and Stephen Urquhart, President of Omega.

The winner of this year’s Dubai Ladies Masters will claim not only the tournament’s championship trophy and cheque, but also a fine timepiece created by OMEGA, the event’s title sponsor.

Constellation star at the 6 o’clock position. The “Dauphine plume” hands are made of 18 Ct gold and coated with Super-LumiNova, making them easy to read in any light conditions.

The watch is the 2009 New Constellation Polished Gold on Gold. Its 24mm case has been crafted from 18 Ct gold. The bracelet, with the familiar horizontal links long associated with OMEGA Constellations, is also made of 18 Ct gold. The elegance of the watch is underscored by its bezel which is paved with 28 diamonds. The striking chocolate dial features a dramatic supernova pattern emanating from the

The watch is part of OMEGA’s Constellation line which was completely redesigned in 2009 and 2010. The features which have made the watches among the most recognisable in the world – including the iconic “griffes” or claws – are still part of the collection but every aspect of the popular watch line has been refined and updated to attract a whole new generation of Constellation wearers.

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WWGcolumnist

Dubai World Championship building for future success

I

WAS pleased to see that the 2010 Dubai World Championship was a big success, building on the solid foundation of last year’s inaugural event.

Although I wasn’t able to be there I was also pleased to see so many spectators at Jumeirah Golf Estates throughout the four days of the Championship My congratulations go to Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, who led after the opening round with a 65 and closed with a 67 to finish tied on 14-under with Ian Poulter before beating him at the second extra hole of a play-off.

For Poulter to drop his ball on his marker on the second visit to the 18th green was something I guess he’ll never do again.

That’s got to be one of the strangest ways to call a one-shot penalty on yourself. But to actually drop it right on the edge of the coin and flip it must have taken some doing.

I hear Rory McIlroy joked that he is backing Poulter to win the ‘World Tiddlywinks Championship.’ Joking apart, it was a costly mistake for Poulter. That single dropped shot cost him more than $400,000.

Considering Karlsson shot a second round 75 it was quite a feat to come back with a third round 67 and repeat the same score on the Sunday.

I congratulate last year’s Dubai World Championship winner Lee Westwood for rising to No.1 in the world. He’s been the most consistent player in the game in the last couple of seasons and he deserves his place at the top.

Martin Kaymer set his sights on winning The Race to Dubai right from the start of The European Tour season and although he finished tied 13th in the Dubai World Championship he achieved his goal of winning The Race and the $1.5 million Bonus.

Obviously, the Earth course has matured considerably in the 12 months since last year’s Championship but the 40

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JubIlaTIOn anD DESPaIR FOR kaRlSSOn anD POulTER Sweden’s Robert karlsson raises his hand to acknowledge the cheers of the huge crowds on the final hole at the Dubai World Championship on Greg norman’s Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates after sinking the winning putt on the second hole of a play-off as Ian Poulter looks down at the hole and imagines what might have been.

comparison in scores is an insight into how much tougher the course played last month.

When Lee Westwood won the inaugural Championship he shot 23under, which was a remarkable score by anyone’s standards. Nine shots is a considerable difference between the winning scores in 2009 and 2010 and it shows how the course has settled in.

The weather conditions last month were similar to 2009 and although the Earth course doesn’t suit every player’s game most of them seemed to enjoy the challenge: RORy McILROy commented – The thing I like about this golf course is that it gives you the definition. The way the bunkers are designed sees the sand go all the way to the top of the lip. So the wider bunkers give you definition off the tee. In that way, it’s actually visually quite nice to stand at the back of the tee and look at the hole and take in everything, where you can see it, so everything is in front of you, which is a good thing.

I think it’s a great course, given that it’s only a couple of years old. It’s come on a lot since last year. The greens are great. and I think they were running about 12 on the Stimpmeter, so they got the course in great shape.

GRAEME McDOWELL: You have to drive the ball extremely well around the Earth course. Lee Westwood was probably the best driver of the ball in the word last year and probably still is, and it was no surprise that he played well around here.

It’s definitely a grip-it-and-rip-it type of golf course. I’ve tried to add a few yards to my driver because it makes a big difference on the Earth course if you can carry that little bit further to clear the trouble.

ROBERT KARLSSON: The Earth course is one of those courses where, when you’re playing well, it’s easy to get close to the pins because on many of the holes the ball sort of feeds towards the hole. The greens are certainly quicker than they look.

THONGCHAI JAIDEE: It helps a lot to know how to plot your way around the Earth course. If you can work your way around the deep bunkers it makes a big difference.

MARTIN KAyMER There’s really been no change at all to the Earth course from last year. It’s the same golf course. There are no additional bunkers so everyone knows what they are getting.

They haven’t changed the greens or anything and the course in general is in great shape. Last year I was surprised to see Lee shoot a winning score of 23under par. I was not expecting that, and I don’t think any of the other guys were.

SEUNG-yUL NOH: The course is definitely not an easy course to play for sure but it’s fair and I think I managed the course very well.

ThE wAVE oMAN IS PRoGRESSING wELL THE WAVE OMAN is moving steadily forward and the grassing on holes 14 and 15 is now complete. The pumpstation and irrigation lakes that were commissioned are now operational and work has begun on the Academy. Shaping on holes 4, 5, and 6 around the main lake is now complete. I’m told everything is looking good and I can’t wait to get back there to see for myself.

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41

2011

SCHEDULE Date

Tournament / Venue

Date

Tournament / Venue

Dec 09 - Dec 12

Alfred Dunhill Championship, Leopard Creek CC, Malelane, South Africa

Jun 16 - Jun 19

US Open Championship, Congressional CC, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

Dec 16 - Dec 19

South African Open Championship Durban Country Club, Durban, South Africa

Jun 16 - Jun 19

SAINT-OMER OPEN presented by Neuflize OBC, Aa Saint Omer GC, Lumbres, France

Jan 06 - Jan 09

Africa Open, East London GC, East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Jun 23 - Jun 26

BMW International Open, Golfclub München Eichenried, Munich, Germany

Jan 13 - Jan 16

Joburg Open, Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club, Johannesburg, South Africa

Jun 30 - Jul 03

Alstom Open de France, Le Golf National, Paris, France

Jul 07 - Jul 10

The Barclays Scottish Open, TBA, Scotland

Jan 20 - Jan 23

Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Jul 14 - Jul 17

The 140th Open Championship, Royal St George’s GC, Sandwich, Kent, England

Jan 27- Jan 30

Volvo Golf Champions, The Royal Golf Club, Kingdom of Bahrain, Bahrain

Jul 21 - Jul 24

Nordea Scandinavian Masters, Bro Hof Slott GC, Stockholm, Sweden

Feb 03 - Feb 06

Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy, Doha GC, Doha, Qatar

Jul 28 - Jul 31

Irish Open, TBA, Republic of Ireland

Aug 04 - Aug 07

WGC – Bridgestone Invitational, Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio, USA

Feb 10- Feb 13

Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Emirates GC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Aug 11 - Aug 14

US PGA Championship, Atlanta Athletic Club, John’s Creek, Georgia, USA

Feb 17- Feb 20

Avantha Masters, DLF Golf and Country Club, New Delhi, India

Aug 18 - Aug 21

Czech Open, Prosper Golf Resort, Čeladná, Czech Republi

Feb 23 - Feb 27

WGC - Accenture Match Play Championship, Ritz-Carlton GC, Dove Mountain, Marana, USA

Aug 25 - Aug 28

Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, The Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire, Scotland

Mar 10 - Mar 13

WGC-Cadillac Championship, Doral Golf Resort & Spa, Florida, USA

Sep 01 - Sep 04

Omega European Masters, Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans Montana, Switzerland

Mar 17 - Mar 20

Sicilian Open, Donnafugata Golf Resort & SPA, Sicily, Italy

Sep 08 - Sep 11

KLM Open, Hilversumsche GC, Hilversum, Netherlands

Mar 24 - Mar 27

Open de Andalucia de Golf, Parador de Málaga Golf, Málaga, Spain

Sep 15 - Sep 18

The Vivendi Trophy with Seve Ballesteros, St. Nom La Breteche, Paris, France

Mar 31 - Apr 03

Trophée Hassan II, Golf du Palais Royal and Golf de L’Océan, Agadir, Morocco

Sep 22 - Sep 25

Austrian GolfOpen, Diamond Country Club, Atzenbrugg, Austria

Apr 07 - Apr 10

MASTERS TOURNAMENT, Augusta National, Georgia, USA

Sep 29 - Oct 02

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Old Course St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, Fife, Scotland

Apr 14 - Apr 17

Maybank Malaysian Open, TBA, Malaysia

Oct 06 - Oct 09

Madrid Masters, TBA, Spain

Apr 21 - Apr 24

Volvo China Open, TBA, China PR

Oct 13 -Oct 16

Portugal Masters, TBA, Portugal

Apr 28 - May 01

Ballantine’s Championship, Blackstone GC, Icheon, Seoul, Korea Republic

Oct 20 - Oct 23

CASTELLÓ MASTERS Costa Azahar, Club de Campo del Mediterráneo, Castellón, Valencia, Spain

May 05 - May 08

Open de España, TBA, Spain

Oct 27 - Oct 30

Andalucia Masters, TBA, Andalucia, Spain

May 12 - May 15

Iberdrola Open, Pula GC, Son Servera, Mallorca, Spain

Nov 03 - Nov 06

WGC - HSBC Champions, TBA, Shanghai, China PR

May 19 - May 22

Volvo World Match Play Championship, Finca Cortesin GC, Casares, Andalucia, Spain

Nov 10 - Nov 13

Barclays Singapore Open, The Tanjong & The Serapong, Sentosa GC, Singapore

May 19 - May 22

Madeira Islands Open BPI – Portugal, Porto Santo Golfe, Madeira, Portugal

Nov 17 - Nov 20

Iskandar Johor Open, TBA, Malaysia

May 26 - May 29

BMW PGA Championship, Wentworth Club, Surrey, England

Nov 24 - Nov 27

Omega Mission Hills World Cup, Mission Hills Resort, Hainan Island, China PR

Jun 02 - Jun 05

The Celtic Manor Wales Open, The Celtic Manor Resort, City of Newport, Wales

Dec 01 - Dec 04

UBS Hong Kong Open, Hong Kong GC, Fanling, Hong Kong

Jun 09 - Jun 12

BMW Italian Open, Royal Park I Roveri, Turin, Italy

Dec 08 - Dec 11

DUBAI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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www.wwgolf.biz

NEWS Major Champions honoured with life-time membership MARTIN Kaymer, Graeme McDowell and Louis Oosthuizen have all been presented with European golf’s highest award of Honorary Life Membership of The European Tour after their respective Major triumphs in 2010.

Open Champion Oosthuizen, US Open winner McDowell and US PGA Champion Kaymer were all handed their Membership cards and money clips

by European Tour Chief Executive George O’Grady in a special presentation prior to the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World.

McIlroy and Kaymer to stay on The European Tour Two of the hottest stars in the game have given The European Tour a boost by confirming they will not be taking up US PGA Tour membership for 2011 despite being eligible.

World No.3 Martin Kaymer is eligible after winning the US PGA Championship but said: “To play both doesn’t fit – schedule-wise and I consider The European Tour as my home. I will stick to The European Tour. I will play probably two or three more events in America but I will play in Europe.”

Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy said the allegiances he forged during The Ryder Cup and the loneliness he felt when playing in the US PGA Tour’s FedExCup series caused him to re-assess his plans for 2011.

“There was camaraderie out there and I got to know the European guys better,” he said of The Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor. “If you’re not playing well in the United States then it can be lonely, but over here you have your mates.

“I found myself thinking during the FedExCup about not wanting to be there. I switched on the Golf Channel and watched the European Masters in Switzerland and felt I wanted to be there.

“The FedExCup is only about money and you shouldn’t just be going over to play thinking about how much you can make. I needed a break after the US PGA Championship in August, but had only one week. There is no flexibility in your schedule as the FedEx forces you to appear at those events. I didn’t like that.”

Irish Open to remain on 2011 schedule Boonchu Ruangkit wraps up Senior Tour Order of Merit THAILAND’S Boonchu Ruangkit finished in a share of eighth place at the OKI Castellón Senior Tour Championship to seal the 2010 European Senior Tour Order of Merit crown in his rookie year with earnings of €266,609.

“I’m so proud to follow great players like Ian Woosnam and Sam Torrance as the winner of the John Jacobs Trophy,” said Ruangkit, who ended the season with four victories. “This is a big moment for me in my career. Sam and Ian are big names and it’s great that a Thai player can come and win like this on the European Senior Tour.”

Cadillac announced as new WGC Sponsor A MULTI-year agreement has been reached between US PGA Tour, on behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours, and Cadillac which sees the motor company become the new sponsor of the WGCChampionship at Doral in Florida.

The WGC-Cadillac Championship will be played on Doral’s Blue Monster Course from March 10-13 next year with Ernie Els set to defend his title.

“The World Golf Championships are all about the highest level of performance on a global stage and fit well with Cadillac’s theme as the new standard of the world,” said Don Butler, Vice President for Cadillac Marketing. “As a global series, it provides us with an ideal marketing partnership for Cadillac to efficiently and effectively reach our target audience."

THE Irish tourism authority Failte Ireland is confident the Irish Open will go ahead in 2011 despite the event losing its title sponsor last month. Mobile phone company 3 withdrew its backing after two years as the main sponsor but The European Tour’s Director of International Policy Keith Waters confirmed that the Irish Open is an important part of the season.

“It is early days yet as it was only recently that we were without a sponsor for next year, and obviously we hope to find another one,” said Waters. “So yes, the Irish Open is continuing with full details to follow.”

Englishman Ross Fisher (right) won the 2010 Irish Open at Killarney, finishing two shots clear of home favourite Padraig Harrington.

Manassero crowned Rookie of the Year ITALY’s Matteo Manassero has been named The Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year for 2010 following a record-breaking start to his professional career – the highlight of which was becoming the youngest player to win in the history of The European Tour.

Manassero began his professional career at the BMW Italian Open at the beginning of May and in 14 starts since then has won the CASTELLÓ MASTERS Costa Azahar at the age of 17 years and 188 days and earned a

European Tour Chief Executive George O'Grady presents Matteo Manassero with his trophy and a magnum of Champagne after the youngster was crowned the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year.

total of €890,401 to finish in 31st place in The Race to Dubai.

“It is a big honour to win the Rookie of the Year award,” said Manassero. “I never expected to win on Tour so quickly and to

win the Rookie of the Year award is a perfect way to end my first season as a professional. It is such a special award because you only get one chance to win it so it is a great honour.” www.wwgolf.biz

43

DIVOTS RULES EXPLAINED STUART MCMURDO, GOLF OPERATIONS MANAGER AT JEBEL ALI GOLF RESORT & SPA, SHEDS SOME LIGHT ON SOME OF THE LESSER-KNOWN RULINGS THAT CROP UP ON THE PROFESSIONAL CIRCUITS FROM TIME TO TIME WHICH CONFUSE EVEN THE MOST SEASONED PROFESSIONALS. TAILS YOU LOSE! What a fortnight in Ian Poulter’s life – a win in the penultimate event of the season at the UBS Hong Kong Open followed by a runner-up finish at the Dubai World Championship. But Ian will leave Dubai thinking of what might have been.

In a twist of fate his socalled lucky coin became the focal point of the play-off with Robert Karlsson in one of those unthinkable moments that sometimes occurs on the golf course. He unwittingly managed to drop his ball onto his coin after marking it on the second extra hole of the playoff. The fact that the marker left its original position before or after the act of marking results in a one-stroke penalty under rule 20-1/15 and the ball must be replaced in its original position. Some may argue

whether this breach actually made a difference to the end result, but Poulter did have a putt, which if holed would have continued the play-off and added more pressure on Karlsson to make his 4-footer for birdie. Either way we should be applauding the way Ian handled himself in this high pressure situation. He called the penalty immediately on himself without question.

The difference between first and second place was around €300,000 which would have moved Ian to third place in the final Race to Dubai earnings list ahead of Lee Westwood.

This sportsmanship in the heat of battle should be merited and again shows the spirit in which the game is played in comparison to many other sports.

Double delight for Emirates at EMIRATES airline has announced its continued support of the UBS Hong Kong Open after six years of commitment to the event which celebrated its 52nd edition last month.

Emirates is the Official Airline for the UBS Hong Kong Open, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, The European Tour and Hong Kong Golf Association, and to celebrate the launch of Emirates’ Airbus A380 service to Hong Kong, the 380 yard, par-4 7th hole was branded with images of the world’s largest passenger aircraft.

In addition, Emirates also hosted a clinic for youngsters at the event with Chris Rodgers, the 2006 Pakistan Open winner, sharing his golfing secrets and tips during his class with 20 golfman youngsters.

Edwin Lau, Vice President of Hong Kong and China, Emirates airline joined in the

celebrations and played in the pro-am alongside Frenchman Thomas Levet. “We are very proud to sponsor the UBS Hong Kong Open for the sixth year,” he said. “The event has drawn many of the world’s top 50 over the years and common objectives and pursuits have made Emirates and this prestigious event become perfect partners.

“For Emirates, sports sponsorships are a long-standing way for us to interact with our customers and passengers in an informal, enjoyable environment. This activity helps us fulfil our commitment to the communities of Hong Kong and China, which constitute our most dynamic markets in the region. With golf being accepted at an official event at 2016 Olympics, we are keen on promoting golf packages.”

HAINES HITS THE HEIGHTS WITH LAST-GASP WIN TWENTY-year-old Matt Haines won the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final in Italy to earn his 2010 European Tour card, finishing second on the final Challenge Tour rankings.

“I can’t wait to get onto The European Tour,” he said. “It’s great to end the season with my first win.

I’ve learnt a lot about my game and myself this season. This year and especially this win will give me a lot of confidence to take into next season.”

Haines was a part of the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team in 2009 and turned professional earlier this year.

IMADA PENALISED 26 STROKES IN STAR TROPHY JAPAN’S Ryuji Imada was penalised 26 strokes during the first round of the Mission Hills Star Trophy after incurring 13 separate two-stroke penalties for failing to read the local rules sheet.

Imada assumed the distance for lifting, cleaning and replacing balls on the wet fairways was within one club length – as it is on the US PGA Tour. However, the event was played to European and Asian Tour rules which stipulated a length of one scorecard instead of a club length.

Colin Montgomerie also fell foul of the rules as he incurred a two-stroke penalty after moving an advertising hoarding in the fairway that was blocking his approach shot to a green.

STATMASTER

ROUND OF THE MONTH

Dubai World Championship winner Robert Karlsson (right) was one of nine multiple winners on The European Tour in 2010 while there were seven on the US PGA Tour.

Ian Poulter stormed into the lead at the UBS Hong Kong Open thanks to a magnificent second round bogey-free 10-under-par 60. The Englishman carded 10 birdies, including five in a row through the turn, and held on to his lead over the weekend to seal a memorable victory.

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NEWS SNIPPETS FROM AROUND THE GOLFING GLOBE

UBS Hong Kong Open

QUOTE OF THE MONTH SORENSTAM TO RETURN TO LPGA TOUR…AS A TOURNAMENT HOST ANNIKA Sorenstam has announced that she plans on hosting her own LPGA Tour event in Orlando to benefit her new children’s wellness foundation at Florida Hospital. Talks are at an early stage with LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan but Sorenstam is confident it will come to fruition.

“I will make it happen,” said Sorenstam, who won 72 LPGA Tour titles. “It’s just a matter of when, and how we’re going to set it up. I want to do something like what Arnold Palmer has done in Orlando, I think that’s been fantastic.”

