By John Huggan
The weather was stunning. The play was both fascinating and fun. Lots of people—officially 10,094—across all age groups came to spectate over the sun-drenched Centurion Club north of London. And the Irish team of Paul Dunne and Gavin Moynihan emerged victorious in the second playing of Golf Sixes, beating France in the final by the score of 2-0 (two holes won versus none lost). The winning pair shared €200,000, a sum that will surely be most welcome to Moynihan. Since earning his card at the qualifying school last year, the 23-year-old has missed eight cuts on the European Tour and two on the Challenge circuit.

For those oblivious to just how all this worked, the clue is in the title. Sixteen teams, a mixture of men and women, gathered to first identify eight qualifiers from four round-robin groups. Then, on Day 2, straight knock-out using the greensomes format (both players tee-off on each hole, choose the best of the two, then straight foursomes thereafter) was used over each of the six-hole matches.

Within all of the above, too, there was much merriment, most of that involving youngsters encouraged to cheer and applaud as the players hit. And a 30-second shot-clock added to the tension on one hole in each match.

As things worked out, the Irish pair defeated the “England Women” team of Charley Hull and Georgia Hall in the quarterfinals. The South Koreans (Soomin Lee and Jeunghun Wang) were next, Moynihan’s chip-in at the first extra hole seeking victory. And, avenging their earlier defeat in the group stages, the French duo of Mike-Lorenzo Vera and Romain Wattel were last to go. For the record, the Koreans beat Australia (Sam Brazel and Wade Ormsby) in the third-place match.

All in all, Golf Sixes was enormously entertaining and fun both to play—the participants were unanimous in that respect—and to watch. Not least because the matches brought together such an eclectic mix of players. As well as the English Women, Mel Reid and Carlota Ciganda combined as the “European Women” side and, perhaps most intriguingly, European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn paired with Solheim Cup skipper Catriona Matthew. Happily, too, both of the all-women sides made it as far as the quarters before succumbing, evidence enough that the tricky business of tee placement worked out pretty well.

Things went even better than that for the eventual winners of course. And it was a well-earned victory. Over the 17 holes, they played on the second day, the Dunne and Moynihan, both members of the 2015 Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup side at Royal Lytham, made birdie or better on 12. The slow-moving Dunne also managed to avoid any shot-clock penalties, a result that will surely come as something of a shock to many on the European Tour.

The winners pose with the Golf Sixes mascot after picking up their trophy. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

“It’s an individual game, and it’s nice to get together with a partner, especially like Gavin, who I’ve been friends with for a long time and have success like this,” Dunne said. “We just played really solid all week. Gavin was hitting some amazing iron shots and, obviously, the pivotal moment for us was him chipping in on the playoff against the South Koreans.”

Moynihan added: “We know each other’s games so well and we’re comfortable with each other. We had a game plan coming in and the course set up well for us, I think. We had fun. Honestly, it was the best fun I’ve had on the golf course since I’ve turned pro. It was a great few days.”

The post Irish pair claim Golf Sixes title as the new-fangled event strikes balance of fun and competition appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By John Huggan
Yes, the highest-ranked player in the field won, an end result that at first glance suggests an unsurprising mixture of inevitability and predictability. But Jon Rahm’s two-shot victory in the Open de España was, for long enough, far from straightforward. With two holes to play over the Centro Nacional de Golf course in Madrid, the World No. 4 was 19 under par for the week, tied with compatriot Nacho Elvira and two strokes clear of Irishman Paul Dunne, the overnight leader. Barring disasters all round, the destination of the historic trophy—first played for in 1912 and a part of the European Tour since 1972—was down to those three men.

Rahm first. With water running all the way down the left side of the short 17th, the powerful Basque played for his usual fade and aimed a little left of the pin. It didn’t take. The ball pitched on the bank left of the green and hung up in one of the few pieces of long grass bordering the lake. It was a huge piece of luck, one Rahm took advantage of. A deft chip-and-putt saved his par.

Elvira next. The 31-year-old Madrid native, a four-time winner on the second-tier European Challenge Tour, hit a similar shot to Rahm. Crucially, however, it landed maybe two yards further left and disappeared forever. The chip to save par lipped-out, and so did the three-foot putt for bogey.

