Worldwide Golf December 2022

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VOICE OF THE TOUR

KEITH PELLEY, Chief Executive, DP

World Tour

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

There has been plenty to celebrate both on and off the golf course in 2022 and our season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai undoubtedly provided a spectacular finale befitting of our 50th anniversary year.

A milestone season which began with the European Tour’s group main Tour being renamed the DP World Tour following a ground-breaking evolution to our long-term partnership with DP World, ended with us crowning three truly worthy champions at our fifth and final Rolex Series event of 2022.

Jon Rahm extended his remarkable record by becoming not only the first player to win the DP World Tour Championship on three separate occasions, but also the first to win five Rolex Series titles. Equally impressive was Rory McIlroy’s accomplishment of lifting the Harry Vardon Trophy for the fourth time to end a magnificent 2022 campaign as World Number One, FedEx Cup Number One and now the DP World Tour’s Number One.

Both Jon and Rory are incredible ambassadors for our game who will be hugely important for Europe in next year’s Ryder Cup in Rome, so I was delighted they were joined in the prize giving ceremony at Jumeirah Golf Estates by another inspirational champion, Sweden’s Rasmus Lia.

Rasmus won our G4D event which took place on the Earth Course on the Friday and Saturday, the 22 year old finishing four shots clear of the field to become the fourth different winner in the G4D Tour’s inaugural season, joining World Number One Kipp Popert, Mike Browne and Tommaso Perrino.

Seeing Rasmus, Jon and Rory holding their respective trophies aloft in front of packed galleries on the 18th green at Jumeirah Golf Estates was another moment of immense pride for everyone involved with the European Tour group, including our Chairman David Williams who marked his final event in the role after nine transformational years.

This year’s DP World Tour Championship was sold-out at the weekend for the first time, continuing a trend we have seen this year at some of our biggest events, with ticketing and hospitality revenue up 32 per cent compared to 2019, the last year before the pandemic, for the Betfred British Masters, Horizon Irish Open, Genesis Scottish Open and BMW PGA Championship.

We welcomed a record crowd of 68,491 over the four tournament days at Jumeirah Golf Estates, which has hosted our seasonfinale since 2009 and, which we announced on the eve of our 2023 season beginning, will continue to do so through to at least 2031.

Another announcement we made in the wake of our hugely successful first season as the ‘DP World Tour’ was a return to

In 2023, that journey will take in a minimum of 39 tournaments in 26 different countries, underlining our position as golf’s global Tour. Our players will also compete for a record overall prize fund of $144.2 million, including a $6million bonus pool and tournament prize funds of $9million at the first four Rolex Series events prior to our $10million finale in Dubai.

For the first time, we are also introducing a new Earnings Assurance Programme, which means exempt players in categories 1-17 will be guaranteed minimum earnings of $150,000 if they compete in 15 or more of our events.

This security is huge for our members, especially during these times of global economic uncertainty and particularly for the 20 players who graduated from the Challenge Tour, the 28 players who came through Qualifying School and those players who earned cards through the global pathways we have created with the Sunshine Tour and ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

Our operational joint venture with the PGA TOUR, announced in June, has enabled us to introduce many of these enhancements for 2023, as well as guaranteeing prize fund growth for at least the next four season after this one.

There will, of course, be added incentive for our members in the new season, with the leading ten players, not otherwise exempt, on our 2023 Race to Dubai earning PGA TOUR cards for the following season.

For the European players, there is also the opportunity to qualify for Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup team in Rome, and after recently announcing Nicolas Colsaerts as his third Vice Captain, alongside Thomas Bjørn and Edoardo Molinari, Luke will get the chance to see some of his potential team members in match play action when the inaugural Hero Cup opens the 2023 calendar year at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

The interest from fans wishing to be at Marco Simone for the Ryder Cup has been nothing short of phenomenal, with more than 700,000 ticket applications from 130 different countries. That underlines the point I made earlier about our biggest events getting even bigger and I think that is a trend you will continue to see in a world where we are saturated with content.

The Ryder Cup will unquestionably be a highlight of 2023, but if our spectacular 2022 season is anything to go by, it will be one of many.

our season-long contest being known as the ‘Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex’. The Race to Dubai, of course, became part of our terminology in 2009 and provides us with a strong narrative across the season as we build towards our final destination and ultimately crown our champion.

Congratulations to the 2022 DP World Tour Championship Winner, Jon Rahm and the 2022 DP World Tour Rankings Champion Rory McIlroy.

CONTENTS

FEATURES

24 TOMMY FLEETWOOD

We catch up with the UAE fan favourite after the opening of his new academy at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

28 EDDIE PEPPERELL

The straight-talking Englishman gives us the lowdown on his return to form and his thoughts on LIV Golf.

30

ANDREW COLTART

The former Commercial Bank Qatar Masters champion on life in front of the camera as a pundit and commentator.

34 CLAUDE HARMON III

The world famous coach speaks out on LIV Golf, the Ryder Cup and McIlroy’s Major hopes for 2023.

36 YAS ACRES

If you’ve not checked out the UAE’s newest course yet, why not?

38 TRUMP WINS BIG

After winning ‘UAE’s Best Course’ at the World Golf Awards we take a look at what makes Trump International Golf Club, Dubai so special.

40

FALDO FRESH

We took a trip to Emirates Golf Club’s Faldo Course to play their new 13th hole - how will it compare to its predecessor?

44

ELS CLUBDUBAI’S DIAMOND

Recently recognised as ‘Dubai’s Best Course’ by the World Golf Awards, General Manager Tom Rourke lets us in on the secret behind the club’s success.

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46 JENNY HENNESSY

The Chicks With Sticks Founder takes a look at why the Middle East is one of the leading lights for supporting women’s golf.

47 PETE COWEN

The Master PGA Professional looks back on another thrilling DP World Tour Championship and makes an arguement for making it a full field event.

Ever wondered why your game is so incostisent? Pete Cowen explains all while giving us some quick fixes.

56 PRICE ME UP SCOTTY

49 DAVID HOWELL

Jamie Coughlin, PGA Professional at Topgolf Dubai, talks us through which club to use to score those all-important points at Topgolf.

The Englishman shares his honest thoughts on the changes to the Official World Golf Ranking system and reveals

now is the best time to be a professional golfer.

Henry Byrne, DP World Tour’s Scotty Cameron Representative in Dubai, revelas the mesmering

collectable Scotty Cameron putters

Iwrote last in my last column that DP World Tour Championship month was my favourite time of the year and for good reason. I’ve only witnessed the tournament five times in the flesh, but last month’s edition was arguably the greatest one I’ve been to.

After a turbulent year for the DP World Tour with the constant threat of LIV Golf trying to lure their players away, what better way to end the season than Europe’s best two players – Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm – both leaving Jumeirah Golf Estates with silverware. Aside from that, the leaderboard was absolutely STACKED with quality; Tyrrell Hatton, Alex Noren, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood and Rasmus Højgaard all finished inside the top seven along with Rahm and McIlroy. The DP World Tour could not have asked for a better way to finish the year and Luke Donald, who was keeping a watchful eye over Ryder Cup hopefuls, must have been jumping with excitement as Europe’s best put on show over the Earth course.

WORLD RANKING ISSUES

Just as we were writing our final round wrap ups in the media centre, Rahm entered to do his champion’s press conference and he was shocked, but not surprised, to learn that his win would not move him up from fifth in the Official World Golf Ranking. What’s more, the Spaniard has only risen up one place in the last two months despite his results reading T2, 1, T4, 1! To add insult to injury, the RSM Classic, which was

played the same week as the fifth Rolex Series event of the season, had 16 more World Ranking points for champion Adam Svennson despite the field not having one player in top 25 of the World Ranking! I don’t pretend to be an expert on the recent World Ranking changes but how can that be fair?

The DP World Tour Championship is an infinitely harder event to win than the RSM Classic despite the field being limited because of the stars playing. It seems quite obvious that an event with a bucket load of the world’s best players deserves more World Ranking points than an event that doesn’t. Clearly the top dogs at the OWGR don’t see it that way but some changes will definitely need to be made after a host of players expressed their disappointment in Dubai.

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

Worldwide Golf HQ is now in overdrive as we push on with getting the next magazine finished before we head off on our Christmas holidays! If this year has been anything to go by, no doubt we will have to make a few late changes or a free up extra space to accommodate the latest on or indeed off course drama that we’ve become so accustomed to in 2022.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and thank you for your continued support of Worldwide Golf. Printed

Thomas Wragg

by: Raidy,

Stuart Taylor - General Manager Prosports

COURSE

Pictures

Another end to the season, another thrilling DP World Tour Championship right here in Dubai. And what better way to finish the 50th year of the DP World Tour than to have two European heavyweights walk away with silverware after a dramatic four days on the Earth course.

Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy shared the spoils as the Spaniard won the DP World Tour Championship, while the World Number One ended the season at the top of the DP World Tour Rankings in Partnership with Rolex for a fourth time.

Rahm carded a five under par round of 67 to finish two strokes clear of a world-class field at the 2022 DP World Tour season-ending event, winning the DP World Tour Championship for a third time and securing a record fifth Rolex Series title.

McIlroy went into the week at Jumeriah Golf Estates with one hand on the Harry Vardon Trophy but faced stiff competition from three-time DP World Tour winner Ryan Fox and U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick who were bidding to become European Number One for the first time.

