By Kent Gray
It will still be known as the ‘Journey to Jordan’ but that’s about where the similarities between the current MENA Tour by Arena season and new-look 2020 schedule end. 

New events in Oman and the UAE – the latter an Alfred Dunhill Links Championship-style Pro-Am over 54 holes – two multi-venue tournaments (albeit at familiar courses) and a $25,000 increase in the purse for the season-ending tour championship headline next season’s schedule unveiled today.

RELATED: Arena become ‘umbrella sponsor’ of MENA Tour

Also gone for 2020 are the current spring and autumn swings, replaced instead by a condensed four-month season, again encompassing a two-stage Qualifying School at Ayla G.C. in late January. Q-School is immediately followed by the first event of the season proper, the Journey to Jordan #1 Championship, also at Ayla Golf Club.

With Aqaba in Jordan back as the tour’s destination partner, Ayla G.C. will again host four events (Q-School and three main season stops) including The Arena (Tour) Championship. The April 19-23 Journey to Jordan decider will be 72-holes for the first time since the 2017 Tour Championship, features an increased prize fund of $125,000 and becomes a full-field event for the first time in what will be the eighth season of the MENA Tour.

The increased playing opportunities and increased Official World Golf Ranking points (five OWGR points to the Arena Championship winner as it has become a four-round event) are by design, not necessity. David Spencer, Strategic Advisor to the MENA Tour, explains the rationale behind the radical rejig.

“There are two very good reasons why we decided to have the Tour schedule packed in one continuous stretch rather than have two legs in Spring and an Autumn,” said Spencer.

“Most development Tours do not start until the end of April, mostly because of the playing conditions in Europe. We are fortunate to have perfect weather in the Middle East during that period. This gives our players a solid run of tournaments, which is great preparation for them going into the summer. Also, it just simplifies things logistically for our players and makes the cost of ‘life’ on the Tour more affordable.

“With the multitude of playing opportunities we provide on European, Asian and the Challenge Tours, the new-look schedule dovetails perfectly with the other Tours.”

RELATED: MENA Tour breakthrough a ‘massive” confidence boost for Allan

The first of the circuit’s new events, the Muscat Open, is to be hosted by at Muscat Hills from Feb. 10-13. The Muscat Open is the first of back-to-back events in Oman ahead of The Ghala Open at Ghala Golf Club (Feb. 16-19).

Muscat Hills G.C.

Troon International venues will feature prominently in the circuit’s new multi-course events. The first, the ‘Triple Crown’ in March, will be co-hosted by Yas Links, Saadiyat Beach G.C. and Abu Dhabi G.C. while Al Hamra has joined forces with existing host venue Al Zorah in Ajman to co-host the Northern Emirates Open.

In another first, the MENA Tour by Arena Invitational Pro-Am will be modelled on the PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and the European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. A venue and purse for the MENA Tour’s iteration has yet to be announced but it will be staged in the UAE and is in the schedule for Mar. 22-25, the week after Abu Dhabi’s Triple Crown.

A minimum of 30 players from each stage of Q-School will secure their cards for the season.

MENA TOUR BY ARENA – 2020 SCHEDULE
Jan. 20-23: Qualifying School A – Ayla GC, Aqaba, Jordan ($6,000)
Jan. 26-29: Qualifying School B – Ayla GC, Aqaba, Jordan ($6,000)
Feb. 2-5: Journey to Jordan #1 – Ayla GC, Aqaba, Jordan ($75,000)
Feb. 10-13: The Muscat Open – Muscat Hills GC, Muscat, Oman ($75,000)
Feb. 16-19: The Ghala Open – Ghala GC, Muscat, Oman ($75,000)
Feb. 23-26: The Bahrain Open – Royal GC, Bahrain ($75,000)
Mar. 1-4: Journey to Jordan #2 – Ayla GC, Aqaba, Jordan ($75,000)
Mar. 15-18: The Triple Crown – Yas Links/Saadiyat Beach GC/Abu Dhabi GC ($75,000)
Mar. 22-25: MENA Tour by Arena Invitational Pro-Am – UAE TBA (Purse TBA)
Mar. 29-April 1: Ras Al Khaimah Open – Tower Links GC, RAK ($75,000)
April 5-8: Northern Emirates Open – Al Hamra GC, RAK/Al Zorah GC, Ajman ($75,000)
April 12-15 TBA – Venue TBA ($75,000)
April 19-23 The Arena Championship – Ayla GC, Aqaba, Jordan ($125,000)

The post Innovative events and new venues highlight ‘condensed’ 2020 MENA Tour schedule appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

In a wide-ranging interview on the eve of the 148th Open Championship, Player shares memories from his three wins in the oldest major, shares his tips for Royal Portrush this week, reveals the secrets of his lifetime of success on and off the course, updates his on-going charity crusade and offers his opinion on Tiger’s pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ major championship record.

