All things considered, it was a good break. Haotong Li still looked like he needed a hug.

A day after Tiger Woods’ approach shot fell into the Swilcan Burn, it appeared Li’s second shot at the Old Course’s first hole would suffer the same fate. But rather than sink into a watery grave, Li’s ball struck the burn’s wall … and ricocheted some 80 yards back in Li’s direction.

Off the stones in the burn and almost all the way back to him.

Haotong Li's reaction says it all. ? #TheOpen
?: @peacockTV pic.twitter.com/PisoTFZfEQ

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 15, 2022

“That’s just not playing fair is it,” crooned a Sky Sports announcer.

Which, hey, is better than taking a penalty drop! Li, however, gave a look like he had been betrayed, or maybe the better word is bamboozled.

And perhaps Li was still battling those feelings of duplicity, because rather than focus on the providence he received he proceeded to hit his third shot into the burn.

The final damage: a triple-bogey 7, a number that put Li far outside the cutline and a number he hasn’t been able to recover from.

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The post Open Championship 2022: WATCH — Haotong Li gets ridiculously good break, proceeds to make triple anyway appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Li had played nine holes in just 29 blows for the second time this season as he carded a brilliant 63 to set the target at nine under at Bernardus Golf.

The Chinese star famously denied Rory McIlroy the 2018 Dubai Classic title, and he has work cut out once again.

Li would lead the way after 36 holes but Gouveia made a move with an eagle on the 12th and then produced his big finish to get to double figures after a 66.

Gouveia is looking to re-establish himself on the DP World Tour after regaining his card as he finished second on the European Challenge Tour last season.

The Portuguese topped the Challenge Tour Rankings in 2015 and enjoyed an impressive debut campaign, earning himself a place in the field at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

Englishman Matt Wallace was at eight under after a 67 alongside Pole Adrian Meronk, who carded a 68.

After his round, Gouveia said: “I just played very solid from the beginning, I holed a few good putts today again, I think that was the key, and kept it in play so when I missed a few shots I was able to recover well.

“I made a lot of birdies so far and I think that shows my putting has been good the last couple days and I hope I can continue into the weekend.”

Li added: “I put every ball in safer places and created a lot of birdie chances from there. I need to be myself and stay calm, and hopefully I can shoot another couple rounds like this.”

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The post DP World Tour: Dubai Desert Classic champ Li Haotong hits a winner, but Gouveia upstages at Dutch Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Stenson will tee it up for the 20th successive time at Emirates Golf Club in what will be the 32nd edition of the Desert Classic from Jan. 28-31.

“It’s amazing to think that the UAE is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and that I lived in Dubai for almost 10 of those years,” said Stenson. “It’s always great to be back in Dubai. Emma and I got married here in 2006, and it still feels very much like home.

“I have had a lot of success in the region – I’ve won the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club, the DP World Tour Championship and also in Qatar, so I feel comfortable out here.”

RELATED: Ten Major champs poised for OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic

The 44-year-old has a stellar record in the Desert Classic, winning the 2007 edition with a birdie on the 18th to edge out Ernie Els by one stroke with Tiger Woods third, in addition to seven other top-ten finishes.

“I think I have probably played more rounds on the Majlis than anywhere else on Tour, so in terms of tournament preparation, I will base it mostly on getting used to the conditions that the course is in, because I know the layout better than most,” said Stenson.

“The Majlis is one of those courses that I never get bored of and always enjoy playing. Hopefully my knowledge of it will turn into an advantage this year.”

Joining Stenson is a raft of past winners also returning to the event, including Miguel Angel Jimenez, Haotong Li, Stephen Gallacher, Thomas Bjørn, Alvaro Quiros, recent major champions and former winners Sergio Garcia and Danny Willett, as well as three-time winner Ernie Els and defending champion Lucas Herbert.

Jimenez made his first outing at Emirates Golf Club in 1990 and will be teeing it up at the event for the 27th time, with his victory coming in 2010 after a play-off win over Lee Westwood.

Miguel Angel Jimenez

The Spaniard made four Ryder Cup appearances in his career and was twice a Vice Captain in 2012 and 2014. He holds many European Tour records, including the highest number of starts (710) and he has made 10 holes-in-one on Tour, breaking the record previously held by Colin Montgomerie.