A four under par final round saw McIlroy finish in fourth place on 16 under par, etching his name on the Harry Vardon Trophy once again and joining England’s Peter Oosterhuis as a four-time winner of the prestigious title. The victory ended a remarkable year for the Northern Irishman, who became the second player in history to win both the DP World Tour Rankings and the PGA TOUR’s FedEx Cup in the same season.

RECORD CROWDS

The DP World Tour Championship welcomed record-breaking crowds this year with 68,491 fans passing through the gates to witness the top 50 players of the Rankings in action. General admission tickets for the weekend also sold out for the very first time!

LADIES DAY

The third round was a celebration of women with Ladies Day offering free drinks, glitter face painting, ladies golf clinincs and whole lot more! There was also a Best Dressed competition which was hosted by Suited & Booted Dubai and judged by our columnist Jenny Hennessy.

FAMILY DAY

Sunday’s dedicated family day saw kids entertained throughout the final round with a magician, golf clinics, live music from the Ark Angelz, a singing princess, golf themed arts and crafts, a bouncy castle and face painting. The tournament themed ice lollies also went down a treat!

ROOM WITH A VIEW

The event saw the launch of the inaugural A Stay On The Green by Hilton. Consisting of a fully-equipped Hilton bedroom and separate hospitality lounge, A Stay On The Green allowed guests to get up close to the action on course whilst enjoying VIP hospitality by Hilton.

G4D TOUR

Rasmus Lia, the youngest player on the G4D Tour, became the fourth different champion of the inaugural G4D Tour season after claiming the Tour Series Finale @ DP World Tour Championship on the Earth course. The Swede carded four birdies on a three under par back nine in the final round to clinch victory with a three over par total, with Chris Biggins and Kurtis Barkley in a share of second place at seven over.

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC

European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald kept a close on hopefuls for next year’s biennial showpiece while also entertaining fans in the Championship Village with a live Q&A on the stage.

EARTH LOUNGE

Offering stunning views of the 16th green, the Earth Lounge was a sure-fire hit throughout the week with fans flocking to the premium experience hotspot to enjoy unlimited F&B and five-star hospitality.

FUN FOR ALL

The Championship Village was jam-packed with fans and great entertainment as punters took on sports challenges and free golf lessons while enjoying a wide range of delicious F&B and live entertainment from local acts and a magician.

VOLUNTEERS

A record number of volunteers turned out for this year’s tournament with European Tour group CEO Keith Pelley thanking them for their service during the prize presentation on Sunday.

TRICK SHOT BOYS

The Golf Trick Shot Boys were up to their usual shenanigans on the driving range as the duo wowed the crowds with old favourites and plenty of fresh new tricks that had to be seen to be believed!

FAMOUS FACES

With the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and FIFA World Cup on the same weekend there were plenty of famous faces in town who make a trip to the golf. F1 stars Carlos Sainz and Zak Brown played in the Pro-Am while Liverpool FC legend Jamie Carragher took in the action during the final round.

AERIAL ADVENTURE

Emirates Airlines and the UK’s Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, performed a spectacular flypast in the skies above Jumeirah Golf Estates ahead of the final tee time on the first day of the tournament.

RACE TO DUBAI RETURNS

With the support of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, the DP World Tour Rankings has reverted back to the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex for the 2023 season and beyond.

The Race to Dubai is, of course, a familiar name having previously been the title of the points-based ranking from 2009 until 2021. It was renamed the DP World Tour Rankings in Partnership with Rolex for the 2022 season, when DP World became the title partner of the European Tour group’s main Tour.

This season, the leading eight players will share an increased bonus pool of $6million

as part of an overall $144.2million prize fund across a minimum of 39 tournaments in 26 countries on the DP World Tour’s 2023 global schedule.

Speaking about the new agreement Guy Kinnings, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Commercial Officer of the DP World Tour, said: “The Race to Dubai is a strong narrative for us, reflecting our season-long contest which builds towards the final Rolex Series event of the year in Dubai, our DP World Tour Championship, where we crown our Number One player. We are therefore pleased to be bringing it back with the support of Rolex and

today’s announcement further cements the long-standing relationship between the DP World Tour and the Emirate of Dubai – a relationship that dates back to the first staging of the Dubai Desert Classic in 1989.

“Our partnership continues to drive significant exposure for Dubai and its leading businesses on a global scale. The 2023 DP World Tour season promises to be one of our most exciting yet, with a record prize fund on offer. We look forward to seeing which player earns the right to be named the Race to Dubai champion at the DP World Tour Championship next November.”

PIETERS SET TO DEFEND FALCON TROPHY

Defending champion Thomas Pieters will be joined at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Island by former winners Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry for the 18th edition of the opening Rolex Series event of the 2023 DP World Tour season, from January 19-22.

Pieters became the first Belgian to win a Rolex Series event after outlasting a

star-studded field in challenging breezy conditions at Yas Links, signing for a level par 72 and a ten under total, to earn him the coveted Falcon Trophy and a sixth victory on the DP World Tour.

“I’m looking forward to coming back to Yas Island for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship,” said Pieters. “Winning a Rolex Series event gave me a lot of confidence

going into the 2022 season, knowing you can match it with the best in the world is huge, and it’s always a great feeling to come back as defending champion to any tournament.”

Abu Dhabi Sports Council has confirmed free general admission tickets for all tournament days, giving fans in the UAE the opportunity to witness the world class field in person for no cost.

TOO GOOD TO MISS

TEAMS UNVEILED FOR HERO CUP IN ABU DHABI

European Ryder Cup Captain Luke

Donald has included an exciting mix of Ryder Cup stars, Major Champions and the most promising young players in world golf, to make up the Continental Europe and Great Britain and Ireland teams for next month’s Hero Cup in Abu Dhabi from January 13-15.

In consultation with the respective Hero Cup Captains Tommy Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari, who will both compete as playing Captains, Donald confirmed the teams for the match play contest at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, with one remaining position for each team to be allocated at the conclusion of the DP World Tour calendar year.

Donald and Molinari have constructed a strong mix of proven winners with Sweden’s Alex Noren and Belgium’s Thomas Pieters bringing Ryder Cup experience to the Continental Europe ranks one week before the Belgian defends his Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship title at Yas Links.

Molinari’s team will be completed by a host of exciting young players including Austrian Sepp Straka, who won his maiden PGA TOUR title at The Honda Classic in 2022, three-time DP World Tour winner Rasmus Højgaard, two-time winner Victor Perez and Adrian Meronk, who became the first Polish player to win on the DP World Tour when he claimed the 2022 Horizon Irish Open.

Belgium’s Thomas Detry has also enjoyed a strong start to his rookie PGA TOUR season finishing in the top-12 in three of the five events played – including second place in the Butterfield Bermuda Championship – and has six top-15 finishes on the DP World Tour. He is joined by three-time DP World Tour winner Guido Migliozzi, who claimed the biggest victory of his career in

September at the Cazoo Open de France.

The Great Britain and Ireland team, led by two-time Ryder Cup player Fleetwood, boasts 2019 Open Champion Shane Lowry, and four-time Rolex Series winner Tyrrell Hatton amongst its ranks.

They will be joined by a stream of Ryder Cup hopefuls including Irishman Séamus Power, who has enjoyed a stunning start to the 2023 PGA TOUR season and currently leads the FedEx Cup Standings, and DP World Tour winners Ewen Ferguson, Robert MacIntyre, Callum Shinkwin, Jordan Smith and Matt Wallace.

Donald, the 2023 European Ryder Cup Captain, said: “Having worked closely with Tommy and Fran on building the two teams, I’m delighted with the mix of players who will be on show at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in January.

“We all thought it was important to combine experience and youthfulness and I think we have found that balance with a mixture of Major Champions and Ryder Cup players, alongside guys who are hoping to secure a spot in Rome next year.”

Molinari, the Continental Europe Captain

and 2018 Open Champion, said: “Our team is packed full of exciting players who all have the attributes to excel in a match play contest and I’m excited to lead them into the Hero Cup next year.

“Some of our younger players have already shown incredible maturity in high-pressured situations and proved they can perform in big moments, so giving them the opportunity to compete on this stage alongside the likes of Alex Noren and Thomas Pieters will be really important at the beginning of what could be a big year for them.”

Fleetwood, who combined with Molinari to collect four points from four matches at the 2018 Ryder Cup in France, said: “I am really pleased with the players who will form the Great Britain and Ireland team next year.

“Having the experience of Shane and Tyrrell will be invaluable for the rest of the team in a match play environment but I think we are really strong throughout the team. We have proven winners in some of the biggest DP World Tour events and it will be great to have Séámus with us following his excellent start to the season in America.”

HERE TO

TOMMYFLEETWOOD

Winning a first DP World Tour title in three years, chartering a plane to Dubai and unveiling a brand new academy, all in the space of 24 hours. It’s fair to say Tommy Fleetwood’s start to DP World Tour Championship week was a bit of a whirlwind!

Let’s start with that victory at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, a tournament the 2017 Race to Dubai champion was defending from 2019 after a series of postponements due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Fleetwood arrived back in Sun City without a victory since his last trip there but was optimistic he could end the drought at a venue he had only finished outside the top 20 on one occasion. He duly delivered, shooting a five under par 67 to finish on 11 under, one ahead of Ryan Fox, to make a welcome return to the winner’s circle. However, the week could have been very different had it not been for an ‘amazing’ doctor.