RELATED: Live Open coverage to be streamed to Middle East fans

[divider] —- [/divider]

It’s now 60 years since your first Open Championship victory in 1959. Can you tell us about your memories of that week?
GP: I have great memories of that week. My wife arrived from South Africa with our firstborn. I didn’t have the money to go back to South Africa to be with her for the birth, which I felt very uncomfortable about. We got up to Muirfield but I didn’t realise how prim and proper they were. I walked in the clubhouse and Colonel Evans-Lombe, I’ll never forget his name, the secretary, said: “What do you want here?”. I said, “I’ve come to practice for The Open.” He said: “You’re not practicing here my boy. This is Muirfield.” So, I quickly thought, and I said: “I’m poor. I’ve got a wife with a baby. I need the money and I’m going to win The Open.” He said: “Not only are you not going to practice here but you’re an arrogant young man as well.” But I became great friends with him and over a cup of tea he told me not to hit a driver off number 15 every day in the practice round because the wind would change, so we would need to hit a three-iron off the tee and a longer iron in. Well, what happened? I hit a three-iron in the morning and afternoon (in those days it was a 36-hole final day) and a long iron onto the green and birdied it both times. At the prize-giving he stood with his hands tucked into his braces like he’d won The Open himself, which was great. I had a wonderful time at Muirfield and always enjoy going there. It’s a very special club.

How did that win change your mindset for the rest of your career?
GP: I’m neither America nor a British citizen. But I really consider The Open to be the most important tournament in the world. It’s so different. You have so much adversity in the tournament. You get in the bunker, you have to play out backwards. You play in the morning and you play in perfect weather, but in the afternoon you play in a strong wind. You’ve got to battle the elements. It’s a continuation of adversity. There’s no use having a yardage book. Sometimes you can hit a 7-iron 240 yards or you can hit a 7-iron 70 yards. So, you’ve really got to use what I call your natural instinct when playing.

Tell us more about that natural instinct?
GP: It’s something that’s missing for lots of regular tour events. They are looking at books to putt now, which I don’t think you should be allowed to do. Reading a green is part of something that you should be doing yourself with your caddy. Now if you don’t know where to putt, you’ve got a problem. All of the great putters, they never looked at a book. I think they should stop that because it’s using up time too much. We got to think of ways of not making golf slow. We should let people use a range finder. People walk 50 yards here and there to gauge a yardage, but they don’t know how far they hit the ball anyway. Instead, just use range finder. Click and there it is. I don’t know where we go from here. Soon you’ll have a little device you keep on the side of your belt and it will say: “The wind’s blowing into your face seven miles an hour, you’re playing uphill, you’ll need a 6-iron.” We are getting away from the great natural ability that a person has. That natural instinct, which I think is vitally important to separate one golfer from another. If they had to play with the equipment we played with, you’d find less players would be able to win tournaments than they do right now because it definitely separated the players to a great extent. You had to be a better shot maker with the inferior equipment.

What are your favourite Open courses and what do you think of Royal Portrush as a venue?
GP: I was a Royal Portrush three weeks ago. I don’t know if there’s a finer links golf course in the world. It’s hard to say. I think the two best links courses are Turnberry, where the redesign has done a marvellous job of bringing back the Scottish tradition and then also Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. You cannot get a better golf course in the world. I never thought I would ever live to see The Open played at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland again with all the difficulties that they were having. It is marvellous to see it’s going back there. Northern Ireland is a great place to have The Open and the whole of Ireland will benefit because you’re going to have hundreds of thousands of people going there from all parts of the world and the media will explain to the world what a wonderful course, country and people they have there.

Do you have a favourite for Royal Portrush?
GP: I’ve got a feeling Rory McIlroy is going to win and boy that would bring the house down. That would be a wonderful thing for golf in Northern Ireland. It would give Ireland such a boost in the world. That would be the most appropriate when you think that The Open hasn’t been there since 1951. And, you know, he just won the Canadian Open the other day with 22-under, so he’s ready. The last winner there was Max Faulkner, who was signing his name ‘Max Faulkner. Open Champion.’ after 54 holes. He was quite a character.

What are Tiger Woods’ chances at Portrush?
GP: Well Tiger Woods is Tiger Woods. He’s one of the fiercest competitors I’ve ever seen. His judgement with his second shots to greens is probably the best I’ve ever seen. He’s as good as a putter as I’ve ever seen, and secondly, he picks the right club. He’s not a good driver of the ball and the rough is quite heavy there, so I’m sure he will use an iron off the tee or a 3-wood a lot. But you have to have a good draw at The Open. If you get a bad draw, which happened to Tiger at Muirfield, you have got no chance, so playing with the draw is of great importance.

