You can catch up with all the news in our latest issue of Daily News FREE here. Read about the big announcement to finish the tournament on Monday after the nasty weather, inspirational stories on spreading the joy of golf and the buzz around the Good Good Guys by scrolling through the ISSUU link below or download Saturday’s Daily News to your favourite device.

The Daily News will be out bright and early each day at Emirates Golf Club to keep you up to date.

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Can South African pacesetter Justin Harding hang on at Emirates Golf Club? Will McIlroy join Ernie Els as just the second three-time winner of the $8 million DP World Tour event? Will Dubai teen Josh Hill climb even higher up the Rolex Series event leaderboard?

All this and much more in the Sunday edition of the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic ‘Daily News’ FREE here. Get up to speed with all the news and scores from Saturday and plan your day with Sunday’s tee times for round three by scrolling through the ISSUU link below or download Saturday’s Daily News to your favourite device to read offline or keep for prosperity.

Enjoy and stay tuned to GolfDigestme.com for full coverage of the final round.

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The South African will take a two-stroke lead into the third round at Emirates Golf Club but has plenty of big names in hot pursuit.

In the third edition of the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic ‘Daily News’, we’ve got the story behind Tyrrell Hatton and Rory McIlroy’s wedge-led charge into contention on Friday, Paul Casey’s neck injury and how Richard Bland has overcome a knee op, COVID-19 and a Christmas tree mishap to be in the mix.

Enjoy the latest edition of the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic ‘Daily News’ FREE here. Get up to speed with all the news and scores from Friday and tee times for round three by scrolling through the ISSUU link below or download Saturday’s Daily News to your favourite device to read offline or keep for prosperity.

Enjoy and stay tuned for the Daily News final round preview, out bright and early Sunday.

RELATED:
Official Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic ‘Daily News’ Issue 1
Official Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic ‘Daily News’ Issue 2

The post Get Saturday’s official Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic ‘Daily News’ FREE here appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Tell us more about your decision to play the Slync.io Desert Classic for the first time since 2002?
Re-joining the DP World Tour this year, having moved my base back to Europe over the last couple of years, was a sensible geographical choice. It made total sense to start the year here, especially with the good weather and golf courses, and of course the fact that the first two events are Rolex Series events.

When you have played for a couple of years, it’s important to make changes. Sometimes it’s equipment and sometimes it is the schedule, and this year coming back to the Middle East has been a really exciting thing. I enjoyed the first Rolex Series event of the year in Abu Dhabi last week at Yas Links, and although I’m not so familiar with the course here at the Emirates, I remember certain holes and the shot shapes required.

Nice to be back on the Majlis?
They’ve put some new tee boxes in, and have some new greens, but it’s nice to be back and it does feel familiar to me, although the skyline is very different. I’m not even sure there was a building at the Marina when I last played here, so a lot has changed in that aspect. I did play at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai in 2009 but the famous shot from the 8th tee here looks very different.

Why the long absence from the UAE?
After 2009 I was at a very frustrating time in my career, so I committed to play my golf on the PGA Tour. Up until that point I was playing on both tours and didn’t feel I was giving myself the best chance. I needed to change something, a bit like I’m doing again now. I would love to win here this week and I’ll be eager again to come back next year given it’s such an easy trip from Switzerland, so it works perfectly.

How have you managed to re-energise and come back so hungry?
We are a bit sensitive us pro golfers, especially off the back of an average round. I was very frustrated in St Georges at The Open, especially now my main goal is to win major championships. 2021 felt like a bit of a wasted year for me and I didn’t really threaten in 2020 either. As a golfer, you know whether you’re close or not, and having had a lot of experience, I knew deep down that changes needed to be made in my game for me to be competitive again.

What have you been working on?
My driver wasn’t behaving for me last year, so once I began to make changes, the foundation of my game began to improve. Since making the changes I have seen a lot of improvement, but there are always good days and bad days in golf. I think my swing has largely stayed the same, but naturally there are elements to it that have evolved over the years. I’m not the young whippet that I once was, but I don’t think I’ve changed anything too drastically with my swing. The sound advice that I have received with regards to technique and recovery will hopefully allow me to carry on playing for many more years.

Can you talk about the decision to move to Europe fulltime?
We are now fully based in Switzerland with the kids in school there. As invested as I am into my career, I am obviously most invested into my wife and kids and we feel Switzerland is the best environment for them at the moment. I wouldn’t say I sacrifice the golf that much. I certainly don’t expect to roll off the ski slopes and think that I’m good enough to come somewhere like this and win amongst such a strong field. So, I have to balance everything, and time management is so important. At this point in my career, there are about nine months of the year where I totally prioritise the golf, but for the other three months I have to give myself some time away from the game. The balance is good for me.