“It was touch and go on Thursday morning (whether I would play), then Saturday when we were up early (to finish the second round) I felt like I had nothing in me, I was really poorly again,” said Fleetwood.

“The doctor was amazing. I just gave his little son the winning golf ball. Without him there was not a chance on Thursday I’d have played.

“I already had so many amazing memories of that place, such a great connection to it and it was such a lovely feeling coming down the back nine with a chance. You draw on the good memories that you have round somewhere you’ve won. I felt good all day.”

DP World Golf Performance Centre at Jumeirah Golf Estates, home to the region’s first ever Tommy Fleetwood Academy.

The academy, which builds on DP World’s commitment to growing grassroots golf in the region, is Fleetwood’s second having opened his first academy in Southport in 2018 at Formby Hall where he learnt the game under the instruction of his first coach, Norman Marshal.

The success of the Southport academy, coupled with Fleetwood’s passion to get kids into the game, then led to DP World

“The goal is to get as many people playing the game of golf as possible,” he said. “There’s a lot of amazing things that the game of golf does. There’s a lot of amazing things it’s done for me. And I want to bring that to as many people as possible.

“I know DP World would love more local people, as many local people as possible to play. The ultimate goal is to have somebody from the academy winning on the DP World Tour. That would be absolutely amazing if we could do that, and that’s what we’ll continue to strive to do.

“But from whether the dream is to win Majors or whether the dream is to, you know,

With barely a minute to celebrate his return to the winner’s circle, Fleetwood hopped on a plane to Dubai to celebrate the opening of the

and Dubai Golf joining forces to launch both the academy and the DP World Golf Performance Centre.

Fleetwood launched the academy during DP World Tour Championship week

The Englishman successfully defended his title at the NedBank Golf Challenge

be a dentist, I don’t really care. I do think that the academy and the game of golf can help you in so many ways achieve other things in life.”

Replacing Pete Cowen’s academy at the home of the DP World Tour Championship will be no easy task given his place at the top table of world class coaches in the game, but Fleetwood is keen to get across his thinking of how to play the game to the academy’s latest recruits.”

“I’ve got things right and I’ve got a few things wrong, so I’m always trying to improve myself and I want to take those beliefs and pass them on my kids or children at the academy,” he said. “Throughout my time, I’ve been a massive believer of the fundamentals of the game; grip, set up and takeaway. If you can get the fundamentals right it allows you to have your own swing and from that point you can be an artist with the golf club – I think keeping people as creative as possible, using their minds, painting pictures and having a vision is important.

“Overall, we want to challenge them to their very limit of their abilities but give them the confidence they can reach that limit and not be afraid to fail on any given day. Failure is just another attempt, we want to keep them as positive as possible and give them the confidence to go out and do that.”

With Fleetwood travelling the world and playing on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, it remains to be seen how often he will visit the academy, but we expect he could be a frequent visitor after he confirmed a

long running rumour – he is now a Dubai resident.

“Yeah, I am a resident in the UAE,” he said. “My family lives here now, kids go to school here. Dubai is where normal life is for us at this time. So that’s been great and we’ve settled in really well. Everybody’s been great.

“I’m not a coach. I’m a teammate. We have an amazing team of coaches that will be very involved in the day-to-day life of the academy, and they run it from that end.

PASSING ON WISDOM

“But as much involvement as I can have and be around, and that is great. And to bring what I continually learn from being out here, from getting to play golf with my kids and friends and my dad and things like that, and anything I think I can bring to help people push themselves better in life through the academy is what I want to do.”

There’s also the added bonus of getting to play the Earth course on a regular basis.

“I sneak out all the time to play, I love playing golf,” he added. “A lot of people in the golf industry try to play golf as a ‘game’ but it’s one of the hardest things to do as we’re trying to get better all the time, always looking for that extra edge but actually keeping it as a game and enjoying playing it and realising why you took up in the first place is so important so I’m always trying to do that.”

After a strong end to the season with a win in South Africa and share of fifth at the DP World Tour Championship, Fleetwood now turns his attentions to Tiger Woods’

Hero Challenge before starting the new year with a flurry of events in the Middle East, including a trip to Abu Dhabi Golf Club for the Hero Cup, a reimagined Seve Trophy.

The 31-year-old will Captain the Great Britain and Ireland team as they go headto-head against Francesco Molinari’s Continental Europe side with both captains both playing in the event as well. Molinari and Fleetwood famously forged a formidable partnership for Europe in the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in Paris, winning all four of their matches together to earn the nickname ‘Moliwood’.

“Fran and I obviously get on very well so I am sure it will feel a little strange at first being opposing Captains, but I think the Hero Cup is a fantastic way for players to compete in team match play, which is something both of us have always relished,” Fleetwood explained.

“Abu Dhabi has been pretty good to me over the years so hopefully that will continue in January and I look forward to working closely with Fran and Luke, as well as all the players.”

It will be the first taste of captaincy for Fleetwood in a professional capacity and one that seems to make perfect sense. He may not come across as the one of the more vocal players on Tour, but his passion for the game is clear to see and was highlighted once again when he had a tear in his eye after the win in South Africa.

Mix that with his eagerness to help others and you have yourself not only a Hero Cup Captain, but a future Ryder Cup Captain.

The TWITTER KING

Golf was a game packed full of characters until the money and management made it a much more serious game. Like all sports, professional athletes can generate more income away from their profession, so safeguarding any faux pas that could cost individuals millions or worse, their careers, understandably has culled the characters in sport.

Thankfully there are a few gems that aren’t worried about the backlash from being outspoken and there’s no one better right now than Eddie Pepperell on the DP World Tour for letting his thoughts be known.

The 31 year old enjoyed a stellar season in 2018, winning in Qatar and later securing the British Masters at Walton Health. The Englishman’s star was on the rise but form in this game is a fickle thing and that dip in form, mixed with a pandemic, has left Eddie unable to regain that winning formula he found in 2018. However, things are on the up for the golf’s ‘Twitter King’ having started working with Alan Thompson, Tommy Fleetwood’s old coach. We caught up with Pepperell at last month’s DP World Tour Championship to get his thoughts on several hot topics.

Having won the Qatar Masters in 2018 would you say your game is suited to the Middle East courses?

No, not really. I’ve historically been pretty bad in the desert other than Qatar. I think that is a little bit different kind of course. Doha is quite wide and It’s windy. I mean, the fairways themselves aren’t necessarily wide, but the place feels wide because there are no trees and I’ve swung better off the tee on those types of courses. But on the hole in the desert, I’ve not played very well. I think there are several reasons, and the time of year doesn’t help. Often the events are either the beginning or the end of the season. Usually, I get a little rusty coming off the winter break and just not in sync with the game. Then at the end of the year, we come to the Earth course which is just too long for me. I think it really favours the long hitters there which obviously I’m not.

You have picked up some solid results in 2022, where has the change in form derived from?

Well, I’ve improved my swing a lot. I think I’ve improved technically from the middle part of the year. I spent time with two different coaches this year. One at the start of the year who helped me, Alan Thompson who worked with Tommy Fleetwood over the years. Then I went back to an old coach, Simon Shanks, not the best name for a coach I know, who I worked with in 2018 and 2019.

Was it the mental or technical aspect of the game you’ve worked on?

Mechanically I was not in a great place. It was a very simple thing that was going wrong with my swing, it was just too short, and I really had a hard time completing my backswing. That’s been the primary focus, trying to get a full backswing, a pivot, and then things have progressed. Things have felt a bit easier from there and it allows me to play with my flights which are idiosyncratic.

Has the fuller swing enabled you to pick up more distance off the tee?

I think there’s potential for a bit more speed and swing-wise I’m not as long as I used to be. I think you see it with a lot of guys who get older, they lose little bit of range.

Do you think it’s going to be a quieter year politically in 2023?

The golf has been great this year, with good stories on both tours. But some good stories on have gone unnoticed due to the drama of LIV Golf. There will always be rumours of players joining LIV, but most have signed a two-year contract, so 2023 should really be about the golf and not the players.

Do you think golf needs changing in any way?

A lot of stuff has been tried. No one has been more forward-thinking than the DP World Tour, Keith Pelley especially. You look at some of the innovations that he’s tried. I was part of some of it, such as the Golf Sixes and the Belgium Knockout. We’ve tried lots in this game and I just think, every sport has its structure, its formula. Eighteen holes of golf is always going to take four and a half hours or there or thereabouts. That’s just the nature of the sport. I mean, if you don’t like it, don’t play it. Don’t watch it. There are plenty of people who don’t and there are plenty of people who do. If you changed every sport just to fit the same TV formula, you would end up with every sport being the same.

Should golf try to emulate Twenty20 cricket to widen the appeal?

Twenty20 has obviously added an element to the game but at the same time damaged test match cricket, which some people will always prefer. I’m not saying it’s right or wrong, but I would say there are differences between the structure of golf and cricket. Golf has become more accessible and popular over the last few years. There is a lot more money in the professional game right now and that will draw a new audience, but the amount LIV Golf is spending is not healthy for the sport. As people struggle to pay their mortgages and heating bills, is it fair to see multi-millionaire sign $100 million plus contracts?

How did a young Scotsman manage to cope with playing in the Middle East heat?

I always loved the heat because it’s so cold in Scotland. I was just grateful for the little bit of warmth and the sun was never a problem. I first started playing on the Australasian Tour where the doctor would come in and check players’ temperatures as we were out playing in 40 plus degrees.