SIMON DUNN FINISHES FIFTH IN BALI DUBAI-based Scot Simon Dunn produced his best performance of the season on the Asian Tour last month with a superb fifth place finish at the Bali Open.

Dunn carded rounds of 75, 69, 71 and 74 for a 1-over-par 289 total, 16 shots behind the winner Juvic Pagunsan who cruised to an 11-shot-victory over Sweden’s Jarmo Sandelin.

- Lee Westwood

describes his glamorous location on hearing the news of his top ranking.

US PGA TOUR ‘LIKELY’ TO ALLOW MOBILE PHONES ON COURSE

DAVIES HOPING FOR STRONG FINISH IN DUBAI

THE Golf Channel’s reporter Steve Sands has learned that the US PGA Tour may allow fans to take mobile phones to events next year as long as they are set on silent or vibrate modes. The 2010 Wyndham Championship was the first to attempt it and the scheme was regarded as a success.

There will be another test at the Chevron World Challenge this month and then the Farmers Insurance Open in the early stages of next season, and if both are deemed a success then the guideline is expected to put into place at some point in the season.

ENGLAND’S Laura Davies has her sights set on glory at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters this month as she aims on topping the Ladies’ European Tour Order of Merit.

Davies, 47, recently won the Women’s Indian Open in Delhi in a four-way play-off to keep her hopes alive and is €32,444 behind South Africa’s Lee-Ann Pace.

“I have to win in Dubai to surpass Lee-Anne,” she said after collecting her 77th career victory in India.

SHOT OF THE MONTH Could there be a more satisfying way to win a play-off than nailing a hole-in-one? Jonathon Byrd hit the jackpot in Las Vegas by doing just that in near darkness at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open to beat Scotland’s Martin Laird to the title.

“I’d been sent to the supermarket to buy some mashed potatoes and something else when my caddie rang me to tell me Martin Kaymer wasn’t playing very well and I was about to be World No.1.”

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S featured in the April issue of Worldwide Golf ProGolf IQ is a revolutionary training programme that is taking the world by storm, reducing countless handicaps as it goes.

The programme is an audio based course that programmes the conscious part of your brain to stop interfering with negative or cluttered swing thoughts during play while at the same time allowing the creative ‘right’ side of your brain to flourish – in essence you learn to ‘get in the zone’ and use your mind the way professionals do.

Since we first featured ProGolf IQ many Worldwide Golf readers have invested in the programme, taking advantage of our specially arranged discount, with remarkable results. One such reader is the one-armed golfing sensation Trevor Belcher who has been blown away by the improvement he’s noticed since he began using it.

“I saw ProGolf IQ advertised in Worldwide Golf, looked it up on the Internet and it sounded pretty interesting – it made some very strong claims so I decided to give it a try,” says Belcher. “It’s a series of audio tracks that you download (six sessions) that you listen to a number of times over the course of five weeks. I would describe it as conditioning your sub conscious mind whilst it “decommissions” the conscious mind when you are in the act of playing a golf shot. It’s more than just hitting the ball – it’s a total conditioning programme for the mind.”

Belcher, who recently took the Best Net at the One Armed Golf Championships after beginning to use ProGolf IQ, believes that it has helped him finally achieve the calmness of mind on the golf course that allows him to play to his fullest potential.

“I’ve have always been competitive to the point where I guess I was distracting myself, as well as getting way too “hot under the collar” to be a true competitor!,” he says. “Since I started using the system (and I truly mean from the first session) I noticed an immediate and very significant change in my temperament on the golf course, I was more relaxed and didn’t get the “burn in the belly” when I hit a bad shot, this set the foundation for the rest of

the benefits. I have known for quite some time that you should not let your “mind” get in the way but have never really been able to achieve this, with Pro Golf IQ it happened automatically and right from the early stage of using the programme.”

Belcher lost his left arm in a motorcycle accident in 1983 but was determined not to let that stop him from doing what he wanted to do and taught himself how to play using only one arm. He’s now one of the best one-armed golfers in the world and regularly plays in highlevel events on the finest golf courses on the planet. His best score is 77 and he recently shot 81 on the Old Course at St Andrews despite a triple drop on the last!

“For me the single biggest challenge remains getting into the right position at the top of the swing, and the work that I did with Justin Parsons from the Butch Harmon School of Golf has been of huge benefit to me. My game was on the slide and I had moved out to a 20 handicap coming from a best of 12 a few years ago, I am now down to a 10.8 and loving it!

“The next goal I have golf wise is to get to a 9 handicap or less by the end of 2010, to achieve this I will continue to use Pro Golf IQ as well as the guidance from Justin. In my view it is a combination of both that will give you a better game and lifelong enjoyment out of this wonderful sport of ours.”

One armed golfing sensation Trevor Belcher has seen a marked improvement in his game since using ProGolf IQ.

PROGOLF IQ are so confident in their product that they are offering a money back guarantee if you don’t notice any improvement in your game. Lucky Worldwide Golf readers can ‘Try Before You Buy’. Simply visit: www.progolfiq.com/wwg or follow the link on the www.wwgolf.biz

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DRIVING

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DEVELOPED under the theme of offering the “world’s best multiperformance and responsive driving pleasure,” every area of the Nissan GT-R has been carefully re-thought or re-tuned for 2011.

The changes range from greater body stability and strength and improved aerodynamic performance to a sportier interior and enhanced performance.

The GT-R features improved engine output and torque, greater fuel efficiency, revised handling, a refreshed exterior with improved aerodynamics, revised interior treatment and new wheels and tyres. The large number of enhancements for the new model year is part of the continuous advancement of the GT-R design, technology and performance since its debut in 2007.

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Balance, Perfected Created for comfort and handling, Toyo Tires delivers premium performance for the most demanding drivers. Tested to the extreme, engineered to perfection.

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CARBON REAR SPOILER EGOIST adopts a dry carbon rear spoiler (also used in the SpecV).

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INTERIOR Customers can choose a combination of interior colours among 20 choices, four upper area interior colours and 10 lower area interior colours. Interior parts are sent to Seton Company, Inc. Muelheim an der Ruhr in Germany and leather master craftsmen sew and stick carefully selected leather by hand.

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THE POWER PLANT Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged 24-valve V6 Horsepower: 485 @ 6,400 rpm Torque: 434 lb-ft @ 3,200 – 5,200 rpm Zero to 60 mph: 3.2 sec Standing 1/4-mile: 12.0 sec @ 120 mph

The 2011 GT-R offers three driving modes: R-Mode, Normal Mode, and Snow Mode. Normal Mode delivers smooth gear changing, electronic control of damping the suspension system, plus controls brakes and engine output. Snow Mode provides more gentle shifting of gears, an adjusted suspension, and disengages the VDC stability control. R-Mode offers maximum performance, the fastest shift changing, damping the suspension for high-speed cornering, and ultimate performance from the VDC system.

RAYS FORGED ALUMINUMALLOY WHEELS Lightweight and highly rigid forged aluminum-alloy wheels, also used in the SpecV, reduce unsprung weight and help provide a supple ride feel.

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OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING AS OF MONDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2010

AROUND THE WORLD ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR & US PGA TOUR

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Lee Westwood Tiger Woods Martin Kaymer Phil Mickelson Steve Stricker Jim Furyk Paul Casey Ian Poulter Luke Donald Rory McIlroy Graeme McDowell Matt Kuchar Ernie Els Dustin Johnson Francesco Molinari Robert Karlsson Edoardo Molinari Hunter Mahan Retief Goosen Adam Scott Zach Johnson Padraig Harrington Louis Oosthuizen Robert Allenby Rickie Fowler Anthony Kim Bubba Watson Justin Rose Miguel A. Jimenez Kim Kyung-Tae Ross Fisher Nick Watney Camilo Villegas Tim Clark Jason Day Ben Crane Ryo Ishikawa Charl Schwartzel Y.E. Yang Peter Hanson Sean O’Hair Yuta Ikeda Geoff Ogilvy Ryan Moore Bo Van Pelt Alvaro Quiros K.J. Choi Stewart Cink Martin Laird Henrik Stenson

Eng USA Deu USA USA USA Eng Eng Eng Nir Nir USA Saf USA Ita Swe Ita USA Saf Aus USA Irl Saf Aus USA USA USA Eng Esp Kor Eng USA Col Saf Aus USA Jpn Saf Kor Swe USA Jpn Aus USA USA Esp Kor USA Sco Swe

Pts. Avg

Tot. Pts

Events

8.68 7.89 7.70 7.31 6.68 6.66 6.06 5.82 5.81 5.62 5.60 5.10 5.02 4.84 4.60 4.42 4.24 4.19 4.17 3.88 3.84 3.80 3.76 3.74 3.63 3.62 3.54 3.49 3.49 3.43 3.42 3.35 3.29 3.26 3.23 3.20 3.18 3.13 3.09 3.08 3.06 3.03 2.95 2.91 2.89 2.81 2.80 2.79 2.71 2.64

416.42 315.41 377.53 314.51 280.46 299.70 266.43 279.47 319.42 314.66 297.05 259.92 291.20 237.13 252.84 194.59 233.03 217.65 242.10 194.15 199.90 208.99 195.48 217.12 145.33 163.09 162.74 188.39 202.27 181.88 171.21 174.25 171.04 176.06 135.59 169.43 184.63 175.32 173.05 147.80 153.20 166.54 150.64 154.35 167.66 151.53 148.39 131.14 149.08 126.55

48 40 49 43 42 45 44 48 55 56 53 51 58 49 55 44 55 52 58 50 52 55 52 58 40 45 46 54 58 53 50 52 52 54 42 53 58 56 56 48 50 55 51 53 58 54 53 47 55 48

Pts. Gained 340.21 110.02 346.33 247.69 215.46 240.77 245.46 235.80 317.67 251.04 281.48 254.96 275.35 235.57 222.28 203.86 201.60 194.78 198.80 158.69 163.74 138.74 206.44 167.38 157.32 154.45 162.88 187.68 195.53 160.31 116.75 147.29 170.68 167.67 130.23 177.90 133.75 182.33 127.84 130.83 104.55 123.44 120.70 123.07 167.78 152.60 159.48 80.53 126.33 70.76

Pts. Avg 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100

Charley Hoffman Jeff Overton Lucas Glover Angel Cabrera Heath Slocum Ryan Palmer Bill Haas Hiroyuki Fujita Matteo Manassero Kevin Na Simon Dyson Richard Green Noh Seung-yul Liang Wen-Chong Brendan Jones Scott Verplank Kenny Perry J.B. Holmes Rhys Davies Toru Taniguchi Anders Hansen Fredrik Andersson Hed David Toms Stuart Appleby Sergio Garcia Brian Davis Danny Willett Ricky Barnes Michael Sim Thongchai Jaidee Søren Kjeldsen Bryce Molder Oliver Wilson Brandt Snedeker Michio Matsumura Jason Dufner Vijay Singh Gonzalo Fdez-Castano Stephen Gallacher David Horsey Tetsuji Hiratsuka Shunsuke Sonoda John Senden Rory Sabbatini Gregory Bourdy Brian Gay Raphael Jacquelin Jamie Donaldson Katsumasa Miyamoto Darren Clarke

USA USA USA Arg USA USA USA Jpn Ita USA Eng Aus Kor Chn Aus USA USA USA Wal Jpn Dnk Swe USA Aus Esp Eng Eng USA Aus Tha Dnk USA Eng USA Jpn USA Fji Esp Sco Eng Jpn Jpn Aus Saf Fra USA Fra Wal Jpn Nir

2.63 2.61 2.54 2.52 2.44 2.33 2.31 2.29 2.23 2.19 2.18 2.17 2.14 2.13 2.11 2.08 2.08 2.05 2.04 2.01 2.01 1.95 1.93 1.93 1.92 1.91 1.91 1.88 1.87 1.84 1.79 1.78 1.75 1.75 1.69 1.69 1.69 1.68 1.66 1.66 1.64 1.60 1.60 1.59 1.58 1.57 1.57 1.55 1.52 1.51

Tot. Pts

Events

Pts. Gained

134.22 141.03 129.68 113.42 141.59 128.31 129.46 128.21 89.39 118.46 126.62 104.03 94.23 95.92 86.64 95.87 97.61 108.60 118.43 86.58 108.56 93.83 100.56 112.02 95.88 111.06 93.72 99.49 86.22 106.72 96.64 90.77 94.33 92.52 84.64 91.30 79.38 90.48 73.19 84.76 95.06 64.11 92.74 92.19 85.09 91.12 90.81 78.94 79.18 83.21

51 54 51 45 58 55 56 56 40 54 58 48 44 45 41 46 47 53 58 43 54 48 52 58 50 58 49 53 46 58 54 51 54 53 50 54 47 54 44 51 58 40 58 58 54 58 58 51 52 55

120.44 141.70 72.30 68.37 114.79 146.01 133.56 105.10 88.41 101.80 77.47 96.00 99.92 74.28 67.63 74.27 48.19 118.16 118.70 76.40 70.78 95.11 71.81 97.22 67.81 105.05 86.96 102.51 58.29 91.47 64.10 74.40 69.23 81.24 76.67 59.57 70.12 67.60 82.75 89.86 87.81 67.96 60.48 77.70 52.65 63.27 71.89 68.02 67.72 74.05

Over 100 destinations worldwide

WWGCOLUMNIST

GARY PLAYER IS A TRUE LEGEND OF THE GAME. THE SOUTH AFRICAN IS ONE OF ONLY FIVE PLAYERS TO HAVE WON A CAREER GRAND SLAM OF ALL FOUR MAJORS. HE HAS WON A TOTAL OF NINE MAJORS AND NINE SENIOR MAJORS, AMONG 167 TOUR EVENTS WORLDWIDE.

What an amazing year for The European Tour HISTORIC MOMENT for The European Tour at the prizegiving at the Dubai World Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates: George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour; Robert Karlsson, winner of the Dubai World Championship with the baton trophy; HH Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; and Martin Kaymer winner of The 2010 Race to Dubai with the Harry Vardon trophy.

T

HE Dubai World Championship as the climax to The Race to Dubai has been the completion of the most exciting year The European Tour has ever experienced.

What an amazing season it has been.

Three Major winners; three World Golf Championships winners and The Ryder Cup, plus the World No.1 golfer and the emergence of Italy as a golfing force is a fantastic success story.

Lee Westwood thoroughly deserves his position as World No.1, having replaced Tiger Woods at the top of the ranking on October 31. Lee has come so close this year to winning his first Major it’s been so frustrating for him. But being the best in the world means that you have to be the most consistent and Lee has certainly

54

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been that. He’s earned his reward the hard way. He’s had to contend with a painful calf muscle injury he sustained prior to The Open Championship but he still managed to finish second at St Andrews behind South African Louis Oosthuizen.

Lee has clearly been suffering since then but he hasn’t made an issue about it and he hasn’t let anyone down. I can happily predict that Lee will have another outstanding season in 2011 – and I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t bag that elusive first Major.

Germany’s Martin Kaymer came close to beating Lee to the summit of world golf but despite three victories in a row, and four in total, he couldn’t quite make it. His hat-trick run started with his first Major, at the US PGA

Championship at Whistling Straits in August, continued with his triumph in the KLM Open and concluded with his win at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. In between he made a vital contribution to Europe’s Ryder Cup victory, with two-and-a-half points from his four matches.

It had been one of Kaymer’s ambitions to win The Race to Dubai and despite finishing in a tie for 13th with Graeme McDowell and a group of other players, he achieved his goal, collecting the $1.5 million Bonus in the process.

Graeme McDowell, who became the first European to win the US Open in 40 years with his magnificent victory at Pebble Beach in June, had the honour, as the anchorman of

the European Team, to sink the winning putt to secure victory in The Ryder Cup in September. Going into the Dubai World Championship he was the only player who could challenge Martin for The Race to Dubai. In the event he finished second in The Race but his efforts have lifted him to 11th place in the World Ranking.

With European Tour players taking three of the four World Golf Championships – Poulter winning the Accenture Match Play Championship; Ernie Els winning the CA Championship and subsequently Francesco Molinari winning the HSBC Champions – The Ryder Cup was always going to be a close contest.

At one point it looked like Europe were cruising to a memorable victory but the Americans hit back to set up a dramatic final day. Again the pendulum swung both ways until McDowell overcame Hunter Mahan in the final singles match with a stunning putt under pressure on the 16th green which effectively regained the Cup. All this and the emergence of Italy as a new force in the world game has brought

The winning team in the fourball alliance competition at the Gary Player Invitational at The Links at Fancourt: US PGA Tour player, John Cook; former Manchester United football star, Dwight Yorke; Irish businesswoman Sinead Kenny; and Spain’s Sergio Garcia pictured with their trophies.

“THE ONLY ITALIAN GOLFER MOST FANS CAN RECALL IS COSTANTINO ROCCA BUT THIS YEAR THE MOLINARI BROTHERS, FRANCESCO AND EDOARDO, ALONG WITH THE TEENAGE SENSATION MATTEO MANNASERO, HAVE PUT ITALY FIRMLY ON THE WORLD GOLF MAP.” – GARY PLAYER one success after another. The only Italian golfer most fans can recall is Costantino Rocca but this year the Molinari brothers, Francesco and Edoardo, along with the teenage sensation Matteo Mannasero, have put Italy firmly on the world golf map.

Who would have imagined that Italy would have had two brothers playing together in The Ryder Cup in 2010?

Matteo managed to finish 31st in The Race to Dubai and 59th in the World Ranking, which is an outstanding performance for a 17-year-old and he fully deserves his recognition as the European Tour Rookie of the Year. It will be interesting to see if The European Tour players can repeat such performances in 2011 but the strength of The Tour is certainly very healthy for the game.

Gary Player Invitational WE had another wonderful Gary Player Invitational presented by Coca-Cola last month at The Links at Fancourt in South Africa. I was pleased to see the Irish businesswoman, Sinead Kenny and her team, win our 11th Invitational having finished second last year.

She vowed to return for this year’s event

and with her other team members, Tour players Sergio Garcia and John Cook, and former Manchester United football star Dwight Yorke, they won the fourball alliance competition by three strokes.

Garcia and Cook won the professional betterball competition on 14-under, just one shot ahead of Bertus Smit and Darren Fichardt. I can’t thank those business leaders, celebrities and professional golfers enough for their continued support which helps to make a change in the lives of so many underprivileged children. To raise over R5 million in these tough economic times is a fantastic achievement.

Paradise at Mazagan Beach I WAS pleased to be at Mazagan Beach Resort to help celebrate the first anniversary of our outstanding golf course. It really is a world-class course and the setting is pure paradise. Situated along a 4.3-mile stretch of the Atlantic Ocean on the bay of El Jadida the links course is one of the finest we have created.

Morocco has got a lot to offer the golf tourist and I can see the Mazagan Beach Resort soon becoming an international destination. It really does have everything. ■ Italy’s teenage sensation, Matteo Manasero.

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WORLDROUND-UPS Tournament: Castello Masters Costa Azahar

21 - 24 Oct 2010

Venue: Club de Campo del Mediterraneo, Valencia, Spain

WINNER: MATTEO MANASSERO CHEQUE: €333,330

MAGICAL MANASSERO RE-WRITES HISTORY TEENAGE sensation Matteo Manassero rewrote the record books by becoming the youngest ever winner on The European Tour with a barnstorming four-stroke victory at the CASTELLÓ MASTERS Costa Azahar.

“It’s just fantastic,” beamed the youngster after posting a second consecutive 4-under-par 67 for a 16-under-par total to beat home favourite Ignacio Garrido. “I always try to work for this moment and now I’ve done it it’s unbelievable, it’s a special moment. I couldn’t really imagine being a winner in my first year and I just tried to keep my card – but I’m a winner already.”