Getty Images

I’m sure you have some fond memories of your Rolex timepieces?
I have been a Rolex Testimonee for 20+ years now and when I first became a Testimonee I got the opportunity to choose a timepiece. I was 21 years old, and I chose a pink gold Day-Date with a black dial. It was a really great choice as I still wear it today. The design with most Rolex’s hasn’t changed all that much which shows how timeless they are.

How many Rolex’s do you own?
It is hard to resist buying these watches, but I have about twenty or so.

What’s your plan to get back to major-championship winning form?
A lot of things in my life has changed since I won the Masters in 2013, but I am continuing to change parts of my game and routine ahead of majors. Not being so fixed on needing a week off before a major is something that I might change. Maybe I need to play more in the build-up to the majors, but it will always depend on how I feel at the time. I am lucky that I can pick and choose my schedule to a degree, so this will definitely help my preparation, but the most important thing is momentum.

Do you still think you can win the bigs?
I feel as fit as ever and I don’t have any restrictions. Looking at my numbers, they’re still right there as well. Covid has been difficult to manage but I feel like I’ve made a lot of good choices to put me in a good position. The big one this year for me is going to be the 150th edition of The Open at St Andrews. You never know how many more chances you’re going to get so I am really looking forward to that one.

Do you plan to play in any other Rolex Series events this year?
My plan is to play in all five Rolex Series events this year. The BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth was a real treat for me last year and I really enjoyed it. Even with the majors, it was the first tournament that felt like it had a crowd back and that was amazing for us as players.

If you were a youngster, who would you follow around the course these days?
I’m probably slightly too removed from the Bryson hype, so if it was me knowing what I know about the players today, I would probably say Dustin Johnson. He’s a powerful guy with a magic touch and he makes the game look very easy. I played with this young kid, Nicolai Hojgaard, and I feel like he is a 20-year-old version of DJ. Although it’s very tricky to piece everything together at such a young age, he is going to be a force in world golf if he can. He hits the ball very hard, but in an easy way.

RELATED:
Official Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic ‘Daily News’ Issue 1
Official Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic ‘Daily News’ Issue 2
Official Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic ‘Daily News’ Issue 3

The post Get used to seeing more of Adam Scott in the Middle East – and in the majors appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Whether the Dane kept his advantage heading into the second round remained to be seen. Fading light forced the suspension of the 1st round with South African Justin Harding a stroke adrift of Hansen but with the eminently birdie-able 18th still to play.

What we can definitively say is that world No.2 Collin Morikawa and world No.5 Viktor Hovland are nicely in the mix and featured in our wrap of the first round. 

Enjoy the latest edition of the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic ‘Daily News’ FREE here. Get up to speed with all the news and scores from Thursday and tee times for round two by scrolling through the ISSUU link below or download Friday’s Daily News to your favourite device to read offline or keep for prosperity.

Enjoy and stay tuned for the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic Daily News review of the second round, out bright and early Saturday.

The post Get your official Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic ‘Daily News’ FREE here appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

With a win on each of the DP World and PGA Tours, and that next level moustache, Erik Van Rooyen has become one of the most recognisable players on tour. Daily News caught up with the 31-year-old South African, who enjoyed T25 and T20 finishes in Hawaii before heading to the Middle East, to discover more about the man behind the improving golf game and those well-groomed whiskers.

Especially if I compare it to where I was at this time of the year 12 months ago, there’s been a lot of growth that’s happened the last five months. I’m definitely a lot more comfortable in tournaments like that [the PGA Tour events in Hawaii], playing against strong fields. I think people underestimate the value of experience in this game. For the last three years that my caddie has been with me, we’ve only played three courses where we’ve seen the golf course for a second time. A course like the Sony O-pen [T20], to see it for a second time around I think that experience we had was invaluable and a solid start to 2022. 

• • •

Goals in 2022? Honestly, I haven’t really written anything down. I think sometimes when you write things down like that you can almost limit yourself. I don’t have say, for example, a set amount of times that I’d like to win or a specific tournament that I’d like to win. I think every single time that I tee up, my goal is to win that tournament. Obviously that doesn’t always happen but that’s just the mindset I’m in.

• • •

The two previous times that I’ve been around this golf course, to be honest with you, I’m a different player now than I was back in 2019 [T119] and 2020 [T37]. My game’s of a much higher level…I’m a much better driver of the ball now. This is a course that demands good driving and at the same time, if you don’t drive it well, it demands a strong short game. The greens are relatively small with some really good bunkering and it will literally test every facet of your game.

• • •

I would absolutely love to lift this trophy. I love this golf course even though I haven’t quite delivered the goods yet but I love a challenge. I’ve always been one to enjoy a good challenge. I feel like when my back is against the wall, I have the type of game, and it’s just in my nature to do my best and to deliver the goods when it matters most. Maybe this is the year.