“I love coming back to Dubai every year and this tournament has a special place in my heart,” said Jimenez. “It has always been a great place to play golf and as the first event the European Tour held in the region, the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic is one of the most important to the players.”

Scotland’s Gallacher remains the only player in tournament history to have won the title in back-to-back years have triumphed in 2013-14.

Stephen Gallacher

“I love coming back to this event because the Majlis is a course I know I can play well on,” said Gallacher. “Any time you come to a venue where you have won before gives you confidence – and that, in addition to the slight breeze you often get and the humidity, makes me feel comfortable.

“Winning the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic twice in a row is certainly one of the highlights of my career so far and I’d love to add a third.”

RELATED: Wilco Nienaber is bringing his ‘nuke’ powered driver to the Desert Classic

China’s Li, who became the first Asian player to win the title in 2018 with a one-stroke win over Rory McIlroy, is also keen to immerse himself in the familiar sights and sounds of Emirates Golf Club once again.

“This is a special event on the European Tour and one I always look forward to playing,” said Li. “I have great memories of winning three years ago and it would be nice to make more memories this year.”

Haotong Li

An elite field has been assembled at Emirates Golf Club including Major champions Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, Shane Lowry, Graeme McDowell, Ernie Els, Martin Kaymer and Padraig Harrington, and countless Ryder Cup stars including Lee Westwood, Tommy Fleetwood, Ian Poulter, Tyrrell Hatton, Paul Casey, Rafa Cabrera Bello and Matthew Fitzpatrick, all set to vie for the Dallah trophy.

In what is the 32nd staging of the tournament, attendance will be for invited guests only, but the action will be beamed to a worldwide audience on mainstream broadcast sports networks, and highlights and exclusive content will be shared on the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic social media channels.

RELATED: Paul Casey set for Majlis return as second wave of Desert Classic player confirmations unveiled

The post Henrik Stenson headlines past winners set to help mark UAE Golden Jubilee at Desert Classic appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth drew most of the attention early as a star-studded pair of major champs. Little-known fact, but the two are also best buds. Although, you might question that after the drubbing JT delivered to his longtime friend. Thomas was disappointed with 68 after birdieing five of his first seven holes, but he still beat Spieth by eight shots.

Lmaooo Spieth has had enough pic.twitter.com/uRihFR8j7w

— Christopher Powers (@CPowers14) August 8, 2020

RELATED: Spieth and Thomas are two friends who are worlds apart

Needless to say, Spieth won’t be completing the career Grand Slam this week. … Another day, another poor putting performance for Tiger Woods with that new putter. Here was his reaction to finally making a putt—for par—on the 14th hole:

“I’ve still got all day.” – Tiger ? pic.twitter.com/8nKzAEHi5V

— GOLFonCBS (@GOLFonCBS) August 8, 2020

Needless to say, Woods won’t win a 16th major this week. … Phil Mickelson took full advantage of his weekend tee time—by pushing his coffee concoction that he’s now sponsored by:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Phil breaking down his coffee recipe in the middle of the PGA Championship is as Phil as it gets . . . #phil #philmickelson #philbeingphil #coffee #recipe #pgachampionship

A post shared by The Loop (@gototheloop) on Aug 8, 2020 at 11:15am PDT

OK, so that’s an Instagram and not a tweet. So sue me. Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka their worth as pitchmen earlier in the week, but Mickelson is still in a class by himself when it comes to giving his sponsors the most bang for their buck. But Phil’s best performance came later with an extended visit with Jim Nantz and Nick Faldo in the 18th tower. There was this awkward moment:

Phil Mickelson dropping in for some analysis this afternoon; Nick Faldo wasn’t quite ready for his opening dad joke pic.twitter.com/tNycbpWCeL

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 8, 2020

But overall, Mickelson was awesome.

Phil Mickelson is as good talking about golf as anyone is talking about anything. #PGAChampionship

— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) August 8, 2020

Faldo might want to watch his back …

The 36-hole leader, Haotong Li, had an interesting day. Well, really, an interesting couple holes on 12 and 13. After getting two of the luckiest breaks you’ll ever see on 12 and taking advantage with a birdie, his tee shot on No. 13 rattled into the trees … and didn’t come down. Li struggled after that and will enter Sunday four shots back.