At just 17 years and 188 days, Manassero beat the previous record set by New Zealand’s Danny Lee, who was 18 years and 213 days old when he triumphed at the Johnnie Walker Classic in 2009 as an amateur.

The youngster began the final day two shots behind Englishman Gary Boyd but applied early pressure with

birdies on holes 3 and 6. However, the Italian dropped a shot at the seventh and was two behind again as he stood on the 13th tee. He proceeded to make three birdies in a row while Boyd faltered and surrendered the lead, eventually signing for a 74 and a share of third place alongside Joost Luiten, Christian Nilsson and Peter Lawrie.

Manassero closed out with three pars to finish four clear of Garrido who made three birdies on the back nine to sign for a 68 and move up five places on the leaderboard into second place.

“I was very nervous,” admitted Manassero. “I was a bit nervous at the beginning, then I got more relaxed, then at the end I was obviously very nervous even though I had a good cushion.”

The win saw Manassero take home €333,330 and it elevated him into the top 60 on The Race to Dubai for the first time and effectively punched his ticket for a place at the Dubai World Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

IN THE BAG Driver: Fairway Wood: Hybrids: Irons (4-PW): Wedges: Putter: Ball:

Titleist 910 D2 prototype Titleist 909F2 13.5° TaylorMade R9 19 ° Titleist AP2 Titleist Vokey Spin C-C 200 Milled 52° Scotty Cameron Studio Select Titleist Pro V1x

WINNING SCORE: 16-UNDER-PAR – 268 (68,66,67,67) RUNNER-UP: IGNACIO GARRIDO – 272

FACT FILE

With his victory Matteo Manassero broke the legendary Seve Ballesteros’ record as the youngest ever by a full European Tour member by 12 days.

Tournament: Justin Timberlake Shriners

21 - 24 Oct 2010

Venue: TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada

WINNER: JONATHAN BYRD CHEQUE: $756,000

BYRD GETS ACE-HIGH IN VEGAS JONATHAN Byrd fired a hole-in-one in near darkness to cap a stunning end to a sudden-death play-off and win the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at the expense of Martin Laird and Cameron Percy.

After an three extra holes couldn’t separate the trio they agreed there was time for one more hole before it became too dark to play. From there it was effectively sealed with one swing from Byrd. It was too dark for him to see his ball land 10 feet short of the pin on the 204 yard par-3 17th and roll in the cup. The cheers from the smattering of people watching on were not very convincing. “Did that go in?” Byrd asked his caddie before realising that he’d won his first title of the year.

“I’m in shock,” Byrd said after lifting the trophy.

Byrd carded a final round 3-under 68 to get to 21-under-par and into a play-off alongside defending champion Laird, who shot a 69, and Percy who came in with a 67.

Laird had four birdie putts to retain his crown – one in regulation and three in the play-off – but looked on in agony as none of them dropped. He then watched Byrd’s miracle shot and cut a frustrated yet amazed figure. “Byrd hit a shot that will never be forgotten and probably will never be matched, to win the tournament,” said the Scot. “It all seemed to happen so fast, one moment we were talking about whether to continue due to darkness and a minute later it was all over.”

Tournament: Andalucia Valderrama Masters

28 - 31 Oct 2010

Venue: Valderrama Golf Club, Sotogrande, Spain

WINNER: GRAEME MCDOWELL CHEQUE: €500,000

GUTSY MCDOWELL HANGS ON IN SPAIN GREAME McDowell picked up his third title of the season with a brave finish in windy conditions at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters.

The Northern Irishman carded a final round 74 to finish with a 3-under-par total, two ahead of fellow Ulsterman Gareth Maybin and Irishman Damien McGrane who both struggled in the wind and Denmark’s Søren Kjeldsen who equalled the low round of the day with a 69.

“It was a war of attrition and the last man standing really,” said McDowell, who likened his victory to his Major triumph at the US Open in June. “It’s very special to win here and I can draw a lot of comparisons with Pebble Beach.

Damien and Gareth are both grinders in their own right and I was just happy that I could eventually get the job done.”

Maybin was pleased with how he came back from bogeys on the first three holes to mount a challenge for the title.

Maybin birdied holes 5 and 11 to get back into contention but then a bogey-

bogey finish saw him settle for a share of second place.

“It’s probably one of the most enjoyable weeks that I’ve had,” said the 30 year old. “To come up two shots shy was probably the right result but I’m very proud of how I bounced back and I’ll take a lot from that.”

McGrane’s mood was in stark contrast to Maybin’s as he ended with a double bogey and two bogeys to finish with a 1-over-par 72 for a 1-under-par 283 total.

“I had plenty of good fortune, but to hand it all away at the end was disappointing,” bemoaned McGrane.

“I didn’t hit any bad shots, I just got fliers when I didn’t need them. I holed a decent putt on the last to give myself some satisfaction, but that’s Valderrama – when it bites, it bites hard.”

Kjeldsen, a winner at Valderrama in 2008, signed for an impressive 69 to move into a tie for second place while Joost Luiten, who also went round in 2-under-par, shared fifth with Thomas Björn.

IN THE BAG Driver: Fairway Wood: Hybrid: Irons (4-9): Wedges: Putter: Ball:

24 - 31 Oct 2010

Callaway Big Bertha Fusion FT-3 (9.5°) Callaway Diablo Edge Tour (15°) Callaway FT (18°) Callaway X Forged Callaway X Forged Vintage (48°, 52° 58°) Odyssey White Hot #7 Callaway Tour ix

WINNING SCORE: 3-UNDER-PAR – 281 (68,67,72,74) RUNNER-UP: SØREN KJELDSEN, GARETH MAYBIN, DAMIEN MCGRANE – 283

FACT FILE

With his victory at Valderrama Graeme McDowell became only the second Irishman to win three times in a single European Tour season, following in the footsteps of Ronan Rafferty who achieved the feat in 1989.

Tournament: CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia Venue: The MINES resort and golf club, Selangor, Malaysia

WINNER: BEN CRANE CHEQUE: $1,000,000

CRANE DELIVERS KNOCK-OUT BLOW AMERICAN Ben Crane eagled the 15th and then holed a tricky eight footer for birdie on the 18th to win the inaugural Asia Pacific Classic by one stroke from England’s Brian Davis.

Crane signed for a 2-under-par final round 69 and an 18-under-par total to win his second title of 2010 and the fourth of his career.

“This has been a really special week. I had a great opportunity with that putt (on the 18th) which I’ll always remember,” smiled Crane. “I was so nervous and I was just praying. I just wanted to hit a good putt and to see it go into the hole, it felt so good.

“I regrouped after the 14th and didn’t get ahead of myself. I knew I was still in the tournament. I hit an unbelievable shot on

15 with my driver and that turned things around. It was an unbelievable finish.”

Crane bogeyed holes 12, 13 and 14 but then drove the green on the par-4 15th and sunk his eight foot eagle attempt to get back to 1-under on the day. He then sealed the win with a crucial birdie putt on the last to leave Davis in second place for the third time this season, despite a strong finish.

“I played good all week and kept myself in the hunt but I am quite disappointed,” said Davis. “I missed a short putt on the 15th for bogey which was a big error.”

Scotland’s Martin Laird finished third on 16-under-par alongside Luke Donald while Ernie Els, Robert Allenby, Rickie Fowler, D.J Trahan, Ryan Moore and Mardan Mamat shared fifth place on 14-under.

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WORLDROUND-UPS Tournament: Barclays Singapore Open

11 – 14 Nov 2010

Venue: Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore

WINNER: ADAM SCOTT CHEQUE: €713,165

SCOTT COMPLETES HIS HAT-TRICK AUSTRALIAN Adam Scott won the Barclays Singapore Open for the third time in his career with a commanding three-stroke victory over Denmark’s Anders Hansen.

Scott picked up his seventh European Tour title, closing with a 3-under-par 68 to finish on 17-under-par after the tournament was forced to finish on Monday after a five-hour rain delay.

Scott was leading by three shots when darkness stopped play on Sunday and when play resumed he bogeyed holes 10 and 14 to give Hansen a chink of daylight. However, Scott responded with birdies on holes 15 and 18 to seal his first European Tour win since the 2008 Commercialbank Qatar Masters.

“It feel’s great. I haven’t been putting my best lately and the demons started creeping in a little bit on the back nine,” said Scott who won at Sentosa Golf Club in 2005 and 2006 before it became a European Tour co-sanctioned event. “But fortunately I squashed them and made

a good putt on 15. That gave me a little buffer and calmed me down for the last three.

“The 15th was a huge hole. I hit the ball beautifully and I hit every shot where I needed it to be. It’s been a bit of a long week and I’m very happy to have won here again – it’s a course I absolutely love.”

Scott held a three-stroke lead over defending champion Ian Poulter heading into the final 18 holes and The Ryder Cup star never really got his challenge going, eventually faltering to a 2-over-par 73 and a share of sixth place on 11-under-par.

Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg posted his best finish on The European Tour, sharing third place with US Open champion Graeme McDowell on 13under-par. Korean Kyung-nam Kang finished on 12-under while Welshman Jamie Donaldson posted his eighth top 10 of the campaign finishing alongside Poulter in sixth.

IN THE BAG Driver: 3-Wood: Hybrid: Irons (3-9): Wedges: Putter: Ball:

11 – 14 Nov 2010

Titleist 910D3 10.5° Titleist 910F 15° Titleist 909H 21° Titleist MB Titleist Vokey Design Spin Milled 48°, 54° and 60° Scotty Cameron Newport Titleist Pro V1

WINNING SCORE: 17-UNDER-PAR – 267 (65,65,69,68) RUNNER-UP: ANDERS HANSEN – 270

FACT FILE

Adam Scott only dropped seven strokes during the week and birdied the par-5 fourth hole in each round as he won the Barclays Singapore Open. He was the only player in the field to post all four rounds in the 60s.

Tournament: Children’s Miracle Network Classic Venue: Disney’s Magnolia & Palm Courses, Lake Buena Vista, Florida

WINNER: ROBERT GARRIGUS CHEQUE: $846,000

GARRIGUS SLAYS HIS DEMONS ROBERT Garrigus shot a magnificent 8-underpar 64 to win the Children’s Miracle Network Classic by three strokes from Roland Thatcher, five months after famously crumbling when faced with sealing a maiden victory at the St Jude Classic.

“It feels great to be able to close this one off and figuratively shut everybody up about Memphis,” Garrigus said, referring to his defeat at the hands of Lee Westwood in a play-off earlier this year.

Garrigus made a triple bogey with a threeshot lead on the 72nd hole in Memphis and then lost to the Englishman in sudden-death.

In Florida, Garrigus was faced with the same scenario but this time composed himself to finish with a steady par and pick up his first US PGA Tour title at the 133rd attempt.

“I really don’t care (about Memphis),” said Garrigus, who took home a cheque for $846,000 after finishing on 21-under-par.

“This is just golf. I have a family that loves me.

If Memphis didn’t happen, I don’t know if this would have happened.”

Thatcher entered the final round with a four stroke lead but fell away under the added pressure of knowing a top-two finish would guarantee his card for the 2011 season. With victory no longer in his hands Thatcher needed to hole a putt on the final green to secure second place ahead of three others who finished on 17-under. After reading the green for close to five minutes he duly sunk the putt. “I couldn’t imagine having a more stressful moment in my life,” he said. “You’ll never see a happier guy who just vomited away a tournament.”

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WORLDROUND-UPS Tournament: UBS Hong Kong Open

18 – 21 Nov 2010

Venue: Hong Kong GC, Fanling, Hong Kong

POULTER SEALS HONG KONG VICTORY IAN Poulter wrapped up his second title of the season at the UBS Hong Kong Open after holding off charges from Italian Matteo Manassero and compatriot Simon Dyson to win by one stroke.

Poulter stormed into the lead with a second round 10-under-par 60 and held on with rounds of 64 and a final 3-under 67 to finish with a 22-under-par total and earn his 10th European Tour title.

“It feels more than good,” said Poulter, who won the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in February.

“I think today, I actually played better to shoot 3-under than I did 10-under. I don’t think I’ve hit as many good golf shots as I did today in a long time. So it was nice, I felt calm all day. I felt as if I just kept going about my business, I’d make a few birdie putts and that would be enough to win – it’s very pleasing to do so.”

Poulter could even afford to bogey the final hole and wrap up the win from Manassero, who carded a superb 8-under-par 62 to move up six places on the

leaderboard, and Dyson who shot a 65 to move up one place.

Dyson emerged as Poulter’s main challenger after he went out in 30 but his putter fell cold on the back nine and with it his bid for glory faded. “I’m disappointed,” said Dyson. “I played lovely today, I just didn’t hole a thing on the back nine.

I got off to such a great start but my bogey on eight stopped me in my tracks a bit. “ Italian teenager Manassero was pleased with his performance which saw his good form continue having won his maiden title three weeks earlier in Spain.

“It was a fantastic day for me,” he said. “I started the day quite far behind – Poulter was at 19, I was on 13. I made some great shots, so I’m very happy with the way I played and the way I tried to catch the leaders.”

American Anthony Kang finished on 20-under-par in outright fourth place with Graeme McDowell taking fifth a stroke further back. Rory McIlroy, who was runner-up in last year’s tournament, finished in sixth place on 18-under-par.

WINNER: IAN POULTER CHEQUE: €301,447

WINNING SCORE: 22-UNDER-PAR – 258 (67,60,64,67) RUNNER-UP: SIMON DYSON, MATTEO MANASSERO – 259

FACT FILE

With his victory at the UBS Hong Kong Open Ian Poulter took his season earnings to €1,983,142 ahead of the Dubai World Championship – the most he has ever won in a single European Tour season.

IN-KYUNG KIM CHASES SORENSTAM RECORD IN DUBAI

I

N-Kyung Kim will be aiming to match Annika Sorenstam’s feat of back-to-back victories when she returns to defend her title at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, starting at Emirates Golf Club on December 6.

The world number seven from South Korea is riding high on confidence following her stunning victory at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Mexico in October but is well aware of the enormity of her task in trying to achieve the milestone. “With so many big names in the field, it would require extra effort to succeed,” said Kim ahead of the €500,000 season-ending Ladies European Tour event.

The talented Korean showed glimpses her fighting qualities when she beat off a strong challenge from American sensation Michelle Wie to make a winning debut in Dubai last year.

The duo will renew their rivalry when they join a strong field led by Laura Davies and Lee-Anne Pace, both multiple winners on the Ladies European Tour this season.

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Britain’s all-time great Davies and South Africa’s Pace are, at present, locked in an intense battle for the European Number One title with five wins each under their belt, and both could pose a serious threat to Kim’s ambitions.

“Certainly they will be the players to beat, but then there are many talented girls on the Tour who on their day can produce winning scores.

All I know I have to be at the top of my game if I aim to retain the title,” said the LPGA star, who has one win and 10 top-10 finishes to her name this season.

If Kim, who turned 22 in June, manages to win, she will equal Sorenstam’s record of successive wins which the ‘Super Swede’ recorded in 2006 and 2007.

The genial South Korean sounded a warning to her rivals when she fired an 8-under 64 to win the Lorena Ochoa Invitational for her third career title on the LPGA Tour.

She finished the tournament at 19-under

269, three strokes ahead of third round leader Suzann Pettersen.

The winner of the 2008 Longs Drugs Challenge and last year’s State Farm LPGA Classic, Kim is also assured of the Ryder Cup Wales Rookie of the Year award, having moved well ahead of second-placed Maria Hernandez of Spain in the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit for the current season.

Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of golf in DUBAi – the promoters and organisers of the event – is looking forward to another week of top class golf at Emirates Golf Club. “We look forward to welcoming our defending champion,” he said. “She is a great talent and it will be a treat to watch her graceful swing.

“With her victory last year, she has won many friends in Dubai and I think they will turn up in large numbers to cheer her up. I wish her and all other players in the field a pleasant stay in Dubai.”

Women's Golf Middle East

SEVEN QUALIFY FOR A SHOT AT THE INVITATIONAL COMPETITION was fierce last month as a field of 37 keen lady golfers battled to finish in the top seven spots on the leaderboard to earn a place in the Grand Final for a spot in The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah.

This preliminary qualifier was held at Arabian Ranches and it was Jocelyn Lirio and Angela Scurr who led the way with superb scores of net 69. Joining Lirio and Scurr at the final at Yas Link Abu Dhabi on January 12 will be Bernadete Futschik (71), Martha Wong (72), Tracey Karai (72), Riette

Cuciurean (73) and Agnes Anwar (73). !"#$%#&'(&$"))*+',-./'0 Junior player Julia Alhemoud, aged 11, 0(12' 03/4'(3564'13,,4'73., participated in the Ladies Qualifier after flying in from Kuwait with her father Abdulla Alhemoud to compete for a place in the Grand Final.

Julia is a very talented golfer who has reached her 18 handicap in less than 18 months. Julia played an exceptional game of golf, competing against a field of adults.

Unfortunately, Julia missed out on a place in the Grand Final by one point, scoring a net 74.

!8%+&99'7)"+: 0(12' 036/4'(36/4'136/4'73;//

Alcock wins at the Ranches DENISE Alcock scored 22 points at the first Par-3 event of the new series last month to win after defeating Jacqueline Campbell on a countback.

In third place Monina Gudaca beat Marike Shultz on another countback after both players had 21 points.

The Order of Merit will be run over the next three Par-3 events and points accumulated from this event will be carried forward. The top 16 point holders will be invited to take part in the Par-3 Final held in May and this will consist of 9 Holes on the Championship course.

Players are welcome to join in any of the events of the series and can play them individually or can try out for the Order of Merit as well.

UPCOMING EVENTS WGME Social Christmas Evening – December 9, 2010 at The Els Club, Dubai Sports City WGME Christmas Scramble – Yas Island Golf Club, Abu Dhabi December 14, 2010 WGME Par 3 Series at the Arabian Ranches Golf Club – December 19, 2010

Sandy Meyer’s

PROFESSIONAL TIP LEARN THE PACE

Learning how to read the pace of greens is important to avoid three putting.

Three and four putting usually happens not so much because the line is wrong, but the pace is wrong. Hitting a putt straight for the hole but far too hard will result in the ball (if it missed the hole) rolling way past and leaving you having to make an equally or more difficult putt back.

You can read pace on the greens by taking a good look at the grain and the slope. The slope you can see when you approach the green – also look for any undulations or hills around the green and from that you can get an idea if your putt is downhill or uphill.

Also when you step on a green you can see by its colour if you are putting with the grain or against the grain. If the green looks a lighter colour from the ball to the hole then the putt will be fast. If you step to the opposite side of the hole you will notice that the green is darker – if you were putting in this direction it would be slower.

When you have an idea of how fast the pace is stand behind the ball and imagine you have the ball in your hand. Now imagine rolling the ball up to the hole – this will give your brain an idea of how hard to stroke the ball when you stand over the ball at address. www.wwgolf.biz

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IN THE SWING WITH AMELIA MCKEE

BUNKER BASICS

O

ne of the first things I ask Amelia at the beginning of our lessons is to tell me about her recent rounds on the golf course. This conversation allows Amelia to express what shots have been hurting her on the course. In our recent lesson, Amelia expressed some concern with her bunker play and her putting. After listening to her problems, we headed straight over to the bunker and got to work!

CLAUDE HARMON III, DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION, BUTCH HARMON SCHOOL, DUBAI SPORTS CITY

1

2

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Many junior golfers struggle out of the sand because they don’t really understand the dynamics of the shot.

I explained to Amelia how her sand wedge is designed to work in the bunker. Most players know to open the sand wedge when hitting a bunker shot.

But most players don’t know why you need to open the face. We open the clubface in a bunker to utilise the bounce on the bottom of the club. By opening the face, the club can bounce through the sand, rather than dig. Amelia needed to use the bounce a bit more, so I advised her to open the clubface more at address.