Is Tiger going to pass Jack Nicklaus’ tally of 18 major championship wins?
GP: I don’t think so. The odds are stacked against him doing that at his age, but we are talking about Tiger Woods. I’m such a Tiger Woods fan. His comeback I think it’s the greatest comeback ever in any sport. What he did after what he went through, my hat’s off to him. My goodness me, my hat’s off to him. So, do I think he will pass Jack? I don’t think so. Would it be good if he did? Yes. All records are there to be broken. I’m forever hoping that Tiger will do well. I think Nicklaus will go down as the greatest golfer that ever lived. Because you’ve got to go by the record. The record is what counts. But it wouldn’t surprise me if Tiger Woods won The Open. It wouldn’t surprise me at all. I don’t know what he’s done but he’s swinging really well again.

Following very closely behind is the Women’s British Open. As a massive advocate of women’s golf, would you support calls support for equal pay for the women’s game?
GP: Yes I would. I admire the example of tennis. It’s marvellous to see they have come up with equal pay. I watched the Netherlands playing Sweden in the Women’s World Cup. Those ladies played so well and, if you look at the galleries and the attendance and the coverage, my goodness me, that shows the demand is there. These young ladies, they train hard and they travel around the world. They also have big expenses and they are providing such a strong example for young people everywhere. They deserve it.

The Player Foundation has raised an incredible amount of money for charity, over $64 million over the years. Can you tell us about how money makes a difference in the lives of the people?
GP: Well it’s been interesting and very enjoyable for me. It’s not easy at my age in the latter part of my life to travel to all these countries and raise that amount of money, but we are helping young people that are not as fortunate as we are with a number of projects. The sponsorship of Berenberg Bank has been just unbelievable. In London, they’ve helped us build the Depaul home for young people experiencing homelessness, who are turning their lives around, becoming doctors and lawyers after sleeping on the streets. It’s quite remarkable. In South Africa, we’ve built two schools which is really rewarding to see; people without an opportunity of having education now going out into the world and excelling. The support we have raised gives people a place in the sun. Having been very poor as a young person, it gives you an appreciation. Few people in the world have the same luxuries as we do and we are inclined to forget that.

The Berenberg Gary Player Invitational has been supported by male and female golfers from around the world. What does that support mean to you?
GP: I think golfers are very interested in helping charities. Most of the golfers have a charity of their own. And, if I may say, this started in 1965 when I won the U.S. Open. I was the first golfer at that time  to give my entire check back to cancer as my mother died of cancer, and to junior golf. Since then, it’s been a continuous thing that’s being done by all golfers and I’m very proud of the way golfers have really helped people along the way. Golf is a magnificent sport and it’s a great catalyst for raising money because the average man can play golf with pros, but he can’t go out and play rugby with professionals, for example.

Do you think you have inspired other golfers to look at the charitable impacts they could make? And what do you think golfers could do more of to help?
GP: I don’t want to take too much credit. Obviously, it’s their enthusiasm that makes them do it and they realise that they have a debt to society. I think people must realise that. And I think that it’s going to continue, even more so into the future. The young people, they’re making so much money. When I think back my first Open win at Muirfield, I won a thousand pounds, but that was in 1959. I don’t know what that would be today but a substantial amount of money, and these young fellows are making so much more.

What does the support of Berenberg mean to you?
GP: Well, without Berenberg, we wouldn’t really have had the success that we’ve had. They’ve been a very outstanding sponsor of this event. As has Rolex. If you look at Rolex, what they’ve done for golf and sport. Probably more than any company that I can think of. Between those two sponsors we’ve been very fortunate because if you don’t have sponsors today you just cannot reach the heights that you would like to.

There’s a trend of golfers becoming more health-conscious but particularly more muscular. Do you think they’ve gone overboard?
GP: I think they’ve underdone it if anything. I’ve been ridiculed about doing weight training. Even today, I still push 300 pounds with my legs. I run the treadmill at max. I did thousands of sit-ups and planks and crunches a week. And that’s why at 84 I can still beat my age by 10 or 12 shots every time I play. It’s living proof. Rory McIlroy deadlifts 250 pounds or more. Look at what Koepka is doing with heavyweight training and look at his form. We’ve heard continuously from media that weight training is bad for golf. But look at Tiger Woods. When he played his very best, he was pumped up extremely so. These guys are real athletes now and they’ve realised you’ve got to do weight training and stretching and eat properly.