I was stick thin and I didn’t have an awful lot of surface area, so I never lost too much fluid to perspiration. I seem to handle it well. I just enjoyed the travel in those days and it paid off to what happened later in my career. But in those days, everything was just fun, just a ride and just enjoying the whole experience.

Were you surprised to win the 1998 Qatar Masters?

I had won the Scottish Professional Championships in ‘94 and the same year went on to win the Australian PGA Championship. I loved going to Australia and made some great friends out there during those years. I returned to Australia again in the winter of ‘97-’98 and played well. I was only with my fiancée at the time, and we pretty much stayed the whole winter and just came back for Christmas.

I won their PGA Championship for the second time along with the Australian Order of Merit. So, when I arrived in Qatar the graph was trending in a great direction.

I was playing well and those months in Australia was idea preparation for the heat plus how to win.

The following year you made the Ryder Cup and teed it up against Tiger, what was that like?

My form was still trending in the right direction, and I’d fought hard to try and qualify for Mark James’ team, but I ended up managing to get a pick. I think I finished 12th on the Order of Merit that year, so was in a good place. I was slightly in awe at Brookline as the ‘War on the Shore’ over in Kiawah Island had certainly helped lift the Ryder Cup atmosphere and crowd numbers in America. As things unfolded for me, I didn’t get a chance to play in any of the matches until Sunday, at which point, then I’m paired with Tiger. It was a win-win situation because nobody’s expecting you to win but over 18 holes, there’s always a possibility. Taking Tiger on over four rounds would have been highly improbable, but that’s the great things about Ryder Cup singles, anything can happy.

Tiger won 3&2 but what an experience, I was buzzing.

After the Ryder Cup what happened?

That was a strange time, I had embarked on a mission to improve, as we all do. I had never broken into the top 50 on the World Ranking and I was desperate to make the next Ryder Cup but not as a pick. So, I started to work to try and build a more consistent swing. I had seen what David Leadbetter had done with Faldo and thought that was the path to go down. My swing was starting to look better on the range, but I couldn’t feel the club face and now the ball was going in all directions on the course. I was just chasing reliability so I could consistently perform at a higher

In 1998 Andrew Coltart won the first Qatar Masters by two shots.

1999 Ryder Cup at Brookline Coltart took on Tiger Woods in the Sunday singles.

level for longer. Ultimately, it didn’t work out as I had planned. My confidence started to diminish, and my game started to deteriorate.

How did the swing change effect things on and off the course?

The enjoyment starts to disappear from the game. I was working almost day and night if it was possible, through the winter, the rain, the wind, the horrible conditions, hitting and collecting muddy practice balls just trying to get myself back into shape, but I was gradually just getting worse and worse. I was like your boss saying: “Sorry but we’re giving you a demotion.” So, you suck it up, work even harder just to be told you are getting pushed further down the pecking order. I defy anybody who says that getting a demotion every year is enjoyable, it’s simply not. I had little faith in my golf swing and little faith in where the golf ball was going. My confidence was disappearing quite sharply. Despite spending my best efforts, I couldn’t sustain my prior performance levels.

Looking back, what would you have done differently?

When I was a kid playing golf, I would have one or two swing thoughts. When I lost my way, I had swing thoughts and 150 questions all due to the fact I was trying to build a swing that wasn’t my own. The Faldo/Leadbetter formula obviously worked for them, but everyone differs physically and mechanically. So, work with what you have got and refine it best you can. If you hit a bad shot, just move on and focus the next shot with a positive mindset. This is how the great players today handle

things so well. Just look at the leading players bounce back statistics.

Talking of the modern game, when did you see things start to change?

Tiger brought about the change in direction and courses were changing to cope with the power game. Tournament yardages were increasing by the week and the rough was getting thicker. Ironically if you were long and wild off the tee you could end up with a better lie than if you had just rolled off the fairway. This was all happening at a time I was having my own swing battles and I just struggled to compete.

At what point did you decide to pack up the clubs and pick up a microphone?

Some of my friends and colleagues had gone down that path but by this time I was battling it out on the Challenge Tour, still dreaming of getting back on the main Tours. I was still grafting and still sacrificing time away from the family. Now, I was playing in an environment where I knew nobody and increasingly more detached. I remember grinding away on a driving range at Archerfield and I got a phone call from a friend at SKY, and he said, “Would you be interested in doing any TV stuff?” My wife and I had not discussed it, but thank God, I listened to what she said. I phoned her up straight away and she said: “Do it! If you don’t take it someone else will.”

How were things at home during those later years on Tour?

My wife had seen her husband gradually

get broken by the game he loved so much. Although it never came between us, it was an uncomfortable time for us. We had young kids and we wanted to look after them. It’s painful being away from your family on Tour and when you miss a cut you are another two grand out of pocket.

So, I guess you got straight back on to your friend at SKY?

Yes, I was back on and was fully committed to the shift and stopped playing pretty much straight away. I was a little nervous at first, but I really enjoyed the fresh challenge and I was working with a great bunch of professionals that quickly put my mind at rest.

What was it like to still be associated with the professional game?

This is my 11th year with SKY and I’ve loved every minute. I’m still attached to a game that I used to love playing but now I don’t have to worry about holing putts on a Friday afternoon.

Having ridden the professional rollercoaster, how did that set you up as a leading commentator?

Hopefully the audience enjoys what I have to say. Having been close to the top of the game while experiencing the dark days has equipped me to understand what some of the players are going through from the complete spectrum of the successful players to the ones that are really struggling that you don’t see. You can, sort of in effect, live in their shoes and try and try to convey those feelings to the people who are watching.

Coltart has stalked the fairways for SKY Sports since 2011.

YAS ACRES GOLF

If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of playing the delightful Yas Acres Golf & Country Club in Abu Dhabi, we implore you to do so over the festive season when the weather is perfect for golf.

Not that the usual seasonal temperature challenges apply with this spectacular 9-hole championship layout on Yas Island. It’s fully floodlit, meaning even in the summer when the mercury rises to eye watering levels, you can beat the heat with an early morning or evening round.

“The floodlights on the course and practice areas really make Yas

Acres stand out from the crowd,” says Cluster Club Manager, Julian Danby. “The championship length 9-hole course measures 3,700 yard off the back tee and is playable day or night, 7 days a week. “

The Fry/Straka designed course boasts generously wide fairways, fast undulating greens, deep greenside bunkers and large surrounds with tricky run offs while the clever course design means that Yas Acres is very playable as well as challenging.

There’s a lake and stream system that flows throughout the entire course, supporting native desert

plants and vegetation which all adds to the impressive visage and familyfriendly ambience of the place.

“Yas Acres also has the longest driving range in Abu Dhabi,’ continues Danby. “Two chipping greens, two practice bunkers and USGA approved putting greens; a true bucket list golf experience!”

Away from the golf course, Yas Acres offers the quintessential Country Club experience. Additional leisure activities include a large outdoor swimming pool, state of the art gym and four Padel courts. There are also plentiful F&B options with Yas Acres Bakers Club, Roots Bar & Kitchen all day dining, Acres Grill House with live jazz band and

The Black Room cigar and cocktail lounge.

We had the pleasure of playing the course last month and it was truly a joy to tee off as the sun was going down with a cool breeze blowing in off the Arabian Gulf before the floodlights came on and provided an exhilarating night golf experience by the sea that just doesn’t exist anywhere else in the UAE.

Keep an eye on the club’s social media channels @yasacresgolfcc or check out all the latest offers and promotions on the Viya App.

For more information, please visit: www.viyagolf.com/yasacres/

UAE’S NO.1

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB, DUBAI

With the golfing season in the Middle East well and truly in the swing of things, Trump International Golf Club, Dubai has once again been recognised as one of the world’s best places to play the game after the club’s links-style Championship course picked up ‘UAE’s Best Course’ at the recently held World Golf Awards.

Routed on over 500 acres and forged from what was previously flat and barren desert, the Gil Hanse-designed track has quickly become one of Dubai’s favourite courses since opening its doors in 2017 thanks to the stern but fair test it offers along with unrivalled hospitality from the club’s staff.

“We’re delighted to win this award, it’s a testament to the great job the team does,” said Casper Schonfeldt, General Manager.

“With the golf industry rapidly expanding in

the region, we strive to consistently provide new features and value adds to our members and guests whilst maintaining our high standards of quality to stay ahead of the game.”

The latest win at the World Golf Awards comes off the back of the club’s success at the 2021 ceremony where their PAR 3 course was crowned ‘‘World’s Best Par 3 Course’, cementing its place as one of the world’s premium golf properties.

Complementing the extraordinary golf courses and facilities, the crescent-shaped 30,000 square foot clubhouse is home to multiple dining venues serving up authentic Italian and British Pub Grub, while international fast food favourites can be obtained from the Caddy Shack. For the connoisseurs there’s a fantastic cigar lounge offering world class premium cigars and beverages. What’s more, they now have two world class short game and practice areas along with their luxurious signature infinity pool with panoramic views over the 9th and 18th holes and fitness centre.

LIMITED 2023 MEMBERSHIPS

You’ll not be surprised to learn that 2023 membership is extremely limited but there is still time to secure your luxury golf experience ahead of the new year. As well as getting to play the two Gil-Hanse designed courses throughout the week, you’ll also get access to the leisure facilities and Dubai’s only TrackMan driving range, which now supports virtual play at courses around the world with updated data points and so much more.