• • •

I grew up in a house where music was always around. My aunt and my uncle both studied music at university, my uncle is a guitar player and my aunt plays the piano and sings. Rock and roll was always in the house, anything from the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, to Mark Knopfler and Neil Young. My mum was a bit more into classical music but I guess I always wanted to play guitar.

• • •

When I was 14 and beginning high school, I finally picked one up and pretty much taught myself. In brief, I absolutely love music and playing the guitar brings me great joy. But I am not sure there is a stage career beckoning after golf. I have got dreams of playing with my favourite bands on stage but I guess we will have to see if that ever happens.

Erik Van Rooyen and Chris Kirchner The CEO of Slync.io (right) plant a young Gaff Tree beside the 18th tee. Getty Images

• • •

I have a travel guitar. It actually folds up into a backpack and it’s still got a lovely sound. The neck sort of detaches from the body so it fits into a nice travel size backpack.

• • •

I guess I am more of a bodyboarder, it runs in my family, we’re all sort of surfers. The best breaks I have ridden was Supertubes and J-Bay in South Africa. I mean absolute world class surf break but you know I definitely don’t get too much time to do it while on tour.

• • •

Will I keep the moustache? I think that remains to be seen. I love a good solid beard as you all know. My wife actually prefers the beard as well. But she’s been trying to kind of nudge me in the direction of shaving it off, but for now it’s staying. And about keeping it looking so on point, honestly, I think a lot of that is just natural talent and genes to be honest! I tend to brush it every morning though with a comb. I have little pair of scissors that I trim it with…no one wants to see a piece of cheese hanging down from your stash. So you’ve got to keep it from hanging down the lip, brush it sideways and give it a little bit of twist. That’s the secret guys.

• • •

I think the biggest lesson for me after winning the Barracuda Championship was that I was in a bit of a hole at that point, and I struggled, so looking back it’s just you never know when the sparks come back and when it’s going to turn around. So, I guess, never lose faith or hope in your abilities because what got you there in the first place, that’s exact same stuff that’s going to help you win again.

• • •

I think it’s unfortunate for spectators that they only show a handful of players. I understand obviously that they do that for the TV ratings, but there are so many good and exciting players on PGA Tour and here on the DP World Tour and it’s a pity that they don’t get more coverage. But yeah, it’s hard, everyone is good, everyone knows how to get the ball in the hole, and I think especially on the PGA Tour, guys just keep making birdies. You have to keep the pedal down if you want to win, and that’s what makes it so competitive, so difficult.

• • •

I am a tireless worker, and to be honest, I personally think you can not say that someone has got all the talent. Every single person out here has worked tirelessly to get where they are. Some of us work harder than others, and I definitely put myself in that category. I try and squeeze out every ounce of the day and every ounce of ability that I have. Talent can only get you so far. There is no substitute for hard work.

The post Erik van Rooyen: The Man, the Myth, the Mo appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Enjoy and stay tuned for the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic Daily News review of the first round, out bright and early Friday.

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Catch up on Bronte Law’s clutch victory in the final edition of our Dubai Moonlight Classic ‘Daily News’ for 2021.

Our wrap of Friday on the Faldo is available FREE here. Alternatively, or simply scroll through the ISSUU link below or download Saturday’s Daily News to your favourite device to read offline or keep for prosperity.

The post Get your souvenir Dubai Moonlight Classic Daily News wrap edition FREE here appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

We continue today with our third edition and the best part is that it is available FREE here. Get up to speed and in the mood for tonight’s final round by scrolling through the ISSUU link below or download Friday’s Daily News to your favourite device to read offline or keep for prosperity.

Enjoy and stay tuned for the DMC Daily News special review edition of the final round, out bright and early Saturday.

The post Friday’s Dubai Moonlight Classic Daily News is FREE here appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

A stunning, course record 63 from Mexico’s Maria Fassi was the standout on Wednesday but there was plenty of other storylines from the first round of the annual Ladies European Tour (LET) stop and you can read all about it here. 

Each day Golf Digest Middle East, as an official media partner, will produce the official Dubai Moonlight Classic ‘Daily News’ to help you stay up to date with all the action from The Faldo course at Emirates Golf Club.

We continue today with our preview edition and the best part is that it is available FREE here. Get up to speed and in the mood for tonight’s second round by scrolling through the ISSUU link below or download Thursday’s Daily News to your favourite device to read offline or keep for prosperity.

Enjoy and stay tuned for the DMC Daily News review of the second round, out bright and early Friday.

The post Thursday’s Dubai Moonlight Classic Daily News is FREE here appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.