The golf gods giveth, and the golf gods taketh away… #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/4vPi0tLEkO

— Alex Myers (@AlexMyers3) August 9, 2020

Yep, I used my own tweet. Again, sue me. It’s late. Speaking of watching golf in prime time, there was so much to see—unless you were a Tommy Fleetwood fan.

Has Tommy Fleetwood been locked in a Portaloo? Completely disappeared from the coverage

— ByTheMinute Golf (@ByTheMinGolf) August 8, 2020

By the way, he completely disappeared from the coverage because he completely disappeared off the leader board. But he rallied down the stretch to get to six under and put himself in position again to get WIN NO. 1 IN AMERICA. Shhh. We can’t say that too loudly around Europeans.

There are plenty of players in the mix to win major No. 1, however, including Cameron Champ.

What happens if Cameron Champ goes on the Bryson bulking + speed plan? Does the golf ball explode?

— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) August 9, 2020

With all due respect to Bryson DeChambeau, Champ is the PGA Tour’s distance champ. That being said, Bryson pulled off a different type of bomb on the 18th hole, rolling one in from San Diego:

Bryson DeChambeau…FROM 95 FEET?!?! pic.twitter.com/MQB1DgneMp

— GOLFonCBS (@GOLFonCBS) August 8, 2020

Bryson has a great chance to beat his best major finish (T-15)—and perhaps, even hoist golf’s biggest trophy. But he’ll have to overcome a bunch of guys, including a younger Californian, Collin Morikawa, who made the biggest move (up 21 spots) on moving day.

How big a stud is @collin_morikawa gonna be… scratch that… already is??? @PGAChampionship kid is on ? pic.twitter.com/d2pXtpJajZ

— Dave Ross (@drosssports) August 8, 2020

Reminder: This is his first major as a pro. And a win would mean he’d have as many majors as cuts missed on the PGA Tour since turning pro. Crazy.

Oh, and speaking of young GUNZ, Scottie Scheffler played himself into the final group on Sunday.

3 of the 10 players from the 2017 U.S. Walker Cup team are in the top 4.

Champ – t2
Scheffler – t2
Morikawa – t4 pic.twitter.com/opuQZWto0x

— The Fried Egg (@the_fried_egg) August 9, 2020

But they’re all chasing Dustin Johnson, who shot 65 with a double bogey to get to nine-under. The same Dustin Johnson who couldn’t break 80 a few weeks ago.

Dustin Johnson within the last month went 80-80 to miss the cut at the Memorial then 78-WD in Minnesota.

8 birdies today and leads the PGA.

Golf is crazy.

— Riggs (@RiggsBarstool) August 9, 2020

Now he holds the 54-hole lead a major. But a familiar face is lurking a couple shots back …

Koepka, talking about the guys on the leaderboard tomorrow: “DJ’s only won one.”

Game. On.

— Daniel Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) August 9, 2020

Yeah, this thing is probably over.

The post 13 tweets that told the story of Day 3 at TPC Harding Park appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Daniel Rapaport
Show me someone who saw this coming from Haotong Li, and we’ll show you a liar. Heck, even the man himself didn’t believe this was in the cards.

“I didn’t even think I could play like this this week,” Li said. “Especially, like you said, had no confidence.”

Li, a 25-year-old from China ranked No. 114 in the world, shot a bogey-free 65 on Friday at TPC Harding Park to post an eight-under 132 total, good for a three-shot lead when he signed his card. Out of nowhere, he has a chance to become the first Chinese man to win a major championship.

Li birdied five of his first 10 holes, then grinded out eight straight pars on the back nine to equal the lowest round of the week.

That’s a hugely impressive round under any circumstances. But Li’s recent results push it to hard-to-believe territory. He has played just two tournaments since the COVID-19 pandemic, missing the cut at last month’s Memorial and finishing T-75 in a 78-man field last week at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational. He has no top 10s on a major tour since April 2019.

So, naturally, he opened with 67 in the tougher afternoon conditions on Thursday in the Bay Area and followed it up with a fantastic round on Friday.

What, then accounts for the turnaround?

“Nothing, really. Just try to play golf.”

Golf fans will remember Li for his performance at the 2017 Open Championship, when he shot 63 on Sunday to finish solo third as a 21-year-old. A two-time winner on the European Tour, Li has been as high as No. 32 on the World Ranking and played his way onto last year’s Presidents Cup team, though he went 0-2 and was generally considered to be the weakest player on either squad.