Here I am using a rake to help Amelia get the feeling of having a steeper backswing on her bunker shots. Like many players, Amelia’s takeaway was far too low and wide off the ball. We need to have a steeper takeaway off the ball so that we can hit down on the sand.

Always remember, you are not hitting the ball in the bunker, you are hitting the sand. So you need a descending angle of attack into the ball. If your takeaway is too low and wide, you will come into the impact zone far too shallow, thus hitting too far behind the ball.

I see too many junior golfers swinging across the body during their sand shots. I drew an arrow in the sand and had Amelia try to follow the arrow down her target line. If you are swinging across your body on your bunker shots, this can cause your weight to go backward during your swing, making it difficult to get the ball up and out of the bunker.

By feeling she is swinging the club toward her target Amelia was able to get more extension through her shot, which in turn forced her weight to go more forward during her swing. Make sure you are finishing with most of your weight on your front foot during your bunker shots and try to throw the sand toward your target.

4

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The last area we worked on with Amelia was to make an improvement to her putter grip.

Her hands and wrists get very active during her stroke.

This is caused because Amelia uses her full swing grip during her putting stoke. So rather than employ an overlapping grip, Amelia made the change to use the reverse over lapping grip. By far the most popular putting grip and one that will help her hands work together as one specific unit.

Like most young juniors, Amelia struggles at times with her putting.

The main problem lies in her distance control. Most three putts are caused by not being able to control the distance of the first putt.

Players either hit the ball too hard or leave the ball short.

I had Amelia work on a distance control drill to help her gain better control of her putts. The drill consists of taking five balls, walking two steps away from the hole, and then placing the balls in a straight line, each about a step apart. Put a red line about a putter length behind the hole, or about two feet. You keep score by putting all five balls, if you make one you are one under. If you leave a ball short of the hole or hit the ball against the red line, you are one over. If you putt the ball past the hole and between the red line, you are even. The goal is to finish the drill even or under par. This is a great way to work on your speed control. www.wwgolf.biz

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Greg Norman Collection apparel now available at our flagship store in Dubai Mall and our on course partners & retail specialists : Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, Emirates Golf Club, The Els Club, Golf House, Go Sports, Dubai Duty Free and Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

TUTORIAL

BY RHYS BEECHER

PGA PROFESSIONAL SENIOR GOLF INSTRUCTION MANAGER THE ADDRESS MONTGOMERIE DUBAI

TO CHANGE TRAJECTORY AND SPIN, VARY YOUR FINISH THROUGHOUT a round of golf, a player will be presented with a number of circumstances where the best way to play the shot is to alter the ball flight. One of these alterations can be to the height or trajectory of a golf shot and is frequently referred to as, ‘shot-making’.

As golfers we often shy away from shotmaking, due to the complex swing and set-up changes we think are required. The key to quality shot making is to keep these changes simple! Remember you may have to alter from a high flying drive to a low flighted iron shot, in the space of just one hole. Any complex alterations in this time will surely lead to inconsistent results.

This month’s tutorial will focus on the high and low golf shot and how, through some simple steps, we can play the right shot the situation calls for.

Before we can adjust we must understand that height is determined not just by the loft on the golf club, but by clubhead speed and backspin imparted on the ball.

The more hand action we use throughout our swing the more clubhead speed we generate and the higher the golf shot.

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TUTORIAL

BY RHYS BEECHER

HIGH FINISH – HIGH BALL FLIGHT

Through varying our finish position we can therefore vary our ball flight. Remember the key is subtle changes; your playing partners shouldn’t know the low one is coming! Keep them guessing by changing your finish position to vary your shot height.

At set-up I have equally distributed my weight and positioned my golf ball forward of centre (with a 6-iron).

I have made a full backswing and now the focus is making an aggressive transition of weight into a longer full finish position.

I have finished my golf swing in a high position. To do this you will need more hand action. This generates more clubhead speed/ backspin and therefore delivers a higher ball flight.

If you need to hit a high shot and you’re between clubs, go with the shorter club and make an aggressive swing.

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PGA PROFESSIONAL  SENIOR GOLF INSTRUCTION MANAGER  THE ADDRESS MONTGOMERIE DUBAI

LOW FINISH – LOW BALL FLIGHT To play the low shot, I have taken one more club than I need and as you can see I have a made a shorter backswing. The focus now is to make a controlled follow through to a lower/shorter finish position.

My one set-up alteration for the low shot is to move my ball position to a central position in my stance. Try to avoid placing the ball back of centre. This is a common mistake.

BE CAREFUL – You still need to accelerate through the ball. If you don’t release the club, you’ll block the ball low to the right.

I have finished my golf swing in a low position. To do this you will need less hand action. This will reduce the backspin and lower the ball flight.

If the wind is against try taking an extra club and swinging to a short, more controlled finish position; the reduced backspin will reduce the impact the wind has on the ball.

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F R A M E B Y F R A M E A N A LY S I S O F S O M E O F T H E B E S T S W I N G S I N P R O F E S S I O N A L G O L F

By Claude Harmon III

Brought to you by

LEE WESTWOOD

DRIVING

FORCE

AT the start of November 2010, Lee Westwood finally knocked Tiger Woods off his perch at the top of the World Golf Ranking. Lee became the 13th player to reach World Number One and it should come as no surprise to anyone.

Without a doubt, Westwood has been the game’s most consistent player over the past few years. The only thing missing from the Englishman’s CV is a Major championship. To be honest, I still can’t believe Lee has yet to break into the Major champion category.

His game is complete, he is long off the tee, hits laser straight irons, his short game and putting have improved, and he is stronger and fitter than ever. I spent a few days working with Lee here at the BHSG last may and he is a joy to work with.

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SWING

F R A M E B Y F R A M E A N A LY S I S O F S O M E O F T H E B E S T S W I N G S I N P R O F E S S I O N A L G O L F Hours spent in the gym working on his fitness mean Lee’s set-up is athletic and strong.

Note how his arms hang naturally directly under his chin, which allows his set-up to be tension-free.

Lee really uses his left leg as a post during the downswing. As he starts his downswing move, he moves on to, or “posts up”, on his left leg. He drives forward on to his left side, which gives him loads of power.

As a natural fader of the ball, Lee keeps the club very much in front of the body here on the backswing. His chest and shoulders move the club away during his backswing. Westie works hard on his takeaway and it’s easily one of the best in the business.

Most people don’t know that Lee’s left arm is naturally bent, which means at impact he has to go down after the ball to make up for the slight bend in his left arm. A great example of working with a physical limitation and using it to the best advantage possible.

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This is the only place Westie can struggle. At times he loses too much flex in his right knee, which means his right leg straightens too much on the backswing. This can cause his shoulder turn to get short and makes it difficult for him to make a full turn going back.

All that gym work also means Lee can hit the ball hard and strong, yet use his strength to stabilise his body during his swing. You will rarely see Westie lose his balance on the course.

www.wwgolf.biz

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ARABIAN GOLF

WWG LOCAL FOCUS

EMIRATES GOLF FEDERATION

GOLF CLUBS IN DECEMBER 2010 WORLDWIDE GOLF DUBAI Emirates Golf Federation Al Badia Golf Club Arabian Ranches Golf Club Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club Emirates Golf Club The Address Montgomerie Dubai

SHARJAH Saif Zone Golf Society League Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club

AL AIN Al Ain Equestrain, Shooting & Golf Club

ABU DHABI Abu Dhabi City Golf Club Abu Dhabi Golf Club Al Ghazal Golf Club

RAS AL KHAIMAH Al Hamra Golf Club Tower Links Golf Club

BAHRAIN Royal Golf Club Bahrain

SAUDI ARABIA Dirab Golf & Country Club

QATAR Doha Golf Club

EGYPT Egyptian Golf Federation Maritim Golf & Resort Katameya Dunes Katameya Heights Golf & Tennis Resort Taba Heights Golf Resort International Pairs

The United Arab Emirates Golf Team (left to right) with General Secretary Adel Zarouni (third from the left): Abdullah Al Musharrekh, Khalid Yousuf and Ahmed Al Musharrrekh.

UAE FINISH 58TH IN EISENHOWER TROPHY THE UAE team rounded off their challenge in the World Amateur Team Championship for the Eisenhower Trophy with a final round 161 for a 480 total and 58th place overall in windy Buenos Aires, Argentina.

With gusts between 20-30mph blowing through the golf course, Khalid Yousuf closed with a 10-over-par 81 while Ahmed Al Musharrekh carded a 9-over 80 at the par71 Olivos Golf Club as UAE signed off with a 19-over-par final round in the championship which was reduced to 54 holes because of the poor weather. Abdullah Al Musharrekh, the third member of the team, struggled in the conditions and posted a 14-over-par 85.

The UAE team were 54th overnight and needed a strong final round to better their previous best finish which was 50th in the last edition held in Australia in 2008.

However, they found the conditions were not to their liking in South America and stumbled to a 52-over-par 480 total, well behind France who lifted the Eisenhower Trophy with an impressive score of 7-under-

par 423. The only crumb of comfort for the UAE team was that they finished ahead of the other two Middle East teams competing in the event as Egypt finished 61st and Qatar finished 82nd.

Yousuf emerged as the best UAE player with a 20-over-par total while Ahmed went 34-over and Abdullah returned with a 41-over-par total.

“We expected a better performance from our players, but they lacked consistency and then the bad weather made it even tougher,” said Khalid Mubarak, captain of the UAE team.

“I am sure they all must have learnt a lesson or two on how to stay focused when the going gets tough.

“Overall, it was a good experience for them. The tournament provided us with an opportunity to compete at the highest level.

“There was a great sense of camaraderie among the players and the event was very well organised. We look forward to returning to the tournament when it is played in Turkey in 2012.”

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CAPITAL DEBUT FOR INTERNATIONAL PAIRS

T

ECH Access International Pairs UAE made its Abu Dhabi debut last month as the members of Abu Dhabi City Golf Club competed for a coveted berth in the UAE National Final.

Fifty eight keen players put their skills to the test over one of the UAE’s oldest courses and Stuart Blan and Stuart Williams came out on top as they combined perfectly with two nines of 23 Stableford points for a huge 46-point total and a two-point victory over Nicolas van Blerk and Barber Murray.

The husband and wife pairing of Mark and Megan Hardeman won a back-nine countback to claim a creditable third place finish with their score of 42

points while the Nearest the Pin prizes were collected by Stuart Williams and Ronan Hall on hole 4 and Nigel Gales and Andrew Campbell on hole 7.

The Tech Access International Pairs UAE stays in Abu Dhabi for the third Qualifying event, which will take place at Abu Dhabi Golf Club on Friday December 17.

Tech Access International Pairs UAE Abu Dhabi City Golf Club Qualifier winners, Stuart Blan and Stuart Williams.

PAIRS WINNERS CRAWFORD AND ATKINS FORCED TO MISS NATIONAL FINAL

S

ANDY Crawford and Darryl Atkins won the Qualifier for a place in the inaugural Tech Access International Pairs UAE National Final but were forced to give up their spot in the field due to them being unavailable for the fixture in May next year.

This means the runners-up on the day, Ian Kelly and Denver Farrell, will take their spot in the National Final.

Crawford, who plays off 13, and his 16-handicap partner Atkins dovetailed perfectly to win by the narrowest of margins after they tied on 42 points with Kelly and Farrell.

After a card countback Crawford and Atkins were crowned the champions on the day but Kelly and Farrell were the real winners when they were told they were to replace the absent winners in the Final.

Tech Access International Pairs UAE, which is presented

by Cadillac, provides members of every club in the UAE with a chance to win their club Qualifier and subsequently earn a place in the National Final.

With a full field vying for the coveted prize, Crawford and Atkins got off to a fast start opening with two net birdies in the betterball format but it was on the back nine that Crawford in particular produced some excellent golf which included four net birdies and five net pars.

Despite solid nines of 21 points, Kelly and Farrell were left to rue some missed opportunities as they were forced to settle for second place.

Completing the podium in third place was the duo of Kevin Barrett and Tobias Parkin who might well have challenged for top honours but were undone by two net bogeys on holes 1 and 7.

The Nearest the Pin prizes were awarded to Denver Farrell and Peter Wilson for their respective efforts on holes 2 and 17.

Tech Access International Pairs UAE is presented by Cadillac and supported by EHL Management Services, Park Hyatt Dubai, Nike Golf, Worldwide Golf Magazine, Sport 360 and UAE Golf Online.

Tech Access International Pairs UAE Arabian Ranches Golf Club Qualifier runnersup, Ian Kelly and Denver Farrell, pictured with ARGC Captain, Andy Burrow.

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79

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LOCATION: Emirates Hills, Interchange 5 Sheikh Zayed Road, opposite the Hard Rock Café.

ARABIAN GOLF

CONTACT: (04) 380 2222 egc@dubaigolf.com Book online tee times at www.dubaigolf.com

EMIRATES GOLF CLUB

INFO: Majlis Course – 1988 Faldo Course – 1996, re-designed in 2006 Courses: Majlis – 18 holes, Par 72, 7,211 yards, Championship course.

Faldo Course – 18 holes, Par 72, 7,433 yards.

DESIGNERS: Majlis Course – Karl Litten Faldo course – Sir Nick Faldo

PLAYERS VIE FOR SPOT IN OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC LEADING professionals and amateurs from in and around the UAE will vie for a place in the field of the 2011 Omega Dubai Desert Classic when the qualifying round gets underway at the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course on Sunday, January 23.

The 18-hole qualifier will see both professionals and amateurs compete in their respective divisions from the championship tees in a strokeplay format and the winner in each category will join a galaxy of superstars, led by Tiger Woods, in the longest-running European Tour event outside Europe.

The qualifying round provides the regional talent – both UAE and non-UAE golfers – a rare opportunity to compete at the highest level of competition.

Entries are invited from all golfers, including UAE PGA professional members of categories 1 and 4, Arab golf professionals who are members of their respective National PGA or similar body recognised by The European Tour.

It is also open to amateurs who are full members of a golf club or the Emirates Golf Federation’s Handicap Scheme or Arab nationals who hold a handicap of scratch or better.

Interested golfers may visit the official tournament website: www. dubaidesertclassic.com for online registration at the earliest to avoid the last-minute rush.

The 2010 qualifier saw Stephen Deane (pro) of Emirates Golf Club and Miki Mirza (am) of the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, earn the rights to play in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic after an absorbing contest at the Majlis course.

Deane shot a gross 4-over-par 76 to win by one shot from his nearest challengers while Mirza settled the issue in a tense play-off against Bahrain’s Nasser Yacoob after both were tied at 2-over-par 74 in regulation.

Both players, however, missed the cut at the 2010 Omega Dubai Desert Classic, but the experience of rubbing shoulders with an elite field, spearheaded by golfing legend Tom Watson, has given them a big boost to

Stephen Deane (professional) and Miki Mirza (amateur) with Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn and tournament director Adrian Flaherty after winning the 2010 Omega Dubai Desert Classic qualifier. their confidence. Mirza, who since has reduced to his handicap down to +3, will once again be the player to beat.

“The Omega Dubai Desert Classic Qualifying round provides a perfect platform for all golfers of the region to showcase their skills and win a rare ticket to play in this prestigious event on The European Tour,” said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of golf in Dubai. “Being able to play in the company of some of the world’s greatest golfers is something many golfers – especially amateurs – dream of. We welcome all golfers – both UAE and nonUAE and professionals and amateurs – to be a part of this qualifier.”

WRIGHT TRIUMPHS IN SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP JONATHAN Wright produced a fantastic performance over the Majlis course to clinch the Seniors Championship with a 76.

Commencing his round on the 10th, he dropped three shots on his opening nine with bogeys on holes 12, 15 and 16. Further shots were dropped on holes 2 and 4 but a birdie on the 530-yard third hole and five straight pars to finish earned him a victory over playing partner Mick Brett.

Brett was one of four players who scored a 79 but took the runner-up spot following a card countback. Vipen Sethi secured third place following a countback over the final six holes while Iain Everingham, also one of the quartet who signed for a 79, took top prize in the over 60’s category.

The net category also produced a winner by three shots as Nigel Sale’s 66 was the best of the day with Stathis Stathis (69) in second and Anand Lakhiani (70) in third.

Champion Jonathan Wright and Club Captain Doug Dowie.

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LOCATION: Deira, opposite Deira City Centre.

ARABIAN GOLF

DUBAI CREEK GOLF & YACHT CLUB

CONTACT: Tel : + 9714 295 6000 dcgyc@dubaigolf.com Book online tee times at www.dubaigolf.com

INFO: First Open 1993, redesigned in 2005.

Course: 18 holes, Par 71, 6,857 yards, Championship course.

Original Designer: Karl Litten.

Redesign: European Golf Design in association with Thomas Björn.

SFEILA AND ABOUCHACRA BLOW AWAY THE FIELD RABIH Sfeila and Paul Abouchacra stormed to victory at the November Carpetland Monthly Open, gelling superbly to card a better ball score of 8-under-par net 63 for a five-stroke victory over Karl Kikuts and Martin Hunt.

The father and son duo of Hugh and Mark Bishop secured third place with a net 69 courtesy of a card countback and they secured their invite - along with the top two pairs - to compete in the grand final in May next year.

“We are very pleased to announce that Carpetland will be donating funds on behalf of every player participating in every Carpetland Monthly Open event, towards supporting the efforts of the Friends of Cancer Patients charity,” said Shariar Khodjasteh, Group Marketing Director of Alqili Furnishings at the prize presentation ceremony. “We trust that the golfing community of the UAE will be very supportive of this great initiative to raise funds and awareness for this cause where the money raised will go towards providing medical, financial and moral support to Cancer patients and their families in the UAE.” Dr. Sawsan Al Madhi, Secretary General Friends of Cancer Patients, said: “It’s scientifically proven that sports lower the risk of getting cancer, golf is no

exception to this and FOCP is proud to be part of the prestigious Monthly Open tournament organised by Carpetland. Our aim is to create awareness about early detectable cancers and the role sport plays as one aspect of healthy life style in lowering the risk of cancer and improving the well-being of an individual.”

RED-HOT RAWAT WINS INDIAN GOLF TOURNAMENT

SHANKAR BY A WHISKER Narendra Rawat is pictured with Indian Consul General Sanjay Verma, Collin Scott and K.J. Singh at the presentation ceremony.

NARENDRA Rawat produced a strong back nine to win the 14th Indian Independence Day Cup tournament, organised by the Indian Golfers Society recently.

A ‘weekend golfer ‘like many others in the field, Rawat scored a solid 35 points – including 20 on the back nine – to secure the biggest win of his golfing career.

“I think my four gross pars on the back nine were crucial,” said Rawat, who defeated Ghanshyam Manghnani by three shots in Division ‘B’ with Serifa D’Souza, the talented daughter of Sergy D’Souza, posting a creditable third-place finish.

On a day when it was humid enough for a sauna, Sergy D’Souza and Rakesh Shah left many in the field

Mark Bryant, Business Development Manager for Carpetland (r) and David Gray, Golf Services Manager at Dubai Creek (l) present Rabih Sfeila and Paul Abouchacra with their trophies.

marveling in awe at their insatiable appetite for golf.

The duo first played 18 holes in the first round of the Shaikh Rashid Trophy at Badia Golf and Club and then drove straight to the Creek in time for the 1pm shotgun start.

They were rewarded for their endurance with D’Souza winning the Division ‘A’ (0-14 handicap) title with 35 points while Shah walked away with the overall Best Gross prize.

