Worldwide Golf Summer Issue 2023

NORTHERN IRISHMAN HOPING TO END MAJOR DROUGHT AT THE OPEN

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VOICE OF THE TOUR

KEITH PELLEY, Chief Executive, DP World Tour

Keith Pelley took up his seat as CEO of the European Tour group in August 2015 and since then has overseen a period of exciting innovation and change, driving the creation of the modern, global Tour it is today.

Exactly one year ago, I used this column to reflect on the evolution of global golf following the announcement of our enhanced strategic alliance with the PGA TOUR.

Much has happened in the intervening 12 months, but the certainty that agreement provided to the DP World Tour members over that period cannot be underestimated.

Few people, if anyone, could have predicted exactly what has transpired over the past year, however one thing I did suggest in last July’s column was that the alliance would lead to ‘even greater strategic opportunities…providing a more global vision for golf with increased resources.’

We have already made some significant strides in that sense and now, with the subsequent announcement of our framework agreement with the PGA TOUR and PIF, we have a real opportunity to truly deliver on that pledge.

There is, of course, a substantial amount of work still ahead of us, as we pursue the pathway to a definitive agreement. All three entities fully understand the complexities of the process, but crucially we are all committed to it.

We are aligned with the general principle of what is trying to be achieved. It is the precise detail of it that now needs more work.

The objective when we initiated these discussions was to remove the divisiveness that has been so detrimental to our game over the last two years. We have taken the first step in that respect, with the cessation of the PGA TOUR v LIV Golf litigation in particular, but the coming months will be critical as we work together to explore the best way to shape the future of the men’s professional game for the overall betterment of our sport.

The suddenness of the announcement on June 6 meant it took some time for people to fully digest and comprehend the scope and the intention of the framework agreement, which I characterise as a commitment to work together. I fully understand why that was the case and collectively we have spent the days since the announcement speaking with members of our respective tours, as well as other stakeholders,

to impart as much information as we can at this stage and listen to their views, as they will be imperative in helping to inform any subsequent agreement.

We held a player meeting at the Betfred British Masters recently - precisely three weeks after the announcementwhich was probably one of the best attended I have seen. The feedback we had from the players was terrific. Naturally, there were plenty of questions, but they appreciated the clarity we were able to provide, as well as the role the DP World Tour is playing in this process as the only entity to have a relationship with everyone else involved.

We had a three-year association with the PIF-backed Golf Saudi, which led to three consecutive editions of the Saudi International on our schedule from 2019, and we obviously have an existing alliance with the PGA TOUR. So we were advocates of working together in a way that truly benefits our sport and makes golf less fractured.

While we have made an important move in that direction, there remains a great deal yet to do. The desire is there though, and hopefully when I sit down to write this column again in 12 months’ time, I will be able to reflect once more on the substantial progress made in the evolution of our sport.

“We are aligned with the general principle of what is trying to be achieved. It is the precise detail of it that now needs more work.”

DPWTC

The

CONTENTS FEATURES

IS MAJOR SEASON TOO CONDENSED?

With the Open Championship set to end Major season this month, it seems like only yesterday we were giddy with excitement for the Masters Tournament at the beginning of April. Where has that time gone? It seems to have gone much faster this year than any other; you could probably put that down to the amount of drama that has gone on in the sport for the last 18 months, but do we really want Major season to be over in just 101 days, which is the amount of time between the first day of the Masters and the final day of The Open? I certainly don’t. Obviously we still have the Ryder Cup to look forward to this year, as well as the FedExCup play-offs and the culmination of the Race to Dubai, but the four Majors are the benchmark of the sport and ultimately how players’ careers are going to be measured. They should each have a spot in the calendar where they are the highlight of that time of the year rather than jam-packed together in four short months. To think, after The Open we’ve got eight long months until players take on Augusta National again…it’s just too long. If one good thing did come out of COVID, it was the way the Majors adapted to fit their events into the schedule. We may have missed out on The Open Championship for a year, which was a real shame, but the Masters, U.S. Open and PGA Championship all moved to different slots on the calendar to ensure we didn’t fully go without Major golf. Who would say no to the U.S. Open being held in September ince again? Okay, maybe that wouldn’t work as well in a Ryder Cup year, but

what’s to stop them having it in October?

Imagine a Major season that begun with The Masters in April, followed by the PGA Championship in June, Open Championship in August and U.S. Open in October. Four Majors stretched out over seven months, I’m game. Obviously the biggest hiccup could potentially be a clash with the FedExCup play-offs, but surely the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the four Major Championships could come together to make a collective schedule that suits everybody and allows fans to enjoy Major golf all year round.

OPEN PICKS

Having said all that, there’s no denying that I’m excited for the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. I, like many others, eagerly await the tournament each summer and for good reason. There is no other tournament quite like it – the links style courses, the grandeur of the Claret Jug, the weather causing absolute chaos, the fact that literally anybody can qualify and how easily a player can go from hero to zero in a matter of seconds – Jean Val de Velde springs to mind in 1999 at Carnoustie! The latter two points mentioned could ring true for a few tournaments across the globe but The Open just hits differently. I’m backing two horses in the race this year in the form of Rickie Fowler, who finished runner-up at Hoylake in 2014, and also fancy the chances of Dustin Johnson. But I’m 0 for 3 on Major winners this year, so you’d be wise to back against them!

Thomas Wragg

COURSE

La FairytaleClark's

The 27-year-old, who only won his first professional title earlier this season at the Wells Fargo Championship, posted a closing level-par 70 to finish at ten under, one shot clear of McIlroy and three ahead of World Number One Scottie Scheffler.

“I feel like I belong on this stage and even two, three years ago when people didn’t know who I was, I felt like I could still play and compete against the best players in the world,” he said. “I felt like I’ve shown that this year.

“I’ve come up close, and obviously everyone sees the person that hoists the trophy, but I’ve been trending in the right direction for a long time now. I’ve made a lot of cuts. I’ve had a handful of top 10s and top 20s, and I feel like I’ve been on a great trajectory to get to this place.

“Obviously it’s gone faster than thought as far as just starting to do some stuff mentally that I’ve never done before, but I feel like I’m one of the best players in the world. Obviously this just shows what I believe can happen.

“But at the same time I’m a pretty humble, calm guy, and I don’t try to get too high or too low on things. I’m obviously going to celebrate this, but I like to compete. I want to beat everybody but also be friends with everybody. So I try to have a good mix of that.”

Clark sadly lost his mother Lise in August 2013, and revealed how she instructed him to ‘play big’ before losing her battle with breast cancer.

“I know my mum is proud of me. She’s always been proud of me, regardless of how I’m doing or what I’m doing. I just wish she could be here and we could enjoy this.”

For McIlroy it was another near miss in a Major Championship despite a solid closing round.

The Northern Irishman, who last won a Major at The Open Championship in 2014, found more greens in regulation than any other player during the final round, but was unable to exert enough pressure on Clark in LA.

“There are a couple of things I will rue,” he added. “The chip on 14 being one.

“It was really hard to get the ball close (to the holes) but hung in there and just didn’t quite get the job done.

“I will keep coming back until I get another one.”

Cameron Smith was third at six under, a shot clear of Tommy Fleetwood – who became the first player to record two 63s at the U.S. Open – Min Woo Lee and Rickie Fowler.

Wyndham Clark secured a fairytale win at the U.S. Open as the American sealed his first Major Championship after holding off the challenge of Rory McIlroy to lift the trophy.

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LIST

But winning on Tour is a whole different ball game and will shoot your bank account up so excessively that you could almost retire from one event – if you invested it properly of course.

Just look at the likes of Wyndham Clark, who last month pocketed $3.6 million for winning the U.S. Open Championship

– that’s a whole lot of cash in his back pocket!

Golf earnings rocketed when Tiger came onto the scene, before they shot up even more when LIV Golf introduced themselves to the world last year, with guaranteed money each week and astronomical purses of $20 million. The PGA Tour retaliated by putting their prize

7. BRYSON DECHAMBEAU

funds up to extortionate amounts in the ‘elevated’ events, leaving Tour golfers enjoying a significant boost to their bank accounts. Here, we have picked out the ten richest golfers from the last 12 months, according to Forbe’s ‘World’s Highest-Paid Athletes’ list, which features no fewer than 12 golfers in the top 50.