As for Dunne, the British Masters champion could do no better than par. Suddenly, Rahm had a two-shot advantage over both of his nearest challengers. And when Rahm reduced the 527-yard par-5 final hole to no more than a drive and a short-iron approach en route to a routine birdie, the destination of the €250,000 first-place check was all but decided. As it turned out, Dunne’s closing birdie was enough to clinch second alone. Elvira took three to get down from beyond the final green.

Not surprisingly, Rahm was more than delighted at the close. But mixed with his obvious pleasure was a sense of relief. Followed by vast crowds around the rather bleak-looking municipal venue that had only eight weeks to prepare for an event that was missing from the European Tour schedule last year, the pre-tournament favourite was clearly feeling the pressure to succeed in front of his home fans. His putting on the clearly inconsistent greens betrayed his tension; all week, Rahm struggled on the bumpy surfaces.

Rahm needed a short iron for his second shot to the green on the par-5 18th hole, setting up a routine birdie for the win. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Still, by the end, all of that was forgotten. Settled by a more than solid beginning to his day (he birdied his first two holes), Rahm immediately closed the two-stroke gap between himself and Dunne. Only once, at the short ninth, did he drop a shot in his closing five-under 67.

“This is hard to describe,” said a clearly emotional Rahm. “The feeling of pride and satisfaction is amazing. This is the hardest Sunday I have ever had to play. Everyone seemed to want me to win. I felt that. And it was hard to deal with. I tried to isolate myself, but I could feel it. So to win here is great.

Rahm was not looking to play too aggressively at first on Sunday. “But I hit four perfect shots on the first hole [for a birdie],” he said. “Then I just kept the good play going.

“My putting hasn’t been too great all week. But I gained a lot off the tee, which made up for a lot. There were a lot of key moments today. I chipped in on 10 for birdie, for example. But the three-foot putt on 17 for par was the most important. When I made that putt, I got on the 18th tee and hit my drive as hard as I could. I wanted the shortest club I could into the green. The drives I hit on 13, 15, 16 and 18 were absolute bombs.”

For the record, this was the 23-year-old Rahm’s third European Tour victory and his second national title, following his win in last year’s Irish Open. Fourth alone in last week’s Masters at Augusta National, one suspects he might just scrape his way on to the European Ryder Cup team come September.

The post Jon Rahm handles ‘the hardest Sunday I have ever had to play’ to win Spanish Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The six months since that memorable nine-stroke victory at Al Zorah in Ajman – save for his T-18 finish at Q-School – haven’t exactly gone to plan, seven straight missed cuts (including unwanted weekend’s off in Dubai, Oman and Qatar) culminating in further frustration at the Challenge Tour’s Kenyan Open late last month. But the 27-year-old Swede clearly has game bursting to get out as his performance at this week’s Open de España in Madrid illustrates.

Sturehed has a shot at a maiden European Tour title Sunday after rattling off scores of 67-68-66 at Centro Nacional de Golf to be -15 in one of the circuit’s more fabled championships. Whats more, he’ll do so in the company of world No. 4 and crowd favourite Jon Rahm in the penultimate group at 3.35pm (UAE time).

Related: Sturehed cruises to MENA Tour championship win

The MENA Tour peddles a “Making it Possible” hashtag and Sturehed is currently living that dream. Indeed, his third round 66 included two incredible shots good enough to claim first and third place in the shots of the day as judged by EuropeanTour.com. You can see them here, starting with a chip in on the 7th which earned third spot:

A bit of Swedish magic from Henric (not Henrik) ????#OpendeEspaña pic.twitter.com/H5SCIypA9d

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 14, 2018

And how about this near hole-out:

Strike ?
Distance ?
Spin control ? pic.twitter.com/OTNHNVtGyj

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 14, 2018

Sturehed will start the final round two shots adrift of Irishman and 2017 British Masters champion Paul Dunne (-17) who will play the final round with Rahm’s fellow Spaniard Nacho Elvira (-16).

The developmental Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Tour continues to fulfil its remit of giving up and coming professionals and amateurs high level playing opportunities in perfect conditions.