How have you managed that longevity that no one else really has?
GP:  Well, you’ve got to eat well. The other thing is you got to sleep. I’m blessed that I’ve got a great marriage. I’ll be married for 62 years. I’ve been going out with my wife for 70 years. We have a large family: six children, 22 grandchildren one great-grandchild. So, there are a lot of things that go towards longevity. You have got to work on your mind. If you take the real superstars, the Jack Nicklaus, the Tiger Woods, the Tom Watsons, the Lee Trevinos, the Ben Hogans, they all had something that was different. In their mind, something was different. What is that thing? It’s called ‘It’. No psychiatrist or psychologist can tell you what that is. It’s God-given. It’s not even given, it’s loan to you, and not on a permanent basis. You take a guy like Tom Weiskopf. He was a better golfer than Nicklaus, but he won one Major on the regular tour and one on the senior tour. It’s not just about swinging a golf club.

How has the business of golf changed over your long career?
GP: Well the business in golf has changed but one of the big mistakes professional athletes make is thinking they have a business acumen of sorts. If I had my life over again, I would really have studied and taken business to some degree. I think that’s very important for young professional athletes to understand that. The prize money of golf has changed dramatically. The sponsorships, the charities, the crowds. I mean, take The Open for example. This is the first time at the oldest of all the Major Championships where they’ve sold out 45,000 tickets a day without even selling at the gates. This is just unheard of. So, everything has changed dramatically but as Winston Churchill said, change is the price of survival.

So you support change?
GP: I support change. Yes. You’d be silly not to support change. I mean you can’t live in the past. You’ve got to live it in the present.

Is there any single factor you think has been the key to your success?
GP: I think the faith that I have. It tells you when you’re doing things wrong. It tells you when you’re doing things right. It helps you. Everybody has problems. I don’t know anybody on this planet that doesn’t have a problem. And if he doesn’t have it now, he’ll have it later on in life. But, when you have faith, it helps you to adjust to everything. I know when I was playing in a tournament, I never ever gave up because I felt that that wasn’t the right thing to do. Even if I was going to finish last, I’d rather try and finish second last. So, I think my faith has helped me and has been the great strength of my life, with my marriage, with my family, with my business. Faith and remembering that a great man is judged not by how he treats the higher echelon but how he treats a lady who’s sweeping an airport or somebody who’s in the street that doesn’t have anything.

So humility?
GP: I think humanity is part of it. Look at faith, humility, love. Love is a very important thing. Respect, understanding, patience. All of these things fall under that category of faith. And it’s a shame to see so many people who disregard it. But we all have our choice.

The Gary Player Invitational charity series was founded to raise funds for those less fortunate, contributing to the goal of The Player Foundation of raising $100 million by 2025. The Berenberg Gary Player Invitational will take place at Wentworth Club on July 22, 2019, in aid of Depaul UK. 

The post Open Book: The Black Knight on Tiger, Jack, Rory and the return to Royal Portrush appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Welcome to the first edition of The Sand Trap, where we scour the worldwide inter-web for the Middle East’s best golf news before expertly splashing it out with absolutely no (okay, sometimes a little) spin. Call it old school polishing (reporting) of today’s social media overload, a light-hearted take on everything that is great about golf in the game’s hottest destination.

We’re unapologetically Middle East centric – our colleagues at Golf Digest H.Q. in New York will continue to update you on the best global goings on via ‘The Grind’ and the ‘Dew Sweeper’ – so if it has even a tenuous link to the game here, we’ll be all over it.

If you win a title and your club does the needful online, check in here – you might just feature (remember to smile and share!) alongside the region’s more high profile players. Don’t be shy to share that viral worthy post either. A trick shot or a laughter educing whiff from one of your golfing pals perhaps? Simply tag us @GolfDigestME and we’ll do the rest. Who knows, you really could go global with the assistance of Golf Digest.

With that, enjoy this, your first escape from with the Sand Trap, which we coincidently launch just as the year’s final major is about to take the starter’s orders in St. Louis. Enjoy.

THIS WEEK IN THE INCREDIBLE RISE AND RISE OF JUNIOR PHENOM JOSH HILL

Before we head to Bellerive Country Club for the 100th staging of the U.S. PGA Championship, divert your attention, Dear Sand Trappers, to Royal Dornoch where they’ve apparently been golfing since 1616. That’s 402 years ago according the abacus at Media One Towers, or 388 years since Josh Hill was born right here in Dubai. The drawn out connection here is that Hill is set to tee it up at Dornoch on Tuesday as England opens the defence of its Boys Home Internationals title. And that’s as stunning as the fabled Scottish highlands links land hosting the matchplay event where each team faces the other over three days in five morning foursomes and 10 afternoon singles matches each day.

Hill’s selection to the U-18 England team – remember he’s 14! – continues a meteoric rise. It wasn’t that long ago he was posing with Ryder Cuppers Andy Sullivan and Rory McIlroy as a wide-eyed 12-year-old having just played the DP World Tour Championship Pro-Am at JGE, coinsidently where he trains.

