2012 Worldwide Golf October by Worldwide Golf

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I S S U E 1 4 1 , O C TO B E R 2 0 1 2

Middle East’s No.1 Golf magazine Official Media Partner Middle East

Europe fight back to keep the cup

Olazabal’s men use a little seve magic to mount one of the biggest comebacks in ryder cup history!

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IN THIS ISSUE Francesco molinari exclusive sylvester stallone talks golf DP World Tour Championship news NEw look arabian golf section

Two Hospitality tickets to the dP World Tour Championship, Dubai

ISBN 978-9948-15-427-3

Official Publication of The Emirates Golf Federation & The Arab Golf Federation 9www.wwgolf.biz 789948 154273 1

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Gary Player

Worldwide Golf Executive Editor Since 1999

The nine time Major Champion who has witnessed and been a part of some of the most historic and memorable golfing occasions reflects on the game today

EXPECTED the 39th Ryder Cup to be a close-run affair with the United States winning back the trophy due to home advantage but none of us could have predicted the stunning turnaround Jose Maria Olazabal’s team completed in the singles to snatch a 14 ½ - 13 ½ victory. We all knew that the vociferous American galleries at Medinah would push their team along and that the course set up would suit the style of the US players. The home team invariably has the upper hand in The Ryder Cup and the previous three runnings had been won by the team playing on their own track. The exception was Oakland Hills in 2004 when Bernhard Langer’s Europeans scored an overwhelming 18 ½ – 9 ½ victory over Hal

Sutton’s Americans. Over the first two days all the signs were pointing to the trend continuing as the USA had all the momentum and the likes of impressive rookie Keegan Bradley and Bubba Watson fed off the energy from the crowd with some wonderful displays. I’ve certainly never seen a player asking the crowd to cheer as he tees off like Bubba did and I don’t think it would work for many people but it did for him. The US team looked to be one of the strongest I’ve seen for a long time and they were playing some outstanding golf. I really couldn’t see Europe coming back from 10-6 down going into the singles. It had never been done before by a European team but Jose Maria must have really got his team fired up, reminding them of what his great friend Seve Ballesteros stood for as a player, and ensuring that they showed the

same fighting spirit his fellow Spaniard was famous for. It was a lovely touch that the players all had shirts and bags bearing Seve’s name and that they wore his traditional Sunday colours of navy and white in the singles. You could see how much it meant to Jose Maria over the closing holes when he could barely watch and in his emotional interviews after his team had secured the victory that seemed almost impossible at the start of the day. If ever someone deserved it, it was Jose Maria – he’s one of the nicest players in the game and his achievement in leading Europe to victory against the odds will be remembered forever as one of the greatest sporting accomplishments of all time. The Ryder Cup has become not only the biggest team event in golf, it’s now one of the biggest sporting events in the world. As a spectacle it’s the perfect occasion to showcase all that is good in our game. The Ryder Cup and The Presidents Cup have demonstrated the very best in fair play and sportsmanship over the years. They are golf’s big opportunities to show to millions of television viewers all around the world what a wonderful game it is. It’s a game where you need to be competitive and focussed but when the last ball drops in the hole and you shake hands with your opponent on the green you are the best of friends again. I think all the players from both teams conducted themselves impeccably at Medinah, the Americans, including their captain Davis Love III, were very gracious in defeat and credit to our great game. When Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and I played against each other throughout our careers you couldn’t find three more competitive or driven golfers but we have been close friends throughout our lifetime and that’s just the way it should be. n

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Who said Europe wouldn’t win?

HEN all the pundits were going USA all the way I went the other way. Not to be different but I just knew the pressure was on the USA as favourites and Europe were stronger than they were given credit for. How could you write off a team that contained the current World No.1 and three other recent World No.1s? I can’t wait for Pete Cowen to get back from Medinah as it’s very rare I get one over on him! Pete, like so many others thought the long course set up, with little rough and lightening fast greens would give the USA the edge and demoralise the Europeans. The first two days were playing to the script but that putt of Poulter’s on Saturday evening, paired with the heartfelt speech given by an emotional Olazabal gave Europe the belief it was still possible. It was the best Ryder Cup ever with so many memorable shots. Justin Rose’s putt on 17 against Mickelson was huge, Bubba stoking the crowd on the first tee and then bombing it down the middle...the list goes on, but for me it has to be Furyk’s putt on 16 . If you missed it just go to our Facebook video section – he was pumped as he thought it was dropping but somehow it lipped out. Furyk was about to deliver Sergio a dormie blow and give USA a huge point and momentum boost. The miss made the doubt set in over the two closing holes and he somehow gifted the Spaniard the win. That result, coupled with Rose’s miracle birdie, birdie finish to edge out Mickelson just made you think that someone up above was in Europe’s corner on Sunday. The boys certainly played with the Seve spirit all day. It was fitting too that a German player holed the winning putt with a spike mark on his line! The memory of Langer in ‘91 is finally banished! Closer to home it was great to have our columnist Greg Norman officially open Almouj Golf, The Wave in Muscat. The course looks amazing and will no doubt stage some great events in the near future. Mike Gallemore travelled with Greg from Oman to Jordan where the Great White Shark is working on a new course in Aqaba, more on that in the next issue. Our playing editor Joel Neale was a little rusty going into the opening MENA Tour round at Dubai Creek but the local media spotlight was on Ahmed Al Musharrekh as he made his professional debut. Neither had the best of starts but there was no real surprise in the result as Zane Scotland narrowly beat Stephen Dodd. There’s no doubt that the Tour’s image is lifted by the big name players but you’ve got to wonder if they are bolstering or damaging the development of local talent.

IN THIS features

8 The RYDER CUP 18 FRANCESCO MOLINARI EXCLUSIVE

local scene 66 69 70 72

Arabian golf JOEL NEALE COLUMN ROSS BAIN Q&A ROSS BAIN SWING SEQUENCE

75 MENA TOUR

INSTRUCTION 50 SWING SEQUENCE: GRAEME MCDOWELL 55 TROON TUTORIAL 60 dubai golf tutorial 63 quick tips al badia GC 65 in the bag – daniel owen

Regulars 3 gary player introduction 14 GREG NORMAN AT THE WAVE 16 THE LUCKIEST BALL ON EARTH 17 THE RACE TO DUBAI TABLE 24 DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP NEWS 31 DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HOSPITALITY COMPETITION 33 WORLD ROUND UPS 39 QUICK 9 WITH THORBJORN OLESEN 41 GOLDEN MOMENTS IN GOLF 44 DIVOTS – GLOBAL GOLF NEWS 46 GARY PLAYER COLUMN 49 PETE COWEN 52 WWG TRAVELLER 103 WWG STYLE

Alex Gallemore Editor 12

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ISSUE No. 141, october, 2012 Published by: Worldwide Sporting Publications Ltd +44 1663 719926 Published in Dubai by: Prografix, PO Box 24677, Dubai, UAE (Tel) +9714 340 3785

Printed by: Raidy, Dubai 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.

EDITION

CONTENTS

Over 100 destinations worldwide

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competition

2 x HOSPITALITY TICKETS TO THE DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP THE Hospitality Pavilion is the perfect place to watch the action. Overlooking the 18th green and taking in the view of the fairway from the tee with the stream meandering down the hill, the Hospitality Pavillion provides the very best in gourmet catering. With its relaxing interior with luxurious sofas and relaxed informal dining the Pavilion offers an ideal opportunity to entertain guests at one of the biggest sporting events in the world. The Pavilion Terrace provides a close encounter as the biggest stars in golf play the final hole of their round as the atmosphere builds to a climax. This is a unique opportunity to watch golfing history made while enjoying top quality cuisine and drinks in a climate-controlled contemporary lounge among family, friends, colleagues and business clients.

The DP World Tour Championship Hospitality Pavilion Package includes: l Access to Hospitality Pavilion and golf course l Contemporary lounge ad dining facilities l Breakfast Buffet l International Lunch Buffet l Afternoon Tea Service l Preferred VIP Car Parking l Official Event Programme l Daily Drawsheet DP World Tour Championship Hospitaltiy Pavilion Features: Spacious Terrace overlooking the course and the 18th hole Climate-controlled ambience l Dining and Social seating l Live coverage from around the course on high-definition TV l Dedicated Guest Management Team l l

To enter go to the Worldwide Golf Magazine Facebook page, ‘Like’ us and share this image for your chance to win. To find our Facebook page simply search Worldwide Golf or in Google search Worldwide Golf Facebook.

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Win a pair of VIP Hospitality tickets for the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates next month. To enter sinply go to our Facebook page.

Europe do the unthinkable and break US hearts with the comeback of the century at Medinah.

Exclusive interview with Ryder Cup hero Francesco Molinari as he sets out to hunt down team mate Rory McIlroy at the top of The Race to Dubai.

18 Editor-in-Chief: Mike Gallemore Executive Editor: Gary Player Editor: Alex Gallemore Publisher: Mike Gallemore Senior Editor: Richard Bevan

WWG STYLE The all-new WWG Style section featuring: l Mercedes S500 review l Win a pair of Footjoy Contour Casuals l Locker Room – cool stuff for your locker l Get Fresh – look, feel, smell great l Sly Stallone lets off steam l Nicola Hage Q&A

103 Editors: Todd Staszko, James Reeves, Tabitha Florence Playing Editor: Joel Neale Design Manager: Joanna Eardley Technical Manager: Mark Collinge

Advertising & Marketing Director: Rasha Siriani rasha@wspdubai.com

Editorial Panel: Gary Player, Mike Gallemore, Alex Gallemore, Richard Bevan, Todd Staszko

Marketing Executive: Nairy Soghomonian

General Manager – MENA Chris Turlik

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

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Europe 14 1/2 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; USA 13 1/2

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For you SEVE

EUROPE’S fire-starter Ian Poulter summed it up best. “I had Seve on my shirt, Seve on my bag and Seve in my heart. We knew he was looking down at us willing us to victory. His spirit was in the team room and with us on the course.” Nobody represented the qualities of courage, belief, perseverance and audacity more than the late great Ballesteros and it was those qualities that helped Europe stage one of the greatest comebacks in the history of The Ryder Cup as they overturned a 10-6 deficit with a stunning final day fight back at Medinah Country Club to win 14 ½ – 13 ½ in the first Matches to be staged since the Spaniard’s death from cancer last year. Thirteen years after the Americans came back from the brink to win at Brookline, Jose Maria Olazabal’s men did the unthinkable. Taking their lead from the insurmountable Poulter, who made five consecutive birdies on Saturday to put a crucial point on the board and give his team a glimmer of hope, Europe rained down a sea of blue on the singles leaderboard before Martin Kaymer’s nerve-jangling five foot putt on the 18th ensured the Cup stayed in European hands and Tiger Woods’ miss on the same hole gave Ollie’s team an astonishing victory outright. “This one’s for you Seve,” sobbed Olazabal as the European party erupted around him in Chicago. www.wwgolf.biz

Ryder Cup 2012 results: Friday 28th September: Morning Foursomes:

Furyk & Snedeker 1up McIlroy & McDowell Mickelson & Bradley 4&3 Donald & Garcia Dufner & Z. Johnson 3&2 Westwood & Molinari Woods & Stricker 2&1 Poulter & Rose

Afternoon Fourballs:

Watson & Simpson 5&4 Lawrie & Hanson Mickelson & Bradley 2&1 McIlroy & McDowell D. Johnson & Kucha 3&2 Rose & Kaymer Woods & Stricker 1 up Westwood & Colsaerts

It was nip and tuck all the way in the morning foursomes as, after a nervy start in which both G-Mac and Jim Furyk miscued their opening tee shots, both sides settled into their stride. In the fist-pumping ball of energy that is Keegan Bradley, Phil Mickelson looked to have finally found a partner he’s comfortable with as the pair ended Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia’s unbeaten run with an impressive 4&3 victory. Woods and Stricker, however, failed to ignite as the session ended honours even. The afternoon fourballs began with one of the standout moments in Ryder Cup history – Bubba Watson defying convention and encouraging the crowd to make as much noise as possible as he struck his opening tee shot. The Masters champion fed off the energy of the galleries all day as he combined superbly with Webb Simpson to make light work of Paul Lawrie and Peter Hanson. Ominously, American putts across the board were finding the hole with unerring accuracy. Europe, were having no such joy on the dance floor, with the exception of Belgian big-hitter Nicolas Colsaerts – the undoubted star of show for Ollie’s men on Friday, who took to his first Ryder Cup like a duck to water alongside the decidedly off-colour Lee Westwood.

SCORE: USA 5 – 3 EUROPE

Saturday 29th September: Morning Foursomes:

Watson & Simpson 1up Rose & Poulter Mickelson & Bradley 7&6 Westwood Donald Dufner & Z. Johnson 2&1 Colsaerts & Garcia Furyk & Snedeker 1up McIlroy & McDowell

Afternoon Fourballs:

Watson & Simpson 5&4 Rose & Molinari D.Johnson & Kuchar 1up Colaserts & Lawrie Woods & Stricker 1up Garcia & Donald Dufner & Z. Johnson 1up McIlroy & Poulter SCORE: USA 10 – 6 EUROPE

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Things did not look good for Europe after the US picked up where they’d left off on Friday morning, winning three points out of four in the foursomes, including another imperious display by Mickelson and his rookie partner Bradley as they inflicted a record-equalling 7&6 on former World No.1s Donald and Westwood. Only the all-English pairing of Rose and Poulter prevented a foursomes whitewash and it was clear that one of Captain Ollie’s inspiring pep talks was needed to stop the contest getting out of sight before Sunday had even began. Red continued to pepper the leaderboard on Saturday afternoon as the US rode the momentum with one of the finest team displays the tournament had ever witnessed. The outlook for Europe was getting bleaker by the minute. If ever they needed a talisman to show them the way forward it was now. Up stepped Mr Ian James Poulter. Garcia and Donald had just rescued a point after Steve Stricker failed to convert a birdie putt at the last but with the scores at 10-5, a US win from the last match on the course would surely mean game over? Light was fading fast but Poulter, playing alongside World No.1 McIlroy, refused to let his hopes go with it, capping an astounding run of five consecutive birdies with a 12-footer at the 18th to get a crucial blue point on the board. After the tournament was over his teammates would point to Poulter’s heroics as being the catalyst for the sensational events that were to follow the next day.

t was all over bar the shouting wasn’t it? The US press certainly thought so with one smug journalist writing: “Never mind. It’s over. Olazabal can click off the walkie-talkie and take the IFB out of his ear. Time for the Europeans to fire up the private jets and head back home to Florida.” But Captain Ollie had been inspiring his team all week with poignant talks about what he’d learned from Seve about fighting until the very end and showing courage and determination in the face of adversity. And most importantly, he spoke about belief. Almost every team-talk left his European charges in tears, such was the impact his words had on them, but to a man they went out on Sunday morning with no doubt in their minds about just what this meant – to Olazabal. To European golf. To Seve. Not since Brookline had such a big margin been clawed back on the final day, but this was different. At Brookline the US had the bear pit on their side. This time Europe were in the heart of the lion’s den and America had never lost more than a two-shot lead in the singles since the Ryder Cup began in 1927. It would take a miracle and nothing less than a lightening quick start would do. With the team dressed in Seve’s colours of navy and white cool-hand Luke led the way with a crucial first blow to Europe to quieten the crowd in his match against the flamboyant Watson before the mightily impressive Lawrie followed suit with a 5&3 thumping of FedExCup winner Brandt Snedeker. Rory McIlroy only arrived at the course via police escort 10 minutes before his tee-time having confused Eastern Time and Central Time and thinking his start time was an hour later than it was. It mattered not as the precocious Northern Irishman put standout American performer Bradley to the sword. When the undefeated Poulter did it again, coming from behind to beat Simpson 2up to level the scores at 10-10

it became clear we could be watching one of the most remarkable sporting moments in history. Everything was going Europe’s way – putts that had refused to comply over the previous two days now obediently wound their way into the cup. None more so than those despatched by Justin Rose, with a mammoth birdie putt on the 17th followed a gutsy 15 footer on the 18th to secure a fantastic point against Phil Mickelson. Even Westwood started to play, finally showing his class with a sterling display against Matt Kuchar, to bring Europe back level at 12-12 after Zach Johnson had defeated the disappointing Celtic Manor hero Graeme McDowell. Jim Furyk thought he’d gone dormie against Garcia at the 16th, raising his hands in triumph only to see his putt skim round the edge of the cup and back onto the green. It opened the door for the Spaniard and he walked right through it, winning the remaining two holes to win the match and put Europe ahead for time all week. 13-12. Surely not? Ollie could barely watch. After Jason Dufner levelled the scores again with an impressive win over Peter Hanson it all came down to Kaymer v Stricker. The American over hit his approach to the 18th and missed his return putt nine feet to the left leaving the German a 30 footer to retain the Cup. He charged it past, leaving a tricky five-footer, and when Stricker sank his par putt the pressure was on. Thoughts of Bernhard Langer’s miss in similar circumstances at Kiawah Island in 1991 hung heavy in the air but Kaymer was having none of it. Up he stepped, in it went, never in doubt. Cue pandemonium. When Woods had a putt to secure a 14-14 draw at the same hole minutes later, it was clear his head had already gone. He missed and a tie became a win. This was about more than The Ryder Cup. This was about hope, belief, courage and determination. This was about Seve.

Sunday 30th September: Afternoon Singles: Bubba Watson 2&1 Luke Donald Webb Simspon 2up Ian Poulter Keegan Bradley 2&1 Rory McIlroy Phil Mickelson 1up Justin Rose Brandt Snedker 5&3 Paul Lawrie Dustin Johnson 3&2 Nicolas Colsaerts Zach Johnson 2&1 Graeme McDowell Jim Furyk 1up Sergio Garcia Jason Dufner 2up Peter Hanson Matt Kuchar 3&2 Lee Westwood Steve Stricker 1up Martin Kaymer Tiger Woods halved Francesco Molinari SCORE: USA 13½ – 14½ EUROPE

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Europe 14 1/2 – USA 13 1/2

Olazabal “Seve will always be present with this team. He was a big factor for this event, for the European side, and Saturday night when we were having that team meeting, I think the boys understood that believing was the most important thing, and I think they did.”

rose “The Ryder Cup is as big as it gets, and to play Phil, I mean, he’s a gentleman first and foremost, but he always seems to bring out the best in me. To make three putts like I did on the last three greens, I feel like that’s just been a lot of hard work paying off, and I wouldn’t say I’ve made three bigger putts back‑to‑back in my career ever.”

Ollie said to us at the start of the week, The Ryder Cup is what memories and dreams are made of, and he’s been awesome. And last night that team room was buzzing. We weren’t 4‑down. We were all‑square. And we just knew we had a chance and do you know what, this is history right here. This has been unbelievable. POULTER

garcia

LOve iii

“I have no doubt in my mind that Seve was with me today all day, because there’s no chance I would have won my match if he wasn’t there. It was amazing, and it feels so good to be able to win it for him and for our captain, Jose, he’s an amazing guy.”

“I’m sure there’s a lot of great plans in a lot of sporting events that sound really good the night before, before the game starts, and then there’s a fumble or a turnover or something happens and it doesn’t work. What didn’t work in the singles is they played a little bit better than us and got some momentum and made it tough.”

Torn for my boys! Crazy stuff...that’s the Ryder Cup...congrats to the Euro Team! They stepped up big time! #WOW

Fowler

D.Johnson “Wow. Stunned but really proud of how we played against a very good Euro team! Congrats to the Euros, but now we’ll be even hungrier!”

Congratulations Europe! Possibly the greatest comeback in sports history!

Azinger www.wwgolf.biz

Norman Greg

ALMOUJ GOLF IS OFFICIALLY OPEN

Greg Norman walks the course prior to the official opening of Almouj Golf at The Wave, Muscat.

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WAS delighted to be a part of the official opening of Almouj Golf at The Wave, Muscat late last month and to see the final product – the Sultanate’s first championship course. Almouj Golf is leading the way for golf in Oman and I am proud to have played a role in developing the country’s golfing talent. His Excellency Sultan bin Hamdoon Al Harthy, Chairman of The Wave, Muscat was with me at the opening ceremony and he said: “Almouj Golf is a world-class sporting, tourism and leisure asset for the city of Muscat, and one which we are truly proud to have on our doorstep. This

milestone has been achieved in close cooperation with other organisations, governmental and private, to support and promote the sport within the Sultanate with the aim to develop the first generation of Omani golfers to represent our country in the international arena. “Almouj Golf is the first Professional Golf Association standard 18-hole golf course in Oman and aims to be one of the 100 top golf courses in the world. The facilities comprise of a championship course, specialist state of the art golf Academy and floodlit driving range and par-3 course where golfing enthusiasts can practice their game into the evening. Yet, in creating this worldclass vision, the development process stayed true

to the principles of sustainable environmental design and responsible tourism, taking utmost care to protect the indigenous Omani flora and fauna on the development site itself.” I strongly echo His Excellency’s sentiments. I had the opportunity during my visit to walk the course before officially opening it and I am delighted with it. The views of the Hajar Mountain range and out across the Gulf of Oman are just spectacular. It is a beautiful course set within even more stunning surroundings and I wish all who come to play the course a challenging and enjoyable round. n

Worldwide Golf Publisher Mike Gallemore with Greg Norman during the recent opening of Almouj Golf. Pictured far left: Abdullah Al-Shidi, deputy CEO of The Wave, Muscat, Greg Norman, HH Sayyid Taimur bin As’ad bin Tariq Al Said and HE Sultan bin Hamdoon Al Harthy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Wave, Muscat unveil the plaque at the official opening ceremony for Almouj Golf. Pictured left: (L-R) James Wood (Head PGA Professional), Marcus Casey (PGA Professional), Greg Norman and Chris Jones (PGA Professional) with children from the Oman Golf Committee programme

Ollie uses the Spirit of Seve One of the most fascinating aspects of The Ryder Cup is that you can never accurately predict the outcome. You just never know what’s going to happen. When Europe went into the final day’s singles 6-10 behind the United States most of the fans at Medinah thought it was all over. For the Europeans to fight back and beat the inform Americans by just one point was a phenomenal performance – and for them to all dedicate their achievement to Seve was a fitting tribute to his memory. Seve was a very close friend of mine and one of the greatest players ever to play the game. He was the most charismatic player the game has seen. He had such a love and passion for golf and it rubbed off on all of us. I wouldn’t be where I am today had it not been for Seve and I know many other players who would say the same. It’s true that golf would not be in the position it is today without Seve. He was the most inspirational player to grace the game and he was one of the reasons why The Ryder Cup changed from an exhibition into one of the greatest sporting occasions on the sporting calendar. His partnership with Jose Maria Olazabal gave The Ryder Cup the infusion of momentum it needed and I can understand why Jose Maria was so emotional when Martin Kaymer sank that winning putt. He took his inspiration from Seve and I truly believe that it was Seve’s memory that spurred the European Team to come back off the ropes and make a final effort to clinch such an historic victory. It’s good for The Ryder Cup to be competitive and these were two evenly-matched sides. Had the Americans won it would have kept the ownership of The Ryder Cup on equal terms at eight wins each since the competition was expanded to include Continental Europe in 1979. But nobody can deny the courage the Europeans showed. Golf is an emotional game and I’m sure that Seve gave Jose Maria and his team that extra incentive to pull it off. There have been many memorable Ryder Cups but we’ll remember this one for many years to come as Seve’s Cup. n www.wwgolf.biz

DP World Tour championship

LUCKIEST BALL ON EARTH GRAND FINAL PLACES CONFIRMED

Nigel Pinto secured one of the last remaining places in the Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final with his victory in the Jumeirah Golf Estates Monthly Medal.

AFTER a month of ferocious competition, with some truly sensational golf played across the region, the field for the Grand Final of the Luckiest Ball on Earth has been decided. Throughout September golfers around the UAE have been battling it out at their respective clubs for the chance to tee it up alongside the stars of The European Tour in the Rolex Pro-Am at DP World Tour Championship in November. The winners of each qualifying event will now cross swords at the Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final which will take place on the Fire Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai on October 21. The top three finishers from the 2011 UAE National Golf Championships – Abdullah al Mosharrekh, Sohail al Marzouki and Khalid Yousuf – also received spots in the Grand Final.