Li is, however, not without humour. He said he was “doing nothing” during the COVID-19 break, then told ESPN he gained 15 pounds during it. “Just out here to have fun,” he said.

Earlier this year, in Dubai, he showed up to the tournament with “HAOTONG IS THE MOST HANDSOME MAN IN CHINA” stamped on his wedges.

The odds say the next two days won’t be a stress-free as his first two, when he made just one bogey of the first 36 holes. So, did that sparkling play alter his hopes for the week?

“I’ve got no expectation, actually.”

The post The least likely tour pro to be leading at TPC Harding Park is leading and has no clue how he’s doing it appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall and Christopher Powers
Thursdays are usually quiet at major championships. The leaderboard is crowded, laying the groundwork for the weekend’s storylines without necessarily knowing which story to follow. While that part of the equation was true at TPC Harding Park—32 players are within three shots of the lead—Day 1 was hardly reserved.

There was Tiger Woods turning in his best opening round at a major in ages. Brooks Koepka continued to be a tour de force during golf’s big events, and provided a nice post-round shot afterwards. Bryson DeChambeau continues to break the game with his newfound power, in this case, literally, smashing his driver, while also showing that muscle plays at major venues.

And Brendon Todd continued one of the most shocking career revivals in the past two decades, turning in a five-under 65 in the day’s toughest conditions to take a share of the lead with Jason Day.

Round 2 at Harding Park promises calm weather and ideal scoring conditions, which should provide plenty of fireworks heading into the weekend. Golf Digest editors will be here with you throughout Friday’s coverage of the 2020 PGA Championship to keep you informed of what’s going down in San Fran.

(All times ET)

4:00 p.m.: Update as we all search for the remote and switch over from ESPN+ to ESPN. Tiger Woods is getting some practice shots in before his 4:58 tee time. Martin Kaymer and Jason Day, starting the day at 4-under and 5-under respectively, tee off after phenomenal Thursdays. And, Phil Mickelson hits a miraculous wedge shot on the seventh hole, but can’t finish as he bogeys after a misread on the putt.

3:49 p.m.: We’ve got a Tiger sighting. After shooting a 2-under yesterday—his best first-round score in a major in eight years—Woods has a chance to be in the mix heading into the weekend. Also, Tiger changing his shoes in a municipal course’s parking lot is very relatable. Hopefully he plays better than our motley crew. That shouldn’t be too tough.

3:24 p.m.: Seeing some really impressive fight on Friday from a few guys who looked destined to miss the cut. Brandt Snedeker, still in search of his first major, followed a first-round 72 with a Friday 66 to get to two under. Hideki Matsuyama, who was even par on Thursday, is two under through 15 holes of his second round. Bryson DeChambeau, playing with his C- game right now, is even through 15, two under for the week. Jon Rahm is one under with a few holes to play, as is Webb Simpson. Finally, we have Phil Mickelson down at even par. He’s two under on his round with four to play, and cannot afford to make a bogey, or else he’ll be teetering on the cut line for the rest of the afternoon.

3:04 p.m.: There it is, a five-under 65 for China’s Haotong Li, your solo leader. Enormous round, especially if the wind picks up this afternoon like it did on Thursday. Eight under should at the very least give him a share of the lead after 36 holes. If he ends up leading alone, he’d be the first Chinese golfer to lead a major after any round, according to CBS’ Ian Baker-Finch. Pretty crazy factoid, if true.

2:50 p.m.: Quick update on some of the other big boys out on the course: Patrick Reed, who has four top 10s in his last nine majors, including his Masters win, is quietly creeping up the board. Through 15 holes Reed is one under on his round, putting him at three under for the week, five back of Haotong Li’s lead. Speaking of Li, he’s one par away from posting a five-under 65 and getting into the house at eight under, which you’d have to think has a very good chance to be the leading score at day’s end

Two other intriguing names at three under? One is the bukly Bryson DeChambeau, and the other is the second-longest hitter to DeChambeau on tour, Cameron Champ, who is working on a four under round through 13 holes. No one really noticed it, but Champ collected three top 25s during the restart, and if not for a woeful approach game and a balky putter, he may have been in contention during those starts. Very, very sneaky player heading into the weekend, if he can finish this round off first.