That was late 2016. Fast-forward to early 2018 and Hill marked himself as the hottest prospect in UAE golf since the emergence of Rayhan Thomas, courtesy of eight wins in a magical three month stretch to April. It will be fascinating to see how Hill fares in the pressure-filled matches against Scotland, Wales and Ireland as England aim for a title three-peat. Whatever happens at Dornach, Dubai looks to have unearthed a genuine gem. Best wishes to Josh and kudos to his supportive parents Russell and Jo and Butch Harmon School of Golf Dubai instructor Joe Marshall. All can be justifiably proud of the unexpected international call-up.

JP ON THE ROAD (AGAIN) TO THE 100th PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Talking of the BHSG Dubai, the stock of the Els Club Dubai-based academy’s Director of Instruction, Justin Parsons, continues to rise. ‘JP’ has been criss-crossing the globe recently working with former major champions Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen who are now firmly ensconced in a stable that also includes Peter Uihlein, Frenchman Mike Lorenzo-Vera and the aforementioned Rayhan Thomas. The Northern Irishman was in Akron last week and departed for the PGA Championship thoroughly encouraged by Schwartzel’s storming finish to the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, a 63 at Firestone Country Club propelling the former Masters champion up to a share of 31st with, among others, Tiger Woods.

Great to watch @charlschwartzel get it going today- 63 to finish the week strong. Firestone is a great venue and will be missed, glad I saw the last one. On to the @pgachampionship

A post shared by Justin Parsons (@jparsonsgolf) on Aug 5, 2018 at 1:07pm PDT

Here’s more of JP’s recent handiwork (scroll through the Insta post to see Oosty and Schwartzel in practice at Firestone).

Great to be in Akron for the WGC!!

A post shared by Justin Parsons (@jparsonsgolf) on Jul 31, 2018 at 6:12pm PDT

Parsons was headed to Bellerive (Schwartzel, Oosthuizen, Uihlein and Lorenzo-Vera are all in the field) overnight via a road trip with International Sport Management (think Chubby Chandler’s company) player manager Louis Martin in an RV.  (FYI, Oosthuizen and Uihlein are ISM clients).

So the NFL Hall of Fame is here, flights are full. This legend and I are taking a road trip from Akron-St Louis in an RV. Story to follow- seems like a good idea ????? @ Firestone Country… https://t.co/PtJyDK0xQT

— Justin Parsons (@JParsonsGolf) August 5, 2018

It’s a pretty epic sounding trip – all 900km of it – and we do hope JP shares some footage as promised. What we can guarantee, cough, cough, splutter, splutter, is that it’s not the final destination for the UAE’s best known coach. Again, watch this space.

Related: Woods, Rory and WGC-Bridgestone champion Thomas paired for PGA

TALKING OF GLOBE-TROTTING UAE PROS

With the mercury at sizzling point and the UAE’s driving ranges relatively empty as a result, it’s an ideal time for the UAE’s hard working PGA teaching professionals to grab some well-deserved R&R. And some, like Trump International Dubai head pro Sven Nielsen, are doing it better than most as these epic pictures from Scotland highlands illustrate.

Some breathtaking views at @carnegielinks with the guys yesterday!! Great to play in 20 degrees again. #summergolf #golf #golfer #greatgolfcourse #views #unreal

A post shared by Sven Nielsen (@svennielsenpga) on Aug 3, 2018 at 11:17am PDT

The Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle is a private club “offering limited tee times to non-residents”. As a former pro at Trump Turnberry, we’re guessing Nielsen didn’t have too much trouble getting on. He certainly had little trouble playing his Tiger-esque stinger:

Little 2-iron stinger here!!! ???? Amazing day at @carnegielinks with @msweenie_golf @rob.satterley.golf and @calsatterley what a phenomenal golf course and experience!! Thanks for having us!!! #golf #golfer #golflesson #golfcoach #greatcourse #greatgolfcourse

A post shared by Sven Nielsen (@svennielsenpga) on Aug 2, 2018 at 4:55pm PDT

Nice shot, Sven. But perhaps not quite as flush as your recent ace at Trump.

?HOLE IN ONE? today for me while playing with one of my clients. 145yards PW. ???? #golf #golfer #holeinone #golfcoach #golflesson @trumpgolf @trumpgolfdubai

A post shared by Sven Nielsen (@svennielsenpga) on Jul 20, 2018 at 11:52pm PDT

We’re genuinely happy for the hard-working South African but won’t be so generous if the Springboks show as much class in the upcoming Rugby Championship. Did we mention the team behind the Sand Trap are ardent supporters of the All Blacks?

LUKE’S PRO V1 JOY

Just like the mighty All Blacks, we love golf swag at the Sand Trap, especially swag of the, well, you know, free kind. Check out the booty MENA Tour player Luke Joy has just recieved from a couple of well-known sponsors.