New Year’s Eve in Dubai is a city-wide celebration with venues up and down the country offering everything from all you can eat brunches to fine dining a la carte options with live entertainment - Trump International Golf Club, Dubai is no different.

The club will celebrate the welcoming of the new year along with their win at the World Golf Awards in style by throwing a NYE party, which includes four hours of unlimited beverages coupled with an international buffet and a DJ that will keep you dancing well beyond midnight!

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB, DUBAI

NEW LOOK

By Will Kent

The Faldo Course at Emirates Golf Club remains one of Dubai’s most played tracks, with the attraction of night golf luring in players from all over the globe. Playing a round under the floodlights with the Dubai skyline in the background is on the bucket list of many golfers. Now, the course homes a new challenge with the 13th hole having recently undertaken a big change.

Originally a 589-yard par five over water upon course opening, this hole has undergone changes throughout time to keep the course fresh and exciting. It then transitioned into a driveable par four at

275 yards which removed the daunting water infront of the tee box. The alteration turned the hole from a thought-provoking par five into one of the easiest par fours on the course, and now there’s been a further change.

“We always felt like we wanted to have a little bit more of a challenge,” said Emirates Golf Club head pro Alastair Brown. “We’ve made it more into 350 yard par four again depending on the tees used. It’s more of a drive and a full shot, rather than a drive and a chip shot.”

By lengthening this hole by over 50 yards, it’s now transitioned back into tee shot that

requires extra consideration. At the previous yardage of 275 yards, it was always tempting to go for the green with driver, even for higher handicap players. It remains driveable for the big hitter, but for nearly every player it’s now a definite two-shotter.

“It still would be a driver hole for mid handicappers,” Brown added. “Drive and possibly a seven, eight iron. There are some good players who will still be knocking it on from here.

“You’d like to get your drive down there 270 yards. Cruise one down there and knock a nice little sand wedge in. It remains a scoreable hole.”

Despite the considerable increase in yardage, players have instead been treated to the removal of the large bunker down the right-hand side of the fairway. This will be music to the ears of the right-handers who slice the ball as a wayward shot will no longer be punished with a sandy lie.

These changes have helped introduce a completely new challenge to the back nine of the Faldo Course. Well-positioned tee shots are still rewarded with a relatively short approach into the putting surface. When I played alongside Brown for this piece, I hit a nice tee shot down the left to leave myself a tricky 100-yard shot in over one of the greenside bunkers. He ended up walking off with a solid par while I made a bogey, proving that it’s not as easy as it once was – or perhaps a sign I need to be heading back to see him again for a lesson!

Green

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

STEPHEN PAYNE

THE TRACK, MEYDAN’S NEW DIRECTOR OF GOLF

THE TRACK, MEYDAN RECENTLY WELCOMED STEPHEN PAYNE AS THEIR NEW DIRECTOR OF GOLF TO THE PROPERTY AS THEY LOOK TO CONTINUE THEIR REPUTATION AS ONE OF THE MOST WELCOMING COURSES IN THE REGION. PAYNE HAS VAST EXPERIENCE AT GOLF CLUBS IN THE UAE HAVING FIRST ARRIVED IN THE COUNTRY BACK IN 2013 TO WORK AT SAADIYAT BEACH GOLF CLUB.

Since then, the Englishman has gone on to enjoy stints at other Troon-managed properties such as Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Montgomerie Golf Club Dubai. Now with the current playing season well under way in the Middle East, Payne spoke to Worldwide Golf about all the exciting plans for his new club.

ON JOINING THE TRACK, MEYDAN

I’m very excited to join the team here. I’ve been in the region for nine years, and this is a very exciting property. With a nine-hole facility here the key USP is the night golf. You can get tee times up to 8.50pm and play until 11pm. You don’t need the daylight to get your golfing fix. As well as the night golf, the other main attraction here is the shorter round of golf. If you’re tight for time you can get out and get your golf done in around two hours. The practice facility, the driving range and chipping green are all attractions here at Meydan as well.

PLANS FOR THE CLUB

With the World Cup on, sport is looking like it could continue to boom throughout the UAE even beyond the conclusion of the

tournament. We are looking to gain on that and are looking forward to welcoming all of our golfers. We have some exciting projects that we are creating on the academy side, such as the renovation works to our kiosk to create an F&B element.

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS

We’ve got a few competitions in the pipeline throughout the season that we are excited about as well. We have the return on the The Track Meydan Men’s Open on December 10-11 which is an Order of Merit event supported by the EGF so we’re very excited about that to showcase the facility.

COURSE CONDITION

The agronomy team put a lot of work in during the summer months. Like many courses in the region, renovation was work done then and out the way. During that time, we hollow cored the greens to really help create the great playing surfaces throughout the season. Minimal more work will be done from now up until the end of May to ensure our golfers enjoy the best course possible.

The Els Club

the team do. The course has always had a fantastic reputation for its course condition and over the last 12 months we have made many enhancements to take this to the next level. This has included purchasing a considerable amount of new state of the art agronomy equipment, new Club Car golf cart fleet, practice facility shading and surface enhancements, detailed analysis to improve the irrigation system to have the golf course playing firmer and faster as per the original design from Ernie Els as an inland links course design, clearing out and refreshing all landscaping areas and conducting a full review of everything that we do. We are incredibly proud of the entire Els Club team winning this award recognising their hard work, passion, and consistency.

Can you give us an insight into the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to get the course in such pristine condition?

Ernie Els with his design and construction team working alongside Troon Golf have delivered an incredible golf course design and destination. The contours, green shapes and overall layout is superb with every hole having its own character. The infrastructure behind the scenes with the course having its own water treatment plant to irrigate the golf course, careful consideration in sustainability measures and guest journey plays a massive part in setting The Els Club as Dubai’s Best Golf Course. The agronomy teams dedication, knowledge, attention to detail and incredible work ethic that often does its job behind the scenes with little fanfare. The team works from early morning until late in the afternoon to keep each and every hole, practice facilities, landscaping areas in the best condition possible. Our associates at the course take huge pride in their work and always look at the course through the eyes of those who are playing it. They know that golfers want perfect conditions all year round from when they arrive to putting out on the final green, and they do everything they can to make that happen. It’s not an easy job, but it’s one that our team takes a lot of pride in.

Has the club received a message from Ernie on winning the award?

“Congrats to everyone at The Els Club, Dubai voted ‘Best Golf Course in Dubai’ at the 9th World Golf Awards this week. A fantastic team effort! Keep up the great work everyone” -Ernie Els

It was so motivating and inspirational to see a message coming from the legend himself, Ernie Els. This just goes to show that no matter how big or small your dreams are, if you have the passion and determination to pursue them, you will achieve great things. We all aspire to be like Ernie Els one day, and his message is a great reminder of what it takes to be successful. Thank you, Ernie, for your kind words and support!

We can imagine the course has been quite busy over the last month or so with many fans out in Dubai for the FIFA World Cup – what are current course conditions like and what challenges do you face when you are so busy?

There is no doubt that Dubai is the perfect location for both residents and visiting football fans to enjoy the FIFA World Cup. The close proximity to Qatar makes it the ideal base from which to fly over and support your favourite team, and with the excellent football coverage and fantastic winter climate, Dubai is the perfect place to watch all the action unfold.

The Els Club has been very busy over the past few months with additional tourists visiting to play golf and to enjoy watching the FIFA World Cup. We do however always prioritise our members reserving peak times in advance for the golf course for members to utilise, seating in the clubhouse and a private members only area at the practice facilities. At The Els Club or priority as a team is always members come first.

With the World Cup continuing this month what do the Els Club have to offer fans who want to watch the games? We have 2 large high definition LED screens as part of our outdoor terrace area along with an impressive array of large indoor television screens, making us the perfect place to catch all the action. Our friendly and efficient team of associates will be on hand to make sure you enjoy a fantastic experience and timely service, whether you’re part of a group or simply enjoying the atmosphere with family and friends. And of course, no watching experience would be complete without great food! Our menu offers something for everyone, from sharing platters and kid’s meals to international cuisine and healthy options. So whether you’re cheering on your favorite team or taking in the stunning views of Dubai’s BEST Golf Course, come join us and enjoy the World Cup in style!

You’ve also got the Country Club at The Els Club which has been open around 18 months – has it enjoyed the success you hoped?

The Country Club has been a fantastic addition to The Els Club destination and a huge enhancement to the members’ offering. The state-of-the-art facility is the best in class, creating a family friendly, safe environment for all of our members and guests to enjoy the club beyond the golf course. We have received great support from the surrounding Dubai Sports City community with non-golfers choosing to join The Country Club to train and relax. The membership has been fast-growing and this has helped generate considerably more new golf membership sales on the basis of having The Country Club facilities included as part of the golf membership.

When you join The Country Club, you’re not just signing up for access to world-class facilities and amenities, you’re becoming part of a community. Whether you’re looking to improve your golf game, get fit and healthy with our expert team from VITA, or just relax and socialize, there’s something for everyone at The Country Club. With such a wide range of activities on offer, it’s no wonder that membership is growing so quickly!

Finally, what other happenings do you have going on away from the course over the next few months that we should be aware of?