2:30 p.m.: Here come the Englishmen! Paul Casey joins his fellow Brit Tommy Fleetwood at five under with a birdie at the par-4 first, his third of the day. Casey is bogey-free, and currently sits in a tie for second with Fleetwood, Brendon Todd and Jason Day, who will tee off at 4:03 p.m. ET.

2:23 p.m.: Shot of the tournament alert at the par-4 ninth, where Mark Hubbard just holed out from a fairway bunker 238 yards away from the hole. An 11 out of 10. Nuts. Can’t say enough good things about it. Actually, we can say more good things about it. The eagle 2 jumped Hubbard from one over to one under one the week, safely inside the cut line (for the time being). With the par-5 10th coming up, he may be able to get to two under and feel really safe about the weekend. So yeah, pretty good shot!

1:59 p.m.: Li makes his tough par putt to stay at eight under, while Brendon Todd cleans up five feet for par at the eighth to remain five under. Lanto Griffin gets in the mix with a birdie at the fifth, moving to five under. Things are happening.

1:50 p.m.: Despite the three lip-outs, Bryson makes the turn at two under after a tight approach and converted birdie putt at the 18th. DeChambeau is now four under for the tournament, with Li facing a tricky eight-footer for birdie at the 14th.

1:40 p.m.: Tommy Lad! Fleetwood makes the turn at four under, moving up 40 spots in the past two hours. Has never cracked the top 30 at a PGA Championship, but his ball striking is tailored for TPC Harding Park.

1:30 p.m.: Phil Mickelson has back to back birdies to get to even for the event. Right now that’s the projected cut, although it will likely go up given the wind is starting to buck its head. Ahead, DeChambeau makes a no-stress par on the par-3 17th. Fowler puts his tee shot at the 17th to a few feet, now three under through eight and even for the event.

Brendon Todd makes a mess of the par-4 sixth, dropping a shot and giving Li a three-shot advantage.

1:22 p.m.: Li has added two pars to his birdie at the 10th, staying at eight under through 12. The second best round of the day belongs to Tommy Fleetwood, who is three under through seven and three under for the event.

1:19 p.m.: Bryson makes a nifty shot from the sand and is able to convert a six-footer for birdie, his third bird of the day to get back to three under. In the group behind, Rahm, back at even, takes an aggressive line and it pays off, just a few yards short of the green for a simple up-and-down for birdie awaiting.

1:10 p.m.: At the 285-yard par-4 16th, Fowler gets his ball stuck up in the cypress trees. Meanwhile, Bryson—with a 3-wood—is well short and finds a greenside bunker. Still early but things could be moving south quickly for DeChambeau.

On the other side, Todd has a nice lag for a par at the par-4 fifth, and finds the fairway at the sixth. Todd is one under for the day, now two back of Li.

1:02 p.m.: Bryson blows his birdie putt at the par-4 15th well by the hole, and his comebacker lips out. That’s three through six holes for Bryson. Rickie Fowler, playing with DeChambeau, makes a tricky eight-footer for par and maintain a solid round (two under on the day).

12:57 p.m.: Haotong Li with a magnificent lag putt—if a putt can be classified as magnificent—from 80 feet at the par-5 10th. That’s a tap-in birdie to move him three clear of the field.

12:50 p.m.: It’s been pretty easy pickings in terms of weather. But it appears someone has just turned on the fan. Might not be a lot of red numbers left for the morning wave. Yet also spells trouble for the afternoon group.

12:40 p.m.: Haotong Li makes the turn in four under, seven under for the tournament. No one else is better than two under on the course.

Meanwhile, Todd has parred his first three holes to remain at five under, and Jon Rahm has moved to red figures with a birdie and a couple pars.

12:25 p.m.: After back-to-back lips, Bryson makes a birdie at the par-4 13th off a nice approach, getting him back to three under. That was big in getting Bryson level following those tough breaks.

Speaking of tough, J.T. Poston turned in a three-under 67 on Thursday but is three over through six holes Friday morning. Needs something, and something quick, to right the ship.

12:10 p.m.: DeChambeau makes bogey at 12 to drop back to two under. Paul Casey opens with a birdie, which the Englishman needed after closing yesterday’s round with a double.

Lanto Griffin is having a fine morning, two under on his day to get to four under for the tournament.