Suneel Aggarwal had to settle for the second place in Division ‘A’, one shot behind D’Souza, while Vaibhav Jain (33) took the third place while Anand Lakhiani made his presence felt in the tournament, winning the Senior Division title for golfers aged 55 and above with a 31-point haul.

ADHIP Shankar won the overall BMW November Medal and the men’s Division ‘A’ with a solid score of net 71 but required a card countback to pip Ashok Kumar to the title by 0.5 strokes.

In the men’s Division ‘B’ Ramon Navea carded a net 72 to win outright with Alok Pant finishing second with a net 74. Janish Kumar had to settle for third place after losing out to Pant on a card countback.

Joy Lirio won the ladies division with a net 78 and the overall lowest gross on the day was a 4-over-par 75 from Vikram Judge.

BMW medal winner Adhip Shankar receives the BMW trophy from Club Vice Captain Joseph Andrade and David Gray, Golf Services Manager at Dubai Creek.

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LOCATION: Emirates Road (311) in the heart of Arabian Ranches.

CONTACT: Tel : +971 4 366 3000 Tel : +971 4 366 3355

ARABIAN GOLF

ARABIAN RANCHES GOLF CLUB

INFO: Arabian Ranches Golf Club

opened its doors in February, 2004 and was built as a true 18 holes, par 72 desert-style grass course, a signature course designed by Ian Baker-Finch in association with Nicklaus Design.

COURSE: Championship Course 7691-yard par 72.

DOUGHERTY AND FULLERTON CROWNED NOVEMBER MEDAL CHAMPIONS TONY Dougherty (3) returned a gross 3-over par 75 to win the November Rivoli Monthly Medal supported by Ecco and Speed Cleaning as he lived up to his reputation as one of the club’s most consistent players with nines of 37 and 38.

However, his victory wasn’t as clearcut as he required a card countback to defeat John Mills and Xavier Farrington and take the top spot.

After all cards were compared Dougherty prevailed with Mills taking second place from Farrington thanks to his better back nine.

“I am happy with my performance

today because this is a special event to win,” said Dougherty after his round.

The net round of the day belonged to Division ‘B’ champion Graham Alban (21) who shot a gross 88 for a net 67 and a two shot win over Jett Smith.

In the Ladies Division, Club Captain Adrienne Fullerton won the gross title with a solid 82 while the net title went to Bea Wallace with a 2-under-par 70.

“This was a very exciting event with all the Men battling for a place in the Singles Matchplay Championship,” said Golf Manager Francois Wolfaardt.

“With only 10 players qualifying each month, the next Rivoli Monthly Medal

in December will be even more thrilling with it being the last opportunity to qualify.”

Lady Captain Adrienne Fullerton is pictured with her fellow winners at the November Medal.

YAMIN-ALI AND YAKUB STORM TO SUCCESS

THOMAS TAKES THE LEAD IN THE AQUAVENTURE JUNIOR GOLF SERIES RAYHAN Thomas set the pace in the opening event of the Aquaventure Junior Golf Series with a superb level par 27 which saw him take home 100 Order of Merit points.

Forty children between the ages of seven and 16 turned up to stake their claim to become the first Champion of the Series and following on from his success in the PGA Series, Thomas (Dubai Creek) kept up his form with birdies on holes 5, 6 and 8 en route to victory.

The runner-up spot was closely contested with par-3 specialist Dhruv Nair edging out the promising Jai Bhalla through a card play-off after both players shot 30.

Nair also showcased his talents at the third hole when he struck the ball from 92 yards to within five feet of the hole to win the Nearest the Pin prize.

The lowest net score was achieved by Adnan Kamal (13) who shot 32 which gave him a remarkable total of 19.

MARK Yamin-Ali (4) and Shabir Yakub (4) scored 48 Stableford points to win the Toyota Betterball of Partners event in November after nines of 25 and 23 gave them a 5-point victory over Peter Boland and Daniel Aguho.

The winner’s carded five net birdies and one eagle on the opening nine and then came home with three further birdies and another eagle to complete their round.

Both men shared the responsibilities equally with each contributing on nine holes during the round. The pair used the Betterball format to perfection and never scored worse than a net par.

In the Ladies/Mixed Division Tony (12) and Ksenia Grayling (19) continued their dominance of team events and took the spoils with a superb score of 49 Stableford points.

WALLACE WINS ECCO LADIES MONDAY SOCIAL BEA Wallace produced a superb display to win the October Monday Ladies Social sponsored by Ecco by two points from her closest rivals.

Wallace returned 36 Stableford points to top the pile ahead of Riette Cuciurean and Tracy Karai who both scored 34. A countback was required to separate the pair and it was Cuciurean who took second place on the podium after the cards were compared.

There could not have been a more popular winner amongst the ladies than Wallace as she had just commenced her term as Vice-Captain. She scored 18 points on both the front and back nines after playing well from tee to green and some solid putting.

(left to right) Natalie Lucas, Riette Cuciurean, Bea Wallace and Tracy Karai.

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ARABIAN GOLF

JEBEL ALI GOLF RESORT & SPA

LOCATION: The resort course is situated within the idyllic grounds of Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa, approximately 40 minutes away from Dubai city centre, exit 13 on Sheikh Zayed highway.

INFO: First opened 1997.

CONTACT: Tel : +971 4 8836000

DESIGNER: Peter Harradine.

COURSE: Championship standard 9 hole course – par 36.

ANGELA SCURR HITS TOP FORM TO WIN THE ‘HARRADINE OIS GOLF DAY’ FORMER multiple Amateur Ladies Championship winner Angela Scurr made a welcome return to form as she waltzed to victory in the Harradine Orient Irrigation Services Golf Day recently.

Having been involved in golf management in the UAE for many years, Scurr finds little time to play golf these days. However, after threatening to quit the game recently following a dismal spell of form she reminded herself – and everyone in the field – that talent is permanent as she cruised to victory with an impressive winning total of 36 Stableford points.

The Harradine Orient Irrigation Tournament, sponsored by the world-renowned course designer Peter Harradine, is held annually on the Resort Course at Jebel Ali and is just one of the many courses built and designed by the leading golf course architect in the Gulf region.

Comprising of a full field of players, the all-day tournament included Peter’s golf industry partners,

Harradine Golf and Orient Irrigation employees and many of the friends he has accumulated after over 30 years of living and working in the UAE. In the Divisional prizes Andrew Wick took the spoils in Division ‘A’ on 33 points, one clear of Andy Pilford while Worldwide Golf’s David Burke romped to a two-point win over Frank Mason in Division ‘B’ after scoring 32 points.

The prize presentation and barbeque was highlighted by a typically energetic and straight from the shoulder speech from Harradine as he belatedly celebrated his 65th birthday which was just a few days prior to the tournament.

Harradine thanked his many business colleagues, partners and friends during his brief speech and then paid tribute to the invaluable support he receives each year from Swiss International Airlines who again provided two business class tickets as the main prizes in the after party draw.

Prizegiving time for ‘Birthday Boy’ Peter Harradine as he hands out the prizes to Worldwide Golf’s David Burke (below, left) and Angela Scurr (below, centre) before making an impression on his two enormous birthday cakes.

LOCATION: Just off the 5th Interchange of Sheik Zayed Road towards Emirates Hills. Follow signs for Emirates Hills and then follow signs for The Address Montgomerie, Dubai.

ARABIAN GOLF

THE ADDRESS MONTGOMERIE DUBAI

CONTACT: Tel: +9714 390 5600 Fax: +9714 360 8981

COURSE: 18 hole Championship; 7,308 yard par 75 from the Black Pearl tees; 6,753 yard par 72 from the Sapphire tees; 6,172 yard par 69 from the Emerald tees; 5,401 yard par 71 from the Ruby tee 9-hole Academy Course.

INFO: Opened October 2002

DESIGNER: Colin Montgomerie

BROWN TRIUMPHS AT LADIES OPEN

Ladies Captain Jane Gray presents Gross winner Lindsay Brown with her prize.

THE 2010 Ladies Open sponsored by Nivea and AGMC BMW showed just how far junior golf has come in Dubai as Lindsay Brown triumphed with a superb two-day total gross 151.

After day one Brown held the lead alongside fellow junior Nasha Sarkari with a 76 and after nine holes of the second round they still could not be separated. The battle remained tight until the 15th hole when Sarkari bogeyed and after Brown made a par she never looked back, holding on for a memorable victory.

In the net category another junior - Serifa D’Souza - bested the field by four shots to take home the prize with a superb come-frombehind victory thanks to a second round 63.

RASHEED PIPS CAPTAIN TO BMW STABLEFORD QAMAR Rasheed edged out Club Captain Richard Smith and Keith Stacey by one point to win the Men’s ‘A’ Division in the second BMW Stableford event of the season.

In the Ladies ‘A’ division Rita Walker defeated Jackie Allinson by a stroke to take the honours while Joumana Petridis defeated Alisa McMenemy by four strokes to win Division ‘B’.

All the winners collect their prizes.

AL BADIA GOLF CLUB

LOCATION: Dubai Festival City - Al Badia – Dubai

COURSE: Par 72 Championship Course with four teeing options.

CONTACT: Tel: +971 (0) 4 601 0101 Fax: +971 (0) 4 601 0102, Email: albadiagolf@ichdfc.ae

ARMSTRONG AND GUEST WIN THE NOVEMBER OFFICELAND OPEN AS the weather conditions start to turn more favourable the competition in the November Officeland Open was fierce as a spot in the April Grand Final was up for grabs and it was Brett Armstrong and John Guest who prevailed in the two-player team Stableford event after a countback victory.

Armstrong and Guest carded 43 points but their better back nine saw them win from Tim Swain and Ross Maclean who in turn defeated Randeep Singh and Gurbax Singh on a countback.

Al Badia Golf Service Assistant Manager, Cahal Altman (l), winners Brett Armstrong and John Guest and Al Aqili Furnishing’s Shariar Khodjasteh.

GUEST STRIKES TWICE IN TWO DAYS ONE day after clinching the November Officeland Open, John Guest secured the overall winners prize in the Al Badia Monthly Medal thanks to a superb score of net 63.

Mark Holman provided an outstanding performance by winning the Gross prize with a 75 while Anish Bhatia won Division ‘A’ with a net 65 and Robert David took Division ‘B’ with a 66.

Overall Winner John Guest (left) and Academy Professional Mathew Parker.

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85

GOLF SOCIETY LEAGUE

LEAGUE STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 2 SAIF - ZONE LEAGUE

PLAYED

WON

LOST

TIED

POINTS

Indian Golf Society

4

3

0

1

10

KEGS 1

4

3

0

1

10

KEGS 2

4

3

1

0

9

Mott MacDonald 1

4

1

2

1

4

Mott MacDonald 2

4

0

3

1

1

Darjeeling Golf Society

4

0

4

0

0

PLAYED

WON

LOST

TIED

Etihad Pilots Golf Society

4

3

1

0

9

Gulf Rock

4

3

1

0

9

Dubai ExPutts 1

4

2

1

1

7

TOILers

4

1

1

2

5

Halcrow Golf Society

4

1

3

0

3

Dubai Exputts 2

4

0

3

1

1

PLAYED

WON

LOST

TIED

Massin Golf Society

4

3

1

0

9

FIGME

4

2

1

1

7

Filipino Golf Society

4

2

1

1

7

DUBAL Golf Society

4

2

1

1

7

Korean Golf Society

4

1

2

1

4

The Lions

4

0

4

0

0

PLAYED

WON

LOST

TIED

EPC Hole Diggers

4

3

1

0

9

Sharjah Golfing Buddies

4

3

1

0

9

WedgeHogz

4

3

1

0

9

Dubai Divots

4

2

2

0

6

Women’s Golf Middle East

4

1

3

0

3

Lebanese Golf Society

4

0

4

0

0

BMW LEAGUE

WORLDWIDE GOLF LEAGUE

SGSC LEAGUE

POINTS

POINTS

POINTS

GOLF SOCIETY NEWS

SOCIETY LEAGUES BEGIN TO TAKE SHAPE

T

and Gulf Rock tied at the top of the BMW HE second round results of the SAIF Zone League with 9 points.

Golf Society League supported by BMW and The second round of fixtures in the Worldwide Golf followed in the same vein as Worldwide Golf and Sharjah Golf & Shooting Round 1 with two societies tied at the top in each of Club were an extremely even affair with four the SAIF-Zone and BMW Leagues. of the six teams sharing the points and six of KEGS 2 produced the only whitewash of the day the 12 matches running right down to the in the SAIF-Zone League as they beat The Darjeeling 18th hole.

Golf Society with 2up and 3&1 victories and as a Only the Dubai Divots and Dubal result Darjeeling now lie bottom of the league with achieved two wins from their two matches zero points. to accumulate a maximum six-point return KEGS 1 played it safer with one win and one half against Mott MacDonald 2 while Mott MacDonald 1 shattered The Indian Golfers Society’s unbeaten record by halving one of their matches. Amit Pateria (13) and Suneel Aggarwal (11) ensured the IGS still carded one convincing victory with a 3&2 win.

The performance of the day came in the BMW League as The TOILers pairing of Mike Holliday (9) and Kenny Martin (24) enjoyed a 6&5 win over their opponents in the Dubai ExPutts 2.

The BMW League’s other matches remained very balanced with Dubai ExPutts 1 winning one and losing one against Halcrow and similarly Gulf Rock winning one and losing one against The Etihad Pilots Golf Society.

The SAIF-Zone League table remains the same with Indian Golfers Society and KEGS 1 tied at the The top two teams from each league progress to the top of the with 10 points and Etihad Pilots Society knock out stages which commence in March, 2011.

GOLF SOCIETY LEAGUE

against the Lebanese Golf Society and The Lions Golf Society respectively. The results see the Massin Golf Society lead the Worldwide Golf League by two points from the two Filipino Golf Societies and Dubal.

In the SGSC pool the EPC Hole Diggers, Sharjah Golfing Buddies and the WedgeHogz all sit in a share of the top spot with nine points. Dubai Divots are fourth on six points but this league is likely to open up over the next few rounds of fixtures as the leaders are set to play each other.

2010/11 SAIF ZONE GOLF SOCIETY LEAGUE FIXTURE CALENDAR DATE

EVENT

TIME

DECEMBER 2010

Sat 11th Sat 18th

BMW & Saif Zone Leagues SGSC & Worldwide Golf Leagues

13.00 shotgun 13.00 shotgun

JANUARY 2011

Sat 15th Sat 22nd

BMW & Saif Zone Leagues SGSC & Worldwide Golf Leagues

13.00 shotgun 13.00 shotgun

FEBRUARY 2011

Sat 12th Sat 26th

BMW & Saif Zone Leagues SGSC & Worldwide Golf Leagues

13.00 shotgun 13.00 shotgun

MARCH 2011

Sat 5th

Quarter Finals

13.00 shotgun

Sat 2nd Sat 16th

Semi Finals Grand Final and 3rd/4th play-off match

13.00 shotgun 13.00 shotgun

APRIL 2011

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87

ARABIAN GOLF

SHARJAH GOLF & SHOOTING CLUB

DONG ADDS THE SOUTH KOREAN TOUCH AT SHARJAH GOLF’S South Korean challenge, spearheaded by the ladies several years ago, is now being followed by the men and the arrival in the UAE of Dong Kyon Lee as a teaching professional at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club is also breaking new ground.

The 30-year-old began his duties at the Club last month, providing private tuition to Koreanspeaking clients, six evenings a week, which is a measure of the number of Korean golfers currently in the UAE. I met the likeable Dong at the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates the day before the start of the Dubai World Championship. He was there to watch two of his heroes and fellow countrymen, Y.E. Yang and Seung-yul Noh, play a practice round together in preparation for the big day.

Noh got off to a flier on Day One of the Championship, taking second place on the leaderboard with an opening round 66 – just one shot behind the first day leader and eventual winner, Robert Karlsson.

Noh finished in a share of ninth in the Dubai World Championship and 34th in the final Race to Dubai ranking. The 2009 US PGA Champion Yang opened with a 71 and finished the Championship tied 13th which put him three places behind Noh in The 2010 Race to Dubai.

Dong, recruited by Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club Director of Golf Martin Duff to play a similar teaching role to his previous one in the UK, was pleased to see his compatriots playing so well in the Championship and he believes that there will be many more South Koreans rising to the top in world golf. “Women golfers from South Korea are dominating the world game at the moment but it

PGA Teaching Professional Dong Kyon Lee pictured at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club and his fellow South Koreans, Y.E. Yang (below left) and Seung-yul Noh (below right) pictured competing at the Dubai World Champioship on Greg Norman’s Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

has not been so easy for the men,” says Dong, who is an accomplished tournament golfer and has won a number of events in the UK. He finished third in his first event in the UAE, shooting 76 and 68 in the recent Sharjah Wanderers Men’s Open.

“In South Korea men have to do their National Service but it is a little easier now that they are allowed to do it between the ages of 18 and 35,” says Dong. “Many young golfers are now choosing to serve their two years in their thirties to enable them to start a golfing career.”

Dong gained his British PGA degree in 2008 at The Belfry, home to so many dramatic Ryder Cup encounters. He has worked at the World of Golf at New Malden, Chessington Golf Centre, Silvermore Golf Club in London and at Leatherhead Golf Club in Surrey.

“I enjoyed my golfing education in England and I feel very privileged to have been given this opportunity at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club,” said Dong. “The UAE is world famous for its golf clubs and I am really enjoying working here. The people are very friendly and everyone has made me feel very welcome.”

“Dong has an extensive knowledge of modern coaching methods as well as a rounded equipment and custom-fitting knowledge and we are very pleased to have him with us at Sharjah,” commented Martin Duff.

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LOCATION: 2km from Tasjeel Auto Village behind Emirates Road. A five minute drive from University City.

INFO: A 9-hole fully floodlit course designed by Peter Harradine.

Played twice results in a par-72 layout in excess of 7,300 yards.

CONTACT: Tel: +971 6 548 7777 info@golfandshootingshj.com

GOLDEN KIM AND NORMITA DEMESA TRIUMPH

ROY HOLMES STRIKES AGAIN TWO weeks after securing the first Orient Travel – Malaysia Truly Asia Monthly Medal of the new season, South African Roy Holmes (8) made it back-to-back victories at the November medal thanks to a steady net 71.

Holmes carded three net birdies and two net bogeys which helped him to a two-stroke victory over Kyo Nam (13) with Pieter Botha (3) finishing third with a 76.

Holmes has a big lead at the top of the Order of Merit, currently leading his nearest rival by 20 points.

THE husband and wife pairing of Golden Kim (23) and Normita Demesa (29) teamed up to win the front nine competition of the BMW Members and Guest Social last month thanks to a superb net 29. Kim carded four net birdies and Demesa had three as they romped to victory.

The back nine format was a shambles Stableford which was won by Pranav Vora (8) and Praveen Sharma (21) who scored 23 Stableford points thanks in no small part to their haul of six net birdies.

Pranav Vora, Normita Demesa, Golden Kim Long hitting South African Ricky and Ricky Dominguez. Dominguez (0) won both the Nearest the Pin and the Longest Drive prize for the day.

JP SIMON FINDS FORM

Roy Holmes, Kyo Nam, Amiya Ranjan and Pieter Botha.

JP SIMON (15) won his first Kempinski Hotel Ajman medal with a net 33 thanks to superb net birdies on holes 3, 4 and 8 which helped him seal a countback victory over JW Choi (16).

Finishing a shot behind the front two was Korean golfer Kyo Nam (13) as he had five net birdies but offset them with three bogeys to settle for third place.

AL AIN EQUESTRIAN, SHOOTING & GOLF CLUB LINDSAY BROWN REIGNS SUPREME IN MIXED OPEN LINDSAY Brown produced some of the golf of her life to leave the opposition in her wake in the 2010 Mixed Open. Lindsay found herself five clear after day one with an outstanding score of 71 which will stand as the new ladies’ course record and she held her nerve on the final day with a 77 for a 148 total and a five shot win ahead of Bryan Banner.