10. JORDAN SPIETH 9. PATRICK REED

EARNINGS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS: $47.5 MILLION

The three-time Major winner has racked up a hefty $47.5 million in the last year despite only winning once since the beginning of 2022. In fact, the majority of Spieth’s earnings have come from off the course. The former World No.1 currently has deals with Under Armour, AT&T, Fanduel and more. With the American just one win away from becoming part of the exclusive Grand Slam Club, just imagine how much more money he could generate from sponsors were he to get his hands on the PGA Championship trophy!

8. JON RAHM

EARNINGS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS: $53 MILLION

The Masters champion has enjoyed some terrific form over the last year, which has seen him earn a whopping $53 million. After winning the DP World Tour Championship for a record third time last November, Rahm went on to win back-to-back events at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and The American Express Golf Tournament in January, before victory at the Genesis Invitational in February, and then crowning it all with his first Masters win, and second Major Championship, in April. That has seen the Spaniard pick up $28 million in prize money and $25 million in off course earnings from lucrative contracts with Mercedes, Callaway and Maestro Dobel Tequila.

EARNINGS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS: $71 MILLION

Despite struggling majorly with his game over the last 12 months and losing the majority of hi sponsors when he joined LIV Golf, Bryson DeChambeau’s bank balance is majorly on the rise. The captain of LIV’s Crushers GC reportedly received a $125 million guarantee to join the Saudi-backed tour, half of which is estimated to have been received upfront. Just $1 million of his earnings over the last 12 months have come from away from the golf course.

6. TIGER WOODS

EARNINGS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS: $75 MILLION

The G.O.A.T. has struggled with injury over recent years and it remains to be seen when he will return to the game after his latest surgery, but he still features in the top ten thanks to making a staggering $60 million away from the course over the last 12 months. Woods, who became only the second athlete ever to reach billionaire status last year, has lucrative sponsorship deals with the likes of Nike, Bridgestone, Monster Energy, Rolex, TaylorMade and launched TMRW Sports with Rory McIlroy earlier this year. The former World No.1 could have been a whole lot richer over the last 12 months had he accepted the reported $800 million joining fee from LIV Golf.

EARNINGS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS: $52 MILLION

So often seen as one of golf’s greatest villains, Patrick Reed might well have the last laugh after earning a staggering $52 million in the last 12 months. To put that in perspective, the former Ryder Cupper made around $38 million over the course of his 11-year PGA Tour career, before joining LIV Golf for a reported $37 million last year. The American’s earnings over the last year comprise of $49 million on course and $3 million off course, coming from partnerships with Titlelist, Grindworks and EasyPost.

5. CAMERON SMITH

EARNINGS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS: $76 MILLION

Golf’s favourite mullet claimed victory at last year’s Players Championship and Open Championship, before signing up to LIV Golf, which reportedly bagged Cameron Smith a $100m signing bonus, of which half was paid up front. A total of $70 million came from on course earnings with the other $6 million coming from sponsorship deals with Titleist and Original Penguin. How many $100 bills do you think he can fit into his Claret Jug?

GOLF IS THE ONE OF THE RICHEST SPORTS ON PLANET WITH A GLOBAL MARKET VALUE OF $7 BILLION, WHILE THE AVERAGE SALARY OF A PROFESSIONAL IS $51,890 A YEAR.

. DUSTIN

JOHNSON

EARNINGS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS: $77 MILLION . BROOKS KOEPKA

It’s been an up-and-down 12 months for Brooks Koepka, who at one stage looked like he was ready to give up golf after struggling with his form before coming back into the upper echelons of the game in emphatic fashion with a runner-up finish at the Masters and then securing a fifth Major title at the PGA Championship. The American was reported to have received $100 million when he joined LIV Golf las year, with half of that paid up front. Of the $77 million banked over the last year, $6 million came from off course

2. PHIL MICKELSON

EARNINGS

OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS: $107 MILLION

Phil Mickelson might have lost a lot of sponsors over the last 12 months due to his comments on the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, but that hasn’t seen him lose out as one of the wealthiest golfers over the last year. Lefty, who is the captain of the Hy Flyers team, reportedly received a staggering $200 million guarantee to join LIV Golf last year, with half of that amount paid up front. To put that number into perspective, Mickelson earned $95 million in career earnings on course before joining the Saudi-backed league. Away from the game he cofounded coffee supplement company For Wellness and joined an investor group that recently bought a large plot of land outside of Phoenix.

EARNINGS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS:

Topping the list is two-time Major champion Dustin Johnson. Like Mickelson, DJ’s sponsors quickly dwindled when he shocked the golfing world by joining LIV having previously committed to the PGA Tour, but the reported $125 million guarantee from the breakaway Saudi golf series was too good to resist. Half of that was believed to have been paid upfront, before the former Masters champion then won LIV’s inaugural season-long championship that came with an $18 million payday. In total, Johnson banked more than $40 million in LIV prize money, more than half of his career total on the PGA Tour.

NATURE’S TIMELESS TEST

MAJOR SEASON IS NEARLY OVER BUT FOR ONE FOR FINAL CHALLENGE – THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP.

The tournament is golf’s original championship. Played since 1860 on iconic links golf courses, it’s the sport’s most international Major with qualifying events on every continent. For one week each year, the pursuit of the famous Claret Jug trophy is the focus of the sporting world, followed globally by millions of fans.

Royal Liverpool will once again host The Open in 2023, and present players with new challenges since it last

staged the Championship in 2014, including a brand new par 3. Hoylake has had a rich history of winners, none more so than Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in the previous two Championships held at Royal Liverpool this millennium. This year, however, tweaks throughout the course, with additional bunkering, harsher run-off areas in places, new tees and an eye-catching new hole, will present the players with fresh challenges on an exceptional course.

Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick will become the first professional English brothers to appear in the same Major in more than half a century at Hoylake. Having turned pro less than a year ago, Alex came through Final Qualifying at West Lancashire after firing an superb seven under par 65 in his second 18 to reach nine under and claim one of the five places on offer in the 72-man field. “Ten years ago I qualified for the Open for the first time,” tweeted Matt. “Today my brother has done the same thing. I couldn’t be prouder and can’t wait to be playing the same major as him.”

BROTHERLY LOVE FORMER CHAMPIONS COURSE HISTORY

Royal Liverpool has hosted The Open 12 times but, after Roberto De Vicenzo was crowned Champion golfer in 1967, Hoylake was deemed not to have the infrastructure necessary for a Major. The Open returned 39 years later, following some hard and thoughtful work by the Club which involved the purchase of additional land and improvements to the course designed, amongst other things, to meet the demands set by increasingly athletic big hitters. Tiger Woods would win that event in 2006 before Rory McIlroy captured his third Major Championship at the venue in 2014. Royal Liverpool also hosted the Women’s British Open for the very first time in 2012, before welcoming the Walker Cup for the second time in 2019 during the club’s 150th anniversary.

COURSE RECORD

Over the duration of Royal Liverpool’s 12 Open Championships there has been plenty of stellar performances, including Gary Player shooting a then course record of 67 in the third round in 1967, which was matched moments later by eventual champion Roberto De Vicenzo. That record stood for 39 years until the 2006 edition, where Graeme McDowell shot an opening 66, before Tiger Woods shot a spellbinding 65 en route to collecting the Claret Jug. Ernie Els and Chris DiMarco achieved the same score later that round, while Sergio Garcia joined the trio a day later. Eight years later, when The Open returned to Hoylake, nobody went lower than 66, meaning Woods, Els and DiMarco still hold the record from 17 years ago.

ON THE BAG

THE 136TH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP MAY HAVE ENDED WITH PADRAIG HARRINGTON SECURING THE FIRST OF HIS THREE MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS, BUT WINNING THE CLARET JUG FOR THE FIRST TIME WAS ANYTHING BUT SIMPLE AFTER THE IRISHMAN RAN INTO TROUBLE ON THE TREACHEROUS 18TH AT CARNOUSTIE GOLF LINKS.