12:05 p.m.: Haotong Li has added a birdie to move to the outright lead, while Brendon Todd opens with a par on the tough first.

On the back, Bryson misses a six-footer for birdie on the 11th and has some work to do for par on the 12th.

11:40 a.m.: Bryson bombs one at the 10th (his first), his approach scoots just past the green onto the fringe and makes a tidy up-and-down for birdie. DeChambeau proceeds to stick his approach at the long par-3 11th. The big man came up play.

11:27 a.m.: Haotong Li makes par at the fourth to maintain a share of the lead. Li had a memorable 3rd place finish at the 2017 Open, when Jordan Spieth’s back nine troubles almost brought him into the claret jug from 12 strokes back. But since Royal Birkdale he hasn’t posted a top-15 finish in a major.

11:08 a.m.: We have a Haotong Li sighting! The last time we saw the fledging superstar he was single-handedly tormenting the International Presidents Cup team with odd behavior. But Li is two under through three holes to take a share of the lead with Todd and Day.

11:00 a.m.: The best part about watching these club professionals pop it 260 yards is it gives you the fleeting hope that, “Hey, maybe I could compete out there,” and then you realize they’ve just stuck one from 190 yards out of 4-inch rough and remember, “Oh yeah, no chance.”

10:45 a.m.: Some of the big names in the early wave are Viktor Hovland (11:11), DeChambeau and Adam Scott (11:22), and Todd (11:50). These were some of the few players to go low in yesterday’s afternoon wave, and should be in position to improve their standing with the calm morning conditions.

The post China’s Haotong Li shoots 65 at Harding Park, leads alone appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Eddie Pepperell has pole-position, Bryson DeChambeau second-place and proven pedigree, Tommy Fleetwood promising momentum.

The stage is set then for an absorbing moving day at the 31^st OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic, one that will also include Lee Westwood after the freshly-minted Abu Dhabi champion courageously snuck into the weekend on the +2 cutline.

An early 67 on Friday, to go with his opening 69, saw Pepperell set the clubhouse target at -8 by lunchtime of the second round and hold onto it all the way to dusk at Emirates Golf Club.

DeChambeau improved a Thursday 70 by three strokes but left a lot of putts out on the Majlis in his 67 as he chased down Pepperell. The 26-year-old American’s title defence is still very much on target though as he nestled into a three-way share of second with car crash escapee Dean Burmester (68) and Swedish half centurion Robert Karlsson (68), a shot adrift of Englishman Pepperell.

Fleetwood shifted gear a day ahead of the clichéd moving day, recovering from a three-over 75 with a flurry of eight birdies in a Friday low 65. Just four adrift of Pepperell, Fleetwood has raced from outside the cutline into genuine contention in a share of 11^th place.

After starting the day six over, Westwood’s fightback was equally gritty, a birdie-birdie finish, the last with a brilliant 3-wood and two putts at 18, capping a colourful two-bogey 68. Danny Willett also mustered a final hole birdie to squeeze in on the bubble but five other former champions – Alvaro Quiros, Rafa Cabrera Bello, David Howell (all +5), Stephen Gallacher (+6) and Haotong Li (+10) weren’t so lucky.

Major champion Graeme McDowell (+3) also has the weekend off, along with MENA Tour phenom Josh Hill (+10) after a pair of 77s.

The post Eddie Pepperell fires 67 for halfway lead in Dubai; DeChambeau and fightback Fleetwood lurk appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By John Huggan
ABU DHABI — As ever when the matter at hand happens to be the professional life and times of the ever-volatile Sergio Garcia, there is a lot going on. First though, the good news. Eight days after his 40th birthday—“I’m closer to 60 than I am to 20” he joked—and in an event where he has never finished outside the top 20 in six previous appearances, the Spaniard is on eight-under 136 halfway through the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Tied with Haotong Li and Renato Paratore, Garcia is two shots behind the 36-hole leader, Italy’s Francesco Laporta, who topped the Challenge Tour rankings last year. Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Matt Fitzpatrick are nine under, with Lee Westwood, Louis Oosthuizen and Patrick Cantlay among those two shots further back. World No. 1 Brooks Koepka is three-under 141 after following up an encouraging first round back from injury on Thursday with a disappointing 75 on Friday

Garcia’s second-round 69, four birdies, one bogey, was shot with 14 new clubs in his bag. Free to choose the make-up of his set following his split from Callaway, the former Masters champion is currently a free agent able to employ a mixture of manufacturers.