Huge thanks to @GOLFPRINCIPLES @callawaygolf @Callaway_Mat for all the help with getting the new X- Forged irons set up ?Awesome service and superb product come as standard! Many thanks guys?#golfprinciples #lukejoygolf #callaway #rogue #trackman pic.twitter.com/erN0cnP3Nj

— Luke Joy (@JoyBoy59) July 28, 2018

Always great to get a delivery from @titleistukireland / Africa Thanks @titleist for keeping me stocked up… I use the Pro V1 X Ball and Players glove?. #1 #1ballingolf #prov1x #golf #titleist #golfball #lukejoygolf

A post shared by Luke Joy – ‎ليوك (@lukejoygolf) on Aug 3, 2018 at 10:48am PDT

Nice. We’re guessing these shiny new spheres will travel a little further than the tee shot of Joy’s brother Ollie during a recent social round.

So bit of social golf today with my Bro @ollie_joy85 and Cousin at Queens Park GC… Both didn’t make it past the ladies tee… Rules are Rules ? #queenspark #sunshine #pantsdown #golf #keepingitfun #ladiestee #familygolf #family #priceless #bournemouth #england #funinthesun #chef #aussie #lukejoygolf

A post shared by Luke Joy – ‎ليوك (@lukejoygolf) on Aug 2, 2018 at 1:55pm PDT

Rules are rules but enough of those shenanigans. The Yas Links-attached Englishman is just back from a steady 12th place finish in last week’s Sunshine Tour stop in Kenya, an encouraging bounce-back after playing like a complete plonker – his words, not ours – in Open Championship qualifying. 

Joy still has designs on a European Tour card via Q-School ahead of a series of starts on the Sunshine and Asian Tours towards the end of 2018 “with the end goal of punching a ticket to secure European Tour status or at least have some events with a full playing category on the Challenge Tour”.

“I’m working hard with Matt Parker down at Yas so all seems to be working towards the ET for the coming years.”

Here’s hoping, although don’t be surprised if you see more off the course action on JoyBoy59’s twitter feed in the coming weeks; the 30-year-old Dorset pro is getting married at the end of the month. We’re sure fiancée Lauren-Leanne Bellows wouldn’t mind a prolonged honeymoon following hubby to some of the European Tour’s more exotic locales.

To be fair, Joy will need to keep winning to continue to afford experiences like this watching his beloved England in the World Cup.

Thanks for an amazing few weeks @England … You got a whole nation believing, dreaming and singing! Gutted yes, but the future looks very promising for this young side ???????#threeloins pic.twitter.com/BarrHQw8br

— Luke Joy (@JoyBoy59) July 11, 2018

JoyBoy indeed!

FRIENDLY REMINDER #1

It’s not long now until the climax of the European Tour season at JGE. In fact, it’s 99-days until the DP World Tour Championship. Follow the prompt for free tickets, Sand Trappers.

Only #100daystogo until the #greatestplayersonearth return to @JumeirahGolfEst for the #dpwtc. Register for free general admission now #racetodubai pic.twitter.com/MOX8le3aOw

— DP World Tour Championship (@DPWTC) August 5, 2018

DUBAI TROPHY BLAST FROM THE PAST

Former head pro Malcolm Young is clearly in a nostalgic space as he packs up after 10½ years at Arabian Ranches to take up a new posting in Hong Kong. Or perhaps he just found this picture as he was clearing out some clutter.

Either way, it’s a cool rewind to the 2010 Dubai Golf Trophy which the professionals snuck by a solitary point. The Pros will miss Young’s talents next winter as they try to avert a fourth straight loss to the EGF’s best amateurs, but not half as much as the quietly spoken Scot’s old clientele at Ranches. Dubai’s loss is the Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf’s gain. Yup, that’s how highly rated Young is.

ANOTHER SAD FOND FAREWELL

There are leaving dos and then there’s the way Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club do the leaving do. Stick with us here.

How about honouring New Zealand-bound course superintendent Marty Brown with his own golf tournament.

Marty Brown, our Golf Course superintendent is leaving (after 12 years service). Come down and join us on his farewell golf day on 10 August.#golf #sharjah #sharjahgolf #golfindubai #farewellgolf pic.twitter.com/KpYl2d4qRF

— Sharjah Golf & SClub (@SharjahGolf) August 2, 2018

A classy move from a club that is making a habit of doing classy things and best of all, there’s still time to farewell Brown by entering the event.  The Kiwi leaves huge steel-capped boots to fill after presenting SGSC in pristine condition for the last two Staysure Tour (formerly European Senior Tour) Sharjah Senior Golf Masters events. Go well Marty. Oh, and I’m sure you’ll join us in wishing the Mighty All Blacks all the best as well. We did warn you!