LUCKIEST BALL ON EARTH 2012 – QUALIFYING EVENTS No.

Event Date

Golf Club

Event Name

Winner

Net Score

Format

01/09/2012

DUBAI CREEK GOLF & YACHT CLUB

MONTHLY MEDAL

Alex Wonyop-Kim

Strokeplay

07/09/2012

AL BADIA GOLF CLUB

MONTHLY MEDAL

Wei Jian Xu

Strokeplay

07/09/2012

ARABIAN RANCHES GOLF CLUB

MONTHLY MEDAL

Sheila Alban

Strokeplay

07/09/2012

YAS LINKS ABU DHABI

MONTHLY MEDAL

Henry Kim

Strokeplay

07/09/2012

AL DHAFRAH GOLF LINKS

MONTHLY MEDAL

Hayoung An

Strokeplay

08/09/2012

SAADIYAT BEACH GOLF CLUB

MONTHLY MEDAL

Ornella Parigi

Strokeplay

14/09/2012

AL AIN EQUESTRIAN, S&GC

MONTHLY MEDAL

Robert Shedden

Strokeplay

14/09/2012

THE ADDRESS MONTGOMERIE DUBAI

MONTHLY MEDAL

Ji Hun Song

Stableford

14/09/2011

AL HAMRA GOLF CLUB

MONTHLY MEDAL

Sekhar Thodla

Strokeplay

15/09/2012

JEBEL ALI GOLF RESORT & SPA

MONTHLY MEDAL

Peter Goddard

Stableford

21/09/2012

ABU DHABI CITY GOLF CLUB

MONTHLY MEDAL

Vijay Ganju

Strokeplay

21/09/2012

SHARJAH WANDERERS GOLF CLUB

MONTHLY MEDAL

Dave Clark

Stableford

21/09/2012

AL GHAZAL GOLF CLUB

MONTHLY MEDAL

Rupert Evans

Strokeplay

21/09/2012

EMIRATES GOLF CLUB

MEN’S QUALIFIER

Tej Chhabra

Stableford

21/09/2012

ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB

MONTHLY MEDAL

Richard Hall

Strokeplay

21/09/2012

THE ELS CLUB

MEMBERS MAJOR

Gerhard Pretorius

Strokeplay

24/09/2012

EMIRATES GOLF CLUB

LADIES QUALIFIER

Najla Bartette

Strokeplay

25/09/2012

ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB

LADIES SEPT MEDAL

Paromita Mukherjee 71

Strokeplay

28/09/2012

JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES

MONTHLY MEDAL

Nigel Pinto

Strokeplay

28/09/2012

SHARJAH GOLF AND SHOOTING CLUB

MONTHLY STABLEFORD

Kwang Jae Lee

Stableford

21 28/09/2012 TOWER LINKS GOLF CLUB MONTHLY MEDAL Paul Williams 73 Strokeplay Emirates Golf Federation Jumeirah Golf Estates 2011 UAE NATIONAL GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP (three places awarded) 1 - Abdullah Al Musharrekh 2 –Sohail al Marzouki 3 – Khalid Yousu

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OfFicial 2012 Race to dubai Official 2012 Race to dubai ranking – As at october 1, 2012 Pos

Name

Nationality

1 MCILROY Rory NIR 2 ROSE Justin ENG 3 MOLINARI Francesco ITA 4 OOSTHUIZEN Louis RSA 5 ELS Ernie RSA 6 LAWRIE Paul SCO 7 MCDOWELL Graeme NIR 8 HANSON Peter SWE 9 COLSAERTS Nicolas BEL 10 DONALD Luke ENG 11 WESTWOOD Lee ENG 12 GRACE Branden RSA 13 SIEM Marcel GER 14 LYNN David ENG 15 POULTER Ian ENG 16 CABRERA-BELLO Rafa ESP 17 RAMSAY Richie SCO 18 DONALDSON Jamie WAL 19 FDEZ-CASTAÑO Gonzalo ESP 20 FRASER Marcus AUS 21 SINGH Jeev Milkha IND 22 WIESBERGER Bernd AUT 23 WILLETT Danny ENG 24 SCHWARTZEL Charl RSA 25 ROCK Robert ENG 26 BJÖRN Thomas DEN 27 GOOSEN Retief RSA 28 LARRAZÁBAL Pablo ESP 29 OLESEN Thorbjørn DEN 30 MANASSERO Matteo ITA 31 HARRINGTON Padraig IRL 32 KAYMER Martin GER 33 JAIDEE Thongchai THA 34 NOREN Alexander SWE 35 GARCIA Sergio ESP 36 KRUGER Jbe RSA 37 JIMÉNEZ Miguel Angel ESP 38 STERNE Richard RSA 39 KJELDSEN Søren DEN 40 GALLACHER Stephen SCO 41 WATTEL Romain FRA 42 HANSEN Anders DEN 43 COETZEE George RSA 44 JACQUELIN Raphaël FRA 45 DYSON Simon ENG 46 WARREN Marc SCO 47 LUITEN Joost NED 48 FISHER Ross ENG 49 DUBUISSON Victor FRA 50 WOOD Chris ENG

No. of events Prizemoney 11 10 20 11 8 20 13 17 22 10 13 21 21 18 12 21 20 17 19 22 21 23 20 13 19 18 14 24 23 21 9 18 18 20 12 24 21 19 20 20 23 18 18 20 20 23 20 18 16 25

€2,813,962 €2,376,628 €1,752,353 €1,745,608 €1,732,897 €1,700,132 €1,696,610 €1,682,093 €1,591,204 €1,447,144 €1,417,370 €1,410,932 €1,234,042 €1,101,796 €1,080,683 €1,077,028 €919,594 €854,772 €831,591 €809,811 €802,087 €789,078 €769,562 €744,850 €735,266 €693,321 €685,815 €677,540 €673,069 €663,330 €657,187 €656,697 €634,214 €629,572 €564,261 €553,409 €549,228 €542,713 €540,471 €532,177 €517,729 €506,849 €504,431 €479,158 €469,759 €459,580 €452,760 €442,934 €426,661 €422,881

Pos

Name

Nationality

51 DRYSDALE David SCO 52 LAWRIE Peter IRL 53 HOEY Michael NIR 54 LAIRD Martin SCO 55 WALL Anthony ENG 56 ANDERSSON HED Fredrik SWE 57 RUMFORD Brett AUS 58 QUESNE Julien FRA 59 ZANOTTI Fabrizio PAR 60 JACOBSON Fredrik SWE 61 JAMIESON Scott SCO 62 MCGRANE Damien IRL 63 FINCH Richard ENG 64 STENSON Henrik SWE 65 QUIROS Alvaro ESP 66 AIKEN Thomas RSA 67 LOWRY Shane IRL 68 MULROY Garth RSA 69 BALDWIN Matthew ENG 70 CAÑIZARES Alejandro ESP 71 KARLSSON Robert SWE 72 CAMPILLO Jorge ESP 73 HOWELL David ENG 74 BOURDY Grégory FRA 75 SLATTERY Lee ENG 76 MCGINLEY Paul IRL 77 VAN ZYL Jaco RSA 78 FOSTER Mark ENG 79 MORRISON James ENG 80 AGUILAR Felipe CHI 81 GONZALEZ Ricardo ARG 82 DALY John USA 83 LEVET Thomas FRA 84 YANG Y. E. KOR 85 HORNE Keith RSA 86 STORM Graeme ENG 87 SJÖHOLM Joel SWE 88 HAVRET Grégory FRA 89 GONNET Jean-Baptiste FRA 90 SANTOS Ricardo POR 91 PRICE Phillip WAL 92 OLAZÁBAL José María ESP 93 OTTO Hennie RSA 94 SINGH Vijay FIJ 95 LARA José Manuel ESP 96 GARRIDO Ignacio ESP 97 ILONEN Mikko FIN 98 COLES Robert ENG 99 MAYBIN Gareth NIR 100 DERKSEN Robert-Jan NED

No. of events 23 21 21 9 19 21 21 20 22 8 25 22 23 10 17 16 22 12 22 23 12 23 23 20 20 14 19 21 21 22 18 9 18 8 21 24 27 22 23 24 21 19 18 5 22 21 19 24 22 22

Prizemoney €415,749 €411,994 €406,274 €405,423 €390,703 €377,803 €373,011 €371,292 €368,357 €355,002 €347,891 €338,255 €334,361 €331,775 €330,741 €330,266 €328,869 €327,582 €324,835 €323,005 €316,926 €313,448 €312,763 €306,414 €298,743 €293,917 €291,736 €271,435 €257,026 €252,570 €248,147 €243,784 €239,173 €233,292 €231,483 €230,194 €222,209 €218,617 €216,888 €216,002 €212,894 €211,670 €205,018 €203,427 €202,225 €201,719 €201,282 €201,175 €199,996 €196,728

e x planation of T H E european tour R A C E T O D U B A I 2 0 1 2 The Race to Dubai is a season-long competition spanning a minimum of 46 tournaments in 25 countries and all five continents on The 2012 European Tour International Schedule. Luke Donald became the third winner of the Race to Dubai when he completed an historic money list double to become the Number One player on both The European Tour and the US PGA Tour. The Number 1 to 60 players in The Race to Dubai (ranked according to their earnings from all events on The European Tour International Schedule) following the conclusion of the tournament held the previous week will qualify for the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The fourth edition of The Race to Dubai will again conclude with the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai and will carry a prize fund of $8,00,000 while The Race to Dubai Bonus Pool of $3,750,000 will be divided between the leading 10 players at the conclusion of the season. The Race to Dubai Bonus Pool breakdown 1. $1,000,000 6. $275,000 2. $650,000 7. $225,000 3. $500,000 8. $175,000 4. $375,000 9. $125,000 5. $325,000 10. $100,000

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UNDER

THE

RADAR Richard Bevan talks exclusively to Francesco Molinari as the Italian prepares for an assault on the top of The Race to Dubai which will climax at the DP World Tour Championship in November. WITH the all-encompassing drama of The Ryder Cup out of the way, Francesco Molinari only has one thing on his mind – reeling in Rory McIlroy at the top of The Race to Dubai. The Italian is currently in a career-high third place, €1,061,609 behind Northern Ireland’s finest, and he’s hoping history will repeat itself as he embarks upon the most important stretch of tournaments in his career.

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FRANCESCO MOLINARI EXCLUSIVE

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Francesco Did you know? All of Francesco’s family, including Edoardo, support Turin’s local football team Juventus but Francesco supports Inter Milan! “I don’t know why, I think maybe I just liked the Inter strip more!” says Francesco. “I picked the wrong team according to my family.”

to get to the DP World Tour Championship with even a slim chance of winning the Harry Vardon Trophy (for topping The Race to Dubai).” Molinari broke new ground with his triumph at Real Golf Club de Sevilla in May by showing that he could chase down a victory from the pack. His previous two wins both saw him triumph from the front but in Seville he showed tremendous battling qualities to come from four strokes off the lead heading into the final round to win by three from Alejandro Canizares, Soren Kjeldsen and Pablo Larrazabal having dealt with the worst of the weather over the first two days . “It was fantastic, it was a different thing for me because it was my first win coming from behind so it was just very exciting,” he says. “I had a great start on the Sunday and everything was going perfectly. I was feeling confident and in control on the golf course. It’s a really tough test of golf in Seville so it was great to shoot a round like that on a golf course like that in those conditions.”

WO years ago Molinari secured his debut berth in the golf’s top team competition after a wonderfully consistent season had seen him post a string of strong results. In the weeks that followed The 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor he went on to bag the biggest win of his career at the World Golf ChampionshipsHSBC Champions in Shanghai. Having again earned his place alongside Europe’s finest after securing automatic qualification for The Ryder Cup at Medinah, where he helped Europe stage one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the event, securing the decisive 1/2 point from the final singles match against Tiger Woods to win the Cup outright for his team, Molinari is ready for a dash to The European Tour finish line. And with some huge scalps still to play for, the 29-year-old knows that another big win would see him in prime position for a tilt at Race to Dubai glory when the season-ending DP World Tour Championship gets underway on November 22. “Winning the WGC-HSBC Champions two years ago was huge,” says Molinari. “It was definitely one of the best, if not the best, weeks of my career so far. It was important to play The Ryder Cup before that, to go there with the confidence and the knowledge that I belonged with those sorts of players. It made it a bit easier when

Lee Westwood was just a shot behind me basically all the way! It was just a great achievement to win a WGC especially in those conditions with the World No.1 at the time just a shot behind you. “I need something similar to happen this year to try and challenge Rory and the other guys for The Race to Dubai. There are some big tournaments to be played between now and the DP World Tour Championship so we’ll see how it works out.” Molinari admits that his season is going better than even he could have imagined. He played his way into Europe’s allconquering Ryder Cup team after scoring some great results in the Tour’s biggest tournaments such as the Scottish Open and the French Open, where he finished runnerup, and the BMW PGA Championship, where he was tied seventh. He also bagged his third European Tour title with an impressive victory at the Reale Seguros Open de Espana. “It’s probably going even better than my expectations,” he says. “The goal was to make The Ryder Cup team. I had a decent finish to 2011 but I knew I had to come out and play really well this year. Obviously the way to make the (Ryder Cup) team is to play well week in, week out and get yourself as high up as possible in The Race to Dubai. It’s amazing to be third on The Race to Dubai at the moment – it would be really exciting

Italian Success

FM FACTFILE

Name: Francesco Molinari Born: Turin, Italy D.O.B: 8.12.82 Residence: London, England Married to: Valentina (pictured above)

QUICK FIRE

WWG: There’s a lot of travelling involved in the modern game – how do you cope with jet lag? FM: Fortunately I sleep well on planes. There are tricks you can do depending on what side of the world you’re going to – either try to stay awake or try to sleep.

The Italian’s success this year should come as no surprise to anybody who has followed his career. The quiet and unassuming 5’ 8” star is deceptively deadly. A golfer in the classic mould, he’s not the longest off the tee but his smooth graceful swing delivers a high degree of accuracy and his iron play is sensational, giving him a route to victory on all kinds of courses, in varying conditions. His breakthrough European Tour title came on home soil in 2006 when he thrilled the crowds at the Italian Open by becoming the first home grown winner in 26 years after beating Jarmo Sandelin and Anders Hansen by four strokes. He delighted his country again in 2009 when he teamed up with older brother Edoardo, who also plays on the Tour, to win Italy’s first World Cup at Mission Hills in China. The brothers’ contrasting personalities were illustrated perfectly by the differnt way they celebrated that famous play-off win over the more fancied pairs from Ireland and Sweden. Edoardo, the more extraverted of the two, went nuts on the final green while the calmer, more considered Francesco cut a much more reserved figure. “Edoardo was coming through a difficult time in his golf because he’d just spent that whole season on the Challenge Tour so it was really the best moment of the year for him – it was for me too but I’d been in 4 www.wwgolf.biz

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Francesco Did you know? Francesco and older brother Edoardo represented Italy together in the Eisenhower Trophy twice – in 2002 and 2004. Here is Francesco (far right) with Edorardo (2nd from left), Matteo Del Podio (far left) and Captain Lorenzo Silva prior to the 2004 event at The Westin Rio Mar Beach Resort in Puerto Rico.

contention a few times during the year on Tour,” says Francesco. “But yes he’s definitely the one who shows his feelings more. “I think that’s one of the reasons why we spend time together away from the golf course as well. Not having the same personality means we complement each other – it’s the same on the golf course. We’ve got different games as well as different characters so it’s easy to play together.” The brothers made more history in 2010 when they became the first siblings to play in The Ryder Cup together since Bernard and Geoffrey Hunt in 1963 and Francesco is honoured to be playing his part, along with Edoardo and Matteo Manassero, in raising the profile and popularity of golf in footballccentric Italy. “I think obviously the golden time for us was when Costantino Rocca was winning tournaments and playing Ryder Cups. But I think now it’s different because it’s not only one player – there’s three of us having success and there’s more young players coming through,” he says. “You could see how it’s growing at the Italian Open recently – the crowds were pretty good and there was a lot of support not just for us Italians but for the other players as well so I think the interest is definitely increasing a lot.”

Sensational season

After a sensational season in 2010 that saw him finish a career-high fifth place on The Race to Dubai, following his exploits in Shanghai, Molinari was winless but steady last year, working hard with swing coach Denis Pugh and short game coach Mark Roe to take his game to the next level. The area of his game that comes in for criticism most often is his putting but the Italian believes he’s in many ways the victim of his own success with his irons where opinion about his ability with the flat stick is concerned. “I have worked with Mark quite a lot on my putting,” says Molinari, who believes that confidence and a positive mental approach are the most important weapons on the green at the top level. “It’s not easy being a player with my characteristics because I hit a lot greens and many times, quite close to the pin, so I think it’s inevitable to miss some putts. I think sometimes people see the misses more than the putts I hole. “It’s not easy when people think you’re not a great putter. You obviously want to show them that it’s not true and I think that creates a little bit of extra pressure.”

Despite its whopping 7,706 yards length, Molinari has performed well on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in the last two editions of the DP World Tour Championship – finishing in sixth place on each occasion – and he’s relishing the opportunity to return to Dubai for what he expects to be a thrilling end to the season. “I think I’ve got the game to do well there,” he says. “Funnily enough some of the holes there remind me of the course in Shanghai where I won the HSBC Champions. I think it probably is a bit too long off the tee for my characteristics but you just need to be really precise with your irons to set up birdie chances. It’s the kind of golf course I like and I think that’s shown in my results the last couple of years. “The players are all excited about the event. Once The Ryder Cup is over it’s all about the final sprint for The Race to Dubai and everybody is trying to set themselves

WWG: What’s the best film you’ve watched recently? FM: The Dark Knight Rises. WWG: What’s on your iPod? FM: Coldplay and Muse. Pictured above: Francesco enjoys his role as defending champion prior to the 2011 WGCHSBC Champions in Shanghai.

up to have a chance at the DP World Tour Championship. It’s really on our minds and it’s our main focus for the last part of the season. “I think The Race to Dubai format has made it more exciting than how it used to be. For us players it’s great to have the chance to get into the Bonus Pool with the last tournament of the season – there’s a lot of money at stake so you can really change your season in one week which is really exciting for everyone. I think the idea is great for everyone – for us and for the fans as well – to have the excitement and uncertainty about who is going to come out on top at the end of the season.” They say it’s always the quiet ones. He experienced first hand at Medinah the power of belief and perseverance so don’t be surprised if Francesco Molinari flies under the radar and ends up cleaning up in Dubai to be crowned European No.1. n www.wwgolf.biz

Gonzalo FernandezCastaño pictured with his wife after winning the BMW Italian Open.

Big names hitting form ahead of Dubai finale Lawrie, Hanson, Fernandez-Castaño and Ramsay make their moves

S The European Tour’s seasonending DP World Tour Championship (formerly known as the Dubai World Championship) draws ever closer the battle for position on The Race to Dubai is hotting up and the big names are bringing their A-games to the table in their quest for glory. With the top 10 on the final Race to Dubai ranking earning a share of the $3,750,000 Bonus Pool the fight is on to get into those lucrative places and Ryder Cup stars Paul Lawrie and Peter Hanson both won recently to move to sixth and eighth respectively while popular Spaniard Gonzalo 30

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Fernandez-Castaño and Scotland’s Richie Ramsay moved within striking distance inside the top 20 with recent victories of their own. Lawrie is currently having his best season since 1999 when he famously won The Open at Carnoustie and he admits that his superb runner-up finish in last year’s event at Jumeirah Golf Estates was one of the catalysts for his superb form this campaign. “It’s been an unbelievable run since my second place finish in Dubai last year,” said Lawrie, who won this year’s Commercialbank Qatar Masters in February and the recent Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. “I had a bit of a sticky spell last year. I didn’t

“My goal at the start of the season was to finish top five because the best I’ve ever done is sixth (1999) so that’s the main goal and we have a few events now to hopefully try and achieve that.”

PAUL LAWRIE

play great and didn’t putt well and then to get that second in Dubai, and to nearly win amongst a field of that quality, was a huge boost to my confidence. “I just kept going from then, week after week. My memories from Dubai are that the course was really good. I putted very nicely, especially on the Sunday. I played really solid that week, my ball-striking was good and I was putting well. The greens were fantastic – if you hit it on line it goes in, so I enjoyed it. “I’m looking forward to going back. My goal at the start of the season was to finish top five because the best I’ve ever done is sixth (1999) so that’s the main goal and we have a few events now to hopefully

22-25 NOVEMBER, 2012 JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES try and achieve that.” Lawrie’s superb form cemented his place in Jose Maria Olazábal’s Ryder Cup team and another man to do the same was Sweden’s Peter Hanson, and he enhanced his reputation as one of The European Tour’s strongest talents with a superb win at The KLM Open in The Netherlands. Hanson eagled the par-5 closing hole to win by two strokes and the €300,000 prize money moved him from 12th to eighth on The Race to Dubai with some big events still to play. “I’ve moved up quite a bit in The Race to Dubai as a result of this victory and if I can put myself in a position towards the end of the year to maybe have a chance of reaching the top guys like Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose that would be fantastic,” said Hanson, who finished fourth in Dubai last year and 13th on The Race to Dubai. “I’m going to play a lot on The European Tour all the way up to Dubai. I’m playing the Dunhill Links and the BMW Masters and the WGC-HSBC Champions in China leading up to the finale in Dubai. “I’ve played at the Earth course every year since the event started and I’m really looking forward to putting myself in a position where I can maybe go all the way this time. The tournament is such a big thing for us. With the kind of purse we now have, everyone shows up to play and it’s great fun to be part of.” One man who narrowly missed out on joining Lawrie and Hanson at this year’s Ryder Cup was Fernandez-Castaño but the 31-year-old put the disappointment behind him by winning his sixth European Tour title at the BMW Italian Open and making a charge up The Race to Dubai. The €250,000 first prize cheque in Italy propelled him up 14 places to 19th in The Race to Dubai with season earnings of €831,951, and he is

confident he can finish in the top 10 and claim a slice of the Bonus Pool at the end of the season. “This year I’ll be taking my family, and I can’t wait to show them what Dubai is all about and enjoy a fantastic week,” he said. “To be in that elite field for the end-of-year event means you have had a great year. I’ve jumped up many spots with this win, and now I have a chance of finishing in the top 10. “I feel as though my game is hitting top form just at the right time of the season to enjoy an excellent finish. “My record hasn’t been that good on the Earth course, so that’s something I’m hoping to put right this season. Another man who will enjoy a relaxed trip to Dubai is the newly married Richie Ramsay. The Aberdonian enjoyed a top-six finish on home soil at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles and followed it with victory at the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre to leapfrog 15 places into the top 20 on The Race to Dubai and secure his place in the DP World Tour Championship. Last month he married his fiancée Angela and admits that the end-of-season finale will come at the end of a whirlwind year after only getting engaged in January. “I think Angela’s even more excited about it than I am,” said Ramsay. “I’ve been there the last two years and it’s a great place. “The golf course is always set up immaculately well, the weather’s fantastic and the guys at the Atlantis always look after us so it’s an incredible week. “Over the summer I was thinking about securing my place in the top 60 of The Race to Dubai and now that I’ve done that, it’s a huge relief. “I’ve really dedicated myself to achieving what I want to achieve in this game, and to win and book my place in Dubai is the best double

Tickets and Volunteers For the fourth year in succession, tickets for the final event on The Race to Dubai are free of charge. To guarantee a season ticket, spectators should register online at the official website www.dpwtc.com – for enquiries regarding hospitality packages for the Hospitality Pavilion alongside the 18th green contact: hospitality@dpwtc.com Although more than 200 volunteers have already signed up as marshals and scoring staff for the 2012 event, Chief Marshal Jenni Hoskins is happy to receive any last minute applications. “We’ve had a great response so far to our initial Volunteer Campaign with almost half of last year’s field of marshals returning to join us, together with a super mix of 60 new recruits from the UAE and overseas. But there are still openings to join this great team as long as you are enthusiastic, hard-working, and totally committed.” For more information on how to play a part at one of the world’s biggest golfing occasions, contact Jenni by e-mail at: jennih51@hotmail.com

whammy you could ever imagine.” There are some big names currently hovering just outside the top-60 on The Race to Dubai and they’ll have to up their form if – like Lawrie, Hanson, Fernandez-Castaño and Ramsay – they are to tee it up at this year’s DP World Tour Championship. Sweden’s Henrik Stenson – a former winner in the Middle East at the Dubai Desert Classic (2007) and Commercialbank Qatar Masters (2006) – and his fellow compatriot and 2010 DP World Tour Championship winner Robert Karlsson are currently outside the qualifying places in 64th and 71st respectively while last year’s winner Alvaro Quiros is 65th. With some big events still to come on The European Tour the race to get into the Bonus Pool at the top end of the table, and into the top 60 at the bottom end, is set to intensify over the coming weeks as we head ever closer to what promises to be a thrilling climax in Dubai next month. n www.wwgolf.biz

22-25 NOVEMBER 2012 JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES, DUBAI

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22-25 NOVEMBER, 2012 JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES

HE elite field assembled for this year’s DP World Tour Championship will face a golf course in supreme condition when they tee it up on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates according to European Tour officials. During a pre-tournament site inspection, David Garland, the Tour’s Director of Tour Operations, and Deputy Director of Tour Agronomy Graeme MacNiven received a detailed overview of the Greg Normandesigned course from Course Superintendent at Jumeirah Golf Estates, Mark Tupling. And both Garland and MacNiven – who make regular visits to some of the world’s leading courses – believe the tournament will once again provide a fitting challenge for those who qualify for the final event on The Race to Dubai next month. “Mark and his team at Jumeirah Golf Estates do a magnificent job getting the Earth course into championship shape and having it peak at the right time,” said Garland, who will also act as Tournament Director for this year’s championship. “Mark is in charge of the course and is a highly skilled superintendent with Ryder Cup experience at the highest level. We are here to help him and his team achieve the goals we set at the start of the year and perhaps bring ideas we have learned elsewhere on the Tour. “With Jumeirah Golf Estates as our partners it is our job to provide a tough, fair test as well as a venue that can be showcased to television viewers around the world.” For MacNiven the challenge of getting the course in pristine condition is all in the timing. “This visit is to make sure the goals are set and that we are on the right track using what we learned before,” said MacNiven. “One major challenge this year is overseeding, as the date of the tournament is earlier in the year than 2011 – the grass we are growing is a winter grass but Mark has to seed it and encourage it to grow in late summer. “Everything needs to be timed perfectly so it all comes together in the third week of November. We are all trying to do the same thing but there are different ways of doing it. It’s all about ‘peaking’ the golf course.”