Banner, who represents the Emirates Golf Federation, bounced back from a disappointing first round of 81 to shoot 72 on day two to seal second place and stake his claim as top visitor. Local favourite Edwin Scheepers finished on the same total but got demoted into third, losing out with an inferior second round.

The overall Net spoils were won by the EGF’S Lloyd Phillip Jeffery as his scores of 71 and 60 was enough to see off home player Shaun Adams by a single stroke while Vice Captain Scott Cotter had to settle for third place with a score of 134.

Division ‘A’ honours went to burly Scotsman Stuart Mitchell after net scores of 72 and 65 gave him a two-shot cushion over compatriot

James Doig while Division ‘B’ was decided on a countback with Keith Belshaw coming up trumps ahead of Chris Emerson with two fantastic scores of 70, 67.

Ladies honours went to Yas Links member Sharon Hall as she edged out the Ladies Captain Jenny Brown – the proud mother of the overall champion.

Lindsay Brown and Lloyd Jeffrey pose with their trophies after their wins in the Mixed Open.

LOCATION: Al Ain PO Box 1471 United Arab Emirates CONTACT: Tel : +971 3 7026400 Fax: +971 3 7683331 golf@palmsportsresort.com

INFO: The Championship Golf Course offers a picturesque and challenging experience for all golfers. The professionally designed par 71 course measures 6612 yards from the black tees and 6129 from the blue tees.

CLEMENT MUSTCHIN IMPROVES AFTER A SPLENDID WEEKEND CLEMENT Mustchin had a weekend to remember as he posted scores which earned him first, second and fourth place finishes on consecutive competition days to earn a quick handicap cut.

He finished second at the Thursday Social, one point behind winner Wayne Whitney, and then won Division ‘C’ of the November Monthly Medal on the following day with 41 Stableford points. Talbot Turner won Division ‘B’ with a net 68 while Sean Toland topped Division ‘A’ with a gross 80 for a net 71 and a two-stroke victory over Lindsay Brown.

Mandy Taylor followed up her fine third place in the Monthly Medal with a spectacular round on Handicap Day shooting a net 60 off her 27 handicap while Michael Flemming had a round of net 66 off his 17 handicap to take second spot. Sharon Cotgrave was third with a great 67 net which pushed out Mustchin and Keith Cameron into fourth and fifth place respectively on a card countback. www.wwgolf.biz

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CONTACT: Tel : +9712 558 8990

ARABIAN GOLF

ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB NEW CAPTAINS WELCOMED IN STYLE

INFO: The 27 hole championship course, managed by the world-renowned Troon Golf, weaves through undulating terrain that features palms, ornamental trees and shrubs, as well

as seven spectacular saltwater lakes.

The experience provides a tough-but-fair challenge, with lush fairways, strategically placed bunkers and generous greens.

Designed by Peter Harradine, planting had begun way back in 1992, accounting for the well-established look the Club presented even on the day of its inauguration.

The new Club Captains pose in their new blazers at the prize presentation ceremony alongside outgoing Captain Jack McGuiness.

TONY Martin and Shawn Lunday were welcomed into their roles as Men’s and Ladies Captains for the new season with Mike Larter and Pascale Michel taking up the Vice Captaincies.

To mark the beginning of the new campaign the inaugural “Incoming Captains Vs Outgoing Captains” team match play tournament was held. Representing the outgoing Captains Team was Jack McGuiness but unfortunately Sue Henderson was unable to attend the event due to her sudden move back to the UK. Therefore it was left to McGuiness to start the day with the traditional “putt-out” on the 18th green before Martin and Lunday hit their opening tee shots to a round of applause from a crowd of club members gathered around the first tee.

The individual competition in the Men’s Division saw Mazen Ali take the top spot with 41 Stableford points, narrowly beating Klaus Tebrake with Chris Morgan taking third place on 39.

The Ladies Division was won by Anne-Maria De Beer who scored 38 points, two ahead of Cathy Feron with Joan McGuinnes in third on 34 points.

The team competition was won by the In-Coming Captain’s Team who scored an overall points total of 1226 to beat the Out-Going Captains Team who scored 1169.

HENDRY GOES LOW TO WIN KENTZ JUNIOR OPEN DANIEL Hendry shot a superb 75 to win the 2010 Kentz Open by three strokes from his fellow Emirates Golf Club member Philip Urasch to make up for missing out on the title at the hands of Joel Neale last season.

Ronan Hall from Yas Links Abu Dhabi won the net Category for 0-18 handicappers with an excellent score of 75 while Sana Tufail of ADGC took the girl’s gross prize with an 83.

Rounding off the competition was Darren Hall who triumphed in the boy’s Second Division with a 34 point haul, pipping Harry Baldock to the title by virtue of his better back nine.

KELLYS TRIUMPH IN SEASON OPENER THE 2010/2011 season kicked off with a Member’s Welcome Tournament and in the testing weather conditions it was Dick and Joanne Kelly who took the honours with a score of 45 Stableford points.

The Kellys won by one stroke from Kevin Jamieson and Jamie Shepherd with Thomas Bower and Laurie Burkhardt taking third.

MORGAN SECURES RIVOLI STABLEFORD CHRIS Morgan secured top spot in the Men’s ‘A’ Division in the Rivoli Stableford held in October with an outstanding haul of 39 points.

Finishing second, four points behind Morgan, was Maqsood Ahmed and John Hartley and it was Ahmed who was awarded second place outright after a back nine card countback.

Division ‘B’ saw Joseph Holland cruise to victory as his superb 41 point haul saw him finish ahead of James Harvey and Robert Schwarz on 38 and 37 points resepectively.

Heike Kessler finished on top in the Ladies Division with 32 points followed by Sana Tufail with 29 and Fiona Nottingham who scored 25.

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CONTACT: Tel: +971 2 445 9600 Fax: +971 2 443 32 25 office@adcitygolf.ae

ARABIAN GOLF

ABU DHABI CITY GOLF CLUB

INFO: The 27 hole championship course, managed Located in the Al Mushrif area, in the heart of the city, Abu Dhabi City Golf Club is a 9-hole golf course that offers a challenging game to beginners and experienced players alike.

ABU DHABI CITY GOLF CLUB DRIVING FORWARD

A

bu Dhabi City Golf Club is leading the way in encouraging youngsters and beginners to take up the game. With the introduction this month of their new state-of-the-art, two-tier driving range – the first in the UAE – and their technologically advanced swing room they are busier than ever.

For all inner-city golf clubs space is naturally tight but forward-thinking Abu Dhabi City Golf Club have almost doubled their driving range facilities with 18 driving bays on the first floor and 16 bays on the ground floor.

They have 34 ‘True Strike Mats – a groundbreaking mat which gives a true ‘grass-like’ feel through impact and significantly reduces damaging shock and vibration to the golfer. This aid is particularly beneficial to the beginner and is another first in the UAE for Abu Dhabi City Golf Club.

Another huge advantage for newcomers is the use of the V1 Online Academy in conjunction with the V1 Pro Swing Analysis software which enables the Club to send every student a detailed video of their lesson, with the voice of the Club’s PGA Pro talking them through it.

While the cost of playing golf in the UAE remains a serious drawback in attracting new blood into the sport Abu Dhabi City Golf Club have maintained their price structure and taken a realistic approach to the sport.

“We have created an enjoyable, relaxed atmosphere here, where newcomers to golf don’t feel the least bit intimidated at trying their hand at the game,” says Head Teaching PGA Professional, Steve Johns.

“We know our place and we are well aware of the fact that we cannot compete with some of the other golf clubs in Abu Dhabi and the UAE. But we know how to make the most of what we’ve got and we’re very proud of what we’ve achieved so far.”

Steve can say that with some justification.

They’ve taken the game to a broader target audience and the results have been very rewarding. Around 300 children a week play at the Club and the two-tier driving range is attracting companies and schools – sectors which are booking up an entire floor for their pupils, staff and clients.

“We know that having encouraged beginners at the grass roots and taught them how to play the game many will move

on to take up bigger challenges at some of the 5-star courses in Abu Dhabi and elsewhere but that’s part of the service.

“We’re unpretentious, we’re reasonable and we’re affordable – and we do a good job at introducing newcomers to the game.

When they’ve gone as far as they can go at Abu Dhabi City Golf Club many will spread their wings and go further afield, but that’s good for them and good for the game.

“We’re pleased that we have such a turnover and that our golfers enjoy what they do here, because the emphasis is on having fun playing golf,” adds Steve.

Abu Dhabi City Golf Club should be congratulated on creating a winning formula that has taken the intimidation out of learning to play golf and introduced the game to a growing number of newcomers.

LOCATION: Just 400 metres from Abu Dhabi Airport by road

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CONTACT: Tel : + 971 2 5758040 Fax: +971 2 5758041

AL GHAZAL GOLF CLUB

CLUBHOUSE BAR Tel: +971 2 5758044 ACADEMY DIRECT Tel: +971 2 5758185 www.alghazalgolf.ae Email: golfclub@emirates.net.ae

RAMESH AND ANINA ARE TOO STRONG THE 2010 Airport Cup sponsored by Abu Dhabi Airport Company saw a record number of participants take to the course in this two-day event and it was Anina Bester and Ramesh Emmanuel who took the spoils after two excellent performances.

Emmanuel scored 44 points on day 2 for an overall tally of 78 and a two-point victory over Phil Wilkes while SJ Hwang finished in outright third place after

defeating compatriot SJ Lim on a countback after they both signed for 75 points.

Bester is no stranger to the winner’s podium and with a second round score of 37 she took the ladies prize with a total of 79 points from Anette Rego who scored an impressive second round 44 points for a 76 total which in turn pushed Lizette Breytenbach into third place.

Winners Ramesh Emmanuel and Anina Bester are pictured with sponsor’s representative George Karamanos, Vice President Corporate Communications and Marketing ADAC and Club Captains Juma Mussa and Pauline Jeynes.

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AT CHARITY DAY TWO very special presentations were made at AGGC recently – one for the ultimate ‘ace’ and one for an ‘ace’ Charity – the Special Care Centre Abu Dhabi.

David Parkinson joined the ‘Hole-in-One Club’ recently after scoring his ace on the third hole during the Gun Trophy and because the event is part of the Golfer of the Year schedule he received a Montblanc pen and a special certificate.

The other special presentation was made to Kmar Cherif – Executive Coordinator and Events Manager of the Special Care Centre, Abu Dhabi. The donation made by the Members of AGGC was part of the annual Captains Charity Fund which over the season generates funds from members’ penalties, fund raising events from Hit n Giggles and other fun events.

Past Captain William Low and current Captain Juma Mussa presented the specially prepared cheque

by National Bank of Abu Dhabi to Kmar Cherif who in return gave a thank you card prepared by the Children of the SPCC to the AGGC. “The donation was to a very worthwhile cause and everyone should continue to help as much as possible for the children of the SPCC,” said Low.

The overall winner of the Gun Trophy was Ramesh Emmanuel who scored a net 66 to pip Charles Anderson to the title by one stroke. Third place went to Chris De Beaufort after he won a countback over David Parkinson.

The Ladies winner was Anette Rego with a net 69, second was Eida Al Muhairbi on 72 on countback from Alena Low.

Below: Kmar Cherif is pictured with Captain Juma Mussa and Past Captain Will Low. Below right: Gun Trophy Winner Ramesh Emmanuel accepts his prize.

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AL HAMRA GOLF CLUB AL HAMRA – ANOTHER LITTLE RESORT GEM FROM PETER HARRADINE THE UAE boasts so many great golf courses these days but designing something for everyone isn’t as easy as it sounds. As championship courses go the region has an endless list to choose from but resort courses are what’s required to entice more golfers into the game.

The Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa designed

by Peter Harradine has established itself worldwide as one of the greatest resort courses and set-ups. Over the years it has provided a popular getaway for the golfer and non-golfer alike, attracting visitors from all over the Middle East and Europe.

The course can give golfers of all abilities a challenge, from the likes of Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood and numerous world-class golfers who played there in the curtainraiser to the Dubai Desert Classic each year, to a high handicapper. Peter Harradine understood the logic and what was required when designing the resort course. He was well aware of the role it played to bring enjoyment to its members and hotel guests.

Peter Harradine’s successful formula has been mirrored here at Al Hamra Golf Club in Ras Al Khaimah, just an hour’s drive from Dubai. This little gem is quickly establishing itself as a resort to suit all budgets, and like Jebel Ali you don’t need to be a golfer to make the most of the facilities.

Having taken a recent battering during the Dubai World Championship Pro-Am my game was a little bruised to say the least and in need of some care and attention. So, walking on to the first tee at Al Hamra I was in search

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of a confidence boost. I cut my three wood off the tee and found the first cut of rough.

I managed to dig it out with a nine iron and miraculously found the green and got down in two for my par.

The second hole, with it’s inviting fairway and green overlooked by the Al Hamra Fort Hotel, offered a great birdie opportunity. A solid drive down the right left me with just a short iron in to the green. At this point I couldn’t believe I was thinking about birdieing holes again – considering that only two days ago I was a passenger on the bogey train.

The third hole is a great little par-5. You can easily be caught in two minds to lay up

short of the water that guards the green or grab the fairway metal and go for glory. With my confidence growing with every shot I went for it but found the water. I knew the sensible shot was a mid-iron, leaving a wedge to the pin but it’s very rare these days I can knock it on a par-5 in two and I was feeling good and thought I had a chance. As a midhandicapper I was starting to enjoy the way the course had me thinking, without me wondering if I had enough balls in my bag.

Water didn’t come into play again until the 10th but it was worth the wait. At this point I was only a couple over par and starting to think like a golfer again. With 280 yards to the water off the back tee you could easily find

LOCATION: Just off E 11, 12 miles south of Ras Al Khaimah

course is complimented by a large open lagoon with four inter-connected lagoons.

CONTACT: Tel: +971 7 244 7474 Fax: +971 7 244 7423

COURSE: 7,267 yard, par 72 18 hole course with additional par-3 Academy Course.

INFO: Built along the Arabian Gulf, the

DESIGNER: Peter Harradine

ALEX GALLEMORE plays Al Hamra Golf Club, just an hour’s drive from Dubai, a resort course that provides something for everyone and a challenge for all levels of player, but you don’t need to be a golfer to make the most of the facilities.

the hazard with a good drive so I decided to find a yardage where I could find the green with a solid eight iron, my favourite club in the bag – don’t ask why!

If you try and fight this hole you can easily get caught out. Any shot into the green short or right will find the guarding bunkers or a watery grave.

The 11th is a challenging par-3 with water down the right. I can imagine the wind playing a crucial part with this hole. I might have found the green with a six iron but a head wind would have you reaching for a long iron and worrying whether you could make the carry.

The 12th is an imposing par-4 with a narrow fairway and water coming in from the right.

A good drive left me with a long iron into the hole, which is heavily guarded by greenside bunkers. To be safe, I should have played it as an easy par-5 and laid up to a comfortable yardage.

With my scorecard still in reasonable shape the rest of the holes still had me thinking but there wasn’t a card-wrecker until I reached the 18th tee. What a great looking hole. With the clear blue waters of the lagoon lining the right and bunkers strategically positioned in the fairway and around the green it got the grey matter working overtime.

If you ever doubt the accuracy of your drive this is the time to just take a three wood, prod it down the left hand side of the fairway and be sensible. This way you can enjoy the rest of the hole. Naturally, I opted for the glory trail. The water offered up such an inviting challenge I just couldn’t turn it down. Three tee shots later

I found the fairway and went on to finish a truly great round, regardless of my blob at the last.

It was then back to the clubhouse, which overlooks the lagoon, where a refreshing drink was called for. Taking in the view of the clear blue water of the lagoon I reminded myself of the round that could have been – if only I’d listened to my own advice.

I’m sure the course will be a big hit with the golfers who will be competing in our Worldwide Golf final qualifier on Thursday, December 9, for a place in the Grand Final for The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah, to be played at Yas Links Golf Club, Abu Dhabi.

MEMBERSHIP OVERVIEW Al Hamra Golf Club memberships are available for individuals, families and corporations, allowing for all options to enjoy the benefits of the Club.

Visit the Al Hamra Golf Club website for details on each category of membership – Classic, Country, Corporate, Academy and Recreation – or call the club direct on 00 9717 244 7474.

www.alhamragolf.com

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pioneers in the region... award-winning courses... industry leaders...

22 years in the industry has amassed a wealth of experience and a host of accolades for Dubai Golf.

Why not experience Dubai’s best golf for yourself?

Book your tee times online at www.dubaigolf.com

AL HAMRA GOLF CLUB

LOCATION: Just off E 11, 12 miles south of Ras Al Khaimah

course is complimented by a large open lagoon with four inter-connected lagoons.

CONTACT: Tel: +971 7 244 7474 Fax: +971 7 244 7423

COURSE: 7,267 yard, par 72 18 hole course with additional par-3 Academy Course.

INFO: Built along the Arabian Gulf, the

DESIGNER: Peter Harradine

NEWELL NIPS IN FOR ECLECTIC TRIUMPH IN the first Saturday Eclectic of the new season it was Gary Newell who prevailed with a fantastic score of 36 points in blustery conditions. Newell had the wind in his sails as he scored 22 points on the outward nine holes to claim a commanding halfway lead and held on over the closing stretch to win by one from Liecl Ward.

NEWELL AND RAYMENT CONTINUE THEIR FINE FORM STEVE Rayment and Gary Newell won their respective divisions in the November Medal after two fine performances which saw highlighted their run of good form.

Rayment’s 79 was good enough to earn him the Gross Division ahead of John Watts and Eric Engelbrecht who came second and third respectively with scores of 84 and 85.

Newell’s rich vein continued as his drive and determination resulted in a more than honorable net 68 which crowned him Net Division champion by two strokes from Hermes Frare. Finishing in third place was Shawqi Sajwani who also recorded a net 70 but lost out to Frare after a card countback.

ENGELBRECHT AND HOBAN MAKE A WINNING START THE October Monthly Medal opened the curtains on the start of another busy season of golf at Al Hamra and it was Rita Engelbrecht and Paul Hoban who picked up their first victories of the campaign with impressive displays.

Hoban shot a superb fantastic net 69 to take the mixed Net Division by two strokes and reduce his handicap to 11.2. He returned nines of 40 and 43 which included 11 gross pars and the only blemish on his card was an ugly quadruple bogey on the par-4 12th.

Hoban had been knocking at the door for a while and this two shot victory is an acknowledgement to the improvements in his golf game over the last year.

Angelo Kondes took second place with Ian Broom, who was celebrating his 50th birthday, finishing third.

Rita Engelbrecht may soon require another trophy cabinet as she once again added to her ever-growing collection by claiming the mixed Gross Division title.

Engelbrecht started her round with mixed fortunes but performed admirably on the back nine to consolidate her victory with an 82. Finishing as runner-up

and carrying on his floodlit form was Steve Rayment as he returned to the clubhouse in 83 shots. Also finishing on 83 was Victor Hails who missed out on second place following a card countback with Rayment.

D’SOUZA WINS THE HARRADINE CUP SERGY D’Souza won the 2010 Harradine Cup last month with a two-point victory over Marty Brown in what was one of the closest contests in recent years.

D’Souza reeled off nines of 21 and 19 for his 40-point total which saw him triumph by two from three players including Brown and the in-form Michael Harradine.

A countback was needed to confirm the podium positions and it was Brown who took the runner-up spot with an excellent haul of 22 points over the back nine.