We’re extremely excited to be opening our first two holiday home hotel rooms at The Els Club in the coming weeks and introducing our Stay & Play packages. We will also be conducting major restaurant upgrades and refurbishments at our all day dining restaurant “261”. This will be a major enhancement to the dining experience for golfers and surrounding residents. We continue to review and update menus to deliver something for everyone to enjoy and my personal favourite our Saturday Carvery at The Big Easy and I can’t wait for everyone to try it! With these new additions, we strive to provide an even better experience for our members and guests.

-Tom Rourke

Middle East is taking giant strides to support ladies golf

Greetings

November was a hugely positive month for ladies golf worldwide. In early November, the Ladies European Tour announced that the Aramco Saudi Ladies International has raised their prize money to $5m next year. This prize purse now equals the prize fund at the men’s PIF Saudi International. What a giant leap in the right direction for women’s golf, with this specific prize fund increasing five-fold since last year. Golf Saudi and Aramco’s collaboration with the Ladies European Tour events has raised the bar for ladies professional golf. Driving the growth of women’s golf at this elite level is crucial. This is a huge step in the right direction. Hopefully sponsors of other ladies professional events will follow suit and continue to raise the bar and drive for change.

More excitement in the region this month for ladies golf, Dubai resident Chiara Noja wins in Jeddah. The 16 year old was crowned champion at the recent Ladies European Tour’s ARAMCO Team Series at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Chiara, who is a member at Jumeirah Golf

Estates, beat England’s Charley Hull in the play-off. What a win, and what a role model for young golfers in the UAE and worldwide. This is only the start for this extremely talented young lady, the best is yet to come!

The DP World Tour Championship was held at Jumeirah Golf Estates from November 17th - 20th. What a showcase of golf! I attended on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was ‘Ladies Day’, what a great initiative to increase ladies attendance at a professional golf event. The day was simply amazing, there was a festival vibe from the moment you arrived. Ladies were treated to two complimentary beverages on arrival. There were free ladies golf clinics throughout the day as well as a ‘Best Dressed Competition’. I was on the judging panel for the ‘Best Dressed’, a new experience for me and a lot of fun! It was great to see so many Chicks With Sticks members enjoying the golf and the occasion. This specific ladies day event showcased the social, glamorous and more appealing sides to golf, aspects of the game that often don’t get enough airtime. It is great to see the DP World Tour making such an effort to grow the game of

ladies golf, roll on the Desert Swing in January.

The DP World Tour Championship hosted ‘Family Day’ on the final day of the event. For me this meant I did far less socializing and much more golf watching! The crowds following my golfing hero, Rory McIlroy were amazing. I just love watching Rory play, he is simply magic! Seeing him crowned the Race to Dubai Champion was just the cherry on top, capturing season titles on both the PGA Tour and European Tour. However, it was the stellar Spaniard, John Rahm that won the DP World Tour Championship on Sunday by two shots. This was the third DP World Tour Championship victory for Rahm, what an exhibition of golf he provided for the massive crowds that showed up at Jumeirah Golf Estates. General admission tickets were sold out all weekend. A testament to the preparations that went into planning this festival and celebration of golf.

As for my own golfing flock, Chicks With Sticks continues to go from strength to strength in the UAE, there may be plans to expand to the Emerald Isle in Spring 2023’ also, so stay tuned!

Golfing World. Finally winter has arrived in the United Arab Emirates and it is the perfect temperature for golf!

Should the DP World Tour Championship be a full eld?

This year’s DP World Tour Championship was a great end to the season, but it was hardly surprising to see the cream rise to the top. The rough made things more interesting but with the Earth course set up close to 7,700 yards it was always going to play into the hands of the power hitters like Rory and Rahm.

The greens were the best I’ve seen them and that was highlighted when Fitzpatrick rolled in five back-to-back birdies from length during the opening round. Matt was going great during the first two rounds but to take on Rory and Rahm – he needed to push the swing speed to the max, but that can lead to the movements getting out of sync and that is what happened.

The Power Game

You could argue that the course was too long, but the modern game is all about power and it draws the crowds. It was a shame Thomas Pieters couldn’t play but family comes first. He can easily carry the ball over 300 yards and would have been a real threat over the weekend, as his power is effortless.

Many thought Ryan Fox had the distance and form to win, but it’s been a long season which showed as he just couldn’t get going. At the end of the year many players are burnt

out which is why it’s interesting to see the DP World Tour has factored in a three week break after The Open next year.

It’s a good idea but I’m not sure a break of that length during a peak period in the season works, although the Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship in September will be crucial events for players looking to impress Luke Donald.

Ryder Cup in Dubai

Which leads me on to The Ryder Cup. The leaderboard at the DP World Tour Championship was a clear indicator of how the European Team might line up in Rome but those big names will need to play the required number events on the DP World Tour to make the Captain’s Picks effective.

If Rory and Rahm make the team through picks then Luke could struggle to select the strongest team, which is why I think the current system is limited. A captain should be able to pick his 12 best players and right now I would be including Padraig Harrington. I know he’s playing unbelievably on the Champions Tour but I would argue he’s playing the best golf of his career, plus his experience would be priceless to Luke.

Europe stand a good chance in Rome if the big European names do not jump over to LIV Golf. If they sign players like Hovland and

Pieters, Luke will be up against it but I’m sure he’s also got one eye on every European player teeing it up on the PGA TOUR right now.

Players like Seamus Power, who currently tops the 2023 FedEx Cup ranking, are mixing it up with the best on the PGA TOUR and rocketing up the Official World Golf Ranking. Austrian Sepp Straka finished seventh on the 2022 FedEx Cup, won the Honda Classic earlier this year and is 29th on the World Ranking, but many fans of the DP World Tour wouldn’t have heard of him.

The points argument

That leads me on to the points argument Rory and Rahm disagreed about during the DP World Tour Championship and I can see where Jon is coming from more than Rory.

Canadian Adam Svenssen won the RSM Classic and moved from 174th on the World Ranking to 72nd. While Rahm won in Dubai and remained fifth.

I understand it takes into consideration the full field ranking but it dilutes the kudos of the DP World Tour Championship, so should the DP World Tour open the event up to a full field?

It’s the only Rolex Series event that has a limited field and a larger entry might give players the opportunity to defeat the likes of Rory who they rarely get to tee it up against.

SWING

One good shot followed by one bad shot sound familiar?

Master PGA Professional, Pete Cowen, explains why playing golf is like playing a piano.

LOOKING HOW TO IMPROVE A GOLF SWING THAT HAS ALREADY GOT FLAWS IN IT.

SWING

GAME

The pattern of the movement is either wrong or can’t be completed in the same way every time. Think of it like playing the piano, you can hit all the notes in the right order but it still sounds terrible. You’ve got the sequence right, so why does it still sound bad? It’s due to the timing between the notes being wrong.

So, how does the piano relate to the golf swing? You’ve got all the swing movements in the right order, but it’s still not producing the perfect strike.

You need the correct biomechanics to ensure the appropriate muscle structures are moving at the right time. This is best understood at first without swinging a golf club. Then, we can keep making those structured movements until it’s perfect. There has to be a movement within the muscle structure that can be repeated!

Golfers have always been taught to hit the ball with a club, not to move the muscle structure to move the club.

One group of players that have become so good at this are the Korean ladies on the LPGA. They are getting closer to the correct muscle activation that can be repeated time and time again.

THE KEY QUESTION

How do the muscles work when utilised correctly and what muscles drive the machine to keep it working perfectly?

HOW TO BUILD THE RIGHT SWING

In theory, the golf swing is not a very complicated movement because we are stood on solid ground with a ball that is stationary. It should be easy to maintain balance and repeat the movement, unlike a gymnast that has to perform a perfect double somersault and land on a four inch wide bar that’s three feet in the air. If they can perfect that movement then why can’t we perfect a simple golf swing?

The answer is simple, we don’t move the muscle structure correctly. I’ve always said the movement in golf is a simple spiral of the body:

• Foot to ankle

• Ankle to shin

• Shin to knee

• Knee to thigh

• Thigh to hip

• Hip to ab

• Ab to chest

• Chest to shoulder

• Then the missing link, the spiral within the shoulder muscles to raise the arms into position.

The three dimensions of the swing are: up and down; lateral and rotation but one has to be in charge. It has to be the up and down because it happens before the other two and drives the others.

When the spiral is completed on the backswing, the muscles are loaded properly and you are now in a position to use the correct driving force while maintaining balance.

WEIGHT TRANSFER

Now you can add the two correct punch movements – punching down to punch up. Or as most people say shift your weight onto the right side then to your left. To transfer your weight efficiently it has to be through muscle activation. So you need to build the correct repetitive movement.

DO THESE QUESTIONS SOUND

FAMILIAR?

How much weight do I shift ? At what time do I shift it? Does it go back into my heal on the backswing, then to my instep on the downswing, then to the outside of my left foot? How can you do all these things in a millisecond?

Constantly hitting balls and trying to improve the previous shot all the time is not going to build the correct repetitive movement. If you want a repetitive powerful movement in the golf swing, relative to the shot you intend to play, what should you do?

Don’t just hit more balls with an inconsistent movement hoping it gets better. Good luck with that one because I’ve tried and it doesn’t work. All that happens is your hand eye coordination gets better but not your mechanics.

Poor practice precedes poor performance. Focus on building the correct muscle movement, NOT your hand and eye coordination. That is why the top professionals are so consistent.

EVER WONDERED WHY YOUR

IS SO INCONSISTENT?