The infamous 18th had made a mockery of Jean van de Velde, just eight years prior, when he held a three-shot lead on the 72nd hole and on the cusp of becoming Champion Golf of the Year, only for all that to disappear when he made triple-bogey, which included him wading into the Barry Burn.

The thought of ‘doing a van de Velde’ hadn’t even entered the minds of Harrington and his caddie Ronan Flood as they walked up to the 18th, with the Irishman the hottest player on the course and leading by one.

“He had played great, unbelievable, like the best I’ve ever seen him play for 17 holes on the Sunday,” said Flood, who is also Harrington’s brother-in-law. “He was six under par (for the day) through 17 and he could have been probably eight or nine.

“We had discussed the strategy of playing 18 in the practice round on the Tuesday, which was if you’re one behind, level or one ahead, you hit driver and try to win. When we got there he was one ahead. There was no question, there wasn’t even a thought, it was just, ‘ok, this is it’.

“We knew what we had decided, went with driver. For me, he’d played so well, he’d driven it so well for the weekend and particularly on the Sunday. I couldn’t see him doing anything else but hitting a great tee shot down the last.”

Instead, Harrington’s drive leaked right and into the Barry Burn. After taking a penalty drop, Harrington proceeded to pull his third shot left and his ball found a different part of the Burn.

“Initially, when he hit his third shot, I didn’t know whether it was out of bounds or not,” said Flood, “because it had gone left quickly and he asked me, ‘where’s that gone?

“It was the walking referee who told us it was in the Burn. And he just went quiet and, yes, I was thinking about Van de Velde, I’m sure he was thinking about Van de Velde, but over the years we’ve had different times when things have gone wrong, so I just started talking to him just the same as we would normally, just telling him that the hole wasn’t over, a lot of cliches about we’ll just wait, get through this hole and see what happens.

“I just kept talking to him and looking for him to give me a response, just say anything. And I just kept saying, ‘come on, you hear me,’ whatever, and eventually he was like, ‘yes, ok, yes’. He wasn’t answering me for probably two thirds of the walk down and then he started talking and getting into it.

“He started answering me back more, talking a little bit before we got to the ball, so at least it was kind of somewhat out of his head. By the time we got down there, he’d worked out the yardage, he’d dropped his ball and he was back into playing golf, so he was fine at that stage.”

Harrington then produced what he would later describe as one of the best two shots he’s ever played, with a superb pitch before sinking the the resulting putt to rescue a double-bogey six. Although that left him one behind Garcia, the Spaniard then finished with a bogey to ensure a play-off was needed.

When Harrington and Flood returned to the 18th in the four-hole play-off, a two-shot lead over Garcia had been established. There was no chance of the driver making another appearance.

“I wouldn’t have given him the driver and he wouldn’t have asked for it because we had agreed,” Flood added.

There would be one last scare for the duo, with Harrington putting his third to around 30 feet before drifting a putt three to four feet past the hole.

“At the time in my head, I’m kind of thinking, ‘Oh God, it’s nearly five feet’,” said Flood. “It’s probably three and a half feet, four feet, something like that. I remember thinking, ‘God, what a disaster. If you miss this, what a disaster, we’re going down the next hole’.

“But we talked about it after, to him it was a tap-in. He only realised how long it was when he saw it on the replay. He thought that he had just knocked it up nearly stone dead, whereas I remember standing by the hole as it came up and thinking, ‘sit down, sit down’. It went that dodgy distance by alright, but thankfully (it was) a tap-in for him.”

At 25 years and 77 days, Rory McIlroy became the third-youngest player to achieve the third leg of the modern Grand Slam, after Jack Nicklaus (23 years, 181 days) and Woods (24 years, 171 days), when he cruised to victory at The 2014 Open Championship.

The Northern Irishman took a six-stroke lead into the final round after shooting the lights out over the first two days with back-toback rounds of six-under par 66 followed by a third-round 68 which was finished off in style by eagles on the 16th and 18th holes after Rickie Fowler had briefly pulled level.

But on a day when his rivals pushed him all the way with some bold displays, McIlroy ground out a mature victory with a steady closing 71 to reach 17-under-par 271 for his third Major Championship, adding to the U.S. Open he claimed in 2011 and the US PGA Championship he won in 2012.

“It feels incredible,” said McIlroy who moved to World No.2 with the triumph.

“It wasn’t easy - there were a few guys making runs at me and I just needed to stay

FACTS AND

focused. To win three legs of the Grand Slam at 25 is a pretty big achievement.

“I’ve really found my passion again for golf. Not that my passion for golf ever dwindled, but it’s what I think about when get up in the morning. It’s what I think about when I go to bed. I just want to be the best golfer that I can be. I know if can do that, then trophies like this are within my capability.”

Sergio Garcia, who three times get to within two strokes, shot a final round 66 to finish two back in a share of second alongside Rickie Fowler, while Jim Furyk finished fourth a further two shots back.

“It’s difficult when you’re in a situation where you know you can’t make a mistake,” said Garcia, who shot rounds of 68, 70, 69 and 66 for a 15-under-par total of 273.

“It just puts that little bit of extra pressure on. So many good things happened throughout this week. Even today I got a couple of really good breaks. It was close. I’m proud of the way I played. I wanted to at least make Rory feel a little bit of pressure and see how he would respond. Obviously, he responded well.”

Rory’s wire-to-wire victory saw him become the seventh player to hold the outright lead at a 72-hole Open Championship after every round and remains the last man to do so. Jordan Spieth won wire-to-wire in 2017 but he had shared the lead in the first round alongside Brooks Koepka and Matt Kuchar.

79.2%

Adam Scott led the Greens in Regulation stats with 57 of 72 hit (79.2%). The Australian returns to Hoylake this month in search of a second Major Championship after his victory at the Masters Tournament in 2013.

Rickie Fowler holed the most birdies during the 2014 edition with 23. The American will be featuring once again this month after missing out on last year’s tournament for the first time since 2009.

FIGURES 7 2

Sergio Garcia finished runner-up for the second consecutive outing at Royal Liverpool, with the Spaniard also ending the 2006 edition in second, one stroke behind Tiger Woods.

£McIlroy pocketed a cheque worth £975K for his victory in 2014. Cameron Smith took home a tidy £2.1M with his triumph at The 150th Open Championship last season, with this year’s first prize expected to exceed that.

At the time, Rickie Fowler became only the third player to shoot four Open rounds of under 70 and not win - Jesper Parnevik in 1994 and Ernie Els in 1993 the other two. Jordan Spieth and Mackenzie Hughes added their names to the list in 2021 when Collin Morikawa won at Royal St. George’s.

would spend an hour practicing putting in the morning, an hour after their practice round and an hour a bit later. As an amateur you can get away with not doing that, but at this level you are competing with the best golfers on the planet so you need to work as hard as you can. If these guys are doing that on a regular basis then I will too.

WWG: What goals are you hoping to achieve by the end of this season?

FC: My goal is to secure status for next year. I need to continue working hard and staying focused on my game to see where that leads me. It’s not a case of playing good somewhere and then taking my foot off the pedal. If I’m to achieve my goals need to be playing my best

FILIPPO CELLI

golf for the whole season. have around 15 tournament starts this season; eight on the Challenge Tour and seven on the DP World Tour, so we’ll see if I can make the most of those to secure some sort of status for next season. The ultimate dream for me is to one day to play on the PGA Tour, I love competition and I want to be competing against the very best every week.

WWG: Is there a golfer that you’ve looked up to that you hope to play with one day?

FC: My favourite player is Rory McIlroy. I also love Jordan Spieth and Scottie Scheffler. was actually lucky enough to get the opportunity to play a practice round with Rory at The Open, which was obviously a dream come true as I grew up

watching him on TV. He’s a really nice guy who gave me some great advice for my future, so I hope to compete against him on a regular basis in years to come.