Harradine, who recently won the Shaikh Rashid Trophy, took third place from Nigel Sale and was helped in no small part by his first ever hole-in-one on the par-3 15th.

“The course is in fantastic nick and fortunately I managed to hold my game together to make the most of the glorious conditions,” said champion D’Souza. “Thanks must go to my playing partners and to the sponsors for today’s event whose contributions have made it a thoroughly enjoyable and exciting day.”

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LOCATION: Ras Al Khaimah.

The course meanders through a mangrove reserve with the Hajar Mountains serving as a backdrop.

CONTACT: Tel : +971 7 2279939 (Reservations Desk) golf@towerlinks.com

TOWER LINKS GOLF CLUB

INFO: First Open: May 2004 18 holes Championship course. Floodlit back nine holes.

DESIGNER: Gerald Williams.

DUBAI SCRAMBLERS LIFT CAPTAIN’S TROPHY WITH the proceeds of the day going to Breast Cancer Awareness and the Macmillan Trust, the team from Al Badia Golf Club comprising of Daud Osman, Luke Miller, Thomas and Peter Shilling won the inaugural Tower Links Captain’s Charity Scramble, shooting a superb 56.8 net.

Having the lowest handicap in the competition (3.2) confirmed them as the favourites for the title and they did not disappoint, shooting a fantastic gross of 60 in blustery conditions.

Teams from Tower Links took the next two spots on the podium with second place going to Yuki and Steven Pellerine, Julian Nutting and Giallian Wright who combined well for a net 57.92.

Third place went to the team of Joe and Zenie Wivou, Paul McCullough and Ray Labonta with a net 59.7 Neil Orchard stole the show by travelling up from Dubai to take his place in the field and scored a remarkable hole-in-one on the par-3 12th before making a sizable donation to the causes.

EFFORTLESS POWER FROM FARRINGTON GRAHAM Farrington triumphed in the Powerplay Stableford event held last month as he amassed a Herculean total of 29 points.

Second and third place had to be decided by a card countback and featured Ruurd Abma and Joe Wivou as both shot a solid total of 24 points. Fortunately for Abma he was able to bump Wivou back to third courtesy of a higher point tally over his last three holes –14 points to the nine points Joe scored.

KIMBER AND PARRY TAKE SERCO HONOURS 2010 JULIAN Kimber and Liezel Parry won the sixth Serco individual Stableford Trophy last month with a pair of fine displays over the Tower Links course.

In the Men’s division Kimber fended off some of his more fancied challengers to be crowned the Champion for 2010 with 43 Stableford points.

Apart from his top five placing in the October Medal, Kimber has rarely featured in any of the major board competitions so to see a new name immortalised amongst the regulars is a major achievement.

He was quickly out of the blocks, eating up the front nine in 23 Stableford points and his 20-point haul over the back nine saw him take the title by one point from two players who scored 42.

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Mike Richardson and Graham Farrington both finished in a share of second place but it was Richardson who was awarded the outright silver medal position thanks to his back nine tally of 21 Stableford points.

The Ladies Division was equally as close and went down to the final group which featured 2008 Champion Liezel Parry.

Three ladies were tied on 37 points in the clubhouse – Yuki Pellerine, Zenia Wivou and Mira Yoo – and only Parry could spoil their party, Yoo was leading the trio and was set to seal the top spot thanks to a countback victory but had top watch on in horror as Parry sunk the putt which gave her a 38 point total and a one-stroke victory.

LOCATION: Situated just 20 minutes drive from Bahrain’s capital, Manama, the Royal Golf Club boasts the country’s only 18hole grass golf course which

ARABIAN GOLF

ROYAL GOLF CLUB BAHRAIN

forms the stunning centrepiece of Riffa Views, a residential lifestyle community.

CONTACT: Tel: +973 17 750777

THINK PINK CHARITY GOLF DAY EXCEEDS TARGET THE sixth annual Think Pink Bahrain Ladies Charity Golf Day was a huge success once again this year as more than BD10,000 was raised for the breast cancer awareness charity.

The team of Sara Axtell, Gill Perras, Evelyn Sword and Camilla Davidsen narrowly won first prize over the Montgomerie championship course Texas Scramble tournament with a net score of 62, edging out the team of Jeong Hae Kwak, Koung Suk Lee, Eun Mi Shin and Sun Hee Kim by just 0.2 strokes.

The nine-hole competition was held on the Royal Golf Club’s Wee Monty course for less experienced golfers and was won by the team of Yvonne Newall, Amanda Douglas, Deborah Hatfield and Alison Hazel with a team score of 28.

Around 120 ladies took part in the two tournaments in total and sponsors kindly provided a number of side contest prizes including one for the best dressed golf cart.

The day was rounded off with a prize-giving ceremony and lunch in the Royal Golf Club’s Majlis building.

Below: Think Pink representatives Jules Sprakel and Donna Bushiri with the winning team of Gill Perraas, Sara Axtell, Evelyn Sword and Camilla Davidsen and Lady Captain, Dena Wales.

ENTRIES OPEN FOR ROYAL GOLF CLUB PRO-AM Don’t miss this opportunity to enter the Royal Golf Club’s third annual Pro-Am this month which will once again feature a host of professionals from the Middle East region along with professionals travelling from Europe.

ITINERARY Tuesday 7th December 7.00pm Calcutta registration in Café T 7.30pm Pro-Am draw (a draw will be made for teams who have not pre-purchased a Pro) 8.00pm Calcutta begins to bid for the teams Wednesday 8th December 7.00am Players sign-in and receive their goodie bags Breakfast in Café T 7.45am Official photograph of all competitors 8.00am Pro-Am commences - shotgun start 12.30pm Drinks reception on Links terrace 1.30pm Pro-Am lunch in the Majlis. Sponsored by Projects System Holding Group 2.30pm Official Pro-Am prize giving ceremony

The cost to enter a three-player team into the tournament is BD500 which includes green fees, players’ gifts and a souvenir framed photo from the tournament.

Companies also wishing to display their branding on course may do so for an additional BD250.

At the Calcutta event on 7th December, each team will have the opportunity to “buy a pro” to lead their team. The teams placed first to fifth will receive a share of the monies raised in the Calcutta. Of the money generated on the Calcutta evening, 80% will go into the prize pool while the remaining 20% will be donated to the Bahrain Junior Golf Development Fund.

DECEMBER EVENTS AT THE ROYAL GOLF CLUB DATE 8 Dec 9 – 11 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 31 Dec Every Sat Every Mon Every Wed & Sun Every Thu

EVENT Royal Golf Club Pro-Am King Hamad Trophy (Bahrain Golf Association) All Day Tee Times Christmas Cracker Hogmanay Scramble Wee Monty Family Day – only BD15 per adult, kids play free!

GBI Express Monday Madness Night Golf Series Ladies competition Midweek Stableford

TIME 8:00am shotgun start Tee times All day 7:30am shotgun start 12:00 noon shotgun start 10:00 am to noon 6:30pm shotgun start 8:30am shotgun start Tee times until 2:00pm

OPEN TO All Invitation only All Open to all Open to all All All All ladies All

KING HAMAD TROPHY DRAWS CLOSER AFTER the conclusion of the club’s third annual Pro-Am, the Royal Golf Club welcomes professional and amateur players with handicaps of 5 and below to compete for the third installment of the prestigious King Hamad Trophy.

After three days of competition over the Montgomerie championship course a winner will be crowned and will receive an exclusive invitation to compete in The European Tour’s Volvo Golf Champions alongside some of the finest players in the world in January at the Royal Golf Club.

Play will get underway on 9th December with all players playing two rounds over the first two days and then the a cut will be made with the leading 42 players and ties qualifying for the final round.

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DIRAB GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

LOCATION: Nestled in the picturesque Dirab Valley below the Tuwaiq escarpment, just 30 minutes drive from the diplomatic quarters of Riyadh, take the Makkah national road and turn left to Dirab.

The golf course is situated just off the Dirab Road.

CONTACT: Tel: +966 1 498 0017/8 Email: dirabgolf@yahoo.com

INFO: Opened in 1991, Dirab GC is the only grassed Championship golf course in Saudi Arabia with 9 of the 18 holes floodlit for night golf.

COURSE: 7,420 yards par 72 Championship Course with driving range and practice facilities.

ATTIEH ROMPS TO SAUDI OGER OPEN TITLE

Above: haled Attieh is pictured with Fahd M. Abunayyan, Deputy GM of Ibrahim Abunayyan Sons Group and Mazen Fayed, Corporate Communications Manager, Saudi Oger.

KHALED Attieh, one of the most exciting young players to emerge from the Saudi national team in the past two years, stormed to an historic sixstroke victory in the 2010 Saudi Oger Amateur Golf Championship recently.

At the age of 15 Attieh is the youngest to win the tournament considered as the National Championship of Saudi Arabia but he played with a maturity in his game that was well beyond his years, shooting a bogey-free 2-under 70 (35-35) in the second and final round for a winning two-day total of 144.

“This is a proud day for all the Saudi golfers to celebrate the victory of Khaled Attieh,” said

Saudi Golf Federation President and Dirab golf course owner Khaled Abunayyan. “On behalf of the Saudi Golf Federation I would like to thank Prince Sultan bin Fahd and Prince Nawaf bin Faisal for their continued support for the game of golf and all Saudi golfers.”

While the rest of the contenders struggled on a windless sunny day, the UAE-based Attieh, who fired a 74 in the first round, posted the biggest win of his young career.

The key moment came on the 13th hole when Attieh sank a birdie putt for a three-stroke swing on first round leader Abdullah Sultan who double-bogeyed.

MORRIS AND MEAD SEAL 2010 SABB CHAMPIONSHIP JOHN Morris and Morgan Mead emerged as the winners in the 2010 SABB Golf Championship in benign conditions as temperatures began to drop in Riyadh.

Morris (24) claimed the Best Net honours on 8-under 64 as he scored a gross 88 on a day when sub-par rounds were difficult to come by.

Mead likewise played superb golf to shoot a 2-over 74 that gave him the Best Gross crown.

Husband and wife duo of Peter and Rita Dadzis won their respective divisions with 18-handicapper Peter scoring a net 65 to win the Second Division while Rita took the honours in the Ladies Division with a 67.

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“ I want to thank my father and mother for the support they have given me. Also thanks to Dirab, Saudi Oger and the Saudi players.

Hopefully, we can win more tournaments and the Saudi game can keep on improving,” said Attieh.

Six strokes back on 150 was Hamad Mubarak who had a second round 75 and settled for the men’s Best Gross first place. In second place on 151 on countback over Sultan (79) was 2009 winner M. S. Kim who shot a second round 73.

Best Gross fourth place went to Yacoub on 153 (74 -79) while New Zealander Julian Bennett was fifth on 156 (78-78).

ARABIAN GOLF

DOHA GOLF CLUB

LOCATION: Close to West Bay Lagoon, 8km north of central Doha.

CONTACT: +974 483 2338 info@dohagolfclub.com

INFO: 18-hole 7,374-yard par-72 Championship course accompanied by a floodlit 9-hole Academy Course with spectacular views of the West Bay Lagoon.

Designed by Peter Harradine.

IAN MCINERNEY AND SCOTT FLEWELLEN WIN XEROX CHALLENGE IN QATAR THE duo of Ian McInerney and Scott Flewellen teamed up superbly to win the fifth round of the Xerox Corporate Golf Challenge at Doha Golf Club with a net 64.

Siegfried Sariowan and Susie Dagless took second place with a net 66 and Stephen Swan and Phil Whyte took third place on a card countback after signing for a 67.

The winners have earned the right to participate in the grand final which will be held at the Jumeirah Golf Estates on, December 9. The winners will get the opportunity to play in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Pro-am in January.

Ian McInerney and Scott Flewellen receive their prizes from Ahmad Al Afiesh, Operations Manager, Darwish Trading (Xerox Partner in Qatar).

SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE AT GCC GOLF DAY THE four-man team of Chris Duffy, Graeme Pattison and Danny and Richard Garvey defended their title in superb form by winning shooting a net 61 to win the Gulf Contracting Company Golf Day. Second place went to Scott McShane, Noel French, Dean Elford and Gunnar Eikebu with a net 62 while third place was closely contested with the team of James Hughes, Peter Weil, Nigel Wilson and Richard Croton taking the last place on the podium with a 64.

BAKER AND BATEMAN SECURE THE JAIDAH GROUP GOLF TOURNAMENT

TIGHT SCORES IN KENTZ GOLF DAY THE team of Steven Troup, Jim Hughes, Paul McGinley and Mark Titman prevailed in the 2010 Kentz Golf Day after defeating Nick Baker, Alan McFadden, Stan Cook and Ed Johnson on a card countback after both fourballs carded a net 60.

Third place went to Michael English, Derek Heywood, Charles Jones and Carsten Stig with net 61 on countback.

The winning team of Jim Hughes, Paul McGinley, Mark Titman and Steven Troup pose after their victory.

JAIDAH Group hosted their fourth corporate golf tournament in October and Nick Baker and Mark Bateman secured top honours ahead of second placed Nels Michael Jenson and Ian Waddell with Siegfried Sariowan and Todd Stephen taking third.

Steve Bainbridge, Jaidah Energy’s General Manager, said: “This event showcases our desire to enhance sport within the community. The tournament was an excellent opportunity to network, while engaging in some healthy golf related competition. Ultimately, we hope that our event offered a place where participants could experience a world class course and see elements of Jaidah Group’s evolving corporate identity.”

REST OF THE WORLD EDGE OUT TEAM CANADA

The two Captains and various members of the Rest of the World and Canada teams pose after play.

JAIDAH Group hosted their fourth corporate golf tournament in October and Nick Baker and Mark Bateman secured top honours ahead of second placed Nels Michael Jenson and Ian Waddell with Siegfried Sariowan and Todd Stephen taking third.

Steve Bainbridge, Jaidah Energy’s General Manager, said: “This event showcases our desire to enhance sport within the community. The tournament was an excellent opportunity to network, while engaging in some healthy golf related competition. Ultimately, we hope that our event offered a place where participants could experience a world class course and see elements of Jaidah Group’s evolving corporate identity.”

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EGYPTIAN GOLF FEDERATION ISSA ABOU EL ELA WINS THE INAUGURAL GOLF CITY JUNIOR OPEN THIRTY-one juniors from six different clubs contested the first ever Golf City Junior Open recently. As Event 2 in this season’s series of EGF Junior Opens the young golfers competed in 5 age categories with the scores from categories 1 and 2 counting towards the 2010-11 EGF Junior Orders of Merit.

The race to become the inaugural Golf City Junior Open Champion proved to be very close with Issa Abou El Ela of Alexandria winning by a single shot from Hassan Said of Katameya Heights. Ela’s round of 75 also saw him take the 18 and under gross prize while Said’s 76 ensured he won the 15 and under gross award.

In the net divisions Golf City’s Ahmed Nagi won the 18 and under net prize on countback from Ibrahim Wakid of Katameya Heights while the 15 and under net prize was won by Maged Abdel Tawab of Dreamland.

The 12 and over category played 9 holes from the ladies tees and Kenzy Hafez (52) and Youssef Abaddi (47) won the girls and boys prizes respectively.

Noemi Roos (46) from Dreamland and Anas Amin (44) from Alexandria took the top awards in the 11 and under category while Donia Schultz (42) and Omar Moselhy (48) were the winners in the 9 and under category.

TRICK SHOT DISPLAY WOWS PRO-AM PLAYERS FORMER European Tour pro David Edwards entertained the Pro-am players at the Egyptian Open with an outrageous demonstration of trick shots and comedy on the driving range at the JW Marriott, Mirage City Golf Club.

Regarded as the best trick show entertainer in the world, Edwards currently holds the world record for his famous Scissor Hands shots – 310 balls in just three minutes – which was one of many stunts that proved popular with both the pros and the amateurs.

Edwards showed off his talents with a variety of unusual golf clubs including a double headed iron, a club with the head of a hammer, extra long drivers and clubs with rubber shafts.

It was a show that kept the crowd entertained and amused providing a fitting start to Cairo’s first full appearance on the European Challenge Tour calendar.

MIRAGE CITY’S HYE SOOK LIM WINS THE KATAMEYA LADIES OPEN WITH impressive rounds of 74 and 79 for a 153 total, Hye Sook Lim secured a convincing victory in the Katameya Ladies Open, the first event on the ladies EGF Order of Merit. On home soil Sophie Issa managed runner-up spot, with a 36-hole total of 168. With Sabine Repond winning the overall Net prize, Mi Hee You took the third gross on 178. Repond won the net with a 36-hole total of 146, Kathy Leuders took runner-up Net on 150 and Sharon Eckstrom took third on 155.

KATAMEYA WINS THE FIRST ROUND OF EGF LADIES INTERCLUB KATAMEYA ladies, guided by Captain Nadia Ziwar, won round 1 of the EGF Ladies Golf Interclub Match that took place at Katameya Heights Golf & Tennis Resort last month.

With 132 Stableford points total from their best four scores, they secured a three-point victory over second placed Mirage Ladies with 129 Stableford points.

Third place went to Dreamland with 116 points. The win for Katameya secured them 10 league points, Mirage eight points and Dreamland six points. The second round of Ladies Interclub Match will be at Dreamland December 8.

FLORIAN LEADS SODIC TEAM TO PRO-AM TITLE SWEDISH pro Oscar Floren led his amateur partners Mike Kidd, Adel Saluma and Evaldo Roos to victory in the pre-event Pro-am staged at JW Marriott, Mirage City Golf Club.

The SODIC fourball took the title by way of a countback from Rory McIlroy’s Global Brands team of Michael Collins, Hassan Said and Abdulaziz Said.

One shot adrift and taking third place also on a countback in the Pro-Am backed by Titleist and Ecco was the Dockland team of Ismail Saif El Nasr, Ahmed Awn, Bassem Youssef and pro Daniel Gaunt.

The winners are pictured with Egyptian Golf Federation Chairman Ayman Hussain (far left) and World No. 10 Rory McIlroy (far right).

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LOCATION: The first and only golf resort in the area is located 10 minutes from the Sharm El Sheikh International Airport and Naama Bay. The central location of the resort at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsular makes it an ideal point of return from other trips in Egypt, to enjoy a unique game of golf in a dramatic setting of mountains, desert and sea.

ARABIAN GOLF

JOLIE VILLE GOLF & RESORT

CONTACT: Tel: + 2069 3600635 Fax: +2069 3600642 golfreservation@sgr-maritim-jolieville.com INFO: The 5 star Jolie Ville Golf & Resort has matured to be one of the best in Egypt. The par 72 PGA Championship golf course, measures 6,858 yards.

EXPATS TEAM: Back Row; Gary peters, Alan Cartledge, Maggie Benson, Ray Jarman, Nick Benson, Ian Brown, Peter Hepper (Captain) Front Row; Gary Mahoney, Hans Fredrick, Michael Jones, Jeff Ballard, Rob Mitchell, MFO TEAM: Back row; Corey Wise (Captain), Jeremy Bird, Travis Turner, Maurice Rochelle, Chad Lhamon, Brad Bigford, Luke Circello Front row; Jeramy Miles, John Feagin, Brian Davidson, David Malenfant, Frank Mergl

EXPATS TAKE SPOILS IN RYDER CUP EVENT MARITIM Jolie Ville Golf &Resort recently played host to a Ryder Cup style contest between The Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) and Sharm El Sheikh’s local expats.

The event was played over two days with fourball betterball, greensomes and singles formats all utilised and the expat team ran out comfortable winners after producing some scintillating golf over the Championship course for a 20-10 victory.