TODAY’S TEAR-JERKER

Okay, here’s the Sand Trap’s first tenuous Middle East link. Sure Justin Thomas hasn’t played in the Desert Swing yet – perhaps the American will be the star draw at January’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship or even the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic? – but we just couldn’t ignore his win in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational overnight. More to the point, we loved that JT’s grandparents were on hand to see his third win of the season at Firestone.

What a day for the family

A post shared by Justin Thomas (@justinthomas34) on Aug 5, 2018 at 7:59pm PDT

What a keepsake that pic will be. And now on to Bellerive with Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy set to push Thomas all the way in his defence of the Wanamaker Trophy. Golf is deep. Really, really deep as this 72nd hole drive from JT shows. And to think McIlroy hit a 400+ yarder in the final round at Firestone.

JT’s 394 yards drive at the 18th is the second longest drive ever hit on the final hole at Firestone (396, Tiger in 2003). ・・・ #WGCBridgestone Repost #europeantour

A post shared by Golf Digest Middle East (@golfdigestme) on Aug 5, 2018 at 9:54pm PDT

GEORGIA ON OUR MINDS

The newly-minted Ricoh Women’s British Open champion has been a perennial contender at the OMEGA Dubai Ladies Classic is recent years so there’s a genuine Middle East link to this snippet.

Stunning moment @RICOHWomensBrit #champion @georgiahall96 and a crowd of very #excited youngsters just shows what a young #homegrown #talent can do for #golf #congratulations #georgiahall @ricoheurope @CallawayGolfEU @goodwood_golf #berenberg @RandA @GettySport pic.twitter.com/gw0NORULmW

— David Cannon (@Cannonball63) August 5, 2018

And these stunning pictures are from our favourite golf photographer too, UAE regular David Cannon. Enjoy.

David Cannon

David Cannon

David Cannon

David Cannon

THE GULF CLUB

How about the play of David Baldwin and Leighton Johnson in capturing the EGF’s Summer Pairs Open sponsored by Golf Superstore. Check out all the action in his post from Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Golf Club:

Looks like they were having fun in the sun (okay, blistering heat) at Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club too in annual Troon Executive Card Summer Series.

We had fantastic TEC Summer Series over the weekend at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. Thank you all for your participation and congratulations to the winners! #playgolf #troongolf

A post shared by Saadiyat Beach Golf Club (@saadiyatbeachgolfclub) on Aug 5, 2018 at 4:58am PDT

We had fantastic TEC Summer Series over the weekend at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. Thank you all for your participation and congratulations to the winners! #playgolf #troongolf

A post shared by Abu Dhabi Golf Club (@abudhabigolfclub) on Aug 5, 2018 at 5:01am PDT

The winners were grinners in the fourth round of the Summer BMW X5 Series Open Social at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club too.

Aurn & Vivian win. The fourth round of the Summer BMW X5 Series Open Social was hosted on the 4th August 2018. The format was Betterball medal on the front nine and a Texas Scramble Medal on the back nine. The duo returned net 35 (1 under par) in the betterball & net 30 (6 under par) in the nine hole Texas Scramble format. Giving the pair a combined score of 65, 7 under par. Congratulation to both! @bmwmiddleeast #golf #sharjahgolf #sharjah #greatprizes #summergolf #winners

A post shared by Sharjah Golf (@sharjahgolf) on Aug 5, 2018 at 5:38am PDT

WE. CAN’T. STOP. WATCHING.

Finally, if you’re not already following us on Instagram, here’s a couple of recent posts that should entice you to sign-up at golfdigestme:

Father and son weekend goals. ?‍?

A post shared by Golf Digest Middle East (@golfdigestme) on Aug 2, 2018 at 1:38pm PDT

Talk about father-son goals.

And then there is this in the latest installment of Phil Being Phil, just in case you missed it (quite how that is possible is beyond us).

In My Philings ???

A post shared by Golf Digest Middle East (@golfdigestme) on Aug 2, 2018 at 9:35pm PDT

We don’t know what Lefty’s Dad dance is so weirdly alluring. But… We. Can’t. Stop. Watching. At least it was better than his running putt in the U.S. Open. But lets move on, maybe by watching again. Until next time…Wow Phil. Just wow.

The post Welcome to the ‘Sand Trap’, a social media take on all things Middle East golf appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 21-year-old Al Zorah pro looped the testing The Track, Meydan Golf in two-under 70 on Sunday to back up his win in the season-opening Yas Links Pro-Am.

Related: Wears-Taylor wins Yas Links Pro-Am to pick up where he left off last season

Wears-Taylor finished four strokes clear of host-club pro Alex Nicholson and the in-form duo of Ryan Smith (The Address Montgomerie, Dubai) and Michael Bolt (Trump International G.C., Dubai).