WWG: What are your thoughts on Marco Simone Golf & Country Club as a Ryder Cup venue?

FC: It’s amazing the Ryder Cup is going to be in Rome, which is where I was born. It’s my city with all my friends and family based there. You can feel the excitement and buzz around the place despite the fact that not many people are too familiar with the game in Italy. A lot of my friends have now shown an interest in the game after learning the Ryder Cup is one of the biggest sporting events in the world! It’s going to be crazy and we are ready for it.

That honour was part two of a trilogy of triumphs the 22-year-old hotshot picked up shortly before turning pro, having won the prestigious European Amateur Championship earlier in the year, before playing a starring role in Italy’s first ever triumph at the Eisenhower Trophy just weeks before turning professional at the DP World Tour’s Italian Open in September.

Now, playing on the Challenge Tour on an exemption category for those who competed at Qualifying School, Celli is hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow countrymen such as the Molinari brothers, Manassero and Guido Migliozzi in securing DP World Tour playing privileges, before becoming a winner on the main European circuit.

Thomas Wragg spoke to the youngster in Abu Dhabi to find out what it meant to win the Silver Medal, the Ryder Cup in his home country and what could lie ahead in his promising career.

Worldwide Golf: How did winning the Silver Medal change the trajectory of your career?

Filippo Celli: Winning the Silver Medal changed my life. I was studying at Texas Christian University but I quit two years

in after winning the European Amateur Championship and then the Silver Medal as I thought should jump off that rope and turn pro. I actually waited a few more weeks as my coach told me I should compete in the Eisenhower Trophy before making the switch to the paid ranks. I agreed and Italy went on to win, which was the best way to end my amateur career. Winning the Silver Medal, especially at the 150th edition, and then the Eisenhower Trophy was amazing.

WWG: Past winners of the Silver Medal include Major champions Matt Fitzpatrick, Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose. Do you think your triumph could be a springboard to a similar amount of success in the near future?

FC: Yeah, I think so. When I played The Open last year, I understood that had all the elements needed to compete at a high level, so I just need to stay patient, not think too much about the future, play as well as can and keep focused on how I can improve my game in the present. From there, we can see where can go in this game and what lies ahead in the future, but, for now, I’m solely focused on the present as my game is really good right now. Hopefully I can go really far in the world of golf.

WWG: Did any of your fellow Italian golfers reach out to you following your Silver Medal triumph?

FC: Francesco Molinari is a really nice guy who I first spoke to at The Open Championship in the players lounge. It was good for me as he gave some great advice and I also asked him about his career as a Major champion – he told me to stay patient, focus on my golf and not to think too much about other stuff while concentrating on my goals. He also told me that if I work hard then the results will come.

WWG: What has been your biggest learning since turning professional?

FC: I think the biggest thing that I’ve learned is that I have to work really hard. I know I am a good player and talented, but it’s not enough at this level. If you want to win you have to go that extra mile. got a real sense of understanding this last year when I played a DP World Tour event as I saw players constantly working on their game on the putting green. If I’m being honest, never work on the putting green and my putting struggled, so I said to myself ‘Filippo, you are not doing the right things to win at this level’, as these guys

Celli, centre, pictured with his Italian teammates at the Eisenhower Trophy

Back where he belongs

Worldwide Golf: How did you get into golf?

Sam Mullane: My Dad wanted us to play to begin with. I was born in England, but have grown up in Dubai having moved over at an early age. We then first started playing golf back at Emirates Golf Club doing the junior sessions, so I’ve been playing since was eight or nine. My handicap is plus three now.

WWG: How has the UAE developed your game, and what’s the difference here compared to the UK?

SM: I’ve just worked on my putting a lot, especially recently. It’s all about holing putts around here in the Middle East. The greens

are often quite quick, and they’re slopey, but if you can hole putts, you should do pretty good and score well. The difference between Dubai and the UK is also that the courses in the UK are a little bit tighter. You’ve got to be more positional off the tee and really take that into consideration. Translating the golf from Dubai to UK can be really difficult, though. You can’t just go to golf club and just walk up and practice, you’ve got to go and pay for balls. It’s the small differences like that. The facilities just aren’t as good in England in comparison to the UAE as well. All these small things add up and personally I think it can be quite difficult to play well in England.

WWG: What was playing in the high-profile UAE Challenge event like at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club?

SM: It was really cool. Coming from amateur events it was a totally different set up. The course was firm, fast and long. It was good to get out there and play with absolute ballers. I was paired with the eventual winner, Max Rottluff, and it was pretty cool. I played with him the first two days. There were 50km winds and this guy was just boxing putts from off the green to shoot four under. Pretty good, and I’m looking forward again to playing it next year if I get invited.

WWG: Did you learn anything that week from playing with Max?

SM: Max was a really nice and it was just great to be chatting away with him, both myself and my caddie Jake. He was actually a really nice guy. For me, he didn’t do anything special, but his long irons were always 20 foot from the pin. Whenever he had a 60 foot putt, for us amateurs, we’d be happy with a two-putt but his intention was to hole it every single time. He was burning the edges of the hole constantly and I was just watching like ‘wow’. Since the event I followed him on Instagram, but I’m still waiting for the follow back!

WWG: Does anyone help you practice, and do you have a coach?

SM: I’ve had coaches in the past in Dubai, but I’ve found I don’t like being coached that much. I just prefer to do my own thing most of the time. I do have input from a coach back in England, but he comes over every three months. His name is Jason Froggatt, and he’s based in Nottingham.

WWG: How does your summer schedule look this year?

SM: I’m heading back to England this summer, but only for a couple of weeks this year. I’m playing Woburn under-25 Championship which is a three day event with a cut after the second day. I’m also going to enter the Walton Heath trophy. I’m not sure on my playing schedule after that at this moment in time.

WWG: What’s your long term plan in golf? Do you have any future aspirations to turn pro?

SM: I don’t really know right now, to be honest. I’m just going to try and play well in other countries other than the UAE. Here I can feel quite confined, especially playing on just desert-style courses, so I need to get to Europe and play well in an event, and just see how it goes from there. I don’t have any sponsors at the moment so it can be quite expensive!

WWG: How do you reflect on winning the EGF’s Order of Merit this year?

SM: It was a solid season. I finished top 20 in every event and in general I played pretty solid. The start of the season was also pretty good, and now I’m holing more putts, my scoring is so much better. I felt good going into the season at the start as well. don’t really hit that many greens, but when I’m around the greens always feel like I can get up and down, so it’s easy to score well. Winning the JGE Men’s Open was the highlight. I’m a member there so know the courses pretty well, coming into that tournament I felt like should have been winning it, and did.

WWG: How often are you playing?

SM: At the moment, I don’t really practice that much. If I go to the range, I’ll hit a few wedges and then go to the putting green for an hour to really practice that. I play on course three times a week with a couple of guys from Jumeirah Golf Estates.

WWG: And finally, what’s your best round?

SM: My lowest round this season in a tournament was 68, and that was at the Arabian Ranches. Recreation ally In recreational golf I don’t really score that well in practice rounds to be honest. It’s where the tournaments where I play my best stuff.

261 BAR & RESTAURANT unveils new look

The Els Club, renowned for its breathtaking Ernie Els-designed signature golf course, has unveiled an exciting new look and new feel to the beloved 261 Bar & Restaurant following an extensive renovation.

The iconic establishment has undergone a remarkable transformation, offering members and guests a fresh experience with a new look, revamped ambiance, and an enticing menu that caters to diverse palates.

261 Bar & Restaurant takes its name from Ernie Els’ remarkable PGA Tour record-breaking achievement of an aggregate 72-hole score during the 2003 Mercedes Championship. Just like the golfing legend himself, the revamped restaurant aims to set new standards in providing an unparalleled dining experience for guests.

Situated within The Els Club, the venue boasts a picturesque setting, allowing patrons to unwind after a round of golf or simply soak in the breathtaking views of the signature golf course while enjoying a memorable meal. With an abundance of indoor and outdoor seating options, the venue offers a perfect vantage point to watch the world go by.