Very impressed with @theMENATour player @HenricSturehed‘s showing at the #OpenDeEspana Best wishes ahead of the final round playing with @JonRahmpga @EuropeanTour pic.twitter.com/Ig6pndmGtJ

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) April 15, 2018

“Henric’s performance underlines again why the MENA Tour is so important,” said MENA Tour co-founder David Spencer.

“As our MENA Tour patron Darren Clarke keeps telling all the players, you can practice all you want but you actually have to play in competitive circumstances to [have a chance of making the step up] and the tour is providing that opportunity. It’s also great to see the MENA Tour talked about on the global broadcast.

“This is the first cut Henric has made but that birdie on 18 yesterday to get into the penultimate group was extraordinary. He’s a star.”

Very proud of @theMENATour player @HenricSturehed !!Good luck tomorrow and enjoy playing with @JonRahmpga #OpenDeEspana #MakingItPossible @BUAMIMMj @DarrenClarke60

— David Spencer (@thestripegroup) April 14, 2018

OSN Sport 3HD will broadcast live coverage of the Open de España’s final round from 4pm (UAE time). It will be no cinch for the relatively inexperienced Swede, what with eight players within five shots of Dunne, Rahm included. But whatever happens, you can bet Spencer, his MENA Tour team and a swag of Sturehed’s peers will be glued.

Related: More reflected glory for MENA Tour as Clements cruises through Sunshine Tour Q-School

Cuts made on the European Tour – 1 (this week)
Shots off the lead after 54 holes – 2

Henric Sturehed is having the time of his life in Spain this week. pic.twitter.com/P9guCr6gLt

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 14, 2018

[divider] [/divider]

UPDATED: Henric Sturehed finished in a share of fifth place after closing with a 72.

The Swede, who started the final round two back, overcame a rough start with bogeys on the 3rd, 4th and 9th with gains on the 5th, 10th and 18th to finish on -15 alongside former European Tour winners Brett Rumford (Aus) and Mac Warren (Sco), five shots behind champion Jon Rahm.

Sturehed collected 49,650 for his first made cut on the European Tour after graduating from via Q-School last November.

Top playing by @HenricSturehed finishing 5th on @EuropeanTour this week. Winner of @theMENATour Tour Championship last year @BUAMIMMj @rejwilliams @thestripegroup #makingitpossible

— Zane (@ZaneScotland) April 15, 2018

The post UPDATED: MENA Tour champ finishes fifth as final round partner Jon Rahm wins home Open de España appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

At least that’s how the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship fairytale goes, unless of course you’re co-leaders Thomas Pieters or Ross Fisher, or anyone of the 13 other players within five shots of the lead.

As Matthew Fitzpatrick showed with his sizzling 63 on Saturday, Abu Dhabi G.C. is there for the taking, not withstanding the threat of gusty winds on Sunday. It certainly won’t surprise if someone the ilk of the 23-year-old Englishman, world No.1 Dustin Johnson, defending champion Tommy Fleetwood or even Andrew “Beef” Johnston, emerges as the joker from the chasing pack to win the Desert Swing opener.

But Rory, four-times a bridesmaid around The National and a player who has finished no worse than 11th in nine appearances in Abu Dhabi, is overdue a Falcon and clearly the most dangerous immediate threat to Pieters and Thomas.

The world No.11’s comeback to golf after a 3.5 month sabbatical is already well ahead of schedule as just one bogey in 54 holes illustrates. Even that dropped shot was spectacular after the 28-year-old holed out from the fringe after taking two to escape a greenside trap on the par 3 15th in his third round 65.

Indeed, the Northern Irishman has got better with every round – 69, 66, 65 – and appears in supreme control of his TaylorMade TP5x golf ball from tee to green and around it too as his chip-in for birdie on the 17th yesterday highlighted. With four majors, two WGC titles, seven regular season European Tour and as many again on the PGA Tour, it’s not like McIlroy doesn’t know how to seal the deal, ring rust or not.

So what would it mean to triumph straight out of the blocks in 2018 to erase the first winless, and injury riddled, year of your career?

“It would mean a lot. I’ve had a lot of close calls here, I think about six top threes or something like that,” said the former world No.1.