BEGINNER BASICS WITH TOPGOLF

DUBAI

At Topgolf we have golf clubs for everyone. From toddler and junior clubs, to men’s and ladies right or left-handed golf clubs.

In each of the bays you’ll find both men’s and ladies golf clubs. The men’s have a silver shaft and the ladies have a

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CLUBS?

1)Longer clubs come with more leverage and therefore create more speed. Typically, a lengthier club results in further distance, but they are usually more difficult to hit flush. You need to stand further from the ball with a longer club to allow space to swing through.

blue shaft. The ladies’ clubs are an inch shorter and have a lighter shaft than the men’s for comfort.

You’ll find even clubs in the even bays and odd clubs in the odd bays. I recommend using an eight iron to get started.

2)The other major factor to consider when selecting your club is angle of the clubhead. Less loft results in more distance. Increased loft on the clubhead, such as with a nine iron, means a higher shot with increased spin. However, it won’t travel as far.

golfprojamie

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EACH CLUB?

FIVE IRON

The five iron has a long shaft with around 21 to 27 degrees of loft on the clubface. The ball goes a long way when solid contact is made, but it’s difficult to hit well. The recent DP World Tour Rankings winner Rory McIlroy smashes his five iron 225 yards.

EIGHT IRON

The eight iron has a shorter shaft in comparison to a five, while it also typically has 38 degrees of loft. Tour pros, such as New Zealander Ryan Fox, can average over 170 yards with their eight irons which is pretty impressive.

DRIVER

With the long shaft and large head, the driver is designed to pump the ball as far down the driving range as possible. The average 10 handicap men’s player drives the ball around 240 yards, while the likes of Viktor Hovland is capable of consistently hitting it over 300 yards with this club.

If it’s your first time at Topgolf, start with a mid-iron for comfort and ease of play. If you want to hit those back targets, then a driver would be your best option. However, bear in mind that the longer the club gets, the harder it can be to hit the ball.

THINK… THE LOWER THE NUMBER ON A GOLF CLUB, THE FURTHER THE GOLF BALL SHOULD GO!

If you need a little more help getting game-ready, visit topgolfdubai.ae/academy or contact academy@topgolfdubai.ae to find out more about the lessons and classes we have on offer. Whether you’re serious about your game, or just looking for some great fun, our lessons cater to all needs, ages and abilities and we welcome anyone of any skill set.

UNDERSTANDING THE SCOTTY INVESTMENT

You don’t have to be a golf geek to know that the best putters in the world are design by Scotty Cameron. They dominate the stats on the Tours and have sank more Major putts than John Daly has beers! But these delightful short sticks are also valued as collectors items. In 2020, Tiger Woods’ back up Scotty Cameron putter sold for $393,000 but for decades amateurs and professionals alike have been collecting Scotty Cameron’s signature putters - not to improve their game but their bank balance. So we caught up with Henry Byrne, the Scotty Cameron representative on the DP World Tour in Dubai to find out why these putters are so desirable and what models make ideal investments.

BY ALEX GALLEMORE

Why do people collect Scotty Cameron putters?

Scotty Cameron has developed and grown an unbelievable brand and we’ve got collectors all over the world. Similar to classic cars, our putter’s often grow in value over time. We release limited edition putters as one-offs which appeals to the collectors.

Which putters are worth the most?

Putters which are very rare or have an association with a particular player tend to carry the most value. Collectors are drawn to fine details such as welds, hand milling, stamping which highlight the craftsmanship that’s gone into them. Having said that, the one that gets the most hits with our social media fan base is the 009 model as used by Jordan Spieth. It’s a very classic shape, soft edges, and beautiful classic putter that seems to be the one that most people gravitate towards.

Does that make the 009 model the one to keep an eye out for?

Definitely, good luck finding one. They’re

very limited in numbers and that’s a rarity that helps to keep the value up and all 009 models are not the same. Some have unique elements, such as lines and dots but they also come in different finishes. We produce the 009 in stainless steel and carbon steel, and GSS German stainless steel. These different materials also mean different values.

If you could pick one model as an investment what would it be?

Collectors have their own taste, just like people have with cars and paintings. So, there isn’t a real ‘holy grail’ as such, but for me the 009 and particularly if you can get one with GSS would be as close as it gets.

Some collectors will gravitate to original Classics, Del Mar or Napa style which is a very minimalist putter. Very clean look and design, not very forgiving but collectors can opt for the look and rareness rather than purely performance .

From a performance point of view do you

pinnacle of performance because we’re always striving to improve on the product that we’ve just launched. That’s one of my key areas of working with the best players in the world, we access and use those players for R&D and get their feedback on specific models. How can we improve on them in terms of the visual aesthetic or the feel, and how it’s going to affect the ball roll. So, for example, with our special Select Line, Scotty scaled down the head so it’s slightly narrower, lower profile, and thinner. This saving enables us to enhance the heel to toe weighting to make the classic shape very forgiving. That’s an example of how we’re trying to innovate and improve on our offerings.

How does the amateur benefit from you working with the some of the best professionals in the game?

We get great feedback from elite players which can lead to rolling model changes. Working with players like Brett Rumford over the years has been an eye-opening experience and education for me. He is a renowned short game wizard & the way his mind works is aligned with our R&D philosophy. Some of his ideas are off the wall & don’t get implemented but some stuff we do try to incorporate. Another example of how this dynamic in action came when Justin Thomas visited the Putter Studio to work with Scotty and the result was the introduction of the Phantom X5.5 with jetneck, which is a very popular model on our range. This highlights how Tour influences retail & what you’re seeing on your shop floors & on display units globally.

What is it like working with Scotty Cameron?

I’m in a privileged position to visit the Cameron Studio a couple of times a year and meet with Scotty and the team. When you work with Scotty, it’s just so motivational and he’s infectious. He’s very hands on and more importantly approachable. You can meet with him and the team over a launch and talk at length, about any of his putter designs or shapes. His enthusiasm hasn’t waned at all and he’s just as hands-on now he’s ever been. That gives me extra motivation when I come back out on the road to do my job and represent him and all the guys at the studio to the best of my ability.

What’s in your bag putter wise and do you change it often?

believe putter technology is maxed out?

I think it’ll be wrong to say we’re at the

As part of my role, I do test models and methods. Over the years, we’ve seen guys with belly putters, armlock putters, with a claw grip, or a cack-handed grip. So part of my role is to test all the different methods in order to give players my feedback and how a certain technique is going to work with a certain style of putter and make sure that we get the best combination for player. As for what is in my bag. It will come as no surprise that I play a 009, but not the GSS model, that remains something for me to work towards in the future…

Henry Byrne

Scotty Cameron Representative DP World Tour

Hats off for trying something different

For close to 20 years Roger Duthie had front row seats to major sporting events with Emirates Airline valuing sport as the perfect platform to establish its brand name across the globe. Today you would be hard pressed to find a premier sporting event that is without the iconic brand on a shirt or advertising hoarding. In 2020 Roger left the company to set up a sports consultancy firm, so you could imagine my surprise to see the former Head of Sponsorship for Emirates Airline promoting a new line of caps at last month’s DP World Tour Championship. The golf mad Canadian was quick to point out that he wasn’t trying to take on the likes of Nike and adidas, but merely fulfill a burning passion he’d always wanted to pursue.

What background do you have in the clothing market?

None. What I do know is two important things in business:

Bring in good people who you trust and who know the business better than you and don’t’ be afraid to listen to them. Just because I own the business does not mean I know everything. My family has a long history in retail and fashion, and I’ve been counting on them for support in North America. I’ve taken on board several key advisors from the sports fashion world who provided valuable insight and guidance.

I know what I like and I feel there are enough people out there who appreciate top quality and interesting colours. Sport should be fun, and golf is a wonderful game of exhilarating and frustrating shots. If someone is wearing something that can lighten up the mood with some bright colours, why not. It’s okay to laugh during a round of golf, especially at yourself.

Why set up BearFish Sport Apparel?

The BearFish Sports Apparel Brand comes under the BearFish Sports Group. We launched the apparel brand recently, but we really are a Sports Marketing Consultancy service. I’ve grown the business to where I can now focus a little bit more of the apparel side of my company, but we are far from done.

The apparel business was a passion of mine that quickly turned into a proper business pillar. With padel, golf, tennis and the healthy lifestyle of Dubai, I am hoping my caps will protect everyone from the sun while they enjoy their favourite outdoor activity.

Is this your main line of work now?

I am fully dedicated to the BearFish Sport Marketing Consultancy and BearFish Sports Apparel 100%. I love working with brands, teams, leagues and other businesses to impact some of the expertise I gained over 25 years in the business.

What is the goal for the brand or is it just a hobby?

We have several investors now looking to help fund to expand into the USA, Canada, Europe and eventually Asia and Australia, touching the entire world. I’ve always been a global guy working for the best global airline (Emirates) in the world, so naturally I like to think big. Bottom line is I am still the day-to-day contact with my global clients who I consult for. That’s my real passion and area of expertise.

The cap market is very competitive, how will BearFish stand out from the crowd?

I wanted to differentiate our product with every other cap that’s on the market. Our material, design and attention to detail will challenge any cap on the market in terms of quality but what really sets us apart is that you get a free travel case that comes with the hat which will fit comfortably in a suitcase or golf bag protecting your cap and therefore making the cap last longer. I can’t compete against the big brands and that’s not my goal. We are a small boutique Dubai brand aiming to showcase to the world what Dubai designers can do for the active outdoor sport enthusiast. Considering your background, is this a brand that will lend itself to the corporate market?

