Jason Scrivener Archives - Golf Digest Middle East

Min Woo Lee opens with 65 to share lead in Brisbane as DP World Tour 2023 season begins in Australia

Golf Digest Middle East — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 09:51:43 +0000

By GolfDigestME.com
Min Woo Lee fired an opening 65 to share the first-round lead at the Australian PGA Championship as the 2023 DP World Tour campaign got under way in Brisbane on Thursday.

Lee and fellow home favourites Jason Scrivener and John Lyras each made seven birdies and a single bogey on day one of the season-opening tournament, which is co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour of Australasia.

The leading trio sit on six-under, one shot ahead of major champion Adam Scott, Brad Kennedy, Anthony Quayle, Peter Cooke and Jeunghun Wang.

Two-time DP World Tour winner Lee made a bright start to the new season, reeling off birdies at the second, fourth, fifth and ninth to reach the turn in 32. He gave a shot back at the 10th but made amends with a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-three 11th.

An impressive pitch at the long 15th set up a tap-in birdie there before more short-game magic saw Lee get up and down from the sand at the 17th for a sensational par save. He followed that up with a closing birdie from 12 feet to head into the clubhouse on six under.

New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, fresh from finishing runner-up to Rory McIlroy in the 2022 season-long rankings, hit the opening tee shot of the 2023 DP World Tour season at 6am local time at Royal Queensland.

“It was awesome,” said Lee. “Very solid, one mistake, a bad drive on 10, but other than that, it was a very solid day approach-wise and off the tee and a very good day on the greens. So, if I can do that the next few days, it will be very nice.

“I’ve just been playing really good. I don’t know, my attitude, the last few months have just been fun and the family’s out and kids are out too, so I’ve got a lot to show off and inspire little kids and do that. So, I think it’s a pretty good attitude the last couple of months and I’ll just keep doing that.”

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Tyrrell on top in Abu Dhabi as Falcon remains elusive for McIlroy

Kent Gray — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 13:45:39 +0000

Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

By Kent Gray
Tyrrell Hatton started the European Tour season like a man in a hurry, got angry along the way (kind of) and ended up cruising to one of the most impressive victories the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship has witnessed.

Sunday at Abu Dhabi Golf Club was set up for an epic dogfight between three of Europe’s top four. Hatton, one back, and two-time champion Tommy Fleetwood, trailing by two, started the final round of the $8 million Rolex Series event looking up at Rory McIlroy, a man clearly keen on shedding his nearly-man tag in the UAE capital. With birdies at the second and third to double his one-stroke overnight lead, the decorated Northern Irishman seemed quite comfortable being cast in the role of formidable frontrunner.

What few counted on though was Hatton grinding all and sundry into submission. With some early pluck, a hint of luck mid round and shot and decision making of increasing quality thereafter, the 29-year-old Englishman produced a fine, bogey-free 66 to win the 16th edition of the Desert Swing opener with an 18-under, 270 aggregate.

The winning moment ?#ADGolfChamps #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/PmuYJSPJ6j

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 24, 2021

Sparked by an eagle three on the 10th, Aussie Jason Scrivener roared around the National’s homeward nine in 29 strokes to match Hatton’s 66 for a career-best solo second finish. McIlroy eventually settled for a scrappy 72 to make it four third placings to go with as many bridesmaid finishes in Abu Dhabi, remarkably consistent and yet still so far from the Falcon trophy. Fleetwood struggled with his driver too, sliding to share of 7th after a closing 73.

After his starring role in the European Tour’s latest social media ditty, #AngryGolfers, Hatton’s icy calmness in the final round might have surprised some in the sparse, COVID-19 restricted galleries and those watching on TV. It shouldn’t have. Long before he sensationally eagled his opening hole (the 10th) on Thursday, added another on the 18th and a third inside 20 holes, Hatton had established himself as a one of Europe’s most dominate forces.

Sunday’s $1.3 million win was the world No.9’s fourth victory worldwide in his last 20 starts, his sixth European Tour title in all and saw him draw level with world No.2 Job Rahm as the owner of four Rolex Series gold stars.

“It’s a bit surreal to be honest,” Hatton said in the immediate aftermath of a victory that will snuggle somewhere around last season’s BMW PGA Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational triumphs as the most significant wins of a career now on the cusp of the world’s top 5.