Pictured above: (Left to right) Geoff Hunter (General Manager, Jumeirah Golf Estates), Graeme MacNiven (Deputy Director European Tour Agronomy Unit), Mark Tupling (Course Superintendent Jumeirah Golf Estates), David Garland (Director of Tour Operations, European Tour) and Nick Tarratt (European Tour International Director – Dubai Office) on a pre-tournament inspection of the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai.

Countdown well on course for DP World Tour Championship says European Tour For Tupling and his team of green keepers and agronomy staff, it is a year-long challenge to get the Earth course in championship condition, while members and guests enjoy an annual 25,000 rounds on its fairways and greens. “Graeme and myself prepare the grass levels, ensure the greens are at the right speed and consistency across the entire course, the tees are firm and that the course plays exactly the same from the first tee to the 18th green,” said Tupling. “When you work with a golf course you are dealing with a plant that grows and a climate that changes so there are always things we can improve on. Graeme sees courses all over the world and can bring different aspects to our planning, while he also learns aspects of our

“With Jumeirah Golf Estates as our partners it is our job to provide a tough, fair test as well as a venue that can be showcased to television viewers around the world.”

David garland

preparation that he can absorb and take on to other courses on The European Tour.” While the Earth course will close its doors to the playing public on 14 October in preparation for the DP World Tour Championship, members will benefit from the tournament conditions once play is over and The Race to Dubai has reached its conclusion. “Although the green speed will slow down naturally, the course will remain in championship presentation mode throughout the winter with members able to enjoy the benefits until May,” added Tupling. Garland and McNiven will return to the venue in November when the top 60 players in The Race to Dubai come face to face with the Earth course in all its tournament glory. n www.wwgolf.biz

Tickets

for the DP World Tour Championship are free of charge and can be obtained by registering at the official website www.dpwtc.com

ACE OFFER FROM BMW FOR DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

HE star-studded 60-strong field will have an added bonus for recording a hole-in-one at the DP World Tour Championship – a brand new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé. The offer for an ace at the par-3 17th on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates is part of the car manufacturer’s involvement as Official Car Provider at the Dubai event where 48 chauffeurdriven BMW 7 Series, imported in the region by AGMC, will be utilised for the transportation of the players. “At AGMC, we always aim to be at the forefront in offering exciting ways to promote our new BMW vehicles,” said Stathis I. Stathis, Managing Director, Al Batha Automotive Group, parent company of AGMC. “Through this sponsorship, an official fleet of the all-new BMW 7 Series will be used exclusively for the players who have qualified to play in the 2012 DP World Tour Championship. This will give them the opportunity to experience the same sheer driving pleasure that BMW lovers and golfers enjoy through our ongoing collaboration with world-class golfing events” A major supporter of The European Tour since 1989, BMW is also the Official Car of The European Tour, Title Sponsor of the BMW PGA Championship, BMW Italian Open, the BMW International Open and

the BMW Masters as well as a European Team Partner for The Ryder Cup. “Golf is a sport that is in synergy with the BMW brand values of strategic thinking and aesthetic expression. Both the sport and BMW are exclusive, elegant and stylish – a perfect match for the brand’s premium character. BMW is synonymous with excellence and quality so our relationship with the DP World Tour Championship, the biggest golf event in the Middle East, fits perfectly with the brand’s sponsorship ideals,” added Stathis. In addition to its role as a commercial partner with The European Tour, BMW also works closely with its brand ambassador Martin Kaymer, former World No.1 winner of The Race to Dubai in 2010 and a star name in the field for this year’s DP World Tour Championship. “The European Tour enjoys a special relationship with BMW and we are delighted they are committed to the DP World Tour Championship for a further three years after being a key sponsor of the tournament since 2010,” said Nick Tarratt, European Tour International Director, Dubai Office. “This new three-year deal maintains the company’s tradition of supporting golfing events here in the UAE and we are delighted to have their commitment through to 2014.” n

A BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé, like the one that will be won by any player who makes a holein-one at the par-3 17th during the DP World www.wwgolf.biz 34 Tour Championship.

“Through this sponsorship, an official fleet of the all-new BMW 7 Series will be used exclusively for the players who have qualified to play in the 2012 DP World Tour Championship. This will give them the opportunity to experience the same sheer driving pleasure that BMW lovers and golfers enjoy through our ongoing collaboration with world-class golfing events.”

Stathis I. Stathis Managing Director, Al Batha Automotive Group

22-25 NOVEMBER, 2012 JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES

ATLANTIS, THE PALM RENEWS DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP SPONSORSHIP THE top 60 golfers on The European Tour will enjoy a luxurious end to The Race to Dubai with the announcement that Atlantis, The Palm is once again the Official Hotel of the $8 million DP World Tour Championship – the final event of the year-long Race to Dubai. The event has enjoyed a successful partnership with Atlantis, The Palm – the iconic destination resort situated on Dubai’s Palm Island – since joining The European Tour calendar in 2009. “Atlantis, The Palm is extremely proud to be the Official Hotel of The DP World Tour Championship for the fourth year in succession,” said Serge Zaalof, President and Managing Director Atlantis, The Palm. “The tournament is a prestigious international event drawing in the biggest names in golf for the culmination of The Race to Dubai. We are happy to welcome the players with their families to Atlantis where they can relax and enjoy their downtime among our many attractions.” As the Official Hotel, Atlantis will host the players and their families, while working closely together with The European Tour to raise awareness of the tournament and implement additional activities supporting golf in the UAE. In addition, the resort will implement a number of its own initiatives in the buildup to the tournament in November involving golf packages, fun activities for kids and adults, as well as unique competitions and raffles. “With a world-class field and the DP World Tour Championship offering such a significant prize-fund, the tournament is highly regarded by all the players on The European Tour,” said Nick Tarratt, Director of European Tour International, Dubai Office. “Atlantis, The Palm is a world-class resort, which offers a unique and relaxing environment for the players to enjoy the final week of The European Tour season. It has been the event’s Official Hotel since the outset in 2009 and the feedback we receive from the players and their families is extremely positive with many of them enjoying attractions such as Dolphin Bay, Aquaventure waterpark and The Lost Chambers.”

Above: Rory and Luke in action on the Earth course, Jumeirah Golf Estates, during last year’s season-ending tournament.

AL NABOODAH CONSTRUCTION GROUP LLC EXTENDS SPONSORSHIP OF dp world tour championship FOR the second consecutive year, Al Naboodah Construction Group LLC – part of The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group – will be an Official Sponsor of The Race to Dubai’s season-ending finale, the 2012 DP World Tour Championship. As well as prize-money of US$8 million, The European Tour’s top 60 golfers – including World No.1 and two time Major winner Rory McIlroy, Open Champion Ernie Els, reigning Race to Dubai Champion Luke Donald and former World No.1 Lee Westwood – will be looking to secure a share of The Race to Dubai Bonus Pool of $3.75 million and the prestigious title of European No.1. “Maintaining a successful relationship with commercial partners and sponsors is vital for the ongoing growth and development of any sporting tournament,” said Nick Tarratt, Director of European Tour International – Dubai Office. “We were delighted to have Al Naboodah on-board for the first time in 2011 so it is a great boost for everyone involved with the DP World Tour Championship that the group has agreed to continue the partnership for this year. It is also a reflection of the success of the event and the benefits it affords our sponsorship partners.” Supporting UAE activities and sporting properties is a key element of Al Naboodah Construction Group’s CSR focus. “It is part of our business philosophy to support prestigious sporting initiatives that add to the success of Dubai as a worldclass destination and business hub, which the DP World Tour Championship certainly achieves,” said Gary Wells, CEO of Al Naboodah Construction Group LLC. “We are also fully behind the Government of Dubai’s emphasis on promoting the importance of leading a healthier lifestyle and enjoying the benefits of sport. With over 40,000 spectators expected to attend the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates, we are all looking forward to one of the most popular sporting and social experiences in the city.” n www.wwgolf.biz

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Tour NEws Date: August 23 – 26 Event: Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles Venue: The Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire, Scotland Winner’s Cheque: €296,119

Date: August 23 – 26 Event: The Barclays Venue: Bethpage State Park (Black Course), Farmingdale, New York Winner’s Cheque: $1,440,000

Imperious Lawrie seals a second win PAUL Lawrie enhanced his status as one of the stand-out players on The European Tour this year with a convincing four-stroke victory over Brett Rumford at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. Taking a one-shot lead into the final day, Lawrie closed with a 68 to win his second title of the season, following his win in Qatar in February, and his eighth overall on The European Tour.

“I feel calmer in Scotland for some reason – it’s weird – and I play some of my best golf too. It was probably one of the best ball striking weeks in my career.” Pos. Name

Country To Par R1 R2 R3 R4 Total

1 Paul LAWRIE 2 Brett RUMFORD T3 F. ANDERSSON HED T3 Maarten LAFEBER T3 Romain WATTEL

SCO AUS SWE NED FRA

-16 -12 -11 -11 -11

68 69 67 68 67 70 71 68 73 69 70 65 68 73 67 69 74 68 63 72

272 276 277 277 277

Date: August 30 – 02 Sept Event: Omega European Masters Venue: Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans Montana, Switzerland Winner’s Cheque: €350,000

“It’s an incredible place to play golf, so to win here is very special. You can get caught up looking at the scenery, but I knew I had a job to do here today.” Country To Par R1 R2 R3 R4 Total Pos. Name -16 -12 -12 -12 -12

69 68 64 66 68 68 69 66 67 70 68 66 65 73 67 66 67 67 68 69

“I’m very, very happy. It’s not been the year I would have wanted, but this really makes it all forgotten. Winning a tournament is hard, but winning out here and against this field was very, very difficult. I’m very proud of myself.” Pos. Name

Country To Par R1 R2 R3 R4 Total

1 2 3 4

USA USA ESP USA

Nick Watney Brandt Snedeker Sergio Garcia Dustin Johnson

-10 -7 -6 -6

65 70 66 67

69 71 69 68 68 69 71 72

69 70 75 68

274 277 278 278

McIlroy enhances his status as No.1

RICHIE Ramsay clinched the biggest cheque of his career with a superb fourstroke victory at the Omega European Masters thanks to a sumptuous final round 5-under-par 66. The Scot picked up five birdies in an outward 31 and played the back nine in level par to finish on 16-under and win comfortably from Australian Marcus Fraser, Romain Wattel, Fredrik Andersson Hed and Danny Willett. It was his second win on The European Tour and with it came prize money of €350,000.

Sco Aus Fra Swe Eng

NICK Watney overtook playing partner and tournament leader Sergio Garcia down the stretch to win his first title of the season at The Barclays in New York, the first event of the US PGA Tour’s FedExCup Playoffs. The American, who had posted just four top tens prior to the win, turned a two-shot deficit into a threeshot lead as he finished with a 69 to win by three from Brandt Snedeker with Garcia a shot further back after a disappointing 75.

Date: Aug 31 – 03 Sept Event: Deutsche Bank Championship Venue: TPC Boston, Norton, Massachusetts Winner’s Cheque: $1,440,000

Ramsay hits the high notes

1 Richie Ramsay T2 Marcus Fraser T2 Romain Wattel T2 F. Andersson Hed T2 Danny Willett

Watney salvages poor season

267 271 271 271 271

RORY McIlroy did the hard work in overturning a three-shot deficit with a fast start in the final round of the Deutsche Bank Championship but then almost threw it away on the 17th hole when he was one stroke clear of challenger Louis Oosthuizen. McIlroy missed the green on what was one of the easiest holes on the course but so too did the South African and both players wound up with bogey. McIlroy then parred the last and watched as Oosthuizen’s birdie putt to force a play-off narrowly missed. The Ulsterman collected his third title of the season after wins at the Honda Classic and his second Major at the USPGA Championship.

“I had a couple of wobbles coming in, but I obviously did enough and I’m very excited to get a victory.” Pos. Name Country To Par R1 R2 R3 R4 Total 1 2 3 T4 T4

Rory McIlroy Louis Oosthuizen Tiger Woods Phil Mickelson Dustin Johnson

NIR RSA USA USA USA

-20 -19 -18 -14 -14

65 65 67 67 66 65 63 71 64 68 68 66 68 68 68 66 67 68 65 70

264 265 266 270 270

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Tour NEws Date: Sept 06 – 09 Event: BMW Championship Venue: Crooked Stick Golf Club, Carmel, Indiana Winner’s Cheque: $1,440,000

McIlroy makes it three wins in four RORY McIlroy just can’t stop winning! The Ulsterman produced another scintillating week of golf to triumph at the BMW Championship at Crooked Stick by two strokes from Lee Westwood and Phil Mickelson, with Tiger Woods finishing fourth. A final round 5-under 67 helped him post a 20-under-par total and take the lead in the US PGA Tour’s Playoffs for the FedExCup ahead of the final event – The Tour Championship.

“The more you put yourself in position and the more you win and the more you pick up trophies, it becomes normal. It feels like this is what you’re supposed to do.”

Date: Sept 06 – 09 Event: The KLM Open Venue: Hilversumsche Golf Club, Hilversum, The Netherlands Winner’s Cheque: €300,000

Hanson times it right in Holland

Pos. Name

Country To Par R1 R2 R3 R4 Total

1 Rory McIlroy T2 Lee Westwood T2 Phil Mickelson T4 Tiger Woods T4 Robert Garrigus

NIR ENG USA USA USA

-20 -18 -18 -17 -17

64 68 69 67 268 68 65 68 69 270 69 67 64 70 270 65 67 71 68 271 67 69 66 69 271

Date: Sept 13 – 16 Event: BMW Italian Open Venue: Royal Park I Roveri, Turin, Italy Winner’s Cheque: €250,000

FDez-Castano enjoys the ride

PETER Hanson made a superb eagle on the final hole to win the KLM Open by two strokes from Pablo Larrazabal and Richie Ramsay. The Swede almost withdrew from the tournament after learning that his infant son was hospitalized with a respiratory virus. However, after receiving positive news he continued to play and fired weekend rounds of 67-67 for a 14-under-par total and his fifth European Tour title.

GONZALO Fernandez-Castano wrapped up his sixth European Tour title in some style with a superb final round 64 for a two-stroke victory over South Africa’s Garth Mulroy at the BMW Italian Open. The final pairing were neck-and-neck for the majority of the final round, but Mulroy’s bogey-par finish cost him a chance of glory as Castano’s bogey free round was capped off with a birdie to win.

“It’s always a nice feeling to win, but especially this week with how things have been with my son being a little bit ill. I just wanted to go back home and look after the family, but my wife convinced me to stay. They were in good hands; there was nothing I could do and she was telling me that, but when your kids get sick you don’t think straight.”

“I didn’t know the course, so everything was new to me. I just followed my caddie’s instructions and it worked. The main thing was my attitude. I didn’t get to frustrated out there or try too hard. I just let it happen.” Pos. Name Country To Par R1 R2 R3 R4 Total

Pos. Name

Country To Par R1 R2 R3 R4 Total

1 Peter HANSON SWE T2 Richie RAMSAY SCO T2 Pablo LARRAZÁBAL SPA

-14 -12 -12

66 66 67 67 266 71 66 64 67 268 69 65 64 70 268

1 2 3 3

Gonzalo F-CASTAÑO ESP Garth MULROY RSA Grégory BOURDY FRA Matteo MANASSERO ITA

-24 -22 -20 -20

68 66 69 69

65 67 64 69

67 66 70 65

64 264 67 266 65 268 65 268

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Tour NEws Date: Sept 20-23 Venue: East Lake GC, Atlanta, Georgia Winner’s Cheque: $1,440,000

Snedeker steps in for the loot Brandt Snedeker announced himself as a major player on the US PGA Tour with a superb victory at The Tour Championship which also sealed the FedExCup to net a $10m windfall. The American was one of five men from whom a victory at the tournament would have sealed the FedExCup and ‘Sneds’, as he is known on Tour, stepped up the plate with rounds of 68-70-64-68 for a 10-under total and a three-shot win over playing partner Justin Rose. “It’s just unbelievable,” he said. “I think it solidifies what I already know, and I think when I play my best golf, my best golf is some of the best in the world. I’ve never had more confidence in myself than I have the last five weeks, and I made sure that I kept telling myself that all day. “I was so worried about trying to beat Justin to win The Tour Championship today that I was not even thinking about the $10 million at all until the last hole – and I hit an awful shot. So that shows you what that does for you!” The other men who had a shot at glory were Rory McIlroy, who had won the previous two events in the PGA Tour’s Playoffs series, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Nick Watney but their challenges faded around

the hard and firm East Lake layout. Woods, a two-time winner of the FedExCup, finished eight shots back from Snedeker in a share of eighth place after rounds of 66-67-73-70 and admitted he couldn’t find top gear on the weekend. McIlroy also failed to ignite on the final day and his 4-over 74 –his first round in the 70s in all four FedExCup Playoff events – saw him finish in a share of tenth place. Mickelson, a winner of The Tour Championship in 2009 and 2000, finished in a share of 15th while Watney struggled and finished 28th in the elite 30man field. McIlroy, the favourite to lift the FedExCup after three wins in four outings, was frustrated to walk away from East Lake trophy-less. “I’m a little disappointed,” said McIlroy. “But at the same time, Brandt really deserves to win. If you look at his stats the whole way throughout the week he played the best golf out of anyone. He knew what he needed to do. He needed to come in here and win. He controlled his own destiny just like I did, and he was able to come and do that. So because of that, he really deserves it.”

Brandt Snedeker in numbers: FedExCup rank: 1st FedExCup points: 4,100 Season Scoring Average: 70.10 Official World Golf Ranking: 10 Birdies in 2012: 313 Score on the par-5s: 100-under-par 2012 Top tens: 7 2012 Wins: 2 Career PGA Tour wins: 4

Tour Championship leaderboard: 1 Brandt Snedeker USA 2 Justin Rose ENG T3 Luke Donald ENG T3 Ryan Moore USA T5 Webb Simpson USA T5 Bubba Watson USA

-10 -7 -6 -6 -5 -5

68 70 64 68 270 66 68 68 71 273 71 69 67 67 274 69 70 65 70 274 71 68 70 66 275 69 66 70 70 275

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G E T T I NG T O K NOW go l f ’ s l ate s t g r e at da ne

Who would make up your dream fourball of golfers? Lebron James, Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. What’s you’re favourite course on The European Tour? Le Golf National in Paris. If you weren’t a professional golfer, what would you be? If I was taller I’d say a basketball player.

Green Jacket or Claret jug? Green Jacket, but only just! Last meal if you were on death row? A big steak with pepper sauce and mashed potato. Super Power? Flying Blondes or Brunettes? Brunettes! Thorbjørn is one of three middle names, why choose it ahead of your birth name Jacob? It’s less common and translates as “Thunderbear”! Highlight of your career so far? Winning in Sicily was nice and so was playing with Tiger at Royal Lytham! My goal for 2012 was to make the top 20 on The Race to Dubai so I’m still working hard to achieve that.

Thorbjørn OLESEN www.wwgolf.biz

22-25 NOVEMBER 2012, JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES, DUBAI

Visit www.DPWTC.com for more information 46

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G O LD E N M O M E N T S I N G O LF

GM October 10, 1996 – Tiger makes his mark A 20-year-old rookie by the name of Tiger Woods, in just his fifth start as a professional, closes with a stunning round of 64 to force a play-off with Davis Love III at the Las Vegas Invitational. An opening round of 70 had left him in a share of 83rd place, eight shots off the lead, but he had surged up the leaderboard with rounds of 63, 68 and 67 before his final round in the five-day event gives him a shot at his first US PGA Tour title in a head-to-head against 33-year-old Love. At the first extra hole Love fails to get up and down from a greenside bunker leaving Woods to calmly two putt for par and glory. A star in born. “As disappointed as I am,” says Love. “I’m that much happy for him. He’s a great, great player and he’s great for the Tour.”

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DIVOTS SHIN WINS SECOND BRITISH OPEN FORMER World No.1 Jiyai Shin picked up her second Women’s British Open title with a convincing nine-stroke victory over Inbee Park at a windswept Hoylake on the outskirts of Liverpool. The Korean ace dominated with a stunning display and was the only player to finish under par after 72 holes in what were often torrid conditions. Day two was completely wiped out due to high winds so two rounds were completed on the final day. Shin was at her best throughout and carded a second round 64 to take a five shot advantage. Her lead was cut to three by Australian Karrie Webb after the third round on Sunday morning but she fell away and Shin carded a 1-over 73 to seal a comfortable victory in near darkness at 9-under-par. “It was a long, long, very tough day and I just focused on each single shot,” said Shin, who also won the 2008 Open at Sunningdale. “Before I thought my skill was not good for links, but finally I have great tempo in my swing and I think this course was made for me. I had great confidence and I have great memories of this tournament.” America’s Paula Creamer finished third with Japan’s Mika Miyazatyo finishing fourth.

BOOM BOOM ENTERS HALL OF FAME ONE of the game’s most popular players, Fred Couples, was elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame last month. The American has amassed 15 titles on the US PGA Tour including the Masters and two Players Championships. He played in five Ryder Cups and five Presidents Cups and is set to captain the US Presidents Cup Team for the third time next year. Couples was elected with a record low 51% of the vote. The minimum is traditionally 65% but a clause stipulates that if no player receives that share of the voting, the leading vote receiver is elected providing they have above 50%. “There are other people in the Hall of Fame that are maybe good players. But good is a good thing,” said Couples. “I’ve been good at it for a long time, and I hope to continue to play a few more years.”