The win sees Wear-Taylor atop the OOM standings with 661.60 points, 155.8 points clear of Bolt who secured his second UAE PGA title at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club a fortnight ago after beating Smith in a playoff after both had posted 68s.

Great to be out on the @alzorahgolfclub fairways again! @taylormadegolf #golfislife #taylormade #whywelovethisgame @beautifulgolfcourses

A post shared by Stefan Wears-Taylor (@stefwt1) on Sep 10, 2017 at 8:06pm PDT

The OOM top 5 after the Track is: Wears-Taylor (661.60 pts), Bolt (505.80 pts), Smith (413.10 pts), newly appointed UAE PGA CEO Luke Plumb (Trump Dubai/377.50 pts) and Mikael Gartner (CV Sports Group/343 pts).

After a short break with the industry focused on the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates, the UAE PGA Tour resumes at Arabian Ranches on Nov. 27. There are also events scheduled for Trump Dubai (Dec. 4) and Saadiyat Beach (Dec. 12).

The post Wears-Taylor waltzes away with second UAE PGA Tour title of the season at The Track appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
An inexplicable four-putt on the penultimate hole made it tighter than it needed to be but Aditi Ashok held her nerve to clinch the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open on Saturday.

A clutch par on 18 at Saadiyat Beach G.C. saw the 19-year-old Indian close with a 69 to edge Englishwoman Georgia Hall by a stoke to bank €70,787 for her third Ladies European Tour title in just her second season as a professional.

Ashok enjoyed a three shot lead standing on the 17th tee even after Hall had birdied the par 3 in the group ahead. But the Bangalore teen somehow conspired to four putt for a double bogey. It meant she needed to par the testing 72nd hole to hold onto her (two stroke)overnight lead and she duly delivered.

Here’s the shot the sealed the deal on a drama-filled day in Abu Dhabi:

What a time to play a shot like this from @aditigolf on the 18th @FBMLadiesOpen pic.twitter.com/dJqoqKAKxk

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 4, 2017

“It wasn’t really nerves,” Ashok said of the potentially disastrous blip on 17. “I think I just lapsed for a bit and made a four-putt. I was playing okay all day, but didn’t make as many birdie putts as I wanted to. I’m just glad I came out on top.”

After back-to-back wins in Indian and Qatar to seal the LET Rookie of the Year title last season, Ashok’s first year on the LPGA Tour in the U.S. has been a steep learning curve with just one top-10 and seven missed cuts in 20 starts.

But her talent is undeniable as shots like this during the final round highlight:

Seriously, how good is this from @aditigolf @FBMLadiesOpen ?????? pic.twitter.com/8Vio0L41YG

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 4, 2017

There was also wedge play like this as Ashok rattled off four rounds in the 60s – 67-66-68-69 – to finish -18:

.@aditigolf wedge game @FBMLadiesOpen ?????? pic.twitter.com/Zg0vKx8pCN

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 4, 2017

Here’s the final standings:

Final @FBMLadiesOpen leaderboard.

All scores: https://t.co/1jQAQYoA0Z pic.twitter.com/H6Xf3t1aly

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 4, 2017

“I had my game plan and wasn’t too aggressive,” Ashok said. “I just kept giving myself birdie putts and that was the plan on 17 as well. I don’t know how I ended up four-putting and I did the same on 18, gave myself a birdie putt and it didn’t go in, so I guess that was the story of my putting today, but the birdies in the middle helped.”

It was the second successive year Hall, who closed with a flawless six-under 66, has had to settle for second after the Solheim Cupper finished three behind Beth Allen at the inaugural FBMLO.

“I’m a little bit disappointed because I thought I needed an eight-under today and I was ticking the shots off in my head. I hit the ball great all week, but I putted poorly and didn’t hole anything today…All my birdie chances were inside 10 feet,” Hall told the LET.

“Aditi played great again and managed to get a par on the last, so well done to her.”

Hall was unaware of the drama unfolding behind her and it ultimately played into Ashok’s hands down the last as the Englishwoman over-cooked her approach to set up this chip she needed to hole to force a likely playoff:

This for @georgiahall96 to level with @aditigolf on -18 @FBMLadiesOpen …. pic.twitter.com/mx17EHYnLj

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 4, 2017

“I played one of the best long games I have played all year but the putts weren’t going in and I was in between clubs on the last hole and went for the longer one. Maybe a bit of adrenaline went through me and I hit it too long but I made a good up and down.

“As far as I knew, I thought Aditi was 20-under so I was three behind going down the last, so I didn’t think I had a chance. If I had known, then maybe things would have been different.”

Swede Camilla Lennarth signed for a 67 