“I’ve never won my first start back out either. I was close last year in South Africa, Stormy [Graeme Storm] beat me in a playoff. It’s felt like a while since I’ve won and just to give myself these chances; I gave myself a chance at the end of the year at Close House and wasn’t able to do it. Paul Dunne played too well for me. I’m excited to get back on the horse and give myself another chance tomorrow.”

After a 67 Saturday, Pieters has a golden chance too and is a player unlikely to go backwards. That said, the Belgian, T-4 in 2015 and runner-up to Rickie Fowler a year later, will need his icy-cold putter to warm up or he could be overrun in what shapes up as an intriguing, multi-player shootout. The 25-year-old would almost be out of sight if he’d capitalised on all his third round chances but will instead need to survive Sunday’s scramble if he is to capture a fourth European Tour title.

“Yeah, first event out and that’s where you want to be [leading]. You want to have a bit of nerves and feel like you’re in contention, and I look forward to tomorrow,” Pieters said.

After rounds of 67-67-65, Fisher has zeroed in his first European Tour win since the 2014 Tshwane Open and is likewise excited to be in the mix.

“Just having a chance to win the first event for me on The European Tour season, such a prestigious event here in Abu Dhabi, HSBC, you only have to walk up 18 and see the list of past champions,” Fisher said.

“So to have a chance of putting my name amongst that illustrious property of players would be great. Have to go out and play as well as I have done the first three days. I’m excited and looking forward to the challenge.”

He’s not alone.

The post Elusive Falcon within McIlroy’s grasp as Pieters and Fisher lead in Abu Dhabi appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

But it’s what the 23-year-old Englishman planned to do after his eventual best-of-the-week 63 and before bedtime on Saturday that could be the key to his tilt at the $3 million Desert Swing title.

While Fitzpatrick’s putter was impossibly hot in the third round, his driver was not and he figured on ironing that out on the range.

“You know, it’s a real funny one for me today because I don’t feel like tee-to-green I played that well,” Fitzpatrick said after soaring 17 places up the leaderboard into a share of fourth,  two shots shy of overnight co-leaders Thomas Pieters and Ross Fisher.

“I’m sure people will be sat at home thinking, he must have played well. Don’t get me wrong, I had a lot of good approaches, but just struggled a little bit off the tee. Around here it’s really important to get yourself in play off the tee. If you can hit 14 fairways, there’s always a score out there, basically.

“So play a better long game than today, really [that’s the plan for Sunday]. If I go out and shoot the same score, I’ll be a happy man. I think it will be tough to beat. “

Fitzpatrick started Saturday in the eighth to last threesome, six shots adrift of the -12 marker set by 36-hole leader Pieters. But a birdie-birdie start, a gaggle of three more in succession from the fourth and further gains at the 8th and 9th and Fitzpatrick had  gone out in 29 strokes (his best nine was a 28 at the KLM Open two years ago] and hauled himself right back into contention.

When he birdied the par 5 10th and par 4 12th, bookending a magnificent par save after short-siding himself in the hay to the right of the 11th green, the 2016 DP World Tour Champion was a stunning nine under through 12 holes. The 59 watch was on as not even Fitzpatrick could ignore it.

“You know, you’re always thinking, 59, you really are,” he said when asked what he was thinking as he wandered from the 12th green.

“It’s difficult not to. Even though I wasn’t playing great, I knew how well I was putting and I felt if I could just give myself those chances on the greens, I could make the putts, basically.

“So I didn’t feel it would take much to just pick up a few more birdies. I only needed four. I knew 18 was obviously reachable and then a couple of those [last holes], you just get it nearby the hole and you sort of try and take your chance. But you know, it’s so difficult.”

Historically so. There have been two 59s on the Challenge Tour but the lowest score on the European Tour remains 61, a record five players, including Ross Fisher and Paul Dunne (the Irishman shot a 65 in the same group as Fitzpatrick and starts Sunday four back) who are contending here, jointly hold.

A bogey on the 16th, when Fitzpatrick again short-sided himself firing at a pin tucked tight left on the par 4, scuppered the 59 and ultimately cost the Ryder Cupper a share of the Abu Dhabi course record set by Henrik Stenson in the inaugural championship in 2006.

Not that Fitzpatrick was grizzling afterwards.