TROON takes charge oF the ROYAL GOLF CLUB, BAHRAIN

NEW HOME FOR THE SCOTTISH OPEN THE Scottish Open is to move to a new home at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club following a third and final year at Castle Stuart in Inverness next year. The Balgownie club will become the famous event’s eighth different venue. George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “We are delighted to announce details of the outstanding venues for the next two editions of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and to confirm a 20 per cent rise in the prize fund to £3 million for 2013 and 2014. “It was a straightforward decision to take up our option to return to Castle Stuart for the third year of our agreement. The venue has been popular with the players and public alike and we are pleased to return there in July before moving to Royal Aberdeen. I had the privilege of watching the 2005 Senior Open and the Walker Cup in 2011 at Royal Aberdeen, a classic and challenging links course, which will continue in the tradition of great Scottish Open venues.” There will also be an increase in prize money for 2013 and 2014 from £2.5 million to £3 million with the winner receiving £500,000.

TROON, the leader in upscale golf course management and development, has underlined its growing impact on golf in the Middle East after being selected as the management team at the Royal Golf Club, Bahrain’s first and only golf destination. “The Royal Golf Club has long been recognised as both a premiere club and integral part of one of the region’s best golf developments. In recent times it has become more well-known through its hosting of a European Tour event,” said Bruce Glasco, Managing Director, Troon International Operations. “The owners have made a substantial commitment to furthering its reputation and given Troon’s vast experience in the region and proven track record of success we’re delighted that they’ve sought the services of Troon to help reach those objectives.”

Chapman wraps up senior Order of Merit ROGER Champman sealed the European Senior Tour Order of Merit with two events remaining thanks to two stunning wins at Senior Majors on American soil and two additional top-five finishes. Chapman won the US Senior PGA Championship and the US Senior Open and recent topfives at the Travis Perkins Senior Masters at Woburn and the French Riviera Masters mean that he can no longer be caught by his rivals for the Order of Merit. “I went to France to consolidate the Number One spot, and the aim was just to beat Barry Lane, who could still catch me, and I’ve done that,” said Chapman. “It has been a fantastic season. To win two Majors and both in America is a dream come true. I gave myself a target of top four in Europe this year – that was what I was saying openly – but deep down I wanted to be Number One.”

Zurich partners with Emirates Golf Club ZURICH, one of the world’s leading insurance groups, has announced that is has signed an agreement to become an official sponsor of Emirates Golf Club with immediate effect. Emirates Golf Club is host to two major professional tournaments a year, the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, and is home to the famous Pete Cowen Academy.

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Round of the Month

Spaniard Gonzalo FernandezCastaño put the disappointment of missing out on Ryder Cup qualification behind him by firing a final round 64 to win the BMW Italian Open.

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George O’Grady (left) is pictured with 2012 Champion Jeev Milkha Singh and Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond.

STATMASTER

So far on this year’s US PGA Tour there have been 22 wins by players in their 30s (including multiple wins), 16 winners in their 20s and three in their 40s.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH “I’m going to try to beat their brains in as bad as I can.” – New FedExCup champion Brandt Snedeker ups the ante in the build up to The Ryder Cup with a respectful nod to the phrase used in Jack Nicklaus’ autobiography.

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Player Gary

Youngsters lead the way H

AVING successfully predicted that Rory McIlroy would win a Major in 2012 I was surprised to see that he didn’t follow up by adding the FedExCup last month to his ever-increasing list of achievements. Playing in the FedExCup for the first time Rory came within a whisker of winning the four-tournament series, which has a complex and bemusing scoring system. He had already won the previous two events, the Deutsche Bank Championship and the BMW Championship, and was No.1 on the FedExCup standings by some way going to East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, for the climax of the US PGA Tour season. Regardless of Rory being way ahead in the FedExCup points table with his two wins, due to the points being re-formatted before The Tour Championship, any one of five players were still eligible to carry off the $10million bonus – Rory, Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker, Nick Watney and Phil Mickelson. The Northern Irishman had already picked up 5,000 points for his two FedExCup wins as well as 208 points for a tied 24th place finish at the opening event, The Barclays. He was miles ahead but his points were reset to 2,500, just 250 clear of second placed Tiger Woods. Nonetheless he shot 69, 68, 68 in the first three rounds in Atlanta to go into the final round three shots behind the leader Snedeker with a chance of collecting the US$10 million bonus for winning the $1,440,000 tournament and the FedExCup.

Clean Up But Brandt Snedeker produced a final round 68, against Rory’s 74 to clean up and walk away with $11,440,000. That’s more than the combined prize money earnings of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and myself in all our time on the regular Tour. Despite his disappointment in not winning the Tour Championship Rory has already earned $8,335,114 in prize money this season with the prospect of a payout of $1.333 million if he wins the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai next month. He also has the chance of picking up the bonus of a further $1 million for winning The Race to Dubai. When Luke Donald did the double of winning the money lists on both The European Tour and the US PGA Tour last season with his third place finish at the DP World Tour Championship many people questioned whether the feat could ever be repeated. Well, Rory is currently leading the PGA Tour money list by nearly $2 million and is out in front on The Race to Dubai by €500,000, so he’s well-placed to match Luke’s achievement. He’s going to have to beat his Ryder Cup team-mates to become only the second player ever to do the double of winning both Tours’ money lists. Justin Rose finished runner-up 52

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in the Tour Championship, three shots behind Brandt Snedeker with Luke coming tied third. Tiger Woods was tied for eighth and Rory finished in a share of 10th place. I was pleased to hear Rory’s comment after missing out at East Lake, saying that although he was disappointed at not winning the FedExCup he congratulated Brandt Snedeker on playing the best golf of any of the other competitors throughout the week and that Brandt thoroughly deserved to win. Although McIlroy started the final round just three shots behind Snedeker, he admitted that his driving had let him down, hitting only two fairways all day. But there was no drama. He took it all in his stride and when you consider that his closing 74 brought to an end a succession of 11 consecutive rounds in the 60s, there’s nothing much wrong with his game. It was also noticeable at East Lake that he’s clearly the fans’ favourite. A huge army of supporters followed him from hole to hole. He has certainly become the most popular player in the world game at the moment and it’s good to see that he’s still got his feet firmly on the ground.

Crazy Money I was also pleased to hear that prior to taking part in the Tour Championship Brandt Snedeker made time to visit his coach’s son in hospital who was critically injured in a road accident. Brandt commented: “It just made me realise how unimportant it is to consider how much money I made today – winning that $10 million is like winning the Lottery. It’s crazy money. I don’t need $11 million but there are going to be things we can do to really help people – that’s the way I look at it. “I just need to figure out how to take care of my family and make a difference to help a lot of people at home in and around Nashville.” For a 31-year-old who is still driving the same car he had when he made the US PGA Tour five years ago he’s setting just the right example for young, aspiring golfers. Asked whether his $11.44 million meant he was going to buy himself a new car he replied: “My car only has 20,000 miles on the clock so it’s practically new – why would I need another?” When I won the US Open at Bellerive Country Club, St. Louis, in 1965, I didn’t have a lot of money but I’d promised the PGA Tour that if I won the Championship I’d donate my prize money winnings to local charities – and that’s just what I did. Over the years it has never ceased to amaze me that there are so many golfers, amateurs and professionals, who are willing to give up their time and money to raise much-needed funds for local charities. It’s one of the things that makes our game so great. With exciting players like Brandt Snedeker and Rory showing the way in the world game, there’s a lot to look forward to. n

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Over the years it has never ceased to amaze me that there are so many golfers, amateurs and professionals, who are willing to give up their time and money to raise much-needed funds for local charities. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the things that makes our game so great.â&#x20AC;?

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Special UAE Residents Rates for Floodlit Golf on the Faldo As a UAE resident, book a four ball for 18 holes of Night Golf on the floodlit Faldo from Thursday to Sunday and only pay for three players*. Offer is valid from 1st October to 31st December 2012, please quote â&#x20AC;&#x153;NiGhTâ&#x20AC;? when making your booking. *Terms and conditions apply To book your round call +971 4 380 1234 or email golfbooking@dubaigolf.com. www.dubaigolf.com www.wwgolf.biz

Cowen Pete

Inside the ropes with PGA MASTER PROFESSIONAL

Rory’s got what it takes to overtake Nicklaus and dominate the modern game

THE golfing spotlight has recently been fixed on Rory and Tiger with much conjecture about how the two compare. I’ve been asked many times if I think Rory will become the next Tiger. My answer has always been the same – I think the comparisons should be aimed elsewhere. Rory could be the only modern day player to challenge Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 Major championships. Tiger had the complete game in 2000 and for any player to hold all four Majors at one time is a feat that will be hard to match. I’d be amazed if we see that again. But Tiger knew early on in his career that he needed to make swing changes, not to better his game but to preserve the length of his career. For one reason or another the changes haven’t completely worked out for him over the years. He’s still a winner and a serious threat but he’s not the force he once was. Every generation throws up someone special. Tiger has been the standout player in recent times but I think Rory can potentially surpass Tiger’s

achievements and become the first player to better Jack’s accomplishments. Both Rory and Jack won their first Major at the age of 22 – ironically both opened their accounts by winning the US Open. Jack still remains the youngest winner of the US Open since Bobby Jones won the title in 1923. They both won their second Major a year later and after the age of 24 Jack started racking them up. Tiger was the same. At the age of 24 he did the Tiger Slam and all four Major trophies were on his mantle piece. As I say, I don’t see that being done again with the strength in depth we have in the modern game. This year Rory has become the youngest player in US PGA Tour history to earn more than $10 million in career earnings but like Jack and Tiger he’s now at the age when he needs to get on that Major roll. He’s been so close to adding his name to more Grand Slam trophies – 2011 US Masters should have been his first, but to put that behind him and win the US Open in the swashbuckling manner that he did just goes to show he’s got the mental strength. Many think he’s a bit one dimensional and that

US Major Men: Jack Nicklaus lifted the US Open for the first time in 1962, Tiger lifted it in 2000 and Rory in 2011.

his high ball flight suits the course setup on the PGA Tour, pointing to that as the reason he will win Majors in the States but will never win The Open Championship. I disagree, as like Jack Nicklaus did, he will learn to control the ball flight in blustery conditions. He’s too talented and the way he can work the ball means it’s just a matter of playing in more windy tournaments for him to get to grips with the different conditions. Let’s not forget, this is a lad who grew up in windswept Northern Ireland and broke the course record at Royal Portrush with a 61 when he was just 16! I don’t see anyone currently playing or coming through the ranks to rival Rory. The only player that matches him for ability is Louis Oosthuizen, but for a player to surpass Jack’s record you need more than ability. Louis’s priorities are family, enjoying being on his farm, and then golf in that order. I know Jack is a huge family man but to win 18 Majors golf must have been his No.1 focus. As long as Rory stays focused and he doesn’t feel the need to tinker with his game or become distracted away from the golf course he’s got the tools to become the greatest ever golfer. n

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O N T H E R A N G E AT T H E R Y D E R C U P

Swing Pete

I know I said last month that I would be missing The Ryder Cup and wouldn’t be travelling to Medinah but a call from Graeme inviting me over to keep an eye on things for him changed everything. I’m glad he called as I’d have missed standing on the range with the lads. A QUICK LOOK AT GRAEME’S SWING ON THE RANGE AT MEDINAH: Graeme likes to keep the clubhead outside his hands as he makes his first move – that’s one of his key thoughts and one that prevents the swing getting too far inside. In the sequence, generally you get a good sense of the way Graeme works around his centre, and this gives him the feeling that he can make his arms work up on plane as the wrists hinge. This helps him ‘load’ the left shoulder, which you can see is already in a strong rotated position as the left arm reaches parallel with the ground. One thing I would like to see a little more of is flex in the right knee and thigh through the half to three-quarter back positions. This flex gives a player ‘control of the ground’, as I like to term it. Lose the flex and you lose pressure (control). This is something I emphasise to all my players. The downward pressure you feel through your feet and lower body is what enables you to interact with the ground and use it as a power source – the key is that you keep the ground. At the top we can identify a good right arm position which keeps the right shoulder nice and stable. I’d like to see a 90-degree angle created between the arms. I like to see that as a constant. I

Cowen

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also like it when the right shoulder sits ‘down’ – i.e. it doesn’t get behind the player. A lot of golfers lose control of the right shoulder at the top, which can lead to the club getting behind them. Graeme doesn’t do that. A lot of people pass comment on Graeme’s ‘bowed’ left wrist at the top, but this is a constant in his swing. Since he was a boy, Graeme has built his body action around this particular characteristic. It’s natural and I see it as a positive rather than a negative. If you want proof, just look at the impact

position: he has worked out how to get the clubhead square as he approaches impact, and that’s the secret to playing good golf. Through the ball, his transfer of energy is fantastic. I don’t think there is any doubt he has ‘got the ground’ as he shifts into the downswing with a very powerful ‘squat’ motion and then displays fantastic stretch rotation of the torso as he unwinds through the ball. You can almost feel the force of the leverage as he rotates a firm left side and applies the pressure on the ball with the right side of his body. It is the quality

Graeme McDowell has been working with Pete for several years. After initially starting on his short game, their partnership has progressed to a stage where Pete is now his full-time swing coach.

of this body rotation that stabilises impact for consistency – there is no ‘flip’ of the club. And this is a valuable lesson to take from this sequence: if you focus on turning the inside (i.e. your body – the hub of the wheel) its impossible for the outside (i.e. your arms, hand and the club – the spokes and rim) to overtake.

The faster and more efficiently you rotate the inside, the further and straighter you hit the ball.

“Pete is very much a guy who talks about the ball flight and moving the ball around and just scoring. He gets away from trying to swing the club pretty and gets back to just trying to swing the club effectively and making the ball do what I want it to do.” Graeme McDowell www.wwgolf.biz

Traveller WORLDWIDE GOLF

The Grove has established itself as one of the most desirable venues in London

The Grove Tiger was crowned WGC-American Express Champion at The Grove in 2006 and this stunning 7,152 yard layout has continued to attract and challenge enthusiastic golfers from around the globe.

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he Grove, London’s country estate, is more than a five-star hotel coveted by royalty and dignitaries. Surrounded by 300 acres of rolling Hertfordshire countryside and only 18 miles from central London, the former home of the Earl of Clarendon is also a luxury golf resort and award-winning spa. Lovingly restored to stunning effect, the property fuses contemporary design and original period architecture with exceptionally caring and professional service to revolutionise your English country-house experience. Since opening in 2003, The Grove, has been in the spotlight. Named AA Hotel of the Year within 12 months of opening, voted Favourite UK Hotel Spa by the readers of Condé Nast Traveller and Best Spa in the World in English newspaper the Telegraph’s Ultratravel Award, the hotel’s interiors also won “Best New Hotel” in the European Hotel Design Awards and it was the first hotel to be featured on the cover of British House & Garden magazine. Guests are welcomed to a unique environment. One that brings together the very best of 21st century living, with all that makes a country estate so beguiling and attractive – the peace of the countryside, a personal welcome, a sense of sanctuary and refuge. A place set apart with its own character, feel and style – a country estate with a modern twist. But The Grove is also cosmopolitan because it offers exciting contemporary design, professional, thoughtful service, magnificent sporting and leisure opportunities and an atmosphere that is informal, un-stuffy and relaxed. Visitors to The Grove sink into gorgeous, “groovy grand” interiors, stuffed with antique and modern furniture and art, including in its 217 spacious rooms with views over the estate. There are three restaurants, each with its own bar: the sophisticated Colette’s with breathtaking views across Charlotte’s Vale; the international theatre of cooking – The Glasshouse; and The Stables, a place to relax and enjoy simple food cooked to perfection. The Mansion Lounges offer four elegant drawing rooms for hotel guests leading onto private terraces, as well as an outstanding choice of 23 flexible rooms, perfect for meetings, events, private parties, weddings and launches, from one to 1,000 guests. Aside from luxurious appeal of the hotel, for the travelling golfer The Grove’s real charm lies in the stunning and challenging 18-hole championship course. The 7,152 yard layout was designed by the distinguished international architect Kyle Phillips, who combines modern game strategies with the great traditions of British golf course architecture. The course is kept in immaculate condition and follows a majestic route through the rolling leafy Hertfordshire landscape with fully integrated cart paths which are open all year round. A choice of different tees offer a fair challenge for players of all abilities. In 2006, only three years after opening, The Grove welcomed the world’s top 64 players to compete in the World Golf Championships-American Express Championship which was won by then World No.1 Tiger Woods. After a hard day on the course you can sink into Sequoia, the sumptuous spa featuring 13 treatment rooms including a VIP suite for couples, therapeutic saline water vitality pool, large (22m) indoor swimming pool, fitness studio, aerobic studio, jacuzzi, separate male and female heat experiences and luxurious relaxation rooms. The Grove also houses two large swimming pools, an urban beach, a croquet lawn, and tennis courts in the Walled Garden. Children have their own bolt hole too at Anouska’s Kids Club which has its own swimming pool. And teenagers are not forgotten at The Grove – over 16s can use Sequoia Spa and play on the golf course, with golf lessons available in the summer holidays. There’s also snooker, table tennis, a giant chess board and Jenga in the Walled Garden. The grounds at The Grove are a sight to behold and guests can escape into the romantic formal gardens designed by the Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medallist and judge, Michael Balston. The River Gade and the Grand Union Canal both run through the property and there is extensive woodland, meadowlands, a wetland area and two lakes to explore during a visit to this intriguing venue. In the summer you can listen to the gentle buzz of the beehives producing Grove Honey. All these elements are brought together to create something that has never existed before just 18 miles from central London – The Grove, London’s country estate, a place with open views and a modern outlook.

The Grove | Chandler’s Cross, Hertfordshire WD3 4TG E: reservations@thegrove.co.uk | T: +44 (0)1923 807807 | www.thegrove.co.uk

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INSTRUCTION

GET ON TRACK

This monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team tackle the short but challenging par-4 4th hole at The Track, Meydan Golf

Meet the team Sam Argui Handicap 20

Meet the team Kai Chapleski Handicap 36

Meet the team

Scott Williams Handicap 16

Meet the team

William Bruce

Academy Instructor The Track, Meydan Golf

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INSTRUCTION The par-4, 4th hole at The Track, Meydan Golf, is your classic risk reward par-4. Â At just under 300 yards off the gents tees, it offers golfers of all abilities a way of conjuring up a good score! Â Longer hitters can take an aggressive line off the tee and try to fly the water. This will leave either a putt for eagle or a fairly straight forward pitch up the green. The safe play, however, is to position your tee shot into the fairway, which will enable a well struck second shot to find the green and to avoid the water.

FROM THE TEE Today the tee shot played down wind, which gave a big hitter like Scott the chance to go for the green. Scott lived up to his big hitting reputation and managed not only to carry the water, but landed the ball on the apron to the right of the green.

FROM THE TEE

LONG DRIVE TIPS

Our lady golfer Sam, decided to hit her 3 wood off the tee which would leave her the option of whether to play safe with a wedge and go for the green in three, or to attack the flag with a long iron or fairway wood.

Do not grip the golf club too tight. Grip pressure is a major flaw in losing power. Grip the club about a 5 out of 10 regarding grip pressure. This will allow your levers to work a lot better throughout the golf swing. Position the ball slightly further forward in your stance. Position your ball just inside of your left heel, be careful your shoulder does not point left of target as the result of the ball being pushed slightly further forward. Tee the ball half way above the top of the driver. This encourages a more sweeping, upward hit into the back of the golf ball.

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BY: William Bruce – Academy Instructor, The Track, Meydan Golf

FROM THE fairway

Due to the length of the hole, Kai had to play safe and go for the green in three shots. He smoked a drive down the middle of the fairway and followed it with an even better hybrid off the fairway, this now set Kai up for his third shot which sailed over the water and finished within 15 feet of the flag.

FROM THE fairway

After a great tee shot into the left side of the fairway, Sam opted for the aggressive play over the water with her trusty rescue club. Sam hit a great shot which pitched just short of the ridge and rolled up to around 25 feet from the flag, a risk well rewarded as she is now putting for a net eagle!

LONG IRON TIPS:

Due to the lack of loft on long irons and hybrid clubs a lot of golfers try and ‘help’ the ball in the air, do not try and hit the ball hard or high. Imagine the club is a 6-iron and the distance you have is 6-iron distance. Then swing that ‘6-iron’ in the same confident way you always do. Picture the ball getting in the way at the bottom of your swing and swing into a full finish. This will help you get the desired weight transfer for consistent iron shots.

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INSTRUCTION BY: William Bruce – Academy Instructor, The Track, Meydan Golf

FROM THE greenside Scott had hit his ball into a great position off the tee. This now left him two options with his pitch shot, a high shot over the ridge with his lob wedge or a pitch and run up towards the flag. Scott opted for the safer pitch and run with a PW wedge as this shot is easy to control and is less risky.

TOP TIP Choosing the correct shot around the greens is key to a consistent short game. A lot of golfers complicate the short game by choosing the wrong shot to play at the wrong time. Before choosing your club and shot selection, think about how you would get the ball close to the flag if you were allowed to throw the ball to the hole. Then choose a club that would mimic the imaginary trajectory. Position the ball just inside your right heel with all your weight on the outside of your left left, this promotes a more descending angle of attack which is key in hitting consistent short game shots.

ON THE GREEN

n After Sam’s courageous hybrid across the water, she had a putt with a huge amount of right to left break. After studying the line, Sam hit a perfectly paced putt to within gimme distance. n Kai had left himself a straight putt up the ridge for a gross 4! He hit the ball a little harder than normal due to the severity of the slope. The ball finished next to the cup and Kai tapped in for a 5. n After studying the line of the putt from all angles, Scott made a great stroke. The ball tracked towards the hole, due to the perfect pace of the putt, the ball caught the hole and fell into the cup for a birdie 3!

TOP TIP When faced with distance putts, judging the correct pace can be difficult. Before hitting the putt, take 3 practice strokes looking at the hole. With the first one, imagine you are only going to hit the ball half way towards the hole. With the second practice putt, imagine you are going to hit the ball about 15 feet past the hole but then on the third stroke, imagine that you are going to hit the ball in between the two stokes you have just made. Then step up and mimic the last putt. This is a great way of taking out the hole and focuses on creating feel in the putting stroke. Over short putts, make sure you accelerate with the through swing. Imagine the back swing to be a third of the stroke and the through swing two thirds of the stroke. This will help to become more confident over shorter putts.

CONCLUSION Three players, three different strategies and three different results! Next time you face a hole that offers various options off the tee, think about your strengths before you decide your plan of attack! www.wwgolf.biz

INSTRUCTION

Recognising Your Childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Potential In Golf One of the greatest things about golf is that you can play the game your whole life. Being able to start the game at a young age is also a big advantage.

Takumi Miyawaki demonstrats his short game skills.

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How many times have you heard adults say: “I wish I would have started at his age.” Learning the game of golf at a young age is obviously a good thing and playing good golf at a young age is even better. The question for many parents is whether their child is just a good player, or does that child have a chance to be a great player. Recognising a junior golfer’s potential isn’t easy, especially if the parents aren’t golfers themselves. The first thing to remember, before we even talk about a child’s potential, is encouragement. All juniors start golfing because someone encourages them to play the game. It may be a parent, friend or coach. This encouragement, along with access to clubs and a course, is the key. So remember to encourage the junior throughout his or her career.

Academy Student Takumi gets encouragement from his coach.

Tiger Woods did you know?

n He shot 48 for 9 holes over the Navy Golf Club in California aged 3! n By the age of 13 he was playing off scratch n At 14 he was a semi-finalist at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship When looking for potential in junior golfers, you have to remember that each junior is going to grow and learn at different rates. Some junior golfers don’t score as well simply because they can’t hit the ball as far as other kids their age. Many times that’s just because they’re physically smaller. So when you’re looking for your child’s potential at a young age, don’t just look at their scores. Watch how they play the game, see how they chip and putt, and look at their shot selection. A short-hitting junior usually has a pretty good short game. They realise they can’t hit as far as the rest of the players their age, but they have also figured out that they can make up for it by chipping and putting well. Many juniors understand the game instantly, while most kids are just trying to hit the ball as far as they can. That is a sign of real potential. As a junior golfer gets older, tournaments become more important, whether it’s the Junior tournament as part of

their Junior program or the Junior Club Championship at their local club. This is where it’s very important for parents to encourage and not push. Ultimately it has to be the junior’s decision to play, not the parents’ decision. We’ve all heard the horror stories about the parents who push too hard and the kids who simply put their clubs in the closet never to play again. Even with that said, one of the only ways to see how much potential a player has is for that golfer to play against his or her peers. Parents should encourage them to play in as many events as possible if that’s what they want to do. Remember, a child being nervous before a potential tournament is normal, dreading going to the tournament is not. Potential to be a good golfer begins to show at these small events. If the junior does well and likes it, the potential is there. Many good golfers are not tournament players. The stress of competition is not for everyone. As coaches we see that at every level so it’s important not to push but let the junior enjoy the game in their own time.

n One year later, just 15 years old he became the youngest player to win the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. A title he would defend for three successive years. n At 18 he won the U.S. Amateur Championship and defended the title the following year.

