People will tell you it’s impossible to compare athletes from different eras. I say it’s entirely possible and people who would tell you otherwise simply have difficulty letting go of the past.

With apologies to Kathy Whitworth and Brazilian legend Marta, I offer you, the golf fan, the 2022 Men’s Golf and Football GOAT Comparisons. There are only three men in the discussion for both golf and footie, so that makes this a fairly clean exercise.

RELATED: LIV Golf and Tiger Woods most googled golf terms of 2022
Countdown: Your top 25 moments and people of 2022

The GOATs

Tiger Woods and Lionel Messi
Say what you will about blood spinning, surgery, rehabilitation, infidelities or any of the other obstacles Tiger Woods has overcome, he is the greatest golfer to ever walk on this planet. His statistical dominance in a wildly competitive era is staggering. No, he hasn’t won the most majors, but … he still might? And let me say this: Amateur golf at the absolute highest level matters. And no man has dominated that arena like Tiger Woods.
Lionel Messi has just become a World Cup champion for the first time. He didn’t need to for this exercise because was the GOAT before the 2022 final. On the pitch, Messi is a talisman that not only dominates play but also makes those around him notably better. While his goal-scoring totals are astounding, it is the art, pace and tenacity with which he plays that separates him from all the others.
Tiger and Messi are the GOATs of golf and football, respectively. They are two of the most popular and important athletes of our time. Both possess skills that leave even their most accomplished peers in awe. We are incredibly lucky to witness their greatness.

Jack Nicklaus and Diego Maradona
Both Jack and Diego were somewhat short and rotund athletes. They used their bodies very differently. If Nicklaus possessed skills that left you saying: “Wow.” Maradona’s gifts had you wondering: “How?”
Eyeballing Jack in his prime, we’re talking about a 5’9”, 215-pound powerhouse who was longer, more dedicated and intense than anyone who had come before him. He was hitting persimmon McGregor woods with wound balls well over 300 yards before the Beatles first came to America. There was no one like Jack before he hit the scene.
Diego was a street kid-turned-tornado who was impossible to get off the ball. He left his native Argentina as a teenager and went on to dominate in Europe and on the world stage. And he did all this battling addictions. We are left to wonder what might have been if he had stayed clear of his many vices (as is the case with Woods).
Nicklaus would dig deep to win 18 major championships — more than any other player. It was as if he could summon shots when others couldn’t. Maradona also had a rare will that seemingly would not be denied. He would lead his team to victory by any means necessary, to include ‘divine’ intervention. Two great champions, and for a period of time of their lives, the GOATs, but no longer.

Bobby Jones and Pelé
The final players who can enter the GOAT discussion are Bobby Jones and Pelé. There are still people who feel Jones and Pelé are GOATs. Sorry, they are not. I’ll list them out of respect for those of you who feel that they are seminal figures in their respective sports.
Let me start by pointing out that both Bobby Jones and Pelé played in an era when athletes would cross the Atlantic Ocean by boat. In the Jones era of golf, there were golf professionals, but no real place for professional golfers. Jones, who was considered an amateur, was the game’s best and brightest star, even if he didn’t play that much by today’s standards, or face quality competition.
Pelé was a revelation to football. He is the only player to win three World Cups. Granted, there were only about 16 teams that competed, but good for Brazil! A win’s a win. In 2000, Pelé was named the FIFA co-Player of the Century (alongside Maradona) as a nod to his importance.
Jones quit playing competitively fairly young due to health issues. Pelé never played in the great European leagues of his era for political reasons. For all of their legendary greatness, the world was left wanting.
That’s it. That’s the list of GOATs in golf and football. There are others who may not be GOATs, but we’ll call them “Greats but Not GOATs.” An “honourable mention” list, of sorts.

Greats But Not Quite GOATs

Johan Cruyff. David Cannon

Ben Hogan and Johan Cruyff
Who knows what Hogan would have accomplished had he not suffered a horrible car accident, or what Cruyff would have done had he not retired extremely young? Their influence on other players who followed them also binds these two giants.
Hogan is almost mythical to many top players who followed, and Cruyff’s impact is still seen today in the greatness of Barcelona.