“At the end of the day, the game is all about scoring, and obviously I’ve scored ridiculously well today. That’s what’s nice. I’m back in the tournament and it’s something at the start of the year that I wanted to do is contend more. “

If Fitzpatrick and his putter slept well overnight, don’t discount the world No.30 turning a good start to 2018 into a great one with his fifth European Tour title.

The post Fitzpatrick flirts with 59 to be right in the Abu Dhabi shootout appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Bjorn will tee it up at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club on Jan. 29 alongside Dubai-based Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello, Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick (both members of the beaten 2016 team at Hazeltine) and reigning British Masters champion Paul Dunne (Ireland). Cabera Bello, Fitzpatrick and Dunne helped Bjorn’s Europeans rally to a 14-10 win over Asia in the EurAsia Cup in Kuala Lumpur earlier today in a positive precursor to the Ryder Cup.

Also confirmed for the 18-hole Gary Player Invitational are the Black Knight himself, D+D Real Czech Masters champion Haydn Porteous, Made in Denmark winner Julian Suri, 2016 South African Open winner Brandon Stone, Portugal Masters champion Lucas Bjerregaard and Jordan Smith, winner of the Porsche European Open.

Cabrera Bello’s sister Emma will also play alongside fellow Ladies European Tour players Olivia Cowan, Carly Booth and Henni Goya. Joining the pros will also be the UAE’s top amateur, Rayhan Thomas, and entertainers Brian McFadden and Keith Duffy (pictured above).

The Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs as the charity set to benefit from the day of “#golfandgiving”

“We are thrilled to be coming back to Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club to kick off 2018 with what will be a field of some of the super new golfing talent in the world,” said Player.

“As illustrated by our field of champions, including the UAE’s very own Rayhan Thomas, the game continues to evolve and strengthen in the UAE which is truly fantastic to see. This, combined with raising money for those in need will make for a fantastic event for all.”

Held in conjunction with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, under the Patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the 2018 Gary Player Invitational at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club is the only Middle Eastern stop in the global series. The series has helped The Player Foundation raise more than $64 million for charities worldwide and plays a key role in helping the foundation work towards its goal of raising $100 million by 2025.

“While the event itself is both engaging and entertaining, it is made all the more worthwhile knowing that funds raised will stay in Abu Dhabi and support the Zayed Higher Organization in all the great work that they do for the community,” said Player.

Supporters include Etihad Airways, TDIC, the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi (host of the post tournament gala dinner), SAP and Rolex. New sponsors confirmed for 2018 include Abu Dhabi Ports and Al Masaood Automobiles.

 Visit garyplayerinvitational.com and follow @GPInvitational on Twitter and Instagram  – #GOLFandGIVING.

The post Ryder Cup stars headline Saadiyat Beach field for 3rd Gary Player Invitational appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we have the perfect solution for the Presidents Cup after the Americans’ latest lopsided victory. Make the foursome of U.S. Presidents who came to Liberty National actually play in the event next time. They wouldn’t have to pair with each other (that would be absurd), but imagine a lefty pairing of Phil Mickelson and Barack Obama? Or a Houston tandem of Patrick Reed and George W. Bush? Would Kevin Kisner do the Three Amigos dance with Donald Trump? And let’s see Dustin Johnson go a perfect 4-0 in foursomes and four-balls while carrying Bill Clinton around as a partner. Sounds fun, right?

Rob Carr

We can only hope. In the meantime, let’s discuss this “Romp By The Swamp.” Or was it the “Thump On A Dump”? Either way, it still gave us a lot to talk about.

WE’RE BUYING

Team USA: Tiger Woods called this the best collection of putters he’s ever seen. Johnny Miller pondered if this year’s U.S. squad was the best golf team of all time. Yeah, these guys are good. And the scary thing for the rest of the world is that this squad could get better with a young core and guys like Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, Beau Hossler, and others waiting in the wings. Team Europe gets the next crack at next year’s Ryder Cup in France. Good luck to Thomas Bjorn’s squad.

Team USA’s winning press conference: As expected, this was a real laugher following The Laugher at Liberty National. It began with Matt Kuchar playing the role of moderator and ended with Dustin Johnson climbing on a chair and singing “Si-Woo shakin’ that ass.” If you think I’m kidding, here’s visual proof.