“We are thrilled to unveil the exciting transformation of 261 Bar & Restaurant,” said Tom Rourke, General Manager at The Els Club.

“Our goal was to create an inviting space that not only complements the beauty of our golf course but also offers an exceptional dining experience. With the new look and menu, we are confident that 261 Bar & Restaurant will become a go-to destination for both golf enthusiasts and the surrounding communities alike. We pride ourselves on being a fun family friendly facility and continue and encourage members and guests to bring along their pet in the cooler winter months onto our 261 lawn area and terrace.”

The newly curated menu at 261 Bar & Restaurant showcases a fusion of global flavours and culinary expertise. From delectable starters that tantalize the taste buds to exquisite main courses that satisfy every craving, the culinary team has carefully crafted a diverse selection to please all palates. Members and guests can also indulge in an array of handcrafted cocktails, Ernie’s Big Easy wines, and

refreshing beverages, expertly curated to complement the flavours of the menu. The redesigned space exudes elegance and comfort, featuring stylish furnishings, contemporary décor, and an inviting atmosphere that enhances the overall dining experience. Whether guest choose to unwind indoors or bask in the outdoor seating area, they are guaranteed a memorable and relaxing time at 261 Bar & Restaurant.

To celebrate the grand reopening, The Els Club is offering exclusive promotions and special packages for golfers and visitors alike where guests can enjoy the complete Els Club experience while revelling in the rejuvenated ambiance of 261 Bar & Restaurant.

For more information about 261 Bar & Restaurant or to make a reservation, please visit www.elsclubdubai.com or contact 04 425 1000.

Britain’s

Over the years plenty of professional sportsmen have turned their hand to golf, with the likes of Michael Phelps, Steph Curry and Gareth Bale all prolific players of the game away from their hugely successful respective sporting careers. On the other hand, you’d struggle to find many professional golfers who have made a name for themselves outside of the golfing world. But that could all be about to change with Dubai resident and three-time Asian Tour winner Shiv Kapur lending his expertise to a revolutionary cricket simulator experience that is the brainchild of Rohit Gupta, CEO of Precision Golf Middle East.

“Both of us share a common love for cricket and golf,” said Kapur, who first discussed the idea with Gupta during a round at The Els Club, Dubai.

“So how do we take the expertise we have in golf and apply that to cricket? Looking around the world there isn’t a single driving range for cricket. You have nets but you don’t actually have anywhere where you can go and hit a cricket ball out in the open. Rohit made a great observation that you grow up watching the game wanting to bat not field, so how do you develop something for cricket where everyone gets a chance to bat?”

That led Gupta to creating a Topgolf-like game named Six2O Cricket, which promises players an immersive, interactive cricket experience for all ages and abilities. Every shot played will be tracked through multi-sensor

technology, while holograms of fielders will attempt to catch balls on the field of play.

“We have developed the concept and all our own in-house Six20 Cricket technology from scratch,” said Gupta, who has worked on the concept for the last two years.

“From animation, gamification and bowling machines to the bats and balls –everything is created in-house so that we can continually develop this concept.”

Kapur added: “One of our inspirations was Topgolf, but we want to go way beyond that. We really want a visually engaging experience for players, so we have decided to use glow in the dark balls to make it exciting. We have holograms of fielders who will attempt to catch every ball played. We want to give everyone a really fun experience, from food to music and everything in-between.”

So where did the name Six2O Cricket come from?

“The name Six2O comes from Rohit’s love of a 62 degree wedge, he hits it from everywhere!” joked Kapur.

Similar to Topgolf, players will attempt to hit balls as far as they can from bays, which can also open up to join adjacent bays, while the land needed for a Six20 Cricket site is only one acre, with boundaries set between the modern IPL standard of 60-70 yards.

As well as offering fun games that are suitable for the whole family, the concept is also catering for more serious cricketers with the

creation of ‘Test Cricket Bays’ used to face the world’s fastest and best bowlers.

“We have a bit of everything at Six2O Cricket,” said Kapur. “The glow balls, neon lights and visual effects will predominantly come into effect in the evening, so our target time to play the game is between 5-11pm.

“During the day, each of our locations will have one or two bays that have designated professional bowling machines to allow test cricketers and kids the chance to pad up, put a helmet on and test their game at a high level. Our model is fun, entertainment and cricket in that order.”

Six20 Cricket will originally be rolled out in two locations in India with a further ten planned in the country in the next three years, while talks are underway to launch the concept in the Middle East in Q4 of 2024.

“There’s a huge south Asian population out here in the Middle East,” said Gupta. “Cricket is loved in the UAE and it’s not just the sport we are selling, it’s the entertainment side of it – just look at how many nationalities play Topgolf.”

Kapur added: “I think this concept will do well in Dubai as not only do you have a large south Asian community you also have many expats who are from other cricket-loving countries such as England, Australia and South Africa. This is a very unique place.”

If the success of Topgolf is anything to go by, Gupta and Kapur could be on something big here. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for Six2O Cricket!

Igolfing weekend ahead. I had been struggling with my set-up, so spent time out on the course working on my alignment. The alignment changes felt uncomfortable but little did I know what joy these small changes were going to surprise me with just a few moments later.

approximately 170 yards from the white tees. There was a sharp wind blowing into us off the left. I decided I would hit a five iron, I knew needed to strike it very well to get enough distance to carry onto the green.

the way felt incredibly uncomfortable - launched a crisp five iron off the centre of the clubface. It was a very well struck shot, I hadn’t hit an iron that well in quite a while. In fact immediately rated the contact and strike as an 11/10!

looked behind the green in the rough, presuming my ball had rolled off the back. Still, there was no sign. My Dad casually said just check the hole ‘in case’. It hadn’t even entered my mind that the ball could have gone in the hole.

huge adrenalin rush and jumped up and down with joy, just couldn’t believe it! This was my second ever hole in one. I had one as a junior golfer, on the same course actually. To have a hole in one with a five iron felt absolutely great. I am going to keep working on my alignment, as so far, I really like the results! A few days later I travelled to over London to play in the Sunningdale Summer Ladies Invitational. My childhood golfing friend, Chloe Ryan, is a member at the prestigious Sunningdale Golf Club and she kindly invited me as her guest. The format was a team of four scramble, just like our Chicks With Sticks events.

Sunningdale is a magical place, steeped with history and golfing traditions. We were given Pimm’s on the first tee and treated ourselves to a second at the halfway house, it was just too tasty to resist.

The invite to Sunningdale encouraged you to wear a ‘pop of pink’. With my wardrobe full of fifty shades of pink, this was an assignment I could absolutely ace! The golf course itself was incredible, the lush green fairways and bouncy greens were a real joy to play on. Sunningdale is a special golfing experience, what a treat, thank you Chloe!

A long summer of golf adventures awaits me here at home in Ireland. I’m also so excited to see some of our Chicks With Sticks ladies teeing it up across the globe over the summer break. Golf is a game you can not only just play your whole life, but it can also bring you to some fantastic places across the world.

Wishing everyone a wonderful summer of golfing adventures!

SCHEFFLER THE MAN TO BEAT AT THE OPEN

The last Major of the year is nearly upon us and Wyndham Clark will arrive on English shores with the U.S. Open Trophy sitting in his trophy cabinet back home. The ultimate confidence boost, that first Major Championship tucked away, the knowledge that your name will forever be etched into the history of the game alongside the greats. It will be super to watch this fine player over the next few years now he has joined the big boy club, and with a Ryder Cup debut assured he is ticking off all his goals in double quick time. It might be time to make some new ones quickly.

LA Country Club didn’t seem to convince everyone of its own Major tournament credentials but the victor had to hold off Rory down the stretch with the cream eventually rising to the top, this seems proof to me that it was a worthy host, but one thing is for sure, the atmosphere that seemed to be lacking at times during the U.S. Open will be no problem at The Open.