Arnold Palmer and David Beckham
Flamboyant, creative, popular with men and women alike. Two GOATs in their own right. Arnold Palmer and David Beckham were the rare champions who caught the attention of people who didn’t follow sport.
England struggle on the world stage, but Beckham’s run at Manchester United is legendary. Palmer’s place in golf is cemented forever and extends beyond his greatness as a player.

Lee Trevino and Ronaldo
Much like Jack and Diego, a portly duo. Also extremely entertaining. Two great champions who delivered on the highest level and brought tremendous joy to their respective sports.

Seve Ballesteros and Zico
Magicians who were adored by fans but likely left a little too much meat on the bone to be considered in the “all-time great” discussions of their respective sports.

Phil Mickelson and Cristiano Ronaldo
A lot of championships and a healthy dose of ME, ME, ME, ME, ME with these two. And also a massive chunk of money as Phil helped launch the LIV Golf league and Ronaldo has spent his career making big-money transfers and is currently looking for a new club and pay cheque.

Gary Player and Franz Beckenbauer
Two giants of sport in the 1960s and 1970s who have found themselves in suboptimal ethical and legal scenarios of late.

Rory McIlroy and Diego Forlan
Both have been relatively quiet on the major world stage since 2014 yet seem to be on television quite often.

Who’s Next?

Some 35 years passed between the time Bobby Jones won the Grand Slam and the 1965 Masters when he said of a young Nicklaus: “He plays a game with which I am not familiar.” It was 32 years after that when Tiger Woods changed professional golf forever after his dominant win in the 1997 Masters.
Similar gaps occur in soccer, it seems. Pelé in late 1950s, Maradona in the1980s and Messi debuting in about 2004 with Barca.
Technology and competition in any era are what they are. There are many great champions, but very few transcend. GOATs just don’t show up that often. Let’s enjoy them while they’re here.

The post Who are the GOATs of golf and football? appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

That was the end of Bale’s winter golf sabbatical … or so we thought. According to the Daily Express, Bale has found a loophole, installing a golf simulator at the team hotel so he and the boys can still get a couple hacks in without needing to commit to a full afternoon round. Genius. Pure diabolical genius.

The island green on 17 is special

Welsh footballer @GarethBale11 is no stranger to the nerves, but they hit a little different @TPCSawgrass.

His next challenge will be today's opening round versus #USMNT at the #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/Oz87Gi40NG

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 21, 2022

“We’ve just been in the swimming pool, playing table tennis, pool and golf,” Cardiff striker Mark Harris told the Express. “Team spirit is great anyway but games like that help you. Gareth’s very good at the golf. I think most of us have had a swing and we had a go after training as we had some spare time.”

Hopefully the simulator downtime will help Bale’s Wales stay loose as they try to qualify for the knockout round in their first World Cup appearance since 1958 — the began with a 1-1 draw against the US. As the old saying going, all work and no play makes Jack, sorry, Gareth a dull boy.

You may also like:
Legends of the fall: Rory and DJ among the big winners this autumn
Take a look at the players who have qualified for the 2023 Masters — as it stands
Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup returns
LOOK: Rare Tiger Woods shirt up for auction
DP World Tour ‘Race to Dubai’ to return from 2023
LOOK: Prize money payouts at DP World Tour Championship
Rory deserves to brag after DP World Tour triumph
Rahm raises the bar with third DPWTC
How Lydia Ko returned to LPGA glory
Get your FREE November issue of Golf Digest Middle East here
All set for showdown at JGE
How Bryson dropped 20 pounds with new diet
Look DPWTC Day 3 tee times
Fitzpatrick holds upperhand as Rory roars
PGA Tour to lose long-time and loyal sponsor
How South Australia landed the LIV gig
Who needs to do what to win DP World Tour Rankings race?
Rahm slates ‘laughable’ OWGR, open to LIV Golf players earning ranking points

The post Gareth Bale reportedly installed a golf simulator at his Qatar hotel to get around Wales’ World Cup links ban appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall
Think golf announcers are too reverent? That fútbol voices get too caught up in the lack of action excitement? While we won’t counter those opinions, you may hold them in a different light once those sporting soundtracks are reversed.