But wait. It gets even better. pic.twitter.com/9A0dB3zvpB

— Skratch (@Skratch) October 1, 2017

Paul Dunne: The British Masters wound up providing golf’s most drama over the weekend as Rory McIlroy stormed into contention by finishing 64-63. But Paul Dunne (Remember him? The amateur who played in the final group of the 2015 British Open?) answered with a 61, including this walk-off chip-in:

Unbelievable!@dunners11 chips-in at 18 to win the #BritishMasters! pic.twitter.com/branyPTHQN

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) October 1, 2017

As if golf fans needed more evidence that 2017 was not Rory’s year.

This “foot” wedge: Check out the humorous club a pro-am partner of Greg Chalmers used:

Pro am partner uses a foot wedge. Absolute gold. pic.twitter.com/AXcjadE0wR

— Greg Chalmers (@GregChalmersPGA) October 2, 2017

We’re not sure if that’s on the USGA’s conforming list, but that’s great. Side note: Paul Dunne does NOT need one of these.

WE’RE SELLING

Matt Harmon’s finish: The saddest golf tale of the week involved this 32-year-old journeyman. Harmon was on the cusp of earning his PGA Tour card for the first time at two under with two holes to play at the Web.com Tour Championship before missing a three-footer for birdie and then three-putting the final hole for bogey. As a result, Harmon will be back on the Web.com Tour this season. And he’ll have a new putter in his bag after that rough finish.

"This game will drive you nuts."

Matt Harmon missed a @PGATOUR card by just two shots @WebTourChamp. pic.twitter.com/39c0S0Zq74

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) October 3, 2017

Hole-in-one prize loopholes: Belen Mozo was the latest victim to one of these in New Zealand. After Mozo aced the 13th hole at the Mckayson New Zealand’s Women’s Open on Friday she ran up to the car she thought she had won in celebration, but was eventually told it was only for players who made an ace on the hole over the weekend. Ouch.

Perfection ?? Watch @BelenMozo make an ace (the 5th of her career!) at @NZWomensOpen: https://t.co/OQRHamW3hv pic.twitter.com/74AIfd2diK

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) September 29, 2017

Still, speaking as someone who has never had a hole-in-one, just making one seems like enough of a prize.

Dangerous playing conditions: More from Mozo, who found herself avoiding flying signs and debris while trying to putt through gale-forced winds. Not surprisingly, she wasn’t happy, yelling in this crazy video, “We are like sheeps” before play was finally suspended.

https://t.co/hzW2l0jgOV @LPGA is a tour where players DONT have a say or a voice. Like I say we are "like sheeps". ??

— Belén Mozo (@BelenMozo) October 1, 2017

But it wasn’t all bad news for Belen. Despite losing the 54-hole lead, she finished T-5 at the new LPGA event — her best performance of 2017. And she took home plenty of prize money to buy a new car. Maybe even that sweet Infiniti Q60. If she goes easy on the amenities.

ON TAP

And just like that, a new PGA Tour season starts again with the Safeway Open, AKA that event that Tiger almost played in last year. Why are they already playing again on the PGA Tour? Because THERE’S NO OFF-SEASON IN GOLF! These guys are too tough for that!

Random tournament fact: Forty-seven-year-old Phil Mickelson is cutting his Presidents Cup celebrating short and teeing it up in the event. Amy must really want to spend a few days in Napa Valley.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

— This week’s winner’s press conference will be as fun as last week’s: 1 MILLION-to-1 odds

— Si-Woo Kim will win his next tournament: 100-to-1 odds

— Si-Woo Kim will be asked to sing “Si-Woo shakin’ that ass” at his next tournament: LOCK

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (NOT INVOLVING “SI WOO SHAKIN’ THAT ASS”)

This brief interaction between a rules official and Tiger Woods was fantastic.

He said WHAAAAAAAT to ??
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/5rAZv8cwGn

— Skratch (@Skratch) September 30, 2017

OK, so it wasn’t much. But we had so little to get excited about at the “Bore By The (Jersey) Shore.”

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Phil Mickelson took a selfie with three U.S. Presidents. Pretty cool.