“Unfortunately I wasn’t comfortable enough with the Callaway ball, and they needed me to play it,” he explained. “So we decided to part ways. Nicely, though. There were no bad feelings from either side, which was great. I’m playing whatever feels best for me or fits me best. That’s where we are, and that’s what I was working on over the Christmas break.”

It wasn’t the easiest of decisions though. Suddenly able to pick from an array of goodies rather than use what he is being paid to play, Garcia took some time to find exactly what he wanted.

“Feel is important, but for me a club has to look good,” he said. “If it doesn’t look good, I’m not going to be able to play it, even if it’s the best club in the world. Then, when I try it and when I test it, I have to see good numbers. It’s as simple as that.”

Specifically and at least for the moment, Garcia’s fairway woods are TaylorMades. The others, including driver and putter, are all made by Ping. The ball in play is a Titleist.

“I’m sure I will try a couple of different things along the way,” Garcia said. “But I’m pretty happy with what I have at the moment. I doubt I will change the irons. They feel really good, as do the fairway woods. Just about the only thing I might look at is the driver, just to see if I can find a few more yards. I’m comfortable with it right now though.”

Another pleasing aspect of what is Garcia’s seventh visit to this event was the pace of play. Along with just about everyone else in the 132-strong field, he noticed a positive difference.

“People seem to be a bit more aware,” he said. “We were actually on the clock just after the turn, but we caught up quickly. Overall though, it did feel a bit quicker.”

That brief chat with a rules official is hardly Garcia’s first brush with the laws of the game, of course. In two weeks, he will return to the Saudi International, where last year he indulged in a famously extended tantrum. First there was a wild, club-swinging episode in a greenside bunker. Then, more seriously, a number of putting surfaces were damaged.

As a result, Garcia was disqualified from the event, a punishment many of his fellow players on the European Tour felt was inadequate. Because his behavior had a directly negative impact on the other competitors, the prevailing mood favored a longer suspension rather than a one-event DQ.

So it is that Garcia will soon be making a controversial return to the European Tour’s most controversial event, in a land hardly renowned for its adherence to basic human rights. Not surprisingly, Garcia has been making strenuous efforts to make belated amends.

“I feel terrible about what happened last year,” Garcia said earlier this week. “Obviously there were some outside things that got me to that point. But I want to go back. I want to show my respect to them.

“The easy thing would have been for me to hide and never go back there,” he continued. “But I love the people there, and I love the guys, all the people we met and the Sheikh and everyone that takes care of us during the tournament. They are amazing people, and they wanted me to go back. So that was an easy decision, and I’m excited to go back there. I want to show myself, show the true Sergio, and show them my respect and try to play the best that I can. And hopefully have a great tournament.”

Which he is halfway to doing this week on the other side of the Persian Gulf. What the weekend holds is anyone’s guess. But one thing is for sure. Life with Sergio is never dull.

The post Sergio Garcia is playing well and living up to his reputation for never a dull moment appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Francesco Laporta is no stranger to going scary low, nor winning. The trick now for the surprise halfway leader at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA is figuring out how to merge both things on the biggest stage.

The unheralded Italian rattled off nine birdies, including five on the trot to close out a sensational, bogey-free 63 on Friday. It allowed him to wriggle clear atop a bunched leaderboard of otherwise household names at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Laporta will start the third round at -10,  halfway towards a maiden European Tour title but only a stroke clear of decorated European Tour winners Matthew Fitzpatrick and Rafa Cabrera Bello. With Sergio Garcia, Haotong Li and Renato Paratore at – 8, and Patrick Cantlay, former world No.1 Lee Westwood and 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen among those three adrift, the 29-year-old won’t be getting ahead of himself.

Before he even has the chance to, the world No. 121 deserved to bask in the glory of the round of his life, a score few saw coming after he’d missed the cut in the Alfred Dunhill Championship and last week’s South African Open in his two previous starts since returning to the European Tour as Challenge Tour No.1.

“It was a great day,” Laporta said after inching to within a stroke of The National course record of 62, held jointly by Henrik Stenson (2006) and defending champion Shane Lowry (2019).