“Even knocking the putt in on 18 doesn’t seem like I’ve won the tournament. Obviously, it’s amazing. I’ve always loved starting my season here in Abu Dhabi, and to now add my name on that trophy with so many great champions before me is a huge honour.

“Definitely pinching myself. It’s just very surreal to be that high in the world rankings. I don’t look at myself or — I don’t know how to sort of word it. I guess I’m very — yeah, I’m struggling to find the words how to put it across but I’ll just say it is very cool to be where I am at the moment.”

Brilliant ball-striking and deft lag putting marked Hatton’s work Thursday through Saturday. On Sunday, it was a delightful flop shot from thick rough left of the 3rd green that showed he wasn’t going to wilt in the final two-ball. McIlroy rolled in a beautiful, centre-cuppa for birdie but Hatton’s gritty par save became even more significant when McIlroy inexplicably three-putted the next.

There was a slice, almost literally, of good fortune on the 7th when Hatton blocked his tee shot to a pin cut tight right on the par 3. Hatton rode his luck by duly rolling in the birdie putt.

“These aren’t the coloured trousers [white] to look up in and see your ball sailing towards the water,” Hatton quipped to on-course reporter Tim Barter as he sriding towards victory from the very next tee.

Never change @TyrrellHatton ?#ADGolfChamps #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/nyGy4oUsPu

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 24, 2021

When McIlroy bogeyed the 8th via two lots of tree trouble and a slightly fat bunker shot, Hatton found himself in the lead. A birdie on the 9th, courtesy of a sweet left to right putt from 27 feet that meant he’d birdied the two toughest holes on the course, saw the lead doubled. McIlroy was left completely deflated a hole later when a 34-footer up the slope caught just enough of the cup to disappear beneath the earth instead of perhaps off the green. McIlroy had a slightly shorter eagle putt on the much the same line but conceded Hatton’s binned putt had sucked the wind out of his sails.

The world No.6 did birdie but found a terrible lie off the tee on 11th in another pivotal yin and yang moment. While McIlroy found a deep lie and took a divot TV commentator Ken Brown joked could easily have been turned into a “decent wig”, Hatton saw his ball skip out of the same nearby bunker and wedged on for a settling par. Thereafter, it was just a case of keeping a lid on his emotions which don’t boil over as much as some would have you believe. At least not as much as they once used too when things aren’t going right.

“I think the big moment for me today was the putt on 10. Maybe that was going eight feet past and just hit the hole. That’s huge,” Hatton said.

“Then my tee shot on 11, that’s pitched on the side of the bunker and it’s come out. It could have — we’ve seen plugged lies in the lip this week, so that was another bit of good fortune. So I think that was a big turning point of the day for me.”

Hatton now seems a lock for Whistling Straits and a second Ryder Cup appearance in September, COVID-willing. European captain Padraig Harrington, who made the cut this week, will certainly have been impressed with what turned out to be a runaway victory by four strokes over Scrivener and five over McIlroy.

“It’s massive. I mean, Ryder Cup points started again [this week]. That’s a huge goal for me this year to make that team. I’m absolutely delighted that I’ve managed to pick up a load of points this week, and now I’ll enjoy tonight and then my attention will turn to next week.”

Given his giddy run of form over the last 14 months, and penchant for front-running so calmly in big events, the field headed to Emirates Golf Club for the 32nd OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic shouldn’t count on any form of Hatton hangover. Europe, it seems, has another major champion in waiting. And a double thumbs up to that.

The final scores ?#ADGolfChamps #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/qyJUJ8q7jY

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 24, 2021

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Paratore and Norris set pace but will sleep on an uncomfortable lead with Koepka lurking

Kent Gray — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 17:56:26 +0000

Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
Paratore tees off during the opening round of the 15th Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club on January 16, 2020,

By Kent Gray
Having summited the leaderboard early, Renato Paratore and Shaun Norris clearly have designs on staying put throughout the remainder of the 15th Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA. With the world No.1 lurking so ominously, that’ll be easier said than done, of course.

Rounds of 64, both coincidentally blighted by bogeys on the par-3 7th, will see Paratore (pictured above) and Norris (inset) take a two stroke buffer into Friday at the $7 million Rolex Series event. It’s way too early for leaderboard watching but chances are neither will be able to avoid it the way Brooks Koepka returned to competitive golf on The National layout Thursday.