When you can take a selfie with three US Presidents, you do it!! pic.twitter.com/E3pNlZ07gs

— Tim Mickelson (@goodwalkspoiled) September 28, 2017

Although, apparently Phil needs to work on his selfie skills.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I’m the worst selfie taker, I’m the worst Three Amigos dancer, but I can putt.” – Phil Mickelson. No arguments here.

SAD QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Yeah, definitely. I don’t know what my future holds for me. As I’ve told you guys, I’m hitting 60-yard shots.” — Tiger Woods when asked if he could see a scenario in which he doesn’t return to competitive golf. Let’s all pretend we didn’t hear that.

THIS WEEK IN DUSTIN JOHNSON-PAULINA GRETZKY AND THE REST OF TEAM USA PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

The 2017 Presidents Cup will go down as “The Pity In Jersey City” to NBC executives, but it delivered as promised on the WAGs front. There were on-course selfies:

Icon Sportswire

Off-the-course activities:

And, of course, plenty of PDA:

Oh yeah, there was even a bit of breaking news as Tiger Woods showed up with Erica Herman.

Rob Carr

And if there was any doubt the two are a couple, that disappeared when Erica joined in for the official winning WAGs photo:

Chris Condon

Welcome to the WAGs club, Erica! And for more of the WAGs’ big week, read Jena Sims’ (Brooks Koepka’s girlfriend) photo diary from the event.

THIS WEEK IN JOHN DALY BEING JOHN DALY

It was a huge week for JD, who opened up a steakhouse in Arkansas on Wednesday:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZhqziPAexi/

And then took a trip to Paris:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZrDMRfgLjQ/

Please let us find out that Jim Furyk has already named Daly a vice captain for next year’s Ryder Cup and that this was a scouting trip. Please!

THIS AND THAT

After a disappointing regular season on the Web.com Tour, Jonathan Byrd recaptured his PGA Tour card with a four-shot win at the Web.com Tour Championship. Good to see the man who once had a walk-off ace still has his good sense of timing. . . . Congrats to Sam Saunders, who used a first-round 59 to lock up his card again with a T-2 finish. The 59 also happened to come almost exactly one year after the death of his grandfather, Arnold Palmer. Talk about a fitting tribute. . . . I never saw Tom Petty in person, but I heard him warming up once while playing a round of golf in Saratoga, and I’ve worn out my Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Greatest Hits CD driving on golf trips. I especially love the line “Even the losers get lucky sometimes,” because it gives me hope that one day I’ll get that elusive hole-in-one. Thanks, Tom. You’ll be missed. . . . And finally, this chocolate milkshake I got at a rest stop on the New Jersey Turnpike might be the best milkshake I’ve ever had.

Considering how many milkshakes I’ve consumed, that’s high praise.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Will Tiger Woods play on the PGA Tour this season?

Will Tiger Woods play in the 2018 Ryder Cup?

Is there a better car song than “American Girl”?

The post An epic Presidents Cup (press conference), Tiger Woods’ new girlfriend, and Team USA PDA on full display appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 24-year-old followed a 68 Thursday with a sensational second round 66 to leave himself at 10 under par through 36 holes, two shots adrift of German pace-setter Martin Kaymer.

“My game feels in good shape. I’m hitting a lot of good iron shots and giving myself a lot of chances. Greens being as good as they are, you are bound to take a few. It’s exciting, yeah. Looking forward to a good weekend.”

However, after his run at The Open somewhat derailed and resulted in a disappointing tie for 30th, Dunne knows not to read too much into two strong opening rounds.

“Nice to get off to a good start but that’s all it is. We’re only half way there. Hopefully keep doing what we’re doing and post some of the same numbers again.”

Dunne had two-top 10 finishes on the European Tour last year, after turning pro in 2015. Although he may not have been able to emulate the instant success of leading going into the final round of a major as an amateur, the two-time former Irish Boys’ Champion feels his game is at its best since joining the pro ranks.

“I definitely feel I’m a better player now than this time last year. I’m better off the tee and I’m a better iron player,” he said.

“If I get the ball in the fairway around this course, the way I’m hitting my irons, I’ll give myself a lot of chances and bound to take a few with the greens being so good. If I can keep the ball in play like I have the last couple of days, just give myself an iron in my hands in the short grass, I’m pretty confident.”  – By John Tully-Jackson

The post Dunne but not yet dusted appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.