“My putting was solid, my driver, my irons. I gave myself a lot of opportunity for birdies, and when I had the opportunities, I took it. Every time I was putting for birdie, I made it.

“I didn’t start the season good. I missed the cut in South Africa two times, and this is the third event and I’m leading, so I just want to enjoy the weekend.”

As the reigning Challenge Tour No.1, it’s not as though Laporta hasn’t cracked the code to closing out tournaments. He won twice on the second tier tour last year, at the Hainan Open and the Challenge Tour Grand Final in Mallorca as recently as November to seal his promotion back to the big time.

But previous personal experience highlights how difficult it is to keep your card, much less win on the European Tour. Laporta’s best finish in the top flight was a T-22 at the Trophée Hassan II in 2016, his only full season on the European Tour where he eventually finished 189th in the Race to Dubai to tumble down to the Challenge Tour once more.

Perhaps coincidently, Laporta led after the second round of the Trophée Hassan II four years ago like he does here. He’ll also be hoping for a better finish than the last time he shot a 63, a then course record at the 2013 Zimbabwe Open, a Sunshine Tour event where he eventually finished tied second.

Friday’s 63 was two better than his previous European Tour best – at the King’s Cup in Thailand in 2016 – and the best score of the second round by a stroke after Swede Sebastian Soderberg soared 92 places up to a share of 18th after a 64.

If there was a score even more surprising than Laporta’s, it was Brooks Koepka’s 75. A wayward driver saw the world No.1 plummet 32 places down the leaderboard to a share of 35th at -3 – not out of it but with much work to do over the closing 36 holes.

At least Koepka is here for the weekend. Among those to miss the -1 cut were Bryson DeChambeau after a second-round 77 left the golf scientist puzzled at +5, and defending champion Shane Lowry who frustratingly missed out by a stroke.

The Irishman had a heated run-in with a greenside bunker on the 18th after catching a plugged lie and failing to advance his ball onto the green. The reigning Open champion took his frustration out on the trap with a couple more lusty blows. He immediately looked embarrassed by the crater he left and soon after crestfallen after his title defence ended prematurely as his par attempt from the apron cruelly lipped out.

Former Masters champion Danny Willett (+2), Ian Poulter (+3) and 2014 Falcon trophy winner Pablo Larrazabal (+4) also have unwanted weekends off.

The post Unheralded Italian Francesco Laporta fires 63 for halfway lead in Abu Dhabi appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
With his broken English, transcribes from Haotong Li interviews promise two things: the answers will be short and sweet and, more often than not, leave you wanting more from one of the most interesting characters on the European Tour.

It‘s not hard to decipher what the Chinese star is trying to say but you’d love a bit more meat on the bone to do his best rounds justice, a deeper personal insight to give added colour to all the red on his scorecard.

A bit of statistical research helps to fill in the gaps where quotes from other players articulate the day’s proceedings but be careful, there can be holes in first-hand facts from Li too.

Like how the 24-year-old said on Friday he thought he’d missed the cut at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship the past three years. Turns out it’s not as bad as Li thought – he’s only missed the weekend the previous two years. The good news is there will be no repeat in 2020 with Li right in the mix for a third European Tour title at the 15th Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after rounds of 67-69.

The ever-smiling Chinese pro has a particular liking for desert golf, if not Abu Dhabi Golf Club until this week. He won the Dubai Desert Classic in 2018 and was runner-up to Dustin Johnson at the inaugural Saudi International last Feb. Li’s year nosedived after he finished fourth at the China Open (the event he won for his maiden European Tour title in 2016) with just one other top 15 following since May last year. But plenty of grind on the range with his coach seems to have the world No. 69 back on track.

“Yes, I did a lot up-and-down, and short game has been improved a lot. I think that’s how I get this result,” Li said after his second round 69 and just two bogeys in his opening 36 holes left him at -8, just two shots off Francesco Laporta’s halfway lead.

“I’ve been work very, very hard, and especially with my coach and whole team, and change management company, as well. It’s a lot of change this year, but glad to see everything works.”

The goal now is to kick on, hopefully this week but definitely this year as he looks to return to the top-50 of the world rankings to get himself back into all the majors and World Golf Championship events.

“Yes, for sure. This is my biggest goal for sure and just want to play solid like this, and I think I will be back soon.”

The post Love-Li to make the weekend appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.