How to start a tournament, by @RenatoParatore #ADGolfChamps #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/pLFmvaIS4G

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 16, 2020

Koepka’s bogey-free 66, matched by Aussie Jason Scrivener, belied the three months he spent on the sidelines recuperating from surgery on his left knee. With four majors and a swag of other top flight wins, the 29-year-old American will clearly have no issue playing the role of hunter.

Both pacesetters at least bring form with them to Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Paratore was second at the Mauritius Open last month and the 23-year-old Italian knows how to win too, even if the world No. 267’s sole triumph came back at the 2017 Nordea Masters.

Shaun Norris plays his tee shot on the 17th hole during the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Norris is still searching for a maiden European Tour victory but the world No.59 is no journeyman, having claimed a pair of Asian Tour wins and two more on the Sunshine Tour – to go with six visits to Q-School. With a win, three seconds and seven top-five finishes in his last 14 starts, mostly in Japan, things are finally looking up.

Shaun Norris’ lowest career round on the European Tour #ADGolfChamps #RolexSeries

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 16, 2020

“It’s been a rough year last year after losing my father. But my brother is back on the bag again and feels like everything is working at moment,” said the 37-year-old South African. “We are having a lot of fun out there, and that’s the main thing. Really happy with what’s happening.

“Who wouldn’t want to win one of these events. To win one of the Rolex Series events to start off the year would be fantastic. I’ll stick to my game plan and just see what happens.”

Round 1 scores in Abu Dhabi ?#ADGolfChamps #RolexSeries

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 16, 2020

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Jodie Kidd to tee it up in Gary Player Invitational at Saadiyat Beach

Kent Gray — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 11:33:21 +0000

Jodie Kidd headlines a glittering cast of celebrities and sports stars set to tee it up alongside some of golf’s biggest names in the 2^nd Gary Player Invitational Pro-Am in Abu Dhabi next month.

The 38-year-old English fashion model and television personality will be joined by cricketers Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting, former Springboks rugby legend Victor Matfield, Boyzlife pop stars Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden and Emirati comedian Ali Al Sayed at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club on February 6.

Nine-time major champion Player will again host the charity Pro-Am which aims to raise funds for the Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care & Special Needs.

Former Open champion and European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke joins Chris Wood, Joost Luiten, Victor Dubuisson, Jason Scrivener, David Howell and South Africans Thomas Aiken and Trevor Immelman as confirmed European Tour starters.

Scotland-based U.S. Ladies European Tour pro Beth Allen, who won last year’s inaugural Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open at Saadiyat Beach GC headlines a strong female lineup including course record holder Georgia Hall, Caroline Martens, Emma Cabrera-Bello and Victoria Lovelady.

The United Arab Emirates’ ‘Year of Giving’ is set to get a significant boost with the announcement of the star-studded line-up.

Darren Clarke in action during the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship – Photographs by Getty Images

Held in conjunction with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, under the Patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the 2017 Gary Player Invitational joins five other global events in a series that together has helped The Player Foundation raise more than $62 million for charities worldwide. Widely recognised as the world’s leading charity golf series, The Player Foundation is working towards its goal of raising $100 million by 2025.

“Abu Dhabi’s hosting of the second annual Gary Player Invitational highlights not only Abu Dhabi’s strong position as a world-class sporting destination, but also the spirit of generosity that the UAE is known for,” said His Excellency Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.

“Bringing professional golfers, sporting legends and celebrities together with golfing legend Gary Player, and members of the business community, the Pro-Am event complements Abu Dhabi’s robust calendar of world-class events, as it also supports our growing sporting culture and importantly, the vital work of the Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care & Special Needs.”

Player, the course designer at Saadiyat Beach GC, will host a pre Pro-Am skills clinic from 11am on February 6. The clinic and Pro-Am are open to the public.

“Saadiyat Beach Golf Club is one of the most engaging courses in the world and the ideal location to host the mix of professional golfers, sporting greats and special guests during this year’s event in Abu Dhabi.

“It is especially significant to host this event during the UAE’s Year of Giving and thanks to the support of the Abu Dhabi Sport Council, facility owner, TDIC and the wider UAE community, we are able to build upon the work of the inaugural event in 2016 and move even closer to reaching our goal of raising $100 million for children by 2025. I know that all participants will have great fun in support of an even greater cause.”

A gala dinner at the five-star Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi on February 5 will kick-start the Invitational while players can also look forward to a traditional South African Braai (BBQ) after play.

www.garyplayerinvitational.com

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Gary Player Invitational
at Saadiyat Beach appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.