No longer a junior, he went on to take the world by storm!

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INSTRUCTION

QUICK TIPS By Ed Chapman

PGA Professional Al Badia Golf Club, Dubai Festival City ed.chapman@ichdfc.ae

Tel: +971 56 147 2686

Short Game, Short Game

On average golfers spend 90% of their practice time on the driving range and only 10% practicing their short game. If you averagely shoot 90 for a round of golf then approximately 60% of your shots are hit from within 120 yards of the green but only 10% of your practice time is spent there. Spending more time developing your short game WILL lower your scores whereas honing a better swing MIGHT lower your score. Here I’ll demonstrate how to hit a chip shot. Backswing/ DON’T Drag the handle of the club away from the ball with a straight right wrist IMPACT/ DON’T Scoop the ball by letting the clubhead pass your hands through impact; this will lead to the front edge of the club hitting the middle of the ball and your ball shooting across the other side of the green

Backswing/ DO Hinge the right wrist on the way back keeping the butt of the club inside your right leg

IMPACT/ DO With a little body pivot to start the downswing, hold the angle in the right wrist through impact for a slight downward strike

Practice hitting one-handed chips and you’ll be on the way to lower scores in no time. Swap right for left if you’re a left-handed golfer

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IN THE BAG with

DANIEL OWEN Tour Pro attached to Royal Golf Club, Bahrain

What age did you start playing golf and what is your golfing background? I only started playing golf when I was 14 years old. If anyone got me into the game it was my grandad who was – and still is – a keen golfer playing off about 17. As a child me and my family used to visit him every summer back in UK where in his back garden he had a driving range mat, a bag of balls and a pool at the bottom. I didn’t come inside the house till I chipped in 10 times in a row. What were your first set of golf clubs and how did you get them? My first actual set of golf clubs was a half-set of GolfSmith’s. I had 4 irons (SW, 9, 7, 5 iron) and a 3 wood which my dad bought from a friend of his. I was rubbish with them. Who is your golfing hero and why? Tiger Woods is always going to be the first name down. He is the reason I pursued golf as a career and has always been my inspiration. I grew up playing golf in his ‘era’, watching him on TV and seeing at how dominant he was and how he always seemed to be in a class of his own, it would always fire me up and always get me to work harder at my game. What’s your favourite golfing moment? Tiger’s chip on the 16th at the masters in 2005. With a tight lie and the greens rolling they way they were he had very little room to land the ball and stop it. As you all know not only did he execute it to perfection he holed it at dead weight – it had me on the edge of my seat! I can still watch the video on YouTube today and never get bored of it. What would you do to promote and expand golf within the UAE? The biggest barrier in taking up golf worldwide is money. Unfortunately golf isn’t a cheap sport as clubs, memberships and coaching are all near enough necessities so not everyone is able to do it. Making golf accessible and affordable would get more people simply trying it out. The UAE isn’t exactly short of golf courses so that is of no concern but perhaps introducing golf into schools and their Physical Education modules as well as pushing it in after-school activities could be the way forward.

Driver:

Titleist 9.5 degree D3 diamana a’hina s-flex

3 Wood:

Titleisy 910F 15 degree 3-wood diamana a’hina s-flex

Irons:

Titleist 712 CB Forged s400 shafts

Hybrid:

Titleist 910H 21 degree hybrid diamana a’hina s- flex

Wedge:

Titleist SM4 wedges. 50, 54, 58 degrees with s400 shafts What change to the rules of golf would you make and why? The rules obviously on different tours apply but recently watching Graeme McDowell’s incident at the Deutche Bank Championship last month. He was in a greenside bunker and found there was a twig wedged behind his ball and obviously not being able to remove it he hit it in the backswing and unfortunately made a double-bogey 6. I felt that he should have been able to move it as it’s a loose impediment and from experience most bunkers are not meant to have branches in it. The rules are there to help you and in that scenario there is no way he could have played that shot out of the bunker without touching the twig before he hit the ball. In short, all loose impediments/foreign objects should be allowed to be removed without penalty. What’s your favourite course in world golf and why? That’s a tough one, but for me it’s got to be Augusta National. I’ve never played it before but I would give anything for a round over there. It is steeped in history and when it comes to major championships the Masters is always the one I look forward to the most!

What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen in golf? I’ve seen several funny incidents on a golf course in person. Growing up in Bahrain and occasionally playing desert golf I’ve seen a lot in my nine years of playing. No one likes to see the misfortune of others but Hennie Otto’s 6 putt at a European Tour event from no more than 10 ft was outrageous. Ouch!

Who would be your dream fourball and why? First I’d have to go with Tiger Woods. I’ve never seen him hit a ball in person and he’s the reason why I took up the game. Then I’d go with, probably Natalie Gulbis, for obvious reasons. Finally, I’d love to meet Denzel Washington, he’s a fantastic actor and I wonder if he’s got the game to match his abilty! www.wwgolf.biz

ARABIAN This edition’s selection of local news

International pairs schedule announced THE new International Pairs season is set to kick off at Arabian Ranches on November 3rd with one lucky pair from the UAE heading to the World Final. For information on how to enter this year’s competition visit www.golffrontiers.com 2012/2013 International Pairs schedule: November 2012 Saturday 3rd, Arabian Ranches Golf Club Friday 9th, Abu Dhabi City Golf Club Saturday 10th, Yas Links Saturday 17th, Emirates Golf Club January 2013 Saturday 12th, The Montgomerie Friday 18th, Al Hamra Golf Club Friday 18th, Tower Links Golf Club Friday 25th, Al Ghazal Golf Club February 2013 Friday 1st, Al Badia Golf Club Saturday 16th, Jumeirah Golf Estates March 2013 Thursday 7th, Emirates Golf Federation, Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa Saturday 9th, The Els Club Thursday 14th, Sharjah G&SC Friday 22nd, Sharjah Wanderers Golf Club April 2013 Friday 26th, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club May 2013 Friday 3rd, Al Ain Equestrian G&SC June 2013 Friday 7th, National Final – Yas Links

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THIS EDITION 69 Joel Neale column 70 Q&A with Ross bain 72 ross bain’s swing analysed 75 the mena tour gets underway 78 Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club 79 UAE Invitational scratch league 81 Emirates Golf Club 83 ARABIAN RANCHES GOLF CLUB 85 Jumeirah golf estates 85 The Address Montgomerie dubai 87 The Dubai ExPutts 89 dubai divots dinner 91 Al Badia golf club 91 The Els Club

93 al ghazal golf club 93 Al Hamra golf club 94 Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club 95 al ain equestrian shooting and golf club 96 Dirab golf and country club 96 doha golf club 97 almouj golf 98 muscat hills golf and country club 98 the royal golf club 99 yas links golf club 99 abu dhabi golf club 99 saadiyat beach golf club 101 The Track, Meydan 101 jebel ali golf resort & Spa

GOLF

LOCAL NEWS

MENA TOUR GETS UNDERWAY Englishman Zane Scotland wins the first MENA Tour event at Dubai Creek. WWG gets the lowdown on this year’s Tour.

Successful Moroccan jaunt for UAE U18s

NJP Juniors with Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi and coach Jason Froggatt.

MEMBERS of the UAE U18s national golf team returned home from Morocco recently after attending a pre-season camp to fine-tune their skills ahead of their forthcoming engagements on the domestic and international circuits. The camp was part of the Emirates Golf Federation’s intensive training programme to prepare the team for the forthcoming Pan Arab Championship at The Royal Golf Club in Bahrain in November. Accompanied by Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi, Secretary General of the Emirates Golf Federation, seven junior members were put through their paces under the watchful eyes of the UAE national junior coach Jason Froggatt. In preparation for the season and one of the four spots available for the Pan Arab Championships, every aspect of golf – from the swing technique/short game/fitness to mental toughness – was covered during the camp with particular emphasis on improving the players’ course management skills. “The courses at Royal Dar es Salam proved the perfect place for the players to implement what they had learnt throughout the week, and more importantly helped to forge a sense of camaraderie,” said Al Shamsi. “Playing at a venue which has hosted a European Tour event, the King Hassan VI Trophy, was a great experience for the juniors. “It was a successful camp thanks to the enthusiastic response from the players who now look forward to the challenges ahead. We are committed to providing the players with the best playing opportunities and the Pan Arab Championship is very much part of our initiative to try and keep the momentum going. “The experience gained at this year’s GCC Tournament championship will go a long way in preparing the team for the future international tournaments like the forthcoming Pan-Arab Championship. The Royal Golf Club will be a true test to the team the young players can learn from the senior players who have played in past tournaments at that venue in Bahrain.”

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Dirab Golf & Country Club is the first certified grassed 18-Hole Par-72 championship and 9-Hole Par 27 Academy golf course in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Located 45 kms south west of Riyadh City and nestled in the picturesque Tawfig valley, the club features lush tree-lined fairways and perfectly manicured greens. Open all year round, the course offers a driving range and practice facilities- 9holes are floodlit, enabling play after sundown. Having hosted the 1st Saudi Arabian National Amateur Championship in 2001, 10th Annual GCC Golf Championship in 2002, BMW World Qualifier Tournament in 2004, Dirab Pro-Am Golf Tournament in 2005, 28th Pan Arab Golf Tournament in 2008 and Saudi Oger Amateur Golf Championship in 2009, Dirab Golf & Country Club is equally suited for seasoned golfers and for those wishing to learn the sport.

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local scene with Worldwide Golf Playing Editor, Joel Neale

mena tour competition stepped up a notch HERE we are again guys – back around to the MENA Tour’s second year on the calendar – bigger and better than last year’s inaugural Tour. We teed off at the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club last week. It’s been a very exciting and anxious few weeks for the regional and international professionals and amateurs gearing up for the start of this six-week schedule to the grand final in the ‘Race to Al Ain!’ Already you can see the MENA Tour has firmly established itself, compared to the number of players competing at last year’s MENA Tour, hosting only four tournaments, all within the UAE and with fields that were limited to 100, attracting little over 70 professionals and amateurs. The 2012 MENA Tour season has added two more tournaments, going further afield into Saudi Arabia and with a record number of

entries last week at 123 players just goes to show that the Tour is becoming more popular and is moving from strength to strength. The level of competition has certainly increased along with the number of entries, as this year the MENA Tour has attracted the likes of Stephen Dodd (three-time winner on The European Tour and winner of the World Cup with Bradley Dredge for Wales in 2005), Ross McGowan (winner on The European Tour), Anton Haig (Winner on The European Tour), Zane Scotland (Former European Tour player) as well as the likes of Ross Bain (Asian Tour player) To attract players of this calibre shows that the MENA Tour has now become recognised as an inviting proposition for professional Tour players – it has certainly upped its profile on last year by a long way!

Ahmed Al Musharrekh Turns Professional A GREAT friend who was a fellow junior with me on the JDP (Junior Development Programme) in Dubai, Ahmed Al Musharrekh, is now the UAE’s top-ranked Emirati golfer to turn professional. He made the agonising decision a few weeks ago prior to the start of the 2012 MENA Tour, making his debut at the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Open last week, the opening event of the 2012 MENA Golf Tour. One the most promising players on the regional circuit, Ahmed is the first UAE National ever to join the ranks of playing Tour professionals. His long-anticipated decision reflects the changing mind-set of the region’s emerging talent, who are far more proactive these days and want to make a career out of golf. Prior to teeing off at the opening MENA Tour event I asked Ahmed a few questions: What was the deciding factor in turning Professional? AM: I feel like I have achieved everything that I wanted to achieve as an amateur, especially winning the Gold medal in the Arab Games in Qatar which was the icing on the cake for me! It has always been a dream of mine to be a professional Tour player and I couldn’t have hoped for a better way to make my debut than here at my home golf course in my home country. Will your daily routine change now it’s your career? AM: I’m not going to make any dramatic changes in terms of my work ethic. However, the fact that I no longer have to attend university means I will have a lot more time to work on my game. Who is coaching you and why? AM: Recently, Wayne Johnson at Jumeirah Golf Estates (JGE), has been my coach. I feel the way in which he delivers information to me works really well. He also happens to be a great friend who I get on really well with – I think that’s a very important factor! Are you still going to base yourself in the UAE? AM: At the moment, yes, although I’m looking into several different routes for Tour school. Right now I’m happy to just concentrate on the MENA Tour.

Do you have any sort of time frame that you have given yourself to make it on to a regular Tour – what’s next? AM: Definitely, I think that every player would like to jump on to any tour they could get their hands on, especially having just turned

professional. As of right now, I’m going to see where the MENA Tour takes me and keep focused on my goals. I’ll be content to take baby steps towards my main goals – which would be a Tour card of some description. n www.wwgolf.biz

LOCAL SCENE with Worldwide Golf Playing Editor, Joel NeALE

Ross Bain

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What positive aspects will you take forward from last week’s finish in the Dubai Creek Open (Ross finished tied 26th)? RB: Look, I’m an honest golfer that won’t pretend that my season has been anything other than dismal so far… I’m usually consistent, but I’ve struggled around the greens so badly that my long game has been insignificant. I decided to take a three-week break from the Asian Tour and come home to sort out everything that was bothering me, mind body and confidence being the key factors. I will go back to Asia in October knowing that I made the right choice and I think my results will reflect this. Do you feel much more relaxed playing professional tournaments on the MENA Tour or the Desert Classic and living at home? RB: Absolutely, I think last week was so relaxed that my wife didn’t even realise I was playing a tournament until the second round!

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I also talked to Ross Bain, who was one of the first original members of the JDP, and became the first UAE-based professional to play on a professional Tour. Ross has now been a member of the Asian Tour since 1998 and has committed to a full schedule to play on the MENA Tour this season. How does a brand new emerging Tour such as the MENA Tour compare to the likes of other established feeder tours for the Asian Tour and the European Tours? RB: Obviously this is only the second season for the MENA Tour, but I managed to play a couple of events last year and they were run really well. I know the guys at golf in DUBAi well and with their experience from running both the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters I knew the players were in experienced and capable hands. As it’s still too hot to walk during September and October , sensibly, the events are played using golf carts, which would be the only real difference as a pro, compared to other feeder Tours around the world. Having a full Asian Tour card for the 2012 season, what brings you to the MENA Tour? RB: I suppose there are a number of reasons. Firstly, I think that it’s important to support your local Tour, because without the players there would be no platform to continue and this is a particularly new initiative. Secondly, as a player, it’s great to get the opportunity to stay at home for an event, when we spend so many weeks of the year in hotels and airports. Lastly, I’m very competitive and I know that I will need to play really well to win with the quality of the fields and courses that are scheduled. If I can do this, it will serve to improve my confidence for when I return to Asia. The success of the MENA Tour last year, has attracted some high-profile Tour golfers for the 2012 season. Do you think the Tour will continue to go from strength-to-strength and provide that vital ‘stepping stone’ for Arab Nationals, ex-pats and international players who aspire to playing on the Asian and European Tours? RB: I don’t see any reason why the MENA Tour cannot achieve what it set out to do. I’ve played on the Asian Tour for the past 14 years and I believe that the standard has improved dramatically in that time because of two factors: Firstly,

by allowing more experienced foreign players to compete, Asian players had to improve their game to contend and survive on Tour each year. Secondly, with the development and improvement of good domestic tours, it is no coincidence that we have seen a huge emergence of players from Korea, Thailand and now India, who are becoming the new dominant forces in Asian Golf. They all have well established tours for their players to hone their skill on. There is no reason why, with time, the MENA Tour could not do the same for Arab talent.

ROSS Look-a-like?

When did you take up the sport? RB: I could play golf by the time I was six, but I only really started enjoying the game when the Emirates Golf Club opened in 1987. Other than golf, what other hobbies and interests do you have? RB: I like to watch most sports and my latest attempt at a hobby is wake boarding.

What’s next for you after the MENA Tour? RB: I am back out on the Asian Tour in October for three events, the K.J. Choi tournament in Seoul, the Macau Open and the Indian Open at a new venue in Bangalore. To you, what’s the toughest thing about life on Tour? RB: Being away from my family. I try not to do more than three weeks on the road, but my kids are now at an age now when they understand you are leaving, and usually for a while. Do you have a specific pre tournament routine – such as practice rounds and mapping the course? RB: I am not big on spending hours practising at tournaments. I have always believed that if you don’t arrive with your golf in good order it’s very rare to find it at a tournament. However, I will try to spend as much time as possible trying to get my speed right around the greens. I try to be very focused on how I think I can shoot the scores necessary to win that week, some might argue this can be my downfall at times, but usually it involves my strategy on the par fives and par threes. What event on the calendar do you look forward to most and why? RB: I still look forward to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on my home course each year. The Majlis course is always immaculate and even though it has small crowds on a worldwide scale, its history

and position at the end of the Desert Swing brings a great atmosphere to the event. It’s the one tournament I feel I should always play well in, but despite a fleeting run to the top of the leaderboard one year, my own high expectations have probably curtailed my success.

Favourite course? RB: Carnoustie, Scotland. Good memories and great links.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to play the role as you? RB: People used to say that when I was young and had hair I looked like Gary Barlow, but now that I don’t, people say that I look like Will the drummer in Coldplay. Nowadays, everyone in the entertainment business seems to act, so either of them would do.

Lowest round, where and when? RB: Professionally is 10-under 62 at Bangkok Sporting Club near Phuket, Thailand. Socially it’s 11-under 61 at the Majlis, Emirates Golf Club. Who inspires you most and why? RB: Jack Nicklaus became my sporting idol as I got older. I had loved Seve as a kid, but after meeting Nicklaus and never hearing a bad word said about him, I think what he has achieved as a player, father and businessman are second to none in our sport. Have you ever had a hole-in-one? RB: I’ve had four aces and one albatross. What’s the weirdest/funniest thing that’s happened to you on Tour? RB: I hit my wife on the head with a shot when I played in the Shoot Out with Tiger Woods in Dubai. She was OK, but I hate to think what the odds must have been for doing that and I’ll certainly never hear the end of it… If you could change one rule in golf, what would it be? RB: I don’t think bunkers should be raked, they are supposed to be a hazard. n www.wwgolf.biz

LOCAL SWING On the tee with

Ross Bain

Ross has worked hard on his posture, notably to bring his shoulder blades more together at set up. His tendency is to reach out too far with his arms. He is looking good here.

By Justin Parsons Senior Teaching Professional The Butch Harmon School of Golf, Dubai

How long have you been working with Justin and why does he suit your game? RB: I think the great thing about Justin is communication and knowledge. He has and is dedicating himself to being a great golf instructor. I have taken lessons from some of the best coaches in golf. My dad coached me through my teens, but by chance, I have been fortunate enough to have the likes of Leadbetter, Cowen and the Harmon’s look at my game. With experience, I believe that understanding an instructor’s opinions is imperative as a player. However, the best teachers will give you three different ways to feel the same swing change. What would you say is the area of your game that you’re looking to improve and why? RB: The most important aspect of golf for me is belief. The reason I feel I may not have achieved my own and other people’s goals is that I have found it difficult to switch off and just play. Although I like to believe that I’m laid back, time has proven that I find it difficult to switch off from outside influence. Unfortunately, I need to see to believe, so playing at Emirates or the Ranches and shooting really good scores is important for my psyche. As a professional what is your daily practice routine? RB: I like to hit balls in the morning when my youngest boy is at nursery. That means around four hours of practice, however I try to explain to the younger guys that I did my practicing at their age… You have always been a long hitter, what’s the best tip you could give for amateurs to gain a little more off the tee? RB: Physically, the best tip I ever had was from my dad. He always told me to swing as wide as I could on the way back and this emphasized a big shoulder turn. If a player can combine this with a minimal amount of hip turn, they can create a lot of power and distance. However, as an amateur I would say the most important factor is finding the middle of the club face, technology dictates that this is the key.

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Ross plays his best with a little fade – you can see that the club gets right out in front of him in the down-line slide. From here, he can keep rotating to the left, keeping his path going left which is a key to his ball-striking consistency.

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His right arm has a nice, tucked look here and the shaft is just short of parallel with the driver. The arm used to get more behind him and the shaft longer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; more control from this position. The improvement in posture has allowed Ross to move his right arm better in his swing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; he creates a great coil and this better rotation of his right shoulder and folding of his right arm has given him more control, especially with shorter irons.

Ross is consistently in the top 10 in Total Driving and way up the list in Greens in Regulation on the Asian Tour. You can see great extension and some powerful leg action as he moves through the ball.

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LOCAL NEWS

GOLF IN DUBAI

Adel Zarouni, Vice Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation, presents the winner’s trophy to Zane Scotland as Mohamed Juma Buamaim, Chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, and Mustafa Al Hashimi, Manager of Dubai Creek Golf Club look on.

Scotland holds firm to win opening MENA TOUR event ZANE Scotland won the first event of the 2012 MENA Tour with an impressive wire-to-wire victory over the experienced campaigner Stephen Dodd by two strokes at the Dubai Creek Open. Starting the final day three shots ahead, Scotland squandered the lead to Dodd, a three-time winner on The European Tour, on the 10th, but kept his cool, picking up a crucial birdie on the 16th to seal the victory. The Englishman closed with a 1-under-par 70 to finish on 8-under for the tournament, clear of Welshman Dodd with Pakistan’s Mohammed Munir finishing third on 5-under. “Winning is one thing, winning over a player of the stature of Stephen makes you feel special. I am really pleased to be able to do that,” said Scotland, after receiving the winner’s cheque for US$9,000 and a trophy from Adel Zarouni, Vice Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation. Mohamed Juma Buamaim, Chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, and Mustafa Al Hashimi, Manager of the Dubai Creek Golf Club, were also present at the presentation ceremony. The 29-year-old, who will be playing in all the remaining events on the MENA Golf Tour, continued: “The aim is to try and finish among the top three on the Order of Merit and win a spot in the 2013 Omega Dubai Desert Classic. “I don’t think any tour offer such a massive prize.

It will be just great to play in the Desert Classic since it’s becoming harder and harder for me to qualify for The European Tour.” “I knew Stephen would make early birdies and in a way I was prepared for it. I picked up a shot on the 16th after Stephen double-bogeyed the 14th and that made things easier for me.”

Amateur of the event after rounds of 69-71-72 for a 54-hole total of 212, three shots ahead of Michael Harradine, a UAE-based golfer from Switzerland. n

Spanner in the works Dodd had his chances to close the deal when he took the outright lead with his birdie on the 10th, but a watery double-bogey on the par-3 14th threw a spanner in the works. “Take that shot away, I think I played really well this week and have every reason to feel satisfied. Though I am still nowhere near my best, I am getting slowly and steadily there,” said the 46-year-old, whose final round 69 had three birdies. Like Dodd, Munir also shot a 69 and flirted with success before fading away down the stretch. “I was very much in the mix when I eagled the 10th and picked up a shot each on the 13th but a couple of three putts, especially on the 18th did not help my case,” said Munir, ranked No.3 in Pakistan. Scotland began the tournament in imperious fashion, shooting a superb bogey-free 6-under-par 65 and followed it with a 1-under-par 70 to open up a comfortable lead before holding on with another 70 to seal the victory. England’s Max Williams was declared the Best

Above top: Zane Scotland in action during his opening round 65. Above: Stephen Dodd tees off from the 10th tee on his way to finishing second at the Dubai Creek Open. www.wwgolf.biz

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LOCAL NEWS

GOLF IN DUBAI

Pakistan’s finest expect MENA Tour success PAKISTAN’s finest golfing exports fancy their chances of spinning out some surprise results on the MENA Golf Tour this year. “Our expectations are high, but having tested the waters last year we also know we need to go up a level if we are to challenge a very competent field,” said Aadil Jehangir, who finished ninth on the Order of Merit for professionals in 2011, the best result by a Pakistani golfer. While Jehangir started solidly this season with a 1-over total at the opening Tour event at Dubai Creek to finish just outside the top 10, Pakistan No.3 Mohammed Munir showed that he was in fine form with rounds of 70-69-69 for a 5-under total to finish third behind Stephen Dodd and winner Zane Scotland. “This tour offers us a great chance to play on some of the best courses and the level of competition is as good as that of any tour,” said Jehangir. “The timings of the tour are just perfect as it provides ideal preparation for all those eyeing the Asian Tour qualifying rounds.” “The big prize, of course, are the invitations that top three professionals (and also the leading amateur) will get to play in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Playing in The European Tour event in Dubai would be nothing less than a dream come true. Not just for me, but for any golfer from Pakistan as it is such a prestigious event. “The MENA Tour has opened up a big window of opportunities for Pakistani golfers who usually play on the country’s own professional tour, called the

Pakistan Golf Federation Tour which carries a total prize fund of rupees 25 million (almost Dhs 1 million) and some play on the Asian Development Tour. “If we play to our potential, which I am sure will likely be the case, we can win at least one or two events on the MENA Tour. That’s the sort of confidence we are taking into this year’s MENA Tour.” Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, said: “It’s nice to see the tour hit it off well with players from countries which are yet to be considered golf powerhouses despite rising popularity of the game there. “Pakistani golfers provided a glimpse of their talent

in the first edition and I am sure they must be better prepared this time around. “All they need is regular exposure to high-class competitions to develop their golf and the MENA Tour will provide just the opportunities they need to showcase their skills. I wish them the very best and hope they all have a wonderful stay in the UAE.” A new initiative of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the tour is affiliated to the R&A and the Arab Golf Federation. The six-stop tour, which is backed by Omega and Mercedes-Benz, boasts a combined prize fund of $325,000.