The fans will paint a beautiful backdrop to the stars of the men’s game at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. They will arrive in their thousands, a corporate snooze fest it certainly won’t be. The Open is open for the punters too, just how it should be and they will be ready to show their appreciation for quality golf whomever produces it. The last two winners at Hoylake? None other than Woods and McIlroy, Tiger famously driver-less on the hard fast fairways plotting his route to victory, Rory in his pomp using his trump card, the driver, to pummel his opponents into submission.

The latter will arrive with the nine year wait for his next Major on one shoulder for company but also the knowledge that he is in great form on the other. Rory is getting closer to the promised land once more, perhaps the feel-good factor of having won at this venue will prove to be the difference, what a boon it will be if he gets into position to be able to reminisce about those wonderful shots that he produced all those years ago, on the way to hoisting the Claret Jug.

One player that might have a say in things is a rejuvenated Rickie Fowler, a player that looked like he had all the shots to cope with links golf has himself just won again for the first time in four years. I know more than most about how that will feel for Rickie, (having had two seven year waits for my next victory, I can tell you the satisfaction is beyond belief), his hard work and dedication, alongside a great decision to work once more with Butch Harmon has seen him back to where he belongs. Rickie has always seemed like one of the good guys, you would have to have a cold heart not to have not been pleased for him once that final putt dropped. Could we see the man in orange make a charge for the biggest prize of all? I don’t doubt it for a second.

Tommy will be like the Pied Piper, maybe that energy will lift him to new heights, his form has been good, he has knocked on the door time and time again in the U.S. this year, maybe just maybe his biggest day is about to come?

Scheffler, however, will be the man to beat in my opinion. His long game is simply sublime, he seems to finish in the top five every week no matter the quality of his play, and it feels like he is due another huge moment, maybe proving himself on the links land will be it. His rise to the top of the game was so quick he took everyone by surprise. Now there comes with him an expectation that he will be there come Sunday. Alongside Brooks Koepka these are two giants of the game that the Champion Golfer of the Year will need to beat to lift that beautiful Claret Jug.

On a personal note, I’d say my best performance in an Open came at Hoylake the year Rory won, performing well all four days was a delight and it gave me another chance to savour that 18th hole walk in front of the giant grandstands that has become such a part of The Open’s charm and tradition. Every player gets an ovation that stirs the emotions, it truly is a wonderful feeling, so much so that I am just about to embark on the 36 hole qualifying event for The Open at Royal Cinque Ports golf club, a truly wonderful links with a closing few holes as strong as any I can remember. hope to see you in Hoylake myself. I can feel Rory worrying already!

DAVID HOWELL COLUMN

DAVID HOWELL

PUNCH SHOT PROWESS

BY ALEX NOREN

Being able to hit a punch shot is something you need to have as pro golfer. do it a lot myself just to groom my swing. Sometimes back off the ball a little bit at impact, and that causes the ball to go too high. When I hit punch shots a lot, my swing tends to get better as well as my normal shots.

VISUALISATION IS KEY

I think about a few things when I’m trying to hit a punch shot, but mostly what sort of shape I want to hit. When amateurs set up for this low shot, they actually set up for a high one without realising. So, you need to set up with the ball back in your stance. You also need a little bit of forward lean in the shaft at address. This really helps me feel like the shot is going to be low no matter what as from this position it’s easier to imagine hitting down on the ball.

When the ball is this far back in the stance, you need to take a divot. When you’ve created this steep angle at address, if you don’t hit a divot from here you’re doing something wrong. You’ve probably raised up, which means you might thin it or duff it. In summary, in executing the perfect punch shot, you need to do three things; the ball back in the stance, the shaft forward and retain a steep angle of attack at impact.

NOREN’S 2023 STATS

Driving Distance: 291 yards

Greens In Reg: 63%

Scrambling: 62%

Avg. Putts Per Round: 28.4

Longest Putt Holed: 26’ 2

BUNKER SHOT BRAVERY

BY PABLO LARRAZÁBAL

PLUGGED!

Balls buried in the sand in greenside bunkers look like very tough shots, but they aren’t that difficult if you know what you’re doing. My technique is to put a lot of weight on the left side, and try not to open the clubface. If you open the face, you hit it with the bounce which isn’t good. put the club around three to five centimetres behind the ball at address, and hit aggressively down on it. hit deep into the sand with not much of a release, almost leaving the club in the sand and let the sand try to basically hit the shot for me. That’s all do in my practice and on the course, and this really helps to allow the ball to pop and release out onto the green. Give it a go and see how you get on.

FAIRWAY BUNKERS

Now, this is the difficult bunker shot. I’d even say this is the trickiest shot in golf. From 60 yards, if the ball is sitting okay, I’m going to hit a pitch-type shot. I’ll set up with a narrower stance, and I will make sure I have the ball a little bit on the back foot as I try to hit the ball lower than usual. The trajectory will go much lower with a lot of spin. It’s important to remember to let your hands release unlike with the plugged bunker shot. But this does require a lot of practice and it’s a hard shot to master. It’s a shot even us professional sometimes fear!

LARRAZABAL’S 2023 STATS

Driving Distance: 300 yards

Driving Accuracy: 56% Greens In Reg: 68%

Sand Saves: 56%

Avg. Putts Per Round: 28.5

10 DP WORLD TOUR WINS

9 DP WORLD TOUR WINS

DUSTIN JOHNSON SWING SEQUENCE SWING SEQUENCE

BY JONATHAN CRADDOCK, PGA PROFESSIONAL, PETER COWEN ACADEMY

Two-time Major champion Dustin Johnson is well-known for his long power game, helped by his athleticism standing at 6’4” and 190lbs. The American used to be one of the longest drivers on the PGA Tour having been ranked in the top ten annually in driving distance from 2008 to 2020, leading in 2015. By virtue

of his 2020 Travelers Championship win, Johnson also became the third player in PGA Tour history to win a Tour title in each of his first 13 seasons, joining Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, while he’s also been the World No.1 for a total of over 130 weeks. His brother, Austin, has been his caddie since 2013 and

despite also having a pro as a dad, DJ is largely self-taught and learnt to play from watching other golfers on the range. With his unique movement DJ’s obviously spent a huge number of hours moulding his own movement, following the advice of the late Ben Hogan who would state “the secret is in the dirt”.

DJ maintains his posture wonderfully with a slight straightening of the right leg with a matching spiralled left knee. We can not see it from this angle but he’s already pressured his left side to increase his coil further during the downward spiral.

The biggest talking point of his swing is the top of his backswing where we can see here his left wrist is more bowed. I have to say this is something I like to see in a swing. With DJ’s massive turn he is able to stretch his arms nice and high.

During transition the American uses the ground wonderfully. This is partly due to his centred backswing but more importantly how he maintains his posture, working his lower body down and around to the left, transferring the power through efficiently.

On of my favourite movers out there, DJ starts with a very tall athletic look to his posture. A common error we see here with the longer clubs is not being able to see the left arm, DJ’s is in a strong position.

One point we don’t see from this angle that’s worth noting is how his head is tilted at setup with his left ear closer to the ball. This allows him the freedom to coil as he does so well. Look out for this next time you watch him on TV.

Having the ability to maintain your balance points is important for ball striking and power. That said, keeping your head absolutely still could inhibit your movement. Allow yourself a little freedom if you need it.

Here we start to see Johnson has started to transition the energy through his body into the club. His left leg helps to create space for his arms to work down using natural forces.

His lower half is now working around and up. His shoulders are still a fraction closed with his forearms pointing right ready to release the energy. Due to DJ’s lower half opening, he has created huge room here for his arms.

We can see here just how DJ creates so much ball speed. Not only has he moved all of the energy from is body out to his full extended arms, but perhaps more importantly presented a square clubface to the ball. This allows for a bigger area to strike the ball.

Do you see how DJ’s left hand is in front of his left shoulder in this frame? Whilst creating such leverage, the American maintains his clubface angle well matching it to his spine. Many would call this closed, however it’s square to his arc.

DJ maintains his arm structure allowing him to create such width. But what do we mean by arm structure? It’s the triangular shape created between the arms and the chest. Note how DJ’s elbows here at 3/4 back are still the same width apart as setup.