At least, that’s our takeaway after watching this mash-up of World Cup and PGA Tour highlights:

If golf and soccer switched announcers… pic.twitter.com/W0qr4n3GWx

— John Crist (@johnbcrist) July 2, 2018

Somewhere, a FOXSports executive is pondering putting Gus Johnson on the call at Pebble Beach next summer.

Now, if we can just get the sports to switch celebrations—Phil Mickelson taking off his shirt and jumping into the crowd after a successful flop—we’ll really be in business.

The post This World Cup/golf announcing mashup is the highlight you didn’t know you needed appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Whether you are looking forward to the standard two-day weekend or are lucky enough to have three or even four days off, here’s our guide to the best deals to get your golfing fix in the UAE this Eid Al Fitr holiday.

Best of all, the long weekend coincides with the second major of the year so you can retire to the club lounge after your round (or three) to enjoy the U.S. Open coverage from Shinnecock Hills.

Related: First and second round U.S. Open tee-times

Most clubs are also screening every match of the FIFA World Cup live from Russia. Come to think of it, you might end up spending the majority of the long weekend at the clubs below, with a few hours at home to recoup (and say hi to the family). For golfers, Eid weekend is going to be sporting bliss. Enjoy.

[divider] [/divider]

Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club – AED 105!

What’s this? No, it’s WhatsApp and easily the golfing steal of the Eid weekend courtesy of the always innovative marketing team at SGSC. How about AED 105pp for 18 holes on the Staysure Tour (formerly European Senior Tour) course, or just AED 75pp for nine holes (minimum two players, or a fourball) when you book via SGSC’s WhatsApp number? Better still, the total green fees paid will be reimbursed if at least one member of your group joins SGSC’s summer golf membership on the day of play. That’s a crazy, crazy deal.

The WhatsApp number is +971 (0)56 2283649 – tell them Golf Digest Middle East sent you. And enjoy the U.S. Open and FIFA football – it goes without saying that one of the friendliest clubs in the UAE will have the big screens locked into the Eid weekend’s best sporting content.
golfandshootingshj.com

Trump International Golf Club, Dubai – from AED 250

Take it from us, Gil Hanse’s first Middle East design is in pristine nick despite the rising mercury. It makes the selected AED 250 green fees on Thursday and Sunday – and even the AED 300 pricing on Friday and Saturday – a steal. Visit trumpgolfdubai.com/tee-times for more and then stick around for the football. They’re promising an “electric atmosphere” at The Terrace restaurant which boasts a “mega” indoor screen. For all the details on sharing platters and beverage bucket deals, or to book a table, email: dining@trumpgolfdubai.com
trumpgolfdubai.com

The Els Club, Dubai – from AED 255

You’ll need to be quick to secure the Els Club’s best Eid weekend rate of AED 255 for tee-times between 10am and noon. There are also great prices outside this window via the Troon International App and all rounds booked online this weekend will score you a AED 50 retail voucher. You can also earn Troon reward points against all green fee and retail spend and take in the golf and the football in all of the club’s outlets:  TheBig Easy, Overlook Lounge and Atrium.
elsclubdubai.com

Al Hamra Golf Club, RAK – AED 225 throughout June!

The Troon International App is a handy application to have it seems. Not only is Al Hamra offering green fees from AED 225 throughout the Eid celebrations, the deal runs all month long. It’s some deal for a fully-fledged European Tour venue; test your game on the course set to host the Challenge Tour’s Road to Ras Al Khaimah finale, the aptly named Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final, this coming October. And yes, it’s the place to watch all the golf and World Cup football you can handle too.
alhamragolf.com

Emirates Golf Club –  Play the EGC’s  U.S. Open Par 3 Championship from AED 175 + Special EID Sunday deal on the Majlis

Emirates G.C. is getting into major championship mood with its very own U.S. Open  Par-3 Championship on Thursday evening. The AED 175 entry fee gets you a tee time (at either 6.30pm & 8.15pm) on the club’s excellent academy course (we’re told there will be U.S. Open-esque fast greens and tight pin positions, so don’t say you haven’t been warned) plus a post-round buffet. Stay on for the OSN Sports 3HD golf coverage from Shinnecock Hills in the Spike Bar or alternatively check into Football Central, the club’s ‘Ultimate Fan Zone’ for the FIFA World Cup. Entry is free and there will be DJs playing after the footy.

