By Kent Gray
James Tait has proven golf pedigree with his great uncle having twice won The (British) Amateur Championship, in 1896 and 1898. Freddie Tait would no doubt be proud of his great nephew for carrying on the family’s winning tradition at the 2018 Long Drive World Series season opener in Dubai although 120 years on, he might struggle to comprehend what young James can do to a golf ball.

With a blow of 386 yards, Tait Jnr overpowered defending Dubai champion Tim Burke by six yards in the final to claim his maiden long drive title at Jumeirah Golf Estates – just nine months after the 28-year-old Scot had taken up the discipline seriously.

Two-time world champion Joe Miller produced the biggest nudge of the night at 405 yards in the quarterfinals although the wiry Tait’s 401 yard missile in a first round elimination of the 2017 runner-up Ryan Reisbeck was warning that he’s more than a wannabe on the now 10-event LDWS circuit.

South African Jason Cook had topped qualifying with a 400 yard drive but was ousted by Tait’s 376 yard effort in the quarterfinals before Miller was given his marching orders, 378 yards to 367, in the semis.

Related pictures: South African’s 400 yard missile tops LDWS qualifying 

“Over the moon,” was Tait’s response after being asked his emotions following the final.

“Yeah I mean, to go up against some of the world’s best and only been doing it nine months, you can hear there’s a party going on right now and I’m definitely going to be joining that. I’m in shock, it’s not sunk in at all.

“I’m sure it will do probably tomorrow morning when my body is in pieces. I’m just so happy, so happy.” 

Related: Watch Dubai amateur snap driver, keep calm and carry on

Endless indoors practice in “horrible, cold, rainy, miserable”  London over winter had paid instant dividends for Tait who drew on a match-up with Burke at last year’s London LDWS event in the final. So what were you’re tactics in the decider?

“Hit it as hard as you possibly can,” said Tait, matter of factly. “You know I faced him last year in London so it was kind of in my head, it’s just another match, you’ve done it before, just use the experience and build in what you’ve done in the pre-season and I did and I got some silverware.

@jamestait89's Twitter bio simply reads: "Grip it and rip it". Indeed. @LongDriveWS @JumeirahGolfEst
Fri from 7pm pic.twitter.com/Wgf7A0FE4p

— Golf Digest ME (@GolfDigestME) February 8, 2018

“I think my form this evening was great. I just want to build on that and hopefully get another couple of wins under my belt this season. I’m obviously going to compete in the worlds this year for the first time so hopefully place well there as well. I’m just going to give it my heart and see how far I can go.”

The post Tait ‘over the moon’ on Earth after claiming maiden LDWS title appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Jason Cook has thrown down the gauntlet with a 400 yard missile to top qualifying at the opening leg of the 2018 Long Drive World Series in Dubai.

The 42-year-old South African was dressed to impressed – or was that shock in pink – and duly did both at Jumeirah Golf Estates. He will be joined in the main event from 7pm by Hamilton Paul Howell and Bob Bradley who produced matching drives of 397 hards, and Daniel MacIntosh (391 yards).

Our 4 qualifiers from this morning @jason33cook @pdrizzy11 @royaltysports1 @dan.smackintosh! Seedings happening right now. Numbers coming soon ? #LDWSDubai

A post shared by Long Drive World Series (@ldws_) on Feb 9, 2018 at 3:44am PST

Cook, all 98kg and 1.85m of him, has a best drive of 461 yards in the bank and will be a factor in the finals given last year’s evidence on the JGE range. His 400 yard effort earlier today certainly put the 338 yards Dubai-based amateur Ricky Domingues managed into sharp focus although Domingues made quite the impact.

Related: Watch Dubai amateur snap driver in LDWS qualifying, nonchalantly carry on

LDWS photographer Christopher Pike captured Dominequez’s big moment and it’s hard not to be impressed by these images of Cook in full flight as well:

Photo by Christopher Pike

The post South African’s 400 yard missile tops qualifying for LDWS Dubai appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.