SHAIKH MAKTOUM SCHOLARSHIP FOR TOP MENA TOUR AMATUER THE winner of the MENA Tour’s Amatuer Order of Merit will be rewarded with the prestigious Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation scholarship in addition to a special invitation to play in the 2013 Omega Dubai Desert Classic. The all-expenses-paid scholarship will see the leading amateur return to Dubai for a five-week intensive training stint to fine tune his skills in the build up to The European Tour event, promoted and organised by golf in DUBAi, at Emirates Golf Club from January 31 to February 3, 2013. Designed by the Emirates Golf Club professionals, the training programme will cover all aspects of the game, ranging from technique to swing strength and overall fitness, ensuring the amateur is physically and mentally ready to compete at the highest level of golf. The leading amateur, if required, will also be encouraged to join the

English language coaching classes to brush up his communication skills so that he feels at ease when interacting with players from different countries. The scholarship, first awarded to Ahmed Marjane, who topped the inaugural MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit for Amateurs in 2011, is part of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation’s ambitious drive to continually identify and nurture the talented Arab youth with the aim of producing a future generation of champions. “Our aim is to see an Arab golfer come up through ranks and make a name for himself. The MENA Golf Tour has created a competitive atmosphere which hitherto was missing in the region. We are encouraging players to use this platform to climb the ladder of success,” said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice chairman and CEO of golf in DUBAi.

“Special care is taken to promote top amateurs, who I believe are the ones who can effectively motivate a new generation of players. The Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation Scholarship is a step in that direction and may spark off extra intensity in the Order of Merit race for this special bonus.”

MENA Golf Tour Schedule: October 1–3

Abu Dhabi Golf Citizen Open Saadiyat Beach Golf Club

October 8–10

American Express Dirab Golf Championship Dirab Golfand Country Club, Saudi Arabia

October 15–17

Ras Al Khaimah Classic Tower Links Golf Club

October 22–24

Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open Al Badia Golf Club

October 29–31 Ahmed Marjane, winner of the first Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation scholarship, with Shaikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation, and Mohamed Juma Buamaim, Vice Chairman and CEO of golf in DUBAi.

MENA Tour Championship Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Golf Club

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Dubai creek golf and yacht club www.dubaigolf.com

DubaiCreekGolf

dubaicreekgolfandyachtclub

Brothers reign in September Carpetland JUNIOR brothers Dhruv and Rishi Nair teamed up to win September’s edition of the Carpetland Monthly Open after compiling a superb tally of 44 Stableford points. “It was great fun today and we are very happy with the win,” said the duo after being presented their prize. “We are usually competing against each other but today was a good change and we enjoyed playing together as a team.” Other solid performances on the day came from the teams of Fadi Mehio and Joseph Ghoussoub and Ashok Kumar and Suresh Shewakramani. After 18 holes both teams finished tied with a fantastic score of 42 points but after a countback the duo of Mehio and Ghoussoub clinched

Left to right: Stephen Hubner (Head Golf Professional, Dubai Creek), winners Rishi and Dhruv Nair and Bassem Demachkie (Marketing Manager, Al Aqili Furnishings). second place with a better back nine score of 22 points. Creek junior Rayhan Thomas took the prize for Longest Drive with a fantastic shot on the long par-4 12th while Vanessa North showed some pin-point accuracy on the par-3 fifth to take the Nearest the Pin prize. Taking the dubious honour of ‘most golf’ was Aniket Chitnis and Vivek Lal

with a score of 27 points. After conducting the prize presentation, Dubai Creek Head Professional Stephen Hubner commented: “It’s been great to see such a strong turnout for the September CMO and on behalf of Dubai Golf I would like to thank Carpetland for their enthusiasm in running this great series of events.”

Salem hangs on to win the Summer Series DESPITE scoring his lowest points total of the Dubai Golf Summer Series at the fourth and final event, Alan Salem finished at the top of the Order of Merit to win the overall prize with a superb total of 115 points. “I am very happy and proud to win such an event and I hope my form can continue,” smiled Salem, who scored just 30 points on the day. “A big thank you to Dubai Creek and the event partners Titleist for putting together this great event and I look forward to playing in many more like it.” The Series, which was contested at Dubai Creek and Emirates GC proved to be a great success with more than 180 golfers competing. The format was individual Stableford with the best three out of four scores contributing to the player’s final ranking. An afternoon of great golf saw the tightest of finishes on the Order of Merit with first, second and third place being separated by just two Stableford points. Steven Fidler made a charge with a great effort of 37 points in the final 84

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Team World grab a maiden victory THE team representing the Rest of the World successfully won the Clash of the Titans against their Asian counterparts for the first time in the fourth edition of the annual event held at Dubai Creek last month. Led by Captain Alan Wilkinson and Vice Captain Peter Menelaou they won with a 9-4 margin in the pairs betterball Stableford match play tournament. Gracious in defeat, Team Asia, led by Arnel Pabitu and Rudy Laguna, vowed to return reminding their counterparts that Asia have dominated the event in the past.

Naeme Maya is pictured with the trophy and Farida Mahabat, Marketing Executive, Rivoli Group and Christopher DÁbreo, Group Manager, Rivoli Group. event but finished just one point behind Salem with a solid total of 114 points while finishing third was Martin Uchytil with 113. The day’s winners were also evenly matched with three players – Anand Sharma, Peter Stapleton and Shane O’Neill – finishing with a fantastic total of 41 points. However, after a last-six countback it was Sharma who took top spot beating Stapleton, with O’Neill taking third. The husband and wife duo of Raymond and Carrie Ellis both put in solid performances and were awarded with prizes as Raymond shot the best

gross of the day with a solid 33 points while Carrie won the ladies division with 35 points. After conducting the prize presentation Dubai Creek’s Head Golf Professional Stephen Hubner commented: “It really has been a very successful series and it has been a pleasure welcoming you all to both the Creek and Emirates golf clubs. “Thank you as ever to Prosports International for their wonderful sponsorship and their continued support of DubaiGolf. We look forward to continuing to deliver fun events for golfers throughout the UAE to enjoy.”

Correction to Dubai Creek Omega Match Play Championship – Ladies Division result IN the Summer edition of Worldwide Golf (Issue 139) we incorrectly reported the results of the Ladies Division of the Dubai Creek Omega Match Play Championship. Naeme Maya was the champion as she defeated Vanessa North in the final to win the title for the fourth time.

LOCAL NEWS Contact: Tel : +971 4295 6000 E-mail: dcgyc@dubaigolf.com

Wonyop-Kim seals the Medal EMIRATES GC member Alex Wonyop-Kim continued a fine burst of form with a second victory of the summer thanks to a superb net 63 at the September BMW-Rivoli Medal at Dubai Creek which sees him qualify for the Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final at Jumeirah Golf Estates on October 21. “I always feel comfortable playing the Creek course and I always seem to play well here,” said Kim after receiving the trophy. “I’m very happy with my win today and qualifying for the Luckiest Ball on Earth Final. Finally I would like to say a huge thank you to all the staff at the Creek for their good work in these events.” Another fantastic performance on the day came from Kennon Ryder who took top spoils in the Men’s Division ‘A’ with a 2 under-par 69.

Mark McCarthy finished with a solid 1-over par net 72 to take the runner-up spot in Division ‘A’ while in Division ‘B’ Mohammad Khan won by five strokes from Madhav Nair thanks to a 68. Harini White put in another good performance and took home her second victory in as many weeks with a 1-under par net 70 in the ladies division while Dhruv Nair sealed the Junior spoils with a superb net 65. Finally it was Paul King who took the overall gross prize with a 3-over-par 74. “It has been wonderful to welcome so many of our members back from holiday and we’re happy to have had such a good turnout, especially considering the tough humid conditions,” said Head Professional at Dubai Creek, Stephen Hubner.

Left to right: Stephen Hubner (Head Golf Professional, Dubai Creek), Alex Wonyop-Kim (Winner), Maureen Platt (Lady Vice-Captain, Dubai Creek).

SIXTH HOLE TOP TIP Michael Kinloch, Senior PGA Golf Professional With water on both sides of the hole, the priority on the sixth is to hit the fairway. Select a club you feel confident with for your first shot. A second shot to the right half of the undulating green is the safest approach.

2012 – 2013 UAE INVITATIONAL SCRATCH GOLF LEAGUE scratch league TEAMS ANNOUNCED The Organising Committee of the 2012 – 2013 UAE Invitational Scratch Golf League has confirmed that all 12 teams have accepted their invitation for this season’s event. The UAE Invitational Scratch Golf League was inaugurated in 2006 – 2007 with Arabian Ranches Golf Club taking the first title and in May 2012 they beat Yas Links, Abu Dhabi to be the current champions. In the intervening years from 2007 – 2011 Emirates Golf Club won the League title four times. The League is divided into four sub-Leagues each of three teams who will all play two matches at home and two matches away. The four winning teams of each sub-League will go through to the League semi-finals which will be

played at neutral venues with the two winners of these matches competing for the League title in a two leg final fixture. All fixtures must be confirmed for publication by 5 pm on October 24, 2012. All sub-League matches must be played by March 31, 2013. The format of the UAE Invitational Scratch Golf League is eight male players in each team who will compete in Fourball Scratch Matchplay from the Medal Tees of the hosting golf club. A winning team in a match earns an additional two Bonus Points to the individual match points, i.e. a team winning a match 3–1 will earn two Bonus Points for the win plus an additional three match points for a total of five League points. The losing team will earn just one League point for a match win. In the event of a 2–2

drawn match both teams will earn one Bonus Point in addition to their two match wins, i.e. a total of three League points. Bob Driver, League Co-ordinator said at the announcement of the 2012 – 2013 League, ‘The UAE Invitational Scratch Golf League continues to go from strength to strength and is now a recognised permanent fixture on the UAE golfing calendar. The elite amateur players of the UAE drive this initiative through their interest and enthusiasm to play, along with the essential support from the staff and management of the participating clubs. The interest levels from both players and clubs continues to grow, we thank them for their continued support and we look forward to a competitive yet friendly 2012 – 2013 League.’

The following teams will compete in the 2012 – 2013 UAE Invitational Scratch Golf League; League A Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Dubai Al Ghazal Golf Club, Abu Dhabi Tower Links Golf Club / Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras al Khaimah League B Yas Links, Abu Dhabi Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, Dubai Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi League C Al Badia Golf Club, Dubai The Els Club, Dubai The Address Montgomerie, Dubai League D Emirates Golf Club, Dubai Sharjah Wanderers Golf Club, Sharjah Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club, Al Ain www.wwgolf.biz

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Emirates Golf Club www.dubaigolf.com

Contact: Tel : +971 4380 2222 Email: info@dubaigolf.com

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Gupta wins BMW Rivoli Medal IN the first BMW Rivoli Medal of the season Rohit Gupta was in inspired form over the Faldo course as he signed for the best gross of the day a 73, which was also good enough to win Division ‘A’ (hcp 0-15) with a net 70. His closest challenger for the net prize was Tej Chhabra who carded a level par 73.

Overall winner Ruth Hatton receives her prize from Lady Captain Glynis Hendry.

Hatton delivers knockout win IN the Ladies September Stableford – the opening event after the summer break – the Emirates Golf Club Ladies section posted some great scores on the Faldo course with Ruth Hatton coming out on top with a tally of 41 points. On a rare cloudy day Hatton’s back nine of 23 saw her clinch the title ahead of new member Fiona Berry who also scored 41 points. Despite losing out to Hatton in the main event, Berry did take home the title in the Silver Division ahead of Veronica Elias by two strokes with Thea Hendrickx third on 37. The Bronze Division was won by Janine Dols with a haul of 30 points.

18th Hole HOLE TOP TIP Stephen Deane, Head Academy Professional, Emirates Golf Club A great finishing hole and one that catches the imagination. It truly is a risk and reward par 5 and one that adds a dramatic finish during the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Cut the corner and go for it in two or play safe and face a challenging third over the water! You decide?

Eddie Hesson, playing in the same three-ball as Gupta, challenged him all the way in the gross section, missing out by one stroke, and settled for third in Division ‘A’ following his 74. Ramneek Datt took the glory in Division ‘B’ (hcp 16-34) with a 76 followed by Gurmukh Ghuldu, one stroke back, with Suresh Shewakramani third after an 83.

Lady Captain, Glynis Hendry presenting former Lady Captains Jennifer Ayres, Caroline Jones and Rosemary Turlik with their prizes.

FORMER CAPTAINS on top FORM FORMER Lady Captains Jennifer Ayres, Caroline Jones and Rosemary Turlik combined nicely to win the Three-player Scramble over the Challenging Faldo Course recently. Their scorecard included birdies on holes 4, 8, 11, 13, 17 and 18 for a gross score of 68 and a net 62.4. Equalling this score but losing out on a countback were the trio of Han-Soon Shin, Janine Dols and Janet Curtis. Nearest the Pin on hole 17 was won by Maura Duggan and the Longest Drive on hole 10 was won by Ruth Hatton.

Chhabra combines luck and skill to win on the Majlis THERE was plenty at stake in the recent men’s Stableford competition with 72 players battling to qualify for the Singles Match Play Championship and to win one of the Luckiest Balls on Earth for a chance to win a place in the DP World Tour Championship Rolex Pro-Am. Coming out on top after a tense day’s play was Tej Chhabra but only after a countback victory over Ed Hesson and Suresh Shewakramani with all three tied on 39 points. As a result Chhabra will tee up with the other qualifiers from around the region over the Fire course later this month with the winner of that event playing in the DP World Tour Championship Rolex Pro-Am.

The highlight of Chhabra’s round was a gross birdie on the 166-yard par-3 fourth hole but the key to his success was a fantastic 21 points over the famous inward half of the Majlis course. Shewakramani had to settle for the runner-up spot overall while Hesson, who was third overall, did enough to clinch the top prize in Division ‘B’ (Handicap 13-24) with Stephen Jones taking second. Vipen Sethi won Division ‘A’ (handicap 0-12) with a 2-under par tally of 38 points, one clear of Jignesh Sangani. All of those players in Division ‘A’ with 32 points or better and with 27 or better in Division ‘B’ qualified for the Match Play Championship. www.wwgolf.biz

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Arabian RANCHES golf club www.arabianranchesgolfclubdubai.com

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Contact: Tel : +971 4 366 3000 Email: info@arabianranchesgolf.ae

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Singh and Hartzuiker storm to victory GURBAX Singh and Kees Hartzuiker were crowned the champions in their respective Stableford and Gross Divisions at the Dubai Duty Free Seniors Cup recently thanks to some superb play. Players teeing it up used their handicap index as the allowance to be taken at the appropriate stroke index holes as 70 keen golfers took to the course to compete in the event which was open to Men over 50 and Ladies over 45 years. Singh’s card was very impressive with five gross pars and a gross birdie. A front nine of 26 points followed by a back nine of 19 for a 45-point total saw him win by four from Jett Smith on 41. Smith settled for the Men’s Division title, winning by one point over Nigel Fenwick. Hartzuiker, a member of the ARGC

Left to right: Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman, Dubai Duty Free and Nic Bruwer, Vice President-Human Resources, Dubai Duty Free present Gurbax Singh with the trophy. Scratch League winning squad, fired a 4-over 76 to win the best gross by two shots as he took advantage of the relatively short course layout with matching nines of 38. In the Ladies Division home player Annie Hainey returned a wellbalanced card of 40 with nines of 19 and 21 to edge out Karen Evans by virtue of the countback.

Commenting on the turnout and standard of play, Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free said: “This is the 15th running of the seniors’ tournament and we had some incredible scoring today. Our thanks to all our participants and to the Arabian Ranches Golf Course for their efforts in ensuring a great day was had by all.”

Great turn-out for the Captain’s Drive In NEW Captains Eddie Ramage and Annie Hainey were welcomed into office with a four-player Team Scramble. The event was won by the team of Bryan Banner, Chris Perry, Andrew Dunstan and Leander De Wit.

The foursome returned a fabulous 56 to win by 0.9 from the team of Sam Bennett, Steve Bennett, Colin Graham and Jett Smith. The event not only welcomed the new Captains it also thanked the outgoing Club and Lady Captains.

BURROW WINS TNT TROPHY QUALIFIER MAX Burrow shot a Gross 68 to win the TNT Trophy qualifier held at Arabian Ranches last month to make it through to the Final at Yas Links where the top three finishers will win a place in the Rolex Pro-Am at the DP World Tour Championship. The format was Individual Stableford with players receiving ¾ handicap allowance and the top 12 players winning a Final place. Burrow made his intentions clear by recording two birdies during his opening three holes. He kept his momentum going and closed out his outward nine holes with a gross 33 for 21 Stableford points. He found it slightly tougher on the

back nine, especially with rival Gary Swan matching him shot for shot. Swan also recorded 21 points on the front nine to set up a great climax and after both came home with 18 points for a total of 39 a countback was needed to separate the them.

Burrow sealed the win thanks to his stronger last six holes. The difference was the 15th where Swan only scored a single point. “It was great to see on such a jam packed weekend,”said Francois Wolfaardt of Arabian Ranches Golf Club. “We had 93 players competing in the event, there was great excitement as the scores came in to determine the 12 qualifiers. “Our thanks go to TNT for another great Tournament and best of luck to everyone competing in the final.” Burrow, Swan and everyone down to 12th on the leaderboard qualified for the final at Yas Links on October 5.

Captains bid a fond farewell at Powerplay event EMMA Rooms and Frederic Debieuvre were drawn together in the blind partners Powerplay Stableford and luck was on their side as their combined scores tallied to a massive 112 points which saw them win by four. The event was held in recognition of outgoing Club Captains Andy Scanlan and Catherine Hut, both of whom have had a fantastic time in their respective roles. Players in the winning team had exceptional rounds with Rooms contributing 51 points and Debieuvre shooting the best score of the day – a sensational 61 points. On the six powerplay holes selected by Debieuvre he managed three net eagles, two net birdies and a net par to make up the bulk of his scoring. Rooms scored most of her points on the front nine with two net eagles on powerplay holes and two further net birdies contributing to her scorecard. There was lots of excitement as the players came in after the round not knowing who their partner was going to be, the blind draw was done while the players were on the course. Finishing in second was Pieter Van Wyk and Ksenia Grayling who proved a strong pairing but their combined score of 108 points was not quite good enough on the day. Individual prizes were also up for grabs with Graham Tickell winning the Men’s Division on 58 points after five net birdies and a net eagle on his powerplay holes while the Ladies prize went to Rania Hage on 50 points with four net birdies on her six powerplay holes.

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Master CraftsMan

“I have always saId I have the best R&d facIlIty In the woRld – the PGa toUR.” For years, Bob Vokey has learned from the best. He’s walked with the world’s best players on courses and practice areas of nearly every PGA Tour stop. He watches their short games, evaluates bunker technique, gathers feedback and enhances wedge performance for those finesse scoring shots that can decide a tournament or even a major. Bob uses this depth of experience to develop wedges that perform for every shot-making style and course condition and to help all players build confidence and shoot lower scores. Every wedge that Bob grinds and shapes must be a precision scoring tool for his name to be engraved on it. To learn more about Vokey Design® wedges, visit Vokey.com and find out which are best for your game.

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Jumeirah golf estates www.jumeirahgolfestates.com

Contact: Tel : +971 4 375 999

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Superb scores in August Medal

Walsh wraps up her place in the TNT Final in fine style MICHELLE Walsh eased to victory and booked her place in the TNT Final after winning the second TNT Qualifier at JGE last month with a superb haul of 39 Stableford points. Seamus Clune finished runner-up outright on 35 points while in third place was Sten Von Khun who fended off four other players who also scored 34 on a countback. On her road to victory Walsh’s round was complemented with

five birdies, displaying steely nerve when closing out, to clinch the title. Clune was a birdie machine with six net birdies on top of two net eagles which accounted for 20 points in a six-hole stretch. Von Kuhn and a further nine players advanced to the finals at Yas Links on October 5 for a chance to play alongside current world golf greats in the DP World Tour Championship Rolex Pro-Am.

the address montgomerie dubai www.themontgomerie.com

KATRIN Wilke laid claim to first place in the Ladies Division, David Green dominated Division ‘B’ and the ever-consistent Craig Forrest clinched the top spot in Division ‘A’ in what was an exciting edition of the Member’s Rivoli Medal. Wilke ran away from the field by playing sensible golf as she came in with a net 2-over-par 74 to win by a

margin of six shots from Glenys Hughes in second place. Green made it look easy off the ‘signature’ tees as he cruised to the Division ‘B’ title with a superb net 66 ahead of second placed Brendan O’Connor who shot 73. Scratch golfer Forrest fought off the rest of Division ‘A’ with a 1-over gross score of 73 to boast a net of the same number while Jehanzeb Awan claimed second spot after successfully gaining the upper hand in a card countback with a net 74. David Haswell won the gross prize on the day with 79 while the Nearest the Pin winners were Craig Finalyson (hole 6), Rob Sherman (17) and Chloe Dillon (13).

13TH HOLE TOP TIP David Blackadder, Golf Operations Supervisor - PGA Two large bunkers guard the front of this elevated green while a third bunker lies at the back making distance control paramount. Plenty of club and an assertive swing is required to conquer this unlucky number.

Contact: Tel : +971 4 390 5600

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SIXTH HOLE TOP TIP Rhys Beecher, Senior Golf Instruction Manager, PGA Professional

Song hits the high notes JI HUN Song scored 43 points to take the recent Member’s Stableford competition and win through to the Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final, taking place later this month, in the process. Song top scored on the day to win the Luckiest Ball and the Division ‘B’ honours ahead of Valery Zabrodin by one point.

The par-3 sixth hole strikes fear into even the most experienced golfer and rightly so. Target the segment of the green with the largest landing zone. This may not be the best way of hitting the ball close but will provide the largest margin for error and help prevent the big numbers that await errant shots.