You can also secure tee times on the Majlis from AED 525 and the Faldo AED 420 (before 4.05pm) over the holiday period. Our top tip is to upload the Golf Central App (App Store or Google Play) to avail 2-FOR-1 golf on the Majlis after 11am on Sunday; that is an absolute bargain for a two-ball on the Omega Dubai Desert Classic’s home course.
dubaigolf.com/emirates-golf-club

Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club – Robbie Fowler, Par 3 Championship and AED 470 golf

Like its Dubai Golf sister club, The Creek is also hosting a U.S. Open Par-3 Championship, this time on Sunday with 6.30pm and 8pm shotgun starts. The AED 175 fee also includes a tasty feed, a BBQ buffet feast in the Academy Café.

The Creek are also embracing the start of Russia 2018 like no other, with former Liverpool and England striker Robbie Fowler the star of a Q&A from 6.30pm on Thursday ahead of the opening match between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

The U.S. Open will be screened live in Lakeview from Thursday until the final putt Sunday while the Creeks weekend/public holiday tee time rate is AED 470.
dubaigolf.com/dubai-creek-golf-yacht-club

The Track, Meydan Golf

Book online at Meydangolf.com for rounds between between 11am-3pm and you’ll get the best 18-hole and 9-hole rates at the Peter Harradine-designed 9-holer – and that price guarantee extends beyond EID. The kicker is a special replay rate; book within 24 hours of your original tee time and pay again at 50% off.

Don’t forget the Track’s Unlimited Summer Wildcard either. It offers golf seven days a week (day and floodlit) with unlimited access to the course, driving range and practice facilities. Check it out here: Track Wildcard
meydangolf.com

The Address Montgomerie, Dubai – Footgolf anyone?

They’re doing golf things with a twist at the Monty to mark the start of the FIFA World Cup. Simply wear the football shirt of your home nation to avail 2 for 1 footgolf during the World Cup – that’s a sweet AED 60pp. After you’ve dazzled your mates with your skills, let the pros go to work as you enjoy special themed la carte menu, 2 for 1 offers on selected hop beverages and pre- and post-game happy hours taking in the real football on the big screens.
Call 043 631 208 or email academyreception@themontgomerie.ae

Yas Links – From AED 250pp if you book a fourball

For lovers of links-style golf, it gets no better in the UAE than Yas Links and their June fourball deals are hard to beat – and run through the Eid weekend break.

Pay AED 1000 per fourball on Thursday and Sunday and just AED 1300 on Friday and Saturday.  You also have until Friday to take advantage of their intriguing Pro Shop offer; spend AED 750 or more on TaylorMade and/or Adidas kit and receive the full amount back in green fee vouchers if any of Jason Day, Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Tiger Woods of Jon Rahm wins the U.S. Open. That’s pretty good odds if you ask us.
yaslinks.com

Saadiyat Beach Golf Club & Abu Dhabi Golf Club – Summer Scorecard

Book online and have your loyalty rewarded at the Abu Dhabi sister clubs. Play two rounds on the weekend or three on weekdays and receive a complimentary round. Valid June 5–August 31 with T&Cs. For bookings email golfdesk@adgolfclub.ae or golfreservation@adgolfclub.ae

Abu Dhabi Golf Club – Golf with Robbie Fowler this Saturday!

There’s still time to get in on a golf-football bonanza at the home of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship involving Kop legend Robbie Fowler.

For AED 995, you get 27 holes of golf – including three with the former England and Liverpool star himself  – on Saturday, June 16 (7am shotgun start) followed by an exclusive gathering at The Grille Restaurant with one-hour canapes and beverages. You then get to join an afternoon brunch (AED 395pp without golf) hosted by Fowler in ADGC’s dedicated Global Football Fan Zone, an ideal place to watch the World Cup all tournament long.

Abu Dhabi G.C. are also offering two complimentary beverages in the fan zone for every round of golf booked on the club’s Garden Course between June 14-July 15.
adgolfclub.com

The post The UAE’s best Eid green fees – golf the long weekend from as little as AED 105! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.