DAILY ACADEMY AT MARITIM JOLIE VILLE GOLF & RESORT GUESTS or visitors to MARITIM Jolie Ville Golf & Resort or MARITIM Jolie Ville Royal Peninsula can take advantage of one full hour of golf instruction especially tailored for those who want to make an approach to the game. The sessions give a comprehensive introduction to the game with programmes that include all the basic shot techniques and the most familiar rules and etiquette of the game.

FRIDAY TOURNAMENT OPEN TO ALL IF you like to get the competitive juices flowing you can get involved in the weekly Friday tournament at MARITIM Jolie Ville Golf & Resort.

The tournaments are played in a Stableford format with a host of great prizes on offer along with the opportunity to win at place in the coveted ‘Grand Final’.

It was the second running of the event, with the expats victorious on each occasion.

Golf Club Manager Dominik Naughton commented: “We had two fantastic days of golf and the Ryder Cup format made it really interesting. There was great banter out on the course and everyone had a really good time. We’re looking forward to hosting more of these events in the future.”

GOLF FEES / PRICES IN EURO 9 Holes 18 Holes 3 x 18 Holes 5 x 18 Holes

JOLIE VILLE GUESTS

OTHER HOTELS GUESTS

60.00 85.00 240.00 375.00

70.00 115.00 345.00 575.00

6.00 25.00 40.00 25.00 40.00

8.00 30.00 45.00 30.00 45.00

36.00 136.00 145.00 95.00 75% 15.00

50.00 179.00 236.00 132.00 75% 22.00

PRACTICE FACILITIES 1 Basket x 50 Balls Rental Clubs – 9 Holes Rental Clubs – 18 Holes Caddie – 9 Holes Caddie – 18 Holes GOLF COACHING 45 Minutes Individual 4 x 45 Minutes Individual 18 Hole Playing Lesson 9 Hole Playing Lesson Extra Person Surcharge Daily Academy

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For more information and for your free courtesy round of golf contact: simon.duffield@katameyadunes.com www.katameyadunes.com New Cairo, Egypt

CONTACT: TEL: +20 2 2759 7600 WEB: www.katameyadunes.com

KATAMEYA DUNES

INFO: Located in New Cairo, Katameya Dunes features 27 holes designed by Sir Nick Faldo which are configured into two Championship 18-hole courses - The Lakes and The Palms. Membership is open from January 1st, 2011.

MIKE GALLEMORE WALKS THE SPECTACULAR CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE AT KATAMEYA DUNES AND DESCRIBES THE FASCINATING CHALLENGE OF THE OPENING NINE HOLES OF THIS OUTSTANDING NEW SIR NICK FALDO DESIGNED COURSE IN EGYPT

Hole 1: Par 4 – 375 yards Enjoy the warm sunshine and breathe in the good Egyptian air, step onto the luscious green tee box, raise your club and hit your first tee shot down this relatively straightforward opening hole. A solid drive favouring the right side of the fairway will open up a good angle to attack the pin with a short iron as bunkers lie in wait down the left hand side of this hole.

Hole 2: Par 4 – 340 yards This interesting but testing little hole will tempt any self-respecting golfer to aim for the green in one. However, beware of sending your ball too far to the left where it could catch the first water feature on the golf course. If you believe you may miss your target, make sure you miss to the right.

Bunkers guard the small green like Egyptian soldiers guard the pyramids, so accuracy with the short iron is a must. It’s a good early birdie opportunity.

Hole 3: Par 5 – 590 yards This is the first of the par-5s and is an amazingly well designed hole with a generous route to the green. Even for the more courageous among us, this is a three shot par-5. With water running up the left hand side of the fairway, like the Nile that runs through Cairo, a careful tee shot is required before an accurate second shot will leave you around 100 -120 yards to the green. A short iron approach shot will offer golfers a reasonable opportunity for a

birdie but the green is well guarded by water and sand so it’s not such an easy chance unless you land safely on the green.

Hole 4: Par 4 – 460 yards This is a hole which will test any golfer – be it Martin Kaymer, Robert Karlsson, Lee Wstwood or an 18 handicapper. The big hitters will no doubt take their chance in clearing the Sir Nick Faldo Bunker to open up a birdie opportunity.

Water protects the right hand side of the fairway and bunkers to the left guard the slightly elevated green.

Hole 5: Par 4 – 410 yards Precision is the key to this daunting tee shot.

Water guards the right and a huge bunker to the left makes a straight, clean hit an absolute must. But a good tee shot will open up a real opportunity to attack the flag with your second shot. A back pin position will entice many golfers to go for broke but there are several hazards lurking should the green be missed.

Hole 6: Par 3 –250 yards This first par-3 of the golf course is a difficult and lengthy short hole. The green is protected only by a few bunkers on the right but the real challenge begins once you get there. Due to the undulating slopes anyone who achieves a two putt will walk off suitably relieved.

Hole 7: Par 5 – 615 yards If anyone considered Hole 3, the first par-5, hard going, they are in for a treat when they tee it up on the 7th because although it’s 25 yards longer, it’s a serious birdie chance. Take advantage by aiming left off the tee to avoid the bunkers on the right. For most, this is another three-shot par-5, but the big hitters can find the green in two always supposing they miss the litter of bunkers defending the green.

Hole 8: Par 3 – 210 yards This is a spectacularly picturesque hole. A shot that finds the green deserves a birdie but total concentration is required if you are to achieve that feat. It’s too easy to be distracted by the beauty of the waterfalls and the plantation but the lake up the right side does draw many golf balls to its watery grave.

Hole 9: Par 4 – 455 yards This long par-4 is a tough end to the opening nine. An accurate tee shot is a must if you are to avoid the water on the right. It’s not enough to merely find the fairway because wherever you land you’ve got a tough second shot.

Water to the left and back protects the green and a cluster of bunkers on the right make it a challenging approach – especially when coming in with a long iron. Laying up short is the best option and a par is a great score.

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KATAMEYA HEIGHTS GOLF & TENNIS CLUB

LOCATION: Just 20 minutes away from Cairo’s International Airport and conveniently located between Cairo’s elite districts of Heliopolis and Maadi.

CONTACT: Tel: 00202 27580512 to 17 (6 Lines) Fax: 00202 2758 0506 Email: enquiries@ katameyaheights.com Website: www.katameyaheights.com

KATAMEYA JUNIOR GOLF SERIES KICKS OFF IN STYLE THE Katameya Junior Series began again in late October with juniors of all ages and levels participating in a fun and competitive environment.

The Category 1 juniors competed over the 18 hole Championship course in a strokeplay format and enjoyed not only the excellent course conditions but the great golfing weather which allowed Soliman Naguib to return a net 68 and win by five strokes from Abdel Aziz Said.

Category 2 players played nine holes

on the New Nine in a strokeplay format and Euan Morrison went round in 45 blows for a net 31 total and a five-stroke victory over Justine Repond. Finishing third was Callum Morrison with a net 37.

The Katameya Kids Category – contested over six shortened holes on the New Nine – produced some magnificent scores as well with Adam Walker ruling the roost with a gross 27. Mason Jongejong scored 29 points and defeated Ross Walker on a card countback to take second place.

ADAM WALKER NAMED OCTOBER JUNIOR OF THE MONTH PROMISING youngster Adam Walker was crowned October’s Junior of the Month after a sterling performance at the opening event of the Junior Series.

The award is decided by the club’s PGA Golf Professionals and is awarded to the junior who has shown dedication and enthusiasm for the game and shows improvement through their practice and tournament results during the month.

Adam has been attending the Junior Development programme and his good practice and dedication is paying off with this great start to the season.

SCARELLOS STEAL THE SHOW IN OPENING EVENT THE first event of the Parent and Child Golf Series took place last month with adults and juniors competing in a fun scramble format over the New Nine course and, as they did last year, the team of Taymour and Nasly Scarello stole the show.

The Scarello’s produced an scramble score of 30.1 to win by 2.5 from Sabine and Justine Repond with third place going to Rob and Tom Davies who returned a net scramble score of 34.35.

With this victory Nasly receives maximum points in the Parent and Child Order of Merit, and with three events left it’s all to play for in the quest to be named the Parent and Child Player of the Year.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER WORLDWIDEGOLF

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LOCATION: Located at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba on the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt.

CONTACT: Golf Clubhouse – Golf Reservations: (+2 069) 358 0073 Golf Lesson Reservations: (+2 069) 358 0074

TABA HEIGHTS GOLF RESORT

Fax: (+2 069) 358 0068 General Information: golf@tabaheights.com Tee Times: golfreservations@tabaheights.com Golf Academy: pro@tabaheights.com Website: www.tabaheights.com/golf

WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCE FROM CHRIS GILL PGA PROFESSIONAL Chris Gill (UK) was crowned the 2010 Taba Heights International Pro-Am Champion after setting a new tournament record of 14-under-Par. Gill got off to a flying start with a 5-under-par 67 that included seven birdies.

Mark Baker, also from the UK, shot a 67 after collecting six birdies while Neil Holman was two strokes back from the leading pair after three birdies and no dropped shots gave him a 69.

Gill started the second round in a steady fashion and reached the turn in 2-under 34 with back-to-back birdies on holes 5 and 6 and he picked up another shot on the back nine to card a bogey-free 69 and sit at 8-under for the tournament with 18 holes to play.

Baker was one stroke behind thanks to a 68 while defending champion Bjorn Pettersson moved into contention with a 68 and Darren Bragg shot a 69 to move to 5-under.

The final round got under way in superb scoring conditions and Gill set about his task by reeling off five straight pars before a birdie on the par-5 sixth and two further birdies took him to 11-under at the turn.

He then moved out of sight after two huge blows saw him find the green on the par-5 10th and he duly sunk his eagle putt to reach 13-under.

Another birdie followed on the 12th and he then made six straight pars to clinch the title on 14-under, six strokes ahead of three players on 8-under. Darren Bragg was runner-up thanks to a countback win over Anthony Tarchetti while Baker slipped up with a 73 to finish on 6-under and in fourth place.

WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCE FROM CHRIS GILL IN the amateur section of the Taba Heights International Pro-Am the team of Steve Wynne (6), Ian Devenish (12), Stuart Macaulay (5) and Professional Mark Baker, set a new tournament record of 255 points for a 39-under-par total to take the top prize.

Roger Dally (19), Willem Kiljen (28), Abeer Slaeem (36) and Ahmed Shindy roared into the lead after the first round and led heading into the third round but couldn’t hang on during day three, finishing fourth overall.

The team of Andrew Charlesworth, Craig Woodman, David Williams and Professional Henry Law produced a very consistent performance as they returned a final round 11-under-par 83 points to claim second placed team with 254 points – 37-under-par.

This left a grandstand finish for Wynne, Devenish, MaCauley and Baker as they stood on the 18th green with Wynne needing to hole a tricky putt for three points to seal victory.

He coolly stroked it home to cheers from the gallery around the green as they brought the 2010 event to a thrilling close with a tournament record total of 255 points.

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LOCKER ROOM

OMEGA SEAMASTER AQUA TERRA ANNUAL CALENDAR THE Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra range has always had a large loyal following among luxury watch buyers. The line is characterised by the distinctive “teak-concept” vertical lines on their dials which have been designed to recall the teakwood decks of luxury boats. As the name suggests the ‘Annual Calendar’ is the first model to feature and annual calendar dial and the beautiful creation is available in stainless steel or an elegant bi-colour blend of stainless steel and 18 ct red gold. www.omegawatches.com

WIN A SHOTSAVER S430 AS featured in the November issue of Worldwide Golf world-renowned GPS products manufacturer Snooper have returned with another upgrade to their hugely popular Shotsaver range – the S430 – and we’re giving one lucky reader the chance to win one!

The S430 GPS Shotsaver is a premium rangefinder with the largest screen on the market and a huge 14hour battery life. The new ultra high-visibility Shotsaver boasts a 3.5 inch touchscreen, while the unit’s size makes it ideal for attaching to a golf trolley, with the use of an additional golf trolley bracket.

The S430’s GPS tracking system allows golfers to record the distance each ball is hit and which club was used. Golfers simply record the position of their ball before each shot, and Shotsaver will provide the user with distances to hazards such as bunkers, fairways, streams and the flag. Details of distances hit are all stored on the device, allowing it to give the longest, shortest and average distances achieved with each club. These features are carefully designed to help users to develop their game and monitor progress.

To win a Snooper Shotsaver S430 answer this simple question:

Who won this year’s Dubai World Championship?

To enter visit www.wwgolf.biz and head for the competitions section. Good luck!

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EVERYTHING YOU WOULD WANT IN YOUR LOCKER... AND MORE! CLUBS

BALLS

CLOTHING

BAGS

COOL STUFF

ASPINAL BOSTON TRAVEL BAG THE Boston Travel Bag from Aspinal of London is just the ticket for a weekend getaway. It’s a real vintage looking ‘duffle style’ bag which is handmade from the finest quality tan pebble calfskin leather and accentuated with exquisite brass hardwear, decorative rivets and a plague. You can literally smell the quality of this bag and everything about it screams luxury. Its spacious interior is lined in Aspinal signature silk and there’s an internal zipped pocket. The bag stands on two solid brass feet, giving that lovely leather added protection, while the two sturdy grab handles and robust shoulder strap provide a good deal of versatility. www.aspinaloflondon.com

GARMIN OUTDOOR FORERUNNER 60 FITNESS has become increasingly important in the modern game and if you want to add those extra yards and be at your best even on the closing holes you need to take care of your body.

The Garmin Outdoor Forerunner 60 is a brilliant device for helping you set and achieve fitness goals. It logs your time, heart rate and calories burned as well as lap times and averages. There’s a virtual training partner who you can race against to give you that competitive edge and the device is waterproof to 50 metres so it’s good for swimming as well as running, cycling and a range of other activities. All your fitness data can then be sent wirelessly to your computer for analysis. The FR60 is really easy to use and it can be connected to a host of other Garmin devices such as the foot pod which tracks distance and speed. www.satnavcompany.com

TITLEIST 910D THE latest driver from Titleist the 910 is already making a splash among the pros and now you can get your hands on it too. The 910 boasts an improved allround performance with an unrivalled level of precision fitting available.

Rory McIlroy has used the 910D2 while Worldwide Golf’s Ross Fisher used the 910D3 as he powered to victory at the Irish Open – Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy also use the 910D3.

The D2 has a 460cc full-pear shaped head designed for maximum forgiveness and shot control with higher launch and low-to-mid spin while the D3 has a 445cc classic-pear head design that promotes straighter ball flight with low spin. Both versions feature Titleist’s new SureFit Tour dual-angle hosel – a breakthrough in fitting technology inspired by the bending of metal woods on Tour to achieve more precise ball flight through the adjustment of loft and lie angle.

POWER WEDGE THE Power Wedge is a simple yet ingenious training aid that can be used anywhere and slips easily into your golf bag. The aim of the Power Wedge is to get your footwork and sequencing spot on. You simply place the wedge under your back foot and when you lift your foot there is a ‘click’.

When your weight transferral is correct you should hear the ‘click’ as the club passes through the point of impact. If the click is too soon, you’ve shifted your weight too quickly or if, as is common in many badly hit shots, you’ve left your weight on your back foot too long you will hear the ‘click’ after the point of impact or not at all. www.sklz.com

www.titleist.com

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GROOM ROOM KING OF SHAVES HOT DATE SET

ISSEY MIYAKE A SCENT

The Hot Date Set includes an Azor Razor and Menthol Shaving Gel. The Azor is a uniquely designed razor with flexible hinges that bend and follow every contour on your face whilst pressing the blades progressively closer onto the skin for the ultimate smooth shave. The Menthol Cooling Gel helps protect, moisturise and lubricate your skin throughout the shave leaving your face feeling smooth and supple.

This new women’s version of A Scent by Issey Miyake is a beautifully airy simple fragrance. It’s fresh and green, drawing its inspiration from nature’s essentials: leaves, flowers, wood. The set contains 40ml Eau de Parfum, 75ml body lotion, 30ml shower gel.

LISA HOFFMAN VARIATIONS JAPANESE AGARWOOD This set would make a lovely gift for someone special.

From the wife of movie actor Dustin Hoffman, Variations are an innovative fragrance concept featuring four pulse point oils designed to complement a woman’s changing olfactive sensitivities throughout the day. Japanese Agarwood was nominated in the Top Five Fragrances at the 2009 Fragrance of the Year Awards. Each set comes in a gorgeous leather travel wallet.

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CHRISTMAS AGAIN ALREADY? IT MUST BE TIME FOR A GIFT SET SPECIAL…

JO MALONE THE FRAGRANCE CHRONICLES AMBER AND LAVENDER We can’t get enough of Jo Malone here at Worldwide Golf – the British perfumer’s fragrances are a real delight. The Amber and Lavender Chronicle is a sensual and spicy combination of scents blending the exotic flavour of the Orient in the form of amber with lemon rose and a twist of lavender. This concoction was originally designed as an anniversary gift from Jo to her husband. Aw, isn’t that nice!

NUDE SKINCARE THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION A wonderful daily three step regime designed to give you a lovely fresh faced, hydrated complexion.

Step one is a deep Cleansing Facial Wash (100ml) with moringa, aloe vera and prebotics (natural sugars). Step two is a Hydrating Water (100ml) with rose and vanilla to revive dehydrated skin or mist over makeup to set for the day. Step three is an Age Defying Moisturiser (15ml) clinically proven to reduce wrinkles by up to 63%.

VERSACE VERSUS Versace Versus is a fragrance for the modern woman – at once both feminine and tough. Creative, stylish and contemporary Versus is an iron fist wrapped in a velvet glove. The set contains 100ml Eau de toilette, 100ml Body lotion and a handy pochette. Technical jargon: Top notes – kumquat, star apple, lemon.

Heart notes – orange flower, stephanotis, rose centifolia. Base notes – patchouli, musk, ambrette seeds.

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DRIVER - FAIRWAY - HYBRID - IRONS - WEDGES - PUTTER - BALL

IN THE MATTHEW NAYLOR

BAG ACADEMY INSTRUCTOR, THE ADDRESS MONTGOMERIE DUBAI

Q: When did you first start playing golf?

A: I took up the game at a very early age. I remember playing my first 18 holes on holiday in Scotland when I was 5 years old at Balbirnie Park and by chance I played in the Scottish Assistants Stroke Play Championship in 2006 at the same venue.

Q: How long have you been in Dubai, and what has been your best golfing moment so far?

A: This is my third season in Dubai. I worked the seasonal role at The Montgomerie for the first two, splitting my time between here and the Turnberry Hotel in Scotland. Now I am here permanently as an Academy Instructor. My most memorable moment was playing with Lee Westwood at The Els Club in March 2009.

It was a great experience seeing him up close and watching some of the shots he hit. He shot a 67 and missed at least seven putts from 12 feet!

Q: Can you remember your first set of clubs?

A: The first set I can remember was a new set of Nick Faldo signature Wilson clubs, which I received for Christmas. However, I swapped them for a set of Wilson Staff Fluid Feel the next week.

Q: Who is you golfing hero and why?

A: When I was younger it was Nick Faldo because of how hard he worked at his game and because he was so dominant. Now I look at what Lee Westwood has done – falling down the rankings and climbing all the way back to World No.1. Plus, he is a Nottingham Forest fan like myself!

Q: If you were the head of the R&A, what rule would you change?

A: I would change two if I had the chance. I would allow players to lift and place their ball should it come to rest in a divot on the fairway – no-one should be penalised for a good drive.

Also, I’d make it legal to repair spike marks on the green.

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DRIVER

Callaway FT9 9.5°

3-WOOD Callaway FT Tour 15°

PUTTER Odyssey Black Series 7

IRONS (3-pw) Callaway Diablo Forged

WEDGES Callaway X forged 52° and 58°

BALL Callaway IZ Black

HYBRID Callaway X Series 2h 18°

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