It’s often said that during DJ’s takeaway his club is outside the line. However, this is the appearance created by how well he spirals his body. We can also note how his hat has turned more to face the camera allowing for a 120 degree shoulder spiral.

It’s evident from this frame just how well DJ transfers the energy through his body as his lower half remains stable as the arms and club accelerate through. As we saw earlier in his swing, DJ maintains his posture but allows his head to rotate through giving freedom to his shoulder turn.

The two-time Major champion matches the movement of the upper body and arms to his lower body spiralling around and up to the left. Take note again to the width between DJ’s elbows, the extension and connection he’s able to achieve can be attributed to his flexibility and strength.

All golfers can use these four things from DJ’s swing to improve:

1. Ability to maintain his balance

2. Postural control

3. The use of the big muscles

4. Transfer of energy from big muscles into the arms and club

Finally, a definitive answer has emerged regarding the difficulty of golf courses in the UAE. Courtesy of eGolf Megastore, the official distributor or Arcoss in the GCC, we’ve obtained exclusive access to the comprehensive data gathered by Arccos, a reliable source that has monitored amateur rounds for nearly 10 years. The days of debate regarding what is the toughestand easiest - course in the country are over!

Arccos is a revolutionary company helping golfers of all standards understand their game to a much greater level. Their technology involves attaching smart sensors to the end of grips, which seamlessly sync with an acclaimed app to provide real-time shot tracking. By capturing this valuable data, this system not only reveals weaknesses in your game but also highlights your strengths, allowing you to focus your practice effectively.

To summarise, it’s very impressive and useful technology. It can tell you how far you hit each club to help supply strokes gained info as well as an exhaustive list of other cool

REVEALED:

WHAT’S THE UAE’S HARDEST COURSE?

things which is too long to fit on this page. With the company’s proven track record of helping players lower their scores through valuable performance insights, Arccos offer a worthwhile investment for those dedicated to improving their golf.

And along with helping to improve our games, this technology can also identify the difficulty of courses around the world. We’ve used this to our advantage to find out how each course in the UAE rank against each other in terms of difficulty.

In order to provide the most accurate analysis, we’ve used essential criteria in our final evaluation. Our assessment only considers courses with a minimum of 250 measured rounds and focuses exclusively on 18-hole tracks. Within this, we’ve then classified all amateur golfers into a unified group, encompassing individuals with singledigit handicaps up to those playing off a 20 handicap. Finally, we’ve analysed their scores and then compared their strokes gained data to that of the average scratch player. In short,

it compares how many shots the average amateur is losing against a scratch player. While this criteria is detailed, it’s provided us with over 25,000 rounds played across 15 courses in the UAE. This has helped to give an accurate answer as to which course is actually the easiest, and which one supplies the toughest test.

If you’re interested in leveraging Arccos to help you shoot lower scores you can purchase Arccos Smart Sensors for 999 AED from eGolf Megastore. If you don’t want to keep your phone in your front pocket - a requirement for the Smart Sensors - then you can also use an Apple Watch or purchase Arccos Link for 899 AED to record your on-course performance. eGolf Megastore also offer a promotional bundle option of Smarts Sensors & Link for 1519 AED as well as a range of other accessories including Smart Grips with sensors embedded in the grip and extra replacement sensors.

CLOSE SECOND AL HAMRA GOLF CLUB

Perhaps a bigger shock than Al Zorah being ranked the most difficult is this Ras Al Khaimah beauty being the second toughest in the country. The average amateur is losing 15.28 strokes on average to a scratch player here, perhaps not a surprise given the low scoring seen here in professional events. Nicolai Højgaard won the 2022 Ras al Khaimah Championship on 24 under par, a score which suddenly becomes even more impressive after delving into this Arcoss data.

MOST DIFFICULT AL ZORAH GOLF CLUB

This par 72 championship course designed by Jack Nicklaus has taken the top spot as the hardest place for amateurs to score well. It’s had over 800 rounds recorded by Arcoss, with the average amateur losing 16.25 strokes to the scratch player. It’s not particularly long with the gold tees measuring just over 6500 yards. However, it homes two lakes and 88 bunkers with four challenging par threes. It’s no doubt a tricky test, but with generously wide fairways in places there are definitely still some opportunities to grab a birdie or two.

EASIEST TRACK ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB’S NATIONAL COURSE

One of the UAE’s most popular golfing venues which has also been a mainstay on the DP World Tour for a number of years. This Abu Dhabi gem comes in as the easiest for amateur players. There’s been over 1000 rounds recorded by Arcoss on the National Course, with the average amateur losing 11.25 strokes to a scratch player. Depending on which tees you choose to play from, this course still offers a stern test to all due to its strategic bunkering and several water hazards.

SURPRISE PACKAGE ELS CLUB

The fairways are lush, the greens are fast and players are greeted with a new challenge on every hole. And despite also being home to the infamous Lion’s Den, this Dubai diamond ranked middle of pack for difficulty. Nearly 2500 recorded rounds have been played at Ernie Els’ sublime course, with the average amateur losing 12.58 strokes to a scratch player. With four sets of tees stretching as far back as 7,538 yards, this par 72 will still test every aspect of your game. It shocked us as we thought it would’ve been nearer the top!

FULL LIST

*Brackets denote strokes lost by amateurs versus scratch golfers

1. Al Zorah GC (-16.25)

2. Al Hamra GC (-15.28)

3. Emirates GC’s Faldo Course (-14.48)

4. Montgomerie GC Dubai (-14.09)

5. Yas Links Abu Dhabi (-13.12)

6. Arabian Ranches (-12.92)

7. Emirates GC’s Majlis Course (-12.74)

8. Els Club Dubai (-12.58)

9. JGE’s Earth Course (-12.57)

10. Dubai Hills (-12.55)

11. Dubai Creek (-12.48)

12. Trump International, Dubai (-12.35)

13. Saadiyat Beach GC (-12.05)

14. JGE’s Fire Course (-11.45)

15. Abu Dhabi GC’s National Course (-11.25)

NOTONLY DID THE LATEST ARCCOS DATA HELP IDENTIFY WHICH COURSES WERE THE HARDEST IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, BUT IT ALSO SHOWED WHAT PART OF THE AMATEUR GAME IS THE BIGGEST WEAKNESS. FROM 75 TO 100 YARDS, THE STANDARD 20-HANDICAPPER IS HITTING THE GREEN IN REGULATION 49 PERCENT OF THE TIME WHILE A 10-HANDICAPPER HITS IT 59 PERCENT OF THE TIME. TO COMPARE, THE AVERAGE TOUR PROFESSIONAL FINDS A WHOPPING 78 PERCENT OF GREENS FROM THE SAME DISTANCE. THAT HUGE VARIABILITY LED US TO DELVE DEEP INTO EGOLF MEGASTORE’S CATALOGUE TO FIND SOME TOOLS TO HELP CLOSE THE GAP

Review: The rusty face at first glance wasn’t for me, but after some time actually using the club I could definitely see myself putting this in the bag. Under the glare of the bright Dubai sun, a darker finish on the face at address installed confidence as I had greater awareness of the face. It was something I didn’t know I wanted, so I encourage you to try this if you haven’t as well. Combine this fresh look with exceptionally clean turf interaction, and this wedge started to tempt me into a possible purchase in the near future. RRP:795 AED

TAYLORMADE

Review: The SM9 features the first groove revision in a Vokey since the SM6, and this sharper clubface impressed me with the increased spin. When hitting it flush, it was a one-hop-and-stop type wedge from 80 yards while it was also easy to control the trajectory. The SM9 is a reliable short game weapon while the word ‘finesse’ came to mind when testing it. The club felt as if it was designed perfectly for those shorter shots from 50 yards and in. You just can’t go wrong with a Vokey wedge; they remain one of the most versatile and popular options on the market, especially with so many options to choose from.RRP:795 AED

Review: Bettinardi are renowned for producing top-tier putters used by golf’s elite. However, they also craft exceptional wedges that are worth your attention. This latest iteration of the HLX series incorporates innovative technology to raise the center of gravity while also featuring a slim top line, making them tailored for more skilled ballstrikers than myself. Nonetheless, using such a high-quality club evokes a similar feeling to driving a Lamborghini. Tight dispersion was there for me personally, and for those seeking a premium brand with great performance, you don’t need to look any further. RRP:1095 AED

TITLEIST

Review: This was an absolute rocket of a golf club. Personally, I’m not after any additional distance with these shorter clubs until I can improve my swing, but if my goal was simply to hit it further, I would buy this in a heartbeat. It had no difficulty cutting through the turf and I was getting up to 10 yards more distance with this in comparison to the rest. The slightly thicker top line gave me less confidence and feel around those tricky tight lies, but it had no trouble finding the 75 to 100 yard distance. A superb option for the player looking to find more greens and improve quickly.

