Belgium BOMBER NICOLAS COLSAERTS
LANDS IN DUBAI
NICOLAS COLSAERTS, ALSO KNOWN AS THE BELGIUM BOMBER FOR HIS EFFORTLESS DISTANCE OFF THE TEE, HAS MADE DUBAI HIS FAMILY HOME.
D
ubai’s resident golf ranking has been given a boost as former Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts has relocated his family within striking distance of The Els Club. The Belgium bomber won his first DP World Tour event back in 2011, but it was his debut appearance the following year at the 39th Ryder Cup when he stole the headlines. Despite being a rookie, he teamed up with Lee Westwood in the Friday Foursomes carding eight birdies and an eagle to defeat the heavyweight pairing of Woods and Stricker on the final hole. Colsaerts’ star was shining bright and the golfing world expected his stellar Ryder Cup performance to springboard his career to the next level, but he had to wait seven more years before he lifted his third
DP World Tour title at the Open de France. I always enjoyed watching him play, as his effortless power and calm demeanour is reminiscent to Davis Love III, the only difference being the short stick. Love was a solid putter and unfortunately Colsaerts rarely broke inside the top 150 putting stats on the DP World Tour. That was the heartbreak, as tee to green, he was arguably one of the best ball strikers in the history of the DP World Tour. This year, he turns 40 and his focus is more off the course than on. With a young family to look after he’s also been diagnosed with a rare kidney disease. We caught up with him in Dubai to discuss the challenges he’s facing and why living in Dubai has provided the perfect home base for him to get back on is feet.
Worldwide GOLF 36
