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.

The two-time world champion is one of 12 of heavy hitters confirmed for the Jumeirah Golf Estates event from 7pm. There are also four places available in the main field at an open qualifier earlier on Friday (10am) but with long drive specialists flying in from the U.S. and South Africa at their own expense, the heat will be on.

Related: ‘Blonde Bomber’ Burke back to defend title

LDWS Portugal champion Ryan Reisbeck was a Thursday qualifier in Dubai last year and went on to reach the final. It has Miller urging UAE amateurs to leave absolutely nothing in the tank – with any swing.

“My advice for all you guys trying to come out here and qualify is just, No.1, swing it as fast as you possibly can, okay,” said Miller via video message.

“No one is going to take notice of you if you fill the grid up, eight balls out of eight. All they want to see is pure speed and power so make sure you give it to ‘em, and give it to ‘em fast.”

For an example of the “fast” of which Miller speaks of, take a look at this slow-mo of his powerful swing.

Flexibility goals. Two-time world champ @JoeMillerLDC has power on tap for Friday's @LongDriveWS opener @JumeirahGolfEst. 7pm pic.twitter.com/rTim2HTWnY

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

The Dubai event is the first of 10 scheduled for 2018 and has Miller in a bullish mood.

#LDWSDubai – Players Portrait
? Joe Miller LDC ??
? Born 1984, weighs 19st / 120kgs and is 6'4 / 1.90m tall
? Longest Drive is 474 yards / 433 metres
? Clubhead speed is 150mph / 241 kmh and Ball speed is 225mph / 362 kmh#golf #dubai #longdrive #longdriver #ldws pic.twitter.com/ynimKFGSSY

— Long Drive World Series (@LongDriveWS) February 5, 2018

“I’m feeling good, I’ve got to say. I’ve been training hard over the winter period and I’m just waiting for it to get under way and find out if we’ve made some improvements over the winter period,” Miller said. “Most of all I’m [looking forward] to competing against these guys. These are the best in the world and if you ever want to know how good you are, this is where you’ve got to be.”

American Tim Burke, who goes by the nickname “Blonde Bomber, is defending champion and looks to have his swing in synch:

Defending @LongDriveWS Dubai champ @TimBurkeGolf warming up for Friday's 2018 series opener at @JumeirahGolfEst ? pic.twitter.com/Tm7cNtVUSu

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

Englishman James Tait looks to be swinging it sweetly as well, or at least frighteningly hard anyway.

@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

The LDWS is again being staged on the JGE driving range where the organisers have promised “bitter rivalries, big personalities, sudden-death knock outs…with pyrotechnics, DJs, walk-on music, a licensed setting, DJs, food trucks and free entry”.

Get yourself in the mood with the season bow promo here:

The post Miller’s message to LDWS wannabes: ‘Give it to ‘em, and give to ‘em fast’ appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 31-year-old American edged Thursday qualifier and LDWS Portugal champion Ryan Reisbeck 335 yards to 329.5 yards in the inaugural Dubai final last March and also produced the longest drive of 341 in brisk headwinds.

The ‘Blonde Bomber’ will be hoping for something in access of 400 yards on Friday if the weather plays ball on the JGE driving range where the organisers have promised “bitter rivalries, big personalities, sudden-death knock outs…with pyrotechnics, DJs, walk-on music, a licensed setting, DJs, food trucks and free entry”.

Reisbeck is also back alongside a who’s who of the long drive world. The entry list includes reigning LDWS UK champion Emil Rosberg (Sweden), two-time world champion Joe Miller (U.K.), Ilija Djurdjevic (Serbia); American’s Ryan Steenberg, Kevin Shook, Will Hogue and Maurice Allen, and Tommy Hug, James Tait and Scott Bevan (all U.K.).

The stars, along with three UAE wildcard qualifiers, will compete for a purse of the AED 94,500 (£19,000).

If you fancy testing your swing against the world’s heaviest hitters, register here or simply show up on Friday. It’ll cost you AED 996 (£200) but includes VIP tickets and access to the players’ lounge during the event, along with a lifetime of kudos from your pals if you qualify.

Enter the UAE Wildcard Qualifiers

The LDWS main event takes place from 7pm. Entry is free with VIP packages available for purchase. Fans are also welcome to attend the open qualifiers from 10am (also Feb. 9) and player seeding at 3pm.

Having launched in Dubai last March before momentum generating stops in the U.K. and Portugal last year, the 2018 LDWS has upped the ante with 10 events earmarked: Dubai (Feb.9), Mexico (March 15-19), South Africa (April 11-13),  United States (May TBC), United Kingdom (June TBC), Sweden (July TBC), Russia (Aug. TBC), Portugal (Sept. TBC), China (Oct. TBC), Turkey (Nov. TBC).

For more details visit: longdriveworldseries.com

The post ‘Blonde Bomber’ Burke back to defend Dubai LDWS title appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.