AED

Review: Cleveland have removed weight from the heel area and redistributed it elsewhere to increase forgiveness in this club, and for my level of golf where I need all the forgiveness I can get, found this to be a fantastic wedge. This technology helped to mitigate the loss of distance on mishits, while my dispersion from 80 yards was as tight as I could have hoped for. When you’re trying to get up and down on the daunting ninth hole at the Els Club to save par, this club is definitely your friend. No complaints and lots of positives for this one. RRP:745 AED

Specs Available:

Review: Callaway have incorporated a fresh design in this wedge with micro-milled grooves between the actual grooves, hugely enhancing its spin capabilities even on shorter shots. At address, the clubhead appeared and felt slightly more substantial compared to other wedges in this article and if you desire added solidity upon impact while still maintaining a remarkable level of feel, this wedge could be the perfect choice for you. Moreover, the raw face basking under the desert sun adds an aesthetic appeal that will undoubtedly appeal to many, including myself. RRP: 850 AED

Review: After analysing the wedge-impact positions of over 100,000 golfers, TaylorMade discovered that around 66 percent of them made contact with the toe of the club. I found that statistic out after I hit this wedge, and then it all made sense when I noted my strike location for this club was consistently more towards the hosel. If hitting wedges off the toe is something you struggle with, testing this club is a no-brainer. Aesthetically, the shape of the club head has a similar visual look to the Bettinardi, which is equally as impressive in performance. RRP:835 AED

Thailand beckons as a captivating haven, celebrated for its enchanting culinary wonders, captivating martial arts, breathtaking coastlines, mesmerizing temples, and exhilarating outdoor escapades. However, hidden amidst these treasured gems lies a realm of internationally acclaimed golf courses, inviting enthusiasts to embark on a remarkable journey. For those seeking a holiday destination that caters to all passions and desires, Thailand emerges as an irresistible choice, ready to enchant every traveler who ventures within its borders.

The stunning country boasts some of the finest golf courses in Asia, and continues to grow in stature to consolidate its position.

Golf has been played in Thailand for almost a century with tournaments recorded at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club as early as 1905!

The sport has become a leading tourism attraction in recent years due to its luscious greenery and beautiful scenery, not to mention value for money and perfect golfing weather.

ELEGANT HUA HIN

The Kingdom offers more than 250 courses across the country from the buzzing city of Bangkok, through the elegant region of Hua Hin and onto the serene South. There's a wide variety of well manicured courses with some of the most picturesque views imaginable.

Accomodation choices are plentiful and no matter where you find yourself, there is something to suit every budget – from lavish five-star hotels to more authentic modest Thai-style bungalows.

The cooler season, which runs from November to February, is the ideal time to book a golfing holiday, with light breezes and constant sunshine.

Even the summer months provide acceptable golfing conditions, especially when compared to the red hot temperatures in the Middle East. Another thing Thailand is famous for is its food.

Thai cuisine provides a truly mesmerising fusion of Asian, Indian and Western influences and there's also plenty of international restaurants for those who prefer a taste from home.

Over the years, Thailand has welcomed millions of tourists looking to tee-off on one of the superb courses in the midst of sensational scenery.

Some of the greatest course designers have left their mark on Thailand’s golfing scene, including the legendary Greg Norman, who designed the Thana City Golf & Country Club in Bangkok.

WARM WELCOMES

Another reason Thailand continues to surge in popularity as a golf tourism destination is the local people and their warm welcomes. Thai people are regarded as some of the friendliest in the world, hence the country's moniker – ‘The Land of the Smiles’.

This includes the unique and memorable service that caddies, who are predominantly female in Thailand, bring to any golfing experience. They provide an unforgettable level of service which, again boasts amazing value for money compared to just about anywhere else in the golfing world.

From accommodation and golf, to shopping and dining options –all at a price that will not break the bank – there are many reasons Thailand makes a top choice for golf holiday. Yet, ultimately, it’s the everlasting memories that this beautiful part of the world creates for all who visit it.

Black Mountain Golf Club

Amata Spring Country Club

Santiburi Golf Samui

Banyan Golf Club Hua Hin

Thana City Country Club

BECOME AN EGF MEMBER

• Official WHS handicap, recognized worldwide (applicable for EGF Direct members only)

• Discounted green fees at UAE golf clubs

• Play in events / competitions and receive awards

• Third party and property damage golfer’s insurance

JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES EMIRATES GOLF FEDERATION

The UAE delegation won 73 medals at the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023, including Ali Bin Sumaidaa and his Unified Partner Omar Al Bastaki securing a Silver Medal in the Level 2 Unified Alternate Shot Competition.

“Special Olympics UAE athletes concluded their participation at the Berlin Games 2023 with an impressive medal tally that positions Special Olympics UAE as not only the largest delegation, but also the highest achieving amongst the MENA region,” said Her Excellency Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Development and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Special Olympics UAE.

“This remarkable success is the result of their hard work and preparations over the many months that preceded the games. We are proud to dedicate this success to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the foremost supporter

SHARJAH GOLF & SHOOTING CLUB

of People of Determination and their inclusion in society. I also congratulate the athletes, their families, their coaches and all the support teams, and everyone who has contributed to this tremendous success, including the official team sponsor, ADNOC Group, and all strategic partners, and most importantly, Her Highness Sheikha Maryam bint Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Honorary Chair of Special Olympics UAE, for spearheading the program with exemplary vision.”

On the sidelines of the Games, the UAE became a founding member of the International Global Leadership Coalition for Inclusion, a pioneering multilateral effort to support people with intellectual disabilities.

Coalition members committed to supporting the expansion of inclusive sports and education opportunities to over 2 million young people in more than 150,000 schools and scaling Special Olympics programming to 180 nations.

Bagge wins big at Summer Challenge

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB, DUBAI

Vance victorious once again

OFFICIAL ARABIAN GOLF

Craig Vance continued his love affair with the Gil Hanse-designed track at Trump International Golf Club, Dubai after shooting a one over par 72 to win the latest Monthly Medal. In Division A, Gordon Geekie came out on top with a net 70, closely followed by David Guinee with a net 72. Tim Wassink was crowned Division B champion with a level par net 71, while Aoife Kelly secured the Ladies Division title with a 76.

Khannas tame Earth course

Ravi Khanna and Roma Khanna dovetailed to perfection to post an impressive net 31 on the front nine of the Earth course to top the leaderboard at the recently held Thursday Curry Club. Falling just short of the winners and finishing runners up were new members Philip Childs and Andrew Parsons who scored a well-respected round of net 32, while the pairing of Martin Issott and Noel O’Leary completed the top three also with a net 32 but missed out on second place on a countback.

Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club Captain Ravi AE posted an impressive score of 39 Stableford points in a round that included five net birdies and only two dropped shots to secure the latest Monthly Stableford. Naresh Khurana took the runner-up spot with 36 points, while Amiya Ranjn collected the trophy for Best Gross with 29 points.

Captain Ravi triumphs in Monthly Stableford

Christofer Bagge bagged himself a three-night stay at one of Clubs Meds Golf Resorts after coming out on top of the Summer Challenge with 37 Stableford points. Best Gross went to Namir al Naimi with a score of 32 points, while George Liu and Noor Mohammed took home the spoils of Division A and B, respectively.

Worldwide GOLF 63