I am not too worried about the corporate world. Probably not in all honestly and that’s okay. It doesn’t mean we can’t service corporates if they are interested.

Will you just be producing caps and will there be a customising service?

We are in phase one of a five-year business strategy which is the caps and travel cases. We are about to move into phase two where we are in discussions with Italian designers to create the coolest matching golf belts which will fit into our travel cases as well.

Phase three is play dry shirts and hoodies and that’s it. We will grow the business locally and globally in years four and five and take it from there.

We can customise and logo but it will only appear on the side of the cap. I am sticking true to my brand.

Why the name BearFish and what is the relevance?

I always wanted to start my own sports marketing consultancy, but I did not want to name the business after myself. Instead, I wanted to name my company after my children, however nothing seemed to fit with the names Ollie and Isabella. I then thought of my wife’s nicknames for my kids which is OllieBear and IssyFish for no apparent reason therefore BearFish is really a tribute to my kids. I hope my story will resonate with consumers who are bored of the big corporate brands.

PING G430 Innovations For All

ISMAEEL RANDEREE CUSTOM FIT SPECIALISTEMIRATES GOLF CLUB

WE’RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE OF THE NEW PING G430 FAMILY!

There are three different driver models to choose from –Max, LST and SFT - with a design for every type of player. For example, the LST edition comes in a smaller head profile (445cc) for players who struggle with too much spin while the SFT is crafted for straighter shots. All three models come with a moveable weight system for maximum customization with up to eight different settings to influence shot shape. You are sure to find one to suit your own game.

These highly-anticipated clubs also come with upgraded technology such as the VFT face in the woods. This means the face is six percent thinner and promotes greater ball speed gains. Along with this forged face, the clubs feature internal ribs to help reduce vibrations which in turn aid the sound and feel of the club at impact.

The fairway woods and hybrids also utilize a Carbonfly Wrap which saves weight from the top of the head to allow for better weight distribution. This combines with PING’s new Facewrap which is a steel face merged into the sole and crown. This technology gives more flex to the face which subsequently improves launch and speed. Further down the chain and the irons are equally as impressive. The face throughout the set is three percent thinner than previous models. This promotes faster ball speed by two miles per hour on average while also creating a larger sweetspot with more forgiveness. The new PureFlex cavity allows more face flex across seven zones to improve acoustics.

With variations for all types of players, the new G430 should be on the top of your demo list. Contact me on ismaeel@prosports.ae and come down to Emirates Golf Club to get fitted now.

Less restriction, more face bending

G430 HYBRIDS

The Carbonfly Wrap ensures the entire crown wraps into heel/toe skirt

Lee crowned Harradine Cup champion

Jungil Lee held off a large field of 60 players to secure the 16th edition of the Harradine Cup at the DP World Tour venue after finishing with an impressive 60 points in the individual Stableford event.

At the 2022 Nomura Cup in the Philippians the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) announced that Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) Vice Chairman, General Abdallah Alhashmi had been appointed as a new member on the Board of Directors of the APGC. “It is an honor to be appointed as a member of the Board of Directors for the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC)”, said General Abdallah Alhashmi. “This nomination is a direct reflection of the UAE and Emirates Golf Federation’s relations with the APGC member countries and delegates. This is the first time a delegate from the EGF has been appointed to the Board of the APGC. One of my first duties assigned to me is to actively bring the Arab Nations into the fold for the promotion of amateur golf and use the Middle East as a platform to host more elite-level amateur championships. The UAE and the Middle East host several top professional events, we now need to host top amateur championships”.

Craig Vance set a new course record

by TaylorMade. Vance had a brilliant run of four consecutive birdies from the third to kick start his round and he picked up another on the eighth. Birdies at 10 and 11 were followed by another at the par 5, 13th. It wouldn’t be a perfect round as a bogey came on the 15th but Vance bounced back to birdie the 16th before finishing with two pars to shoot 63 for an 8 under total, beating the previous record of 65.

Nancarrow Shines in Orient Travel Monthly Medal

Paul Nancarrow topped the pile at the Orient Monthly Medal after a solid round of golf which included four birdies and just two dropped shots. Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club Scratch League team member Sami Butt finished runner-up, beating his father Shaheen Butt by a single shot.

Sensational sallie Tops Stableford leaderboard

Hanief Sallie produced the golf of his life in the monthly Dimas Stableford competition, winning by six shots after carding four birdies and only dropping two shots to finish on a gross score of two under par and 45 Stableford points. In Division A, Stuart Cassidy topped the leaderboard while Naresh Khurana sealed Division B with 39 points.

JGE retains DP World Tour Championship for 10 years

Last month the DP World Tour announced a new ten-year agreement with Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, that will see the venue remain as host venue of the season ending DP World Tour Championship until 2031.

Speaking about the extended agreement Guy Kinnings, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Commercial Officer of the DP World Tour, said: “We have always had extremely positive feedback from players and spectators about the facilities at Jumeirah Golf Estates and the 18th hole on the Earth Course, an intimidating par five surrounded by water, has become an iconic backdrop for our season finale. “This new long-term deal allows us to plan ahead and make sure that future editions of the DP World Tour Championship continue

to set new standards in fan engagement. The Tour’s links to the Emirate of Dubai date back to 1989, and this announcement further solidifies a relationship that continues to place Dubai as a central destination in the sporting calendar each year.”

Mustafa Al Hashimi, Chief Hospitality Officer, wasl Hospitality and Leisure, commented: “Dubai Golf is delighted to extend its longterm partnership with the DP World Tour at Jumeirah Golf Estates through to 2031. Golf is a loved sport in the emirate, and Dubai has become renowned for hosting world-class events, including the season-ending DP World Tour Championship taking place on the iconic Earth course.”

JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES

SHARJAH GOLF & SHOOTING CLUB

EMIRATES GOLF FEDERATION

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB, DUBAI

e General appointed to APGC board

AL HAMRA GOLF CLUB

during the November Medal, which was proudly sponsored

Vance claims course record

TO THE RESCUE STUART MCMURDO

Stuart McMurdo, Director of Sports at JA The Resort, was planning to visit last month’s DP World Tour Championship like the many other thousands of golf fans who descended on Jumeirah Golf Estates for the sold-out season-ender on the DP World Tour – as a spectator. But he ended up attending in a much more important capacity when he received a last-minute call up from JA Resort Ambassador Rafa Cabrera Bello who asked the Englishman to caddy for him, as he tells us below…

As l was working away in the office at JA The Resort on the Thursday evening, l had a missed call from Rafa, which was strange as l knew he had played that day in the DP World Tour Championship and normally we don’t hear from him during tournament weeks.

He had spent a week practicing with us prior to going to South Africa for the Nedbank Golf Challenge so l thought it may be something to do with that week or the coming week as he was staying in Dubai to train with us after the event. I was astonished when l messaged him back as he asked if l would caddy for him for the last three days at Jumeirah Golf Estates following a split from his caddy!

‘What an amazing opportunity,’ l thought, but at 6pm on a Thursday night and a full schedule on Friday at JA l had work to do to clear my schedule. Obviously, l agreed and said I would meet him early Friday morning for our 9:10am tee time.

I’ve caddied before for friends at European Tour Qualifying School and Open qualifying but not on the main tour since l was 15 years old at the Dubai Desert Classic for Swede Niclas Fasth back in the early 90s.

I met him early Friday morning and fortunately, having known Rafa for nine years as a JA Ambassador, he put me at ease and we went to the practice ground. We worked well together that first morning, checking yardages and club selections although l had no clue how far he hit his irons so l was mainly reinforcing and being positive to his suggestions! We shot a solid 71 on Friday moving up a few slots. Rafa putted fantastically well on Saturday and we got off to a fast start, reaching 3 under for the first seven holes. With a few errors coming in on the back nine we went round in 70 to move back to par for the tournament, again moving in the right direction.

He was hitting the ball well after working hard on his game with coach Jerome and we got off to a solid start on Sunday, the main highlight being his 30-yard flop shot off a tight lie over a trap on the seventh hole with no green to work with and finishing stone dead on the lip for an easy birdie.

A few dropped shots after the turn meant we had work to do but three birdies on the 13th, 14th and 15th rescued the scorecard and

we finished on level par for the day and for the tournament in a tie for 34th overall.

What an amazing experience it was for me completely out of the blue, although my legs and shoulders were on fire all week and l have some brownie points to make up for with my wonderful family as l missed another weekend at home!

QUICK FIRE

BILLY FOSTER

LEGENDARY CADDIE

Favourite Ryder Cup you’ve caddied at?

2006 at the K Club. I caddied for Darren Clarke six weeks after his wife had passed away.

Favourite golf course? Royal Dornoch in Scotland.

How many more years left as a caddie?

I’d probably say how many more holes have I got left than years!

How often do you play?

I’ve played once this year.

Best shot you’ve ever seen live?

Seve Ballesteros behind the wall in Switzerland at the 1993 European Masters.

Proudest achievement?

Matt Fitzpatrick winning the U.S. Open and Lee Westwood getting to Number One in the world.

Favourite golf course in Dubai?

The Majlis at Emirates GC.

Hardest course to caddie at?

Augusta National just because of the elevation changes. It teases you all the time with the wind. The margins for error are so small.

Did you think when you started as a caddie you would still be here today?

Absolutely not.