In Division ‘A’ Paul O’Neill top scored with 41 points for a one-point win over Barry McGettigan with Richard Smith taking third on a countback from John Brash after both men scored 38 points. Angela Calvert scored 39 points for a four-point winning margin over Frances Milne in the Ladies Division with Pia Johansson taking third on 28 points. www.wwgolf.biz

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DUBAI EXPUtTS

Left to right: Dubai ExPutts President Simon Elliott, Captain Phil Sharpe and Stats and Handicap Manager John Sharpe.

holing out with the Dubai Exputts THE Dubai ExPutts Golf Society was formed in 2008, starting as a few friends playing weekly on the Emirates Par 3 course to become, as it is today, a 95 plus-strong group of paid up members, with over 200 players having been members in the four years since it was founded. The club was founded by a small group of friends including Simon Elliott, now the President, and Philip Sharpe, the Captain. They are supported by John Sharpe, who manages the Society website, www. dubaiexputts.com, handicaps and who acts as the administrator of the ExPutts league and match-play competitions. Dubai ExPutts does not have a formal sponsor, instead funding all events and activities though the membership subscriptions paid at the start of the year. Money is also raised though ad-hoc means, such as “fines” which are chargeable at 18 hole events, for “offences” such as not wearing their ExPutts shirt or failure to hit a drive past the ladies tee! Dubai ExPutts prides themselves

on being a friendly, open to all, golf Society. It was formed on the basis of friendships and is open to golfers of all abilities with a membership base of young and old, male and female players from all over the world. The emphasis is to have fun; this is essentially a social group of people who have a common interest in golf. The Society membership year runs from October to September, with an annual subscription fee of 350aed. The fee includes reduced par 3 rates, a Society shirt and a goody bag containing a membership bag tag, golf towel, balls, marker, divot repair tool and water bottle, all of which bare the ExPutts logo. Play takes place every Wednesday evening at the Emirates Par 3 course on a shotgun basis, with anywhere between 35 to 55 players on any given night. Each membership year is divided into four three-month ‘seasons’, with each season consisting of both a par-3 league competition – the “Race Two Foot By” (R2FB) – and a knock-out match-play competition.

The R2FB is a Stableford league played along the lines of its namesake, The Race to Dubai, where players earn ‘ExPutts Dollars’ based on their Stableford performance every week. These monies are accumulated over the course of a season and the winner, of course, is the player who has earned the most money. The winner becomes the holder of the R2FB trophy and receives a smaller trophy which they get to keep. The league results are maintained on the Dubai ExPutts website where players can review the current league table and in addition each member has a dedicated page on the website where records are kept of all their par-3 scores. In association with the Pete Cowen Academy, which is based at the Emirates Par 3 course, the Society has run successful coaching clinics at both beginner and intermediate level. These six-week clinics are tutored by the Emirates professional coaching staff and cover all aspects of the game, from the basics of the grip to the complexities of putting.

As well as the weekly par-3 rounds, Dubai ExPutts also hold six weekly 18-hole events at many of the UAE’s fantastic golf courses. The Society also enters two teams into the annual Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club Inter-Society League Competition, a better-ball match play tournament played over an eight month period in a league then knock-out format. After the narrowest of defeats in the 2010 final, they went one better last season and won the competition!

If anyone is interested in sponsoring the group they are invited to email: dubaiexputts@gmail.com.

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LOCAL NEWS

DUBAI DIVOTS

DIVOTS Ball raises over 85,000 AED THE Dubai Divots Golf Society’s Committee have announced that first edition of the Dubai Divots Charity Ball, which was held at the Grand Millennium Hotel in Dubai last month, raised an outstanding amount of 85,000 AED through the generosity of all the initiative’s guests and supporters. This black-tie event was a first for the Dubai Divots and helped the society’s members celebrate with an evening packed full of great entertainment, special guests and live music, but above all it succeeded in gathering over 170 guests to support the Seve Ballesteros Foundation and its battle against cancer. “All the money raised will go to the Seve Ballesteros Foundation for Cancer Research UK, which has been associated with the Divots since the Society was formed in 2010 and which focuses its efforts primarily on the recruitment, funding and promotion of research projects on brain tumours,” said Dubai Divots Captain James Evans. “Having lost my own father tragically to this dreadful disease I have always held Cancer Research close to my heart and I am

terms of fund raised. The glamorous event, entirely centered on a golfing theme, was the outcome of a great collective effort made by dozens of donators, supporters and sponsors who have generously and actively contributed to achieving such a phenomenal goal and making the initiative such a a crucial cause,” said McCaffrey. special one for all the people involved. Throughout the course of the A special thanks went to iGuzzini evening the guests were given the and Light Touch PLD (Society opportunity to participate in a Sponsors); Skyelume (Eagle Sponsor), high-profile raffle and charity auction Polypipe and acdc (Birdie Sponsors); with some incredible prizes up for GE Lighting, Acoulite, Martin (Par grabs and prestigious auction lots Sponsors)/ Goldfish Photograhy and which, following the spirit of the Video, the official photographers of night, were all donated by friends the event as well as us here at and companies wanting to support Worldwide Golf magazine and Khaleej the cause. Thanks to their generosity Times –the media partners for the the Ball exceeded all expectations in event.

“All the money raised will go to the Seve Ballesteros Foundation for Cancer Research UK, which has been associated with the Divots since the Society was formed in 2010.” – James Evans delighted that all our efforts can been put to such a worthy cause.” The evening was hosted by popular British presenter and journalist Robert McCaffrey, whose passion and hard work greatly contributed to making the event such a special and successful night. “It was an honour to host the first edition of the Dubai Divots Charity Ball and give my personal contribution to the Society for such

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Swing Free at al B adia golF CluB Kick start your winter with a free round of golf at al Badia golf Club. This is a perfect opportunity to get a first hand experience of a challenging robert trent Jones ii designed course and an amazing club facility. on course special events are in store, so do not miss this chance. the open day will be held on the following dates:

thursday, october 25, 8am shotgun tuesday, october 30, 2pm shotgun For information or bookings contact: al Badia golf Club tel: +971 4 6010101 email: albadiagolf@ichdfc.ae www.albadiagolfclub.ae

Registration will be on a first come, first serve basis. Only two players per booking.

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AL BADIA golf club www.albadiagolfclub.ae

Contact: Tel : +971 4 601 0101

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Xu Wins Luckiest Ball on Earth Qualifier SEPTEMBER’S Rivoli Monthly Medal had a special edge to it as it was also the qualifier event to the Grand Final for the Luckiest Ball On Earth competition held on 21st October and progressing through after a superb net 65 in windy conditions was Wei Jian Xu. The competition was eagerly anticipated as participants knew they were only two good rounds away from playing with some of the game’s biggest names in the Rolex Pro-Am at the DP World Tour Championship and this inspired Xu as he came in with nines of 46 and

41 for a gross 87 and a net 65. Brodie MacDonald, Golf Operations Supervisor at Al Badia Golf Club, said: “We wish Wei the best of luck at the Grand Final tournament, it would be great to see an Al Badia member participating at the Pro-Am. This is a fantastic initiative that really builds the excitement before the finally to The Race to Dubai competition in November.” The other on-course prizes went to Simon Li for shooting Nearest the Pin on hole 7 and Laurent Girouille for the Longest Drive down the fourth fairway.

Swing Free at Al Badia Golf Club

Performance Lab re-launched

AL Badia Golf Club are hosting two Membership Open Days this month where the UAE public are invited to the Robert Trent Jones II designed championship course for a completely free round of golf. The first open day will be an 8am shotgun on Thursday October 25 and the second will be a 2pm shotgun on Tuesday October 30. This is a great opportunity to experience the course

THE TaylorMade Performance Lab was re-launched earlier this month in time for the start of the winter season. The Lab has undergone a complete upgrade with new cameras, lights and software being installed making this the most comprehensive custom fitting experience in the Middle East. Mathew Parker, golf professional at Al Badia Golf Club, said: “There are 34 reflective sensors placed on you and the club with the six high speed cameras

and the award-winning clubhouse only a day after the top professionals from the MENA Tour have played in the Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open. There will be on-course activities such as ‘beat the pro’ and some swing analysis filming, making these events a must for all UAE golf enthusiasts. Tee times will be available on a first come first served basis, so book your place early to avoid disappointment.

the els club www.elsclubdubai.com

picking up your every movement and turning this information into a 3D avatar on the screen. From this we can make evaluations on the student’s swing characteristics and recommend customised clubs that will enhance player performance.” The Lab gives local golfers the rare opportunity to train like tour professionals and access the high tech equipment that helps the world’s top players excel in the sport.

Contact: Tel : +971 4 425 1010 E-mail: golf@elsclubdubai.com

TheElsClubDubai

Eun wins by one

JOON Eun took the honours in the recent Members Medal with a superb gross 77 to win by one stroke from John Millar. In Division ‘A’ Masoud Sobati sealed the title with a net 72, one clear of Steve Pyle while in Division ‘B’ a net 68 saw Sandeep Singh win from Wayne Connor by a shot.

Dolan deals up a treat

BRENDAN Dolan secured the honours in a recent Members Stableford with a superb tally of 39 points to win by two from Sean Dolphin. Louise Adams took third place with a 35-point haul while the Nearest the Pin prize went to Derek Grimley. www.wwgolf.biz

Golf Rates

1 October 2012 - 31 May 2013 Experience Al Hamra Golf Club with our affordable winter rates! Championship Course Weekends Visitor EGF Member Hotel Guest Junior

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18 Holes AED 380 AED 345 AED 325 AED 285 P.O. Box 6617, Ras Al Khaimah - UAE Tel.: 00971 7 244 7474 Fax: 00971 7 244 7426 enquiries@alhamragolf.com Al Hamra Golf Club

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al Ghazal Golf Club www.alghazalgolf.ae

Contact: Tel : +971 2 575 5044 E-mail: golfclub@adhc.adac.ae

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Club Captain Evans wins The Luckiest Ball

Division ‘1’and Luckiest Ball winner Captain Rupert Evans with Lady Captain Kate Davies.

THE September Monthly medal was well supported despite the early shotgun start of 7am and it was new Club Captain Rupert Evans who romped to victory with a superb net 67 which not only bagged him the medal but also the Luckiest Ball on Earth competition. Evans will now go on to compete in the Luckiest Ball Grand Final at Yas Links where the winner will then earn a place in the Rolex Pro-Am for the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates. “We wish Rupert all the best and

hope he is able to win the coveted prize in the Grand Final,” said Club Manager Angela Scurr. “It would be fantastic if he is able to earn a place in the Pro-Am at the DP World Tour Championship in the name of Al Ghazal Golf Club.” Anina Bester won the Ladies Division by two strokes from Ming Brown thanks to a net 75 while in the Men’s Division ‘2’Vernon Whaanga won with a 1-under 70 ahead of Ruben Jamora by a shot. In Division ‘3’ Bob Malone topped the pile one clear of David Tait with a 71.

17TH HOLE TOP TIP Head Professional Mark Ireland The 17th is a par 5 measuring 585 yards from the championship tees and is a genuine three shot hole for most handicap golfers. The fairway is guarded by out of bounds on the left and trees on the right, thus demanding an accurate tee shot. The second shot is played over water into a lay up area and the approach shot is played over more water into a huge sloping brown which makes putting difficult depending on where the flag is situated. The longer hitter can reach the brown in two shots but it is best to hit the tee shot down the left side of the fairway bringing the out of bounds into play. Overall a five is always a good score on this hole.

al hamra golf club www.alhamragolf.com

AlHamraGolfClub

Contact: Tel : +971 7 244 7474 E-mail: enquiries@alhamragolf.com

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Al Hamra hang on for victory at Yas Links THE second and final leg of the inaugural interclub match between Al Hamra and Yas Links took place over Yas Links’ superbly conditioned course late last month and the Al Hamra members held on to win 12-9 after an enthralling encounter. With the Al Hamra team travelling up the day before for some last minute practice, they were greeted by an outstanding reception from all

the Yas Links staff along with a quality golf course waiting to test their abilities. This was the first match of its kind between the two clubs and with Al Hamra taking advantage of home soil two weeks prior and any extra knowledge gained around the testing layout at Yas Links could prove to be vital come the conclusion of the matches. Yas had left themselves a lot of

catching up if they were going to keep the trophy in Abu Dhabi after a they found themselves 3-8 down after the opening leg This meant that Al Hamra only required three points from a possible 10 if they were going to claim the first interclub match and return to Ras Al Khaimah victorious. With a few extremely close games coming down the final stretch Yas managed to win their home leg 6-4

but this unfortunately wasn’t quite enough for the Yas Island club as the spoils went to the visiting team.

10TH HOLE TOP TIP Ross McArthur, PGA Teaching Professional The 10th is the start of our very own amen corner. A long tricky par 4 which always plays into the prevailing wind. Avoid the lagoon to the left and take an extra club to fly the traps which guard the front of the green. www.wwgolf.biz

SHARJAH golf and shooting club www.golfandshootingshj.com

Sharjah-Golf-Shooting-Club

PIC ANNOUNCED AS NEW TITLE SPONSOR OF GOLF SOCIETY LEAGUE THE PIC Golf Society League, supported by SNTTA Travel, BMW and Worldwide Golf is on countdown to the beginning of its fourth season and SGSC are looking forward to welcoming Professional Investment Consultants as the new title sponsors. Claire Badger, Golf Business Development and Sales Manager for the host venue (Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club) commented: “We and all our established Societies are once again looking forward to the coming GSL season. We are grateful to have the continued support of our sponsors SNTTA Travel, BMW and Worldwide Golf and are excited to welcome PIC as title sponsor of this unique and exciting event.”

The PIC Golf Society League (PIC GSL) accommodates a maximum of 24 societies, who are committed to providing four players per monthly fixture, pooled into four leagues of six (the draw for the leagues is due to take place first week in October). The six teams all play each other on one designated Saturday (1.00pm shotguns) each month (Oct–Feb). The two leading teams from each league then progress to the Quarter Final stage in March, which is a knockout format. The season climaxes with the final (and third/fourth place play-off ) which is scheduled for Saturday April, 20 2013. Previous champions include the Indian Golf Society, Massin Golf Society and Dubai Ex-Putts Golf

Society and all are expected to compete again this coming season. “The previous three seasons have been extremely competitive and well supported due to the event’s Matchplay format, excellent value and also provides extensive networking opportunities and brand exposure,” continued Badger. Societies, be them social or corporate, enjoy seven months of high profile exposure (including their company or society

Cool Kim seals the stableford

competition

WIN comPeTiTion

3 Pairs of fooTjoy conTour casuals FootJoy have entered the growing spikeless shoe market with the launch of the new Contour Casual Series, designed with dry fairways in mind. The shoes have been created to be worn both on and off the course and FootJoy say they expect them to be a big hit in the drier summer months or climates and for players who like to bypass changing their footwear in the locker room. In terms of technology, they feature soft full-grain leather uppers and a plastic urethane Fit-Bed for great cushioning. They are fully waterproof and also feature similar technology to the best-selling Contour Series shoes to aid flexibility and boost support.

The shoes come in a range of size and width options. Colour options available: White/Navy, Brown/Orange, Black/Taupe Web: www.footjoy.co.uk

We’ve got three pairs of these fantastic shoes to give away. To enter go to the WWG Facebook page, ‘Like’ us and share this image for your chance to win. To find our Facebook page simply search Worldwide Golf or in Google search Worldwide Golf Facebook.

We’ve got three pairs of the latest Foojoy Contour Casuals to give away. For more information go to page 106

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logo) at the events and in the Middle East’s leading golf magazine Worldwide Golf. “Unfortunately due to SGSC being a 9-hole course we are limited to a maximum of 24 Societies. Years 1, 2 and 3 were all over subscribed and we recommend interested parties contact us as soon as possible.” Entries for the 2012/13 season close upon the confirmation of 24 participating societies.

Champion B. C. Jun with Claire Badger of SGSC.

Jun makes it a lucky third KOREAN Byoung Chal Jun won the third edition of the Kempinski Hotel Ajman Ramadan nine-hole Stableford Series held throughout Ramadan and Eid. Jun, an SGSC Member, reduced his handicap by 10 shots throughout the series with his best five scores from the nine he returned totalling an impressive 105 points. His 21-point average made him the second Korean winner in three years, following J. W. Choi in 2010, and gave him a five-point winning margin over fellow compatriot S. J. Yoon (SGSC). Other high finishers included Tom Tazey and Avijit Bannerjee, both members at SGSC while a special

mention must also go to Gary Langthorne and Robert Scott who both participated in the event for the 13th time and finished fifth and seventh respectively. In total 132 people participated in the series with well over 300 rounds being played. Of the 27 daily prizes there were 15 different winners with champion Jun winning an unprecedented five of them. Martin Duff, SGSC Director of Golf, commented: “The event once again has been a huge success supported tremendously by our members and some of our regular guests. Huge thanks must go to Kempinski Hotel Ajman.”

GOLDEN Kim lived up to his name in the recent Coral Beach Resorts Midweek Stableford by finishing in the gold medal position with a consistent score of 21 points over the nine holes for a one-point win over Zubair Bin Idris. While Bin Idris missed out on the overall prize he did pick up the Division ‘2’ prize, one clear of Trevor Chantler and Yasushi Shinohara who both finished with 19 points. Rory Thomson claimed the Division ‘1’ prize by virtue of a countback from Ravi Kumar. Both golfers finished with a level-par 18 points but Thomson proved superior after a countback.

LOCAL NEWS Contact: Tel : +971 6 548 7777 E-mail: info@golfandshootingshj.com

TOP scores in Members and Guests Social CLAUDETTE Dumoulin and Martin Hunt stole the show in September’s BMW Members and Guests Social with a superb net score of 63.8 to take the overall prize. In addition there were prizes for the back and front nines which were played in different formats. Taking the honours over the opening nine Texas Scramble format with an impressive net score of 31.5 were the Chinese duo of Zhang Guoqing and Gan Baisong while Golden Kim and Normita Demesa won the inward nine better-ball competition with a 7-under-par net 29. The two other notable prize winners for the day were Ikhlas Rahman and Rory Thomson who picked up the Nearest the Pin and Longest Drive awards respectively.

9TH/18TH HOLE TOP TIP Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club Hit your tee shot down the right side of the fairway – flirting with the water – to give yourself the best position to open up the angle to this difficult green. The safe play is down the left but it makes the approach very difficult, especially if the pin is on the top tier of the green.

Baisong IN TUNE AT STABLEFORD event GAN Baisong returned an impressive haul of 41 points to win the recent Orient Travel Thai Airways Monthly Stableford by two strokes. Andrew Say and Golden Kim both scored 39 points and after a card countback it was Say who took second place with Kim settling for third. A fine round from scratch team regular Roy Holmes saw him to pick up the best gross prize with a score of 33 points which represented a 3-over-par gross round on a very difficult summer’s day.

AL ain equestrian shooting and golf club www.aesgc.ae

Contact: Tel : +971 3 702 6400 E-mail: golf@aesgc.ae

Golfin Alain

Sehra and Bajaj take the After Summer Open THE inaugural After Summer Open took place last month with 82 players taking part from across the UAE and it was the visiting pair of Rattan Sehra and Ishpal Bajaj who took the prize thanks to a superb score of net 64. Two pairs were tied with a net 66 in the battle for second place and it was the home pair of Larry Benson

and Robert Shedden who claimed the silver medal position after a countback win over Clyde Rhodes and Chris Emmerson. The best gross score on the day went to a couple who are not unaccustomed to the winner’s circle as Dane Sandford Snr and Lady Captain Michelle Sandford came in with just 72 blows while the best

mixed score came from Salah Al Ameri and Caroline O’Donnell from Abu Dhabi as they shot a net 67. Sara Donovan won the ladies’ Longest Drive with what was her first shot of the day while Richard Mylrea won both the men’s Long Drive and Nearest the Pin prizes on hole 7. Chris Potgieter was the Nearest the Pin winner on hole 17.

10TH HOLE TOP TIP Luke Plumb, Tournament Co-Ordinator Hole 10 at Al Ain is a monster at 678 Yards. A long straight drive is needed here to give you a chance to reach in three. Keep your second shot left to avoid the large water hazard and give the best angle to the pin. An accurate approach on the correct level will leave a two-putt for par which is always a good score here.

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DIRAB Golf and Country club

Contact: Tel : +966 1 812 6671 E-mail: info@dirabgolf.com

www.dirabgolf.com

Superb scores in SGBS event ABBI Oluyadi and Rabie Fares emerged the Best Net and Best Gross champions respectively in the recently held Saudi Golf Business Society tournament. Competition was fierce and coming out on top in Division ‘A’ was Resty Siburg with Eric Liquigan finishing second and Morgan Mead third. Howard Laurente clinched Division ‘B’ ahead of second placed Sandy Gupta with Moiz Ahmed third while the Junior title went to Christer Rem Sibug. In Division ‘C’ Gary Richardson took the spoils clear of Irfan Hanif and Alan Malawanda who took second

Lady members are preparing for another excellent season of events.

Ladies set for new season

and third respectively after a countback. The Ladies champion was Mi Jung Yoo as she finished ahead of Elizabeth Kennedy and Mi Ra Jung

THE Ladies of Dirab Golf & Country Club are set for the new season with Monthly Medals and plenty of additional fun tournaments in store while the Longest Drive awards went in a bid to improve their game in a to Faisal Salhab and Mi Jung Yoo with competitive atmosphere and Tony Lizardo taking home the increase the camaraderie at the club. Nearest the Pin prize.

DOHA Golf Club www.dohagolfclub.com

Contact: Tel : +971 4 295 2277

Doha-Golf-Club

Kim’s on a hot streak JUNIOR golfer Jung Hyeok Kim (above right) made it two wins in as many months as he took the spoils in the September Vodafone Mug with a Stableford haul of 39 points and a countback victory over Phil Whyte.

In Flight ‘B’ Steve Mullins scored 41 points to win while the same total saw Peter Krijn seal the honours in Division ‘C’. The Ladies Division winner was Susanna Dagless after she scored 36 points.

Jung Bin Kim seals the Mug

Kim blitzes the field

CONSISTENCY was the key as Jung Bin Kim won Division ‘A’ of the August Vodafone Mug with a 40-point Stableford haul. Nines of 18 and 22 saw Kim prevail while in Division ‘B’ Shaun Swan took the top spot with 41 points. In Division ‘C’ Peter Krijn came out on top with 38 points while Yvonne Verweij secured the Ladies Division with 42 points.

THE August Guardian Wealth Monthly Medal was played in hot and humid conditions and coming out on top of a field of 120 was Jung Hyeok Kim with a superb net 66 from a gross 71. In Division ‘B’ net 65 was the winning total as Tsukasa Ishii (17) took the spoils while Michael Browne won Division ‘C’ with a net 66. The ladies flight was won by Millie Rojas (handicap 25) who scored 76.

LOCAL NEWS

AMOUJ GOLF the wave muscat www.almoujgolf.com

Contact: Tel : +968 22005990 E-mail: info@almoujgolf.com

almoujgolf

Almouj Golf hosts inaugural Chedi Muscat Monthly Medal ROBERT Daniel won the inaugural Chedi Muscat Monthly Medal last month thanks to a one shot win over Lee O’Donoghue with a net 72. Both players were playing solidly through the first 14 holes and for Daniel the gross prize was also well within reach, however a few dropped shots over the closing four meant that he ultimately happily settled for just the net prize. Daniel’s mistake on hole 18 was Aaron O’Hara’s gain as he secured a sixth successive par on the treacherous closing hole to take the gross title with a solid 78. The ladies division was well contested and an in-form Yvonne Welling took the prize with a net 73 after a very well played back nine which put Catherine Shackleton into second place by a single stroke. Jamie Wilson recorded the only “two” of the day and as such was the

(Left to right) Prizewinners Lee O’Donoghue, Robert Daniel, Yvonne Welling, Aaron O’Hara and James Wood. happy recipient of the substantial pot of Titleist golf balls. This achievement was made even more impressive as his “two” came at the longest par 3 – the second – measuring over 200 yards. Troy Hart, Vice-President of Asset Management at The Wave, Muscat, commented: “We are delighted to have the support of The Chedi

Muscat for our Monthly Medal competitions, and we believe that the standing and reputation of The Chedi Muscat with the world-class quality of Almouj Golf is a perfect match. We are truly proud of the association and of what it allows us to offer to our Almouj Golf membership.” York Brandes, General Manager at

The Chedi Muscat, said: “Almouj Golf and The Chedi Muscat both provide an unrivalled lifestyle experience. Our exclusive partnership for the Monthly Medal competitions at Almouj Golf is another way in which we can give the best of the leisure world to Almouj Golf members, The Chedi Muscat guests and visitors.”

Entries open for Mercedes-Benz Match Play Championship

Dubai Creek members visits Almouj Golf WITH the summer drawing to a close and the temperatures gradually receding Almouj Golf played host to a group of visiting golfers from fellow Dubai Golf-operated club Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. Under the watchful supervision of Creek Professionals Kenny Monaghan and Craig Waddell, the Dubai Creek members had a practice round on the Almouj course on arrival to warm up for the following day’s social matches. The 7,310-yard links layout and design of Almouj Golf impressed the Dubai Creek players and some very flattering comparisons to other prestigious links courses around the world were made. The Almouj Golf members battled it out against the Dubai Creek members

in a social Betterball Matchplay which saw Almouj Golf ending the day on top with wins across all of the matches. In the spot prize division it was Dave Gowans from Dubai Creek who took the Nearest the Pin prize on hole 4, while home member Jamie Wilson claimed the same prize on the tricky 14th hole and fellow Almouj member Kevin Wright blasted the Longest Drive of the day. The social event was a resounding success and one that is sure to be repeated over a return fixture later in the season. Friendships and rivalries were formed within the Dubai Golf family and the message passed on to the golfing community of Dubai that there is a hidden gem to be found just over the mountains.

ENTRIES are open for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz Match Play Championship – the second annual golf tournament for handicap holding Almouj Golf members which is sponsored by the exclusive distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Oman and Official Automotive partner for Almouj Golf, Zawawi Trading Co. (ZTC). “We are delighted to continue our successful partnership with Mercedes-Benz Oman through to 2013 in the Match Play Championship,” said Chris May, Acting General Manager, Almouj Golf. “The 2012 Championship was a resounding success, with

impressive matches played in each division, presenting a real challenge for players right down to the last shot. “I look forward to following the Championship progress and to adding the 2013 champions’ names to a growing honours board.” Once the draw for the opening round of fixtures has been made the competitors will have an allotted period in which to arrange and play their match, the winners will progress to the next round. This will continue until May 2013 when the final matches will be played and the 2013 MercedesBenz Matchplay Champions crowned.

18TH HOLE TOP TIP James Wood, Head PGA Professional, Almouj Golf Anything other than your best tee shot may leave the green out of reach in two. On your second shot a layup to the right avoiding the bunker will give you a chance at an up and down par. www.wwgolf.biz

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MUSCAT HILLS golf & country club www.muscathillsgolf.com

MuscatHills

Contact: Tel : +968 245 14080 E-mail: bookings@muscatgolf.com

Muscat-Hills-Golf-Country-Club

Another first for Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club THE inaugural BankDhofar Pro-Am Golf Tournament is set to take place at Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club on November 7–8 and will be the first professional golf event played in the Sultanate. A field of 25 teams of four will be led by regionally based PGA Professionals who will be joined by amateurs, entering in teams of three under company names. Over 18 Professionals have already confirmed their participation. They are coming from the most prestigious golf clubs in the region and will be competing for a prize fund of over OMR 1,000 which will be allocated amongst the top five players. “Our Muscat Hills team is very excited and is working hard to make this event an unforgettable experience for all participants. For two years we have been trying to find the right time and the best sponsors to allow us to organise the first Pro-Am golf tournament in Oman, and we have finally achieved this! It is a special event not only for us but for all

professionals coming from the region because they are about to experience Golf in Oman for the first time. We believe in the success of the 2012 edition and we look forward to turn the BankDhofar Pro-Am into an annual tradition,” said Muscat Hills Director of Golf Ray Stopforth. “All professionals arriving in Oman for the event will be given VIP treatment by the event hosts and the sponsors. Luxurious VIP shuttles provided by Audi, the Gold Sponsor of the Pro-Am, will transfer the professionals to the capital’s most vibrant place the Radisson Blu Hotel, Muscat, hospitality partner of the event.” BankDhofar, the title sponsor of the event, is looking into different levels of support for golf: “It gives us great pleasure to be the lead sponsor of the BankDhofar Pro-Am Tournament. BankDhofar is keen to support Omani player development from the grassroots level all the way up, and will soon be announcing our training

opportunities for Oman’s future golf stars, allowing the youth to realize their true competitive potential in the sport of golf”, said Patrick LloydBradley, Head of Branding & Marketing Communications at BankDhofar. The BankDhofar Pro-Am Tournament is expected to assist in

ROYAL Golf Club, BAHRAIN www.theroyalgolfclub.com

royalgolfclub

the ongoing development of the game of golf domestically as well as increasing Oman’s growing reputation in the GCC Region as a first class golfing destination. The event hosts and organisers are anticipating this event to be a stepping stone to a larger professional golf event in the future for Oman.

Contact: Tel : +973 1 775 0777

theroyalgolfclub

New General manager appointed

Think Pink Charity Event THE eighth annual Think Pink Bahrain Ladies Charity Golf Day will take place at the Club on Wednesday October 10. A separate gents only tournament will be hosted at the Club on the evening of Sunday October 7. “With the help of the local community we hope to raise at least BD10, 000 this year for this vitally important cause,” commented Paul Crowe, the Royal Golf Club’s Director 104

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of Golf Operations. The money raised from this year’s events will once again be used to help women in Bahrain who are affected by breast cancer. The men’s 9-hole tournament will be played under floodlights on the back 9 holes of the Club’s Montgomerie championship course. The event will tee off at 6.30pm and will be played in the team Stableford best two from four format.

FOLLOWING the announcement that Troon Golf has been selected as the management team at the Royal Golf Club, the appointment of David J Flanders to the position of General Manager of the Club has now been confirmed. “I could not be more excited to be joining the Royal Golf Club,” stated Flanders. “The facility and staff are spectacular and I’m looking forward to meeting all the Members and guests as they experience the Club.” Outgoing Manger Susan Stevenson said: “The Royal Golf Club team is delighted to welcome DJ on board. He has worked for Troon for the past 13 years and is acclaimed as one of

their top five performers worldwide.” Flanders’ previous experience includes managing the prestigious Saadiyat Beach and Abu Dhabi Golf Clubs in the UAE as well as the Phoenix Country Club in Japan and the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Arizona, USA.

LOCAL NEWS

YAS LINKS abu dhabi www.yaslinks.com

YasLinksGC

Contact: Tel : +971 2 810 7777 E-mail: info@yaslinks.com

YasLinksGolfClub

Kim wins the Luckiest Ball HENRY Kim won the September Cadillac Member’s Medal and with it came the Luckiest Ball and the chance to tee it up with a European Tour professional at the Rolex Pro-Am for the DP World Tour Championship. Kim, who plays off 8, scored a superb net 71 to win by two from William Royce with Ahmed Al Menhali finished third on 74. The best lady of the day was Sana Tufail with a net 80 and the Best Gross went to James Cook who returned a very respectable 77.

cook flies at etihad open Kim will now play in the final Luckiest Ball qualifier on October 21 on the Fire course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai and should he win that he’ll win a place in the pro-am for The European Tour’s season-ending event.

CHRIS Cook emerged victorious at September’s Etihad Open Stableford thanks to an impressive haul of 40 points. Finishing second, one point back, was Walter Hall and Darren Hall

completed the podium places with a score of 38 points. Lora Al Marzooqi took the spoils in Division ‘B’ with 43 points, four clear of Sidong Tian with Stephen Paul Burness taking third with 37 points.

abu dhabi golf club www.adgolfclub.com

Contact: Tel : +971 42 558 8990

Abu-Dhabi-Golf-Club

ABSENT JOSEPH TAKES THE SUMMER SERIES AFTER 10 weeks of drama in the Johnnie Walker Summer Series just four players had the chance to finish on top of the standings heading into the final event. Donovan Joseph had been leading the series in the weeks running up to the event but was unable to participate meaning his place on top was in real jeopardy. However, after the scores from the

final round were compiled Joseph was crowned the overall winner, narrowly ahead of Corey Spring. Spring finished fourth in the final event with a score of net 38 while the other players in contention to topple Joseph – Wanni Jefferson and Lina Tyson – couldn’t reproduce their best form when it mattered most handing Joseph the title.

11TH HOLE TOP TIP Martin Robinson, PGA Professional. ADGC Hole 11 is a sharp dogleg right and presents you with some choices from the tee. A fairway wood or long iron can be played straight to leave you with a longer approach. A longer hitter may wish to carry the cluster of bunkers at the corner of the dogleg and leave a shorter approach to a narrow green. Hole 11 is a challenging hole but a good tee shot will set up a good chance to hit it close.

Saadiyat beach golf club www.sbgolfclub.ae

Contact: Tel : +971 2 557 8000

Saadiyat Beach Golf Club

BEAT THE PROS EVENT HELD FOR CHARITY

Saadiyat Beach Golf Club Professional Paul Wilson

THE club professionals from Saadiyat Beach Golf Club hosted a lively ‘Beat the Pros’ Challenge last month which was a fun way to raise funds for charities. The professionals – Paul Wilson, P-J Van Merch, Franco Botha and Karl Whitehead – played the four-person Texas scramble format to shoot an impressive 15-under-par for a score of 57. Seven flights took part in the event in favourable conditions, with only one team able to beat the professionals on the day.

Taking home the prize was Darren Andow, Richard Cox, Gary Rigby and Alan Suggitt, who shot a strong net score of 56.2 to narrowly win the event at the end of a fantastic afternoon. “Saadiyat Beach Golf Club is continuously thinking about ways in which we can support charity through the game of golf,” said Wilson. “We have really supportive members and guests who throw themselves into the spirit of the game to help raise much-needed funds for some fantastic causes. We’re eagerly looking

forward to our next event already.” Proceeds raised from the day will be donated to Lifespan Complimentary and The Future Centre for Special Needs (FCSN). Lifespan is a small UK-based charity which brings ease and support to people with serious and life-threatening illnesses, and to family members and friends who care for them. FCSN is an Abu Dhabi based non-profit organisation, which specialises in the education and rehabilitation of individuals with special needs. www.wwgolf.biz

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Straight Putt - so how straight can you putt? Three distances to choose from along a narrow strip of wood. Then flip it over - and it gets really hard.

Can you putt the imputtable putt? Introducing a brand new challenge - puttup. Three of the most common putts you’ll face on a green the Straight Putt, the Pace Putt, the Breaking Putt. Well they can now be played inside; either in the golf club, the pub or in the comfort of your own home. There are different levels to choose from, each getting

Pace Putt - coming soon.

progressively harder up to what we call ‘imputtable’. puttup is exactly what the 19th hole has been missing. It means that the competition can continue off the course. And there’s none of that tatty, green stuff that tries to replicate grass here. Each game is made from the finest, sustainable oak. So they’re as good to look at as they are to play. Oh and they’re wall-mountable too so you can proudly display them

Breaking Putt - coming soon.

when you’re not playing them. ‘Straight Putt’ is available now at www.puttup.com. Use the promotional code 999MGPAR when ordering and

pu up

com

Designed in Scotland

you’ll receive a perky 5% discount. So go on, try golf’s newest challenge. Or as we like to say - puttup or shut up. follow us @puttupgame

The Track, Meydan www.meydangolf.com

Contact: Tel : +971 4 381 3733 E-mail: info@meydangolf.com

TheTrackMeydanGolfClub

THE TRACK LAUNCHES THE UAE’S NEWEST GOLF ACADEMY THE Track is taking the fear out of learning golf with the launch of the most accessible professional golf academy in the UAE. Starting with single 30-minute lessons through to comprehensive tuition packages that take you out onto the course, there is an offer to suit everyone. The Track is located at Meydan Golf next to the Meydan Hotel and the shorter lessons are ideal for businessmen and women in the city to fit into their hectic schedules. The tuition package deals include the chance to go out onto the stunning golf course for a game with the professional coach. The facility, called Academy by Troon, will also be home to a state-of-the-art V1 Pro swing analysis studio, which is widely recognised as being the best swing analysis system in golf.

Custom club fitting incorporating Flightscope, corporate golf clinics and junior golf programmes are on offer along with advice on the rules of golf and golf etiquette. The two professional coaches based at The Track are William Bruce and Martin Gallagher – both of whom have vast experience of golf in the Middle East, “The Academy by Troon is a fantastic new addition to The Track and we’re really excited about the level of expertise and technology we’re offering the golfers of Dubai,” said General Manager, Paul Dennis. “From the time we opened our doors in April, we’ve been giving players something fresh, new and accessible and Academy by Troon is no different. “We’ve got a great coaching team here, excellent facilities and some really good packages so there really is something for everyone.

jebel ali golf resort & Spa www.jebelali-international.com

Contact: Tel : +971 4 814 5555 E-mail : jagrs@jaihotels.com

JebelAliGolfResortSpa

JA RESORTS & HOTELS announce name change JEBEL Ali International Hotels, a Dubai-based, locally-owned company with over 30 years of hospitality experience, have announced they have undertaken a strategic rebranding process. Jebel Ali International Hotels, a name steeped with tradition, value and well known within the UAE, will make way for the fresher ‘JA Resorts & Hotels’. But while a new name and logo come into play, the promise of heartfelt hospitality at the group’s properties remains the guiding principle. The new identity ensures a consistent and engaging brand that will enhance the group’s presence overseas as they look to expand into international markets. Interbrand, the highly acclaimed branding agency were appointed to assist with the project, accurately identifying what the group stood for and re-aligning their brand vision, mission and values in keeping with the new brand promise. David Thomson, Chief Operating Officer of JA Resorts & Hotels, said: “At JA Resorts & Hotels we employ over 1,500 people and it was therefore essential to dedicate time to launching the brand internally before we revealed it to our guests and partners. I was completely overwhelmed at the positive reaction from our associates and although Interbrand gave us the building blocks, it was our team internally who put them together.” www.wwgolf.biz

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WWG STYLE

WWG STYLE It’s

not

just

game

it’s

lifestyle

Mercedes S500

Power, class and a technological masterpiece.

Locker Room

Cool stuff to give you a swagger both on and off the golf course.

Sylvester Stallone “I never got the game, how hard could it be...”

Nicola Hage

Up close and personal with the LPGA beauty.

www.wwgolf.biz

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Mercedes

S500

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been the benchmark other luxury manufacturers have been chasing for more than three decades. During that time itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stayed ahead of the competition, balancing grace, power and technology. Neither brash or flash the S500 draws attention for the right reasons and your clubs can travel in the boot ... rather than the back seat!

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WWG STYLE

THE 5.5 litre V8 delivers a smooth but walloping 388hp and 391lb of torque. Guiding all that power effortlessly is the job of the seven-speed auto gearbox which is best left to its own super-smooth devices, with sharper reflexes in the sport setting, which also firms the suspension and lowers it by 20mm. But if you want to go manual, the old and confusing M-B rocker switches on the steering wheel have been ousted by simple AMG-type buttons – left for down, right for up. So you’re less likely to get lost in all those gears. It would be hard to argue against the fact that Mercedes-Benz has once again made the world’s best luxury saloon. Its list of attributes and superlatives is frightening. While scanning the cabin, even James Bond would be drawn in by the technology. You would think that ‘Q’ had been assisting Merecedes with the goodies on board the S500. The speedometer looks like a normal analogue dial but is actually a hi-res digital image. Within its screen can be found not only sat nav directions but also live pictures from the optional ‘night view assist’ system. This uses two infra-red lights, aimed as far ahead as the main beam, to give a picture of life beyond dipped beam at times when using main would dazzle oncoming drivers. Less visible but just as clever is Brake Assist Plus, which doesn’t just jam the brakes on fully in a panic stop but modulates the stop to keep you from shunting the car in front while minimising the risk of being shunted from behind. Thank the dual radar in the Distronic Plus active cruise control for that. Away from all the gadgets. If you want space, luxury and a silky ride but still desire a thrill from punching the accelerator, then this is the car that does it all. If however, you prefer to shoe horn your clubs into the passenger seat then look elsewhere!

DRIVING RANGE www.wwgolf.biz

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WIN competition

3 Pairs of footjoy contour casuals FootJoy have entered the growing spikeless shoe market with the launch of the new Contour Casual Series, designed with dry fairways in mind. The shoes have been created to be worn both on and off the course and FootJoy say they expect them to be a big hit in the drier summer months or climates and for players who like to bypass changing their footwear in the locker room. In terms of technology, they feature soft full-grain leather uppers and a plastic urethane Fit-Bed for great cushioning. They are fully waterproof and also feature similar technology to the best-selling Contour Series shoes to aid flexibility and boost support.

The shoes come in a range of size and width options. Colour options available: White/Navy, Brown/Orange, Black/Taupe Web: www.footjoy.co.uk

www.wwgolf.biz

Sennheiser MM 550-X Travel Headphones

WWG STYLE

WOW. That’s all we can say about these award winning headphones from Sennheiser. The sound quality is immense while the big padded ear cup design means you can listen to your favourite tunes in perfect comfort. Specially designed for travel, the Bluettoth enabled MM 550-X Travel headphones can be used wirelessly with many devices and feature NoiseGard 2.0 noise cancelling technology to allow you to enjoy your music no matter how loud the environment. There’s also a wonderful TalkThrough function that allows you to press a button on the ear-cup, which contains a built in microphone, so you can hold conversations without removing them! www.sennheiser.co.uk

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Rainbow PUT some bling in your swing with this eye catching new version of Rolex’s classic Cosmograph Daytona with a jewel covered bezel in all the colours of the rainbow! The hard-wearing watch features an 18 carat gold case and bracelet while the bezel is set entirely with an array of sapphires in reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, mauves and pinks. And the sparkle doesn’t end there either – the case lugs, crown guard and hour markers are also gem set making this the most eyecatching Daytona yet. www.rolex.com

Druh Ryder Cup Belt Bolle Bounty Sunglasses BOLLE’s latest offering to the golf market are these Bounty sunglasses. As we’ve come to expect from Bolle, they definitely look the business. They’re also very lightweight and comfortable with nose pads and temple tips made from the futuristic sounding ‘Thermogrip’ which absorbs moisture and keeps the frames in place even during extreme exertion. bClear lenses are resilient against steaming up or smudging, allowing crystal clear vision whatever the conditions. www.bolle.com

DRUH Belts and Buckles continued its rapid rise by being named an Official Licensee of belts and buckles for recently concluded The Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club. The belts have been growing in popularity since former European Tour player Simon Hurd launched the brand just a few years ago with the likes of Lee Westwood, Thomas Björn, Paul McGinley and Chris Wood all seen wearing them. Get your Ryder Cup belt at: www.rydercup.com/shop

locker room www.wwgolf.biz

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Clinique For Men Dark Spot Corrector

This magic serum from Clinique reduces the appearance of sun spots, dark spots and acne scars on all skin types and tones. The skin soothing ingredients also make it ideal for use after shaving. Four weeks use will visibly give more even looking skin.

WWG STYLE Chanel Allure Homme Sport

This is one of our favourite Chanel fragrances. Created by Jacques Polge Allure Homme Sport is a fresh and sensual scent with woody and spicy undertones. It’s very moreish so go easy!

decleor EXCELLENCE DE L’AGE NIGHT BALM This 100% natural, preservative-free new generation balm, with its lush, melt-in texture, offers all the benefits of a made-to-measure aromatic night-care treatment to act on all signs of time. A touch of this balm, which combines Essential Oils and Sol-Collagenine Complex, allows the skin during the night time to be intensely renewed and recover all its comfort. When you awake the skin appears smooth, firm and regenerated.

Oskia Renaissance Mask

Another award winning product, Renaissance Mask from Oskia is designed to increase cell turnover, reducing the appearance of fine lines and boosting the radiance of your skin. It’s a luxurious exfoliating anti-aging mask that leaves the complexion feeling smoother, more refined and illuminated.

Technical jargon: Top notes – Aldehydes, Mandarin, Orange, Aquatic Note. heart notes – Black Pepper, Neroli, Cedar. base notes – Tonka, Vetiver, Amber, White Musk.

d:fi Extreme Hold Styling Cream

If you want to go for that Ian Poulter spiky haired look there aren’t many better products on the market than d:fi Extreme Hold Styling Cream. It works well on wet or dry hair and keeps your locks in the desired style all day long.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;I never got the game, how hard could it be...â&#x20AC;?

Sylvester

Stallone

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WWG STYLE WWG: How seriously do you take the game? SS: Very. Quite often I play with people who don’t warm up and they’ll play a terrible over-the-top swing and continue their three-knuckle super-strong grip and it bothers me that they don’t care enough to learn the beauty of the game. That’s the ongoing battle. It shows me a lot about character and discipline. WWG: When and why did you become involved in golf? SS: It was in 1993 when I was filming Cliffhanger. I was curious about the game. I wasn’t excited at first. I was actually quite miffed by the fact that so many people were attracted by this odd game that had been stigmatised for years as being an old man’s sport. So having played polo for years I thought I’d just try to burst this myth – what could warrant hours and hours of television every week? Who’s watching this? I didn’t know one golfer. So I went out there and I proceeded to make a fool of myself the first two days. I bent the hozzle on a 3-wood and a 5-wood, which is pretty hard to do. I was atrocious. But the instructor kept saying, ‘Oh, that’s wonderful, Mr Stallone. That’s wonderful.’ I was literally digging elephant graves. A family of five could live in one of my divots. That’s how bad it was. What happened was I became captivated by my ineptness, my inability to function properly. I was outraged by the way my body rebelled and refused to cooperate. I said, ‘I feed you, I clothe you, I bathe you and I ask you to do one thing – hit this stupid white sphere, and you betray me over and over.’ So it came to me doing battle – me against me.

WWG: What’s your temperament like on the golf course? SS: I have no tolerance for people who make a living, a very good living, in a multitude of professions and then come out on the course and absolutely have the audacity to believe they are going to bring this course to its knees, and they’re shocked, angered and outraged when they miss a 20foot, left-to-right, downhill, breakingagainst-the-grain putt. I say, ‘Are you out of your mind? Do you really think that you’re going to make that?’ Or they’re stuck in wet sand and they wonder why they top the ball – excuse me? A pro couldn’t make that shot. So that bothers me and I tend to never play with them again. I’d rather play alone. Because the most beautiful part of the game is I don’t do this for a living. Imagine if that putt was for the house. The kids’ college education. Your future, your insurance, your reputation. Your Tour card. That’s pressure. But we’re doing it for nothing. We get to go home and go back to our well-paying job. So what is there to be angry about? Why should there be temper tantrums? This is a perfect time where I think people have an opportunity to learn control. Don’t give in to it. Who doesn’t want to go crazy and smash the club? But it’s a poor carpenter who blames his tools, that’s all I can say.

Lets see what you’ve got: Ernie Els fancies his chances against ‘Rocky’ at the 1995 Alfred Dunhill at St. Andrews ... he didn’t see the putter coming!

WWG: Do you ever take the clubs with you to hit balls while you’re waiting to shoot a scene in a movie? SS: I used to but not anymore. I started looking forward to that more than performing in the film. You’re sitting there between takes practicing your hip release. I thought, ‘I can’t do this,’ because it’s not something you just turn off. I mean, an extraordinary shot can leave you in a euphoric state for hours and hours. And just the opposite is true, too. I thought, ‘You can’t be hitting them in the net for an hour and a half and then turn off the golf head and do a dramatic scene.’ Because you’re thinking, ‘Why was I topping? Is my grip too strong? Too weak? I’ll do overlap.’ And I thought, ‘We’ve only got so much of a reservoir of creative energy and I’d better not apply it to the game of golf. I have to pay the rent with the other profession.’ WWG: Do you think you’ll ever perfect the game? SS: I think there is something noble when you see a blind person climb Mount Everest. You say - ‘My God. That is something.’ That’s the way I feel about approaching a perfect golf swing. I’m groping along in the dark and as long as I keep groping forward I can feel a sense of accomplishment, but I’ll never reach the pinnacle. Of course not.

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WWG STYLE

Nicole

Hage UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH LPGA PROFESSIONAL... WWG: When playing in a tournament would you rather go in as the favourite or the underdog? NH: The underdog – I like staying under the radar. WWG: What would you like to do for a living if you weren’t a pro golfer? NH: Clothing design. WWG: If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why? NH: My dog has the best life – sleep, play, and eat. WWG: Is there anything you are addicted to or can’t live without? NH:Chocolate. WWG: Are you afraid of anything? NH: Bugs, critters, frogs, snakes, etc. WWG: Do you have a favourite golf club in your bag? NH: My driver. WWG: Are you a neat freak or do you prefer the messier side of life? NH:: Definitely a neat freak. WWG: If you could posses any super human power, what would it be? NH: I wish I could fly. WWG: What song would you sing if you had to sing karaoke? NH: Living on a Prayer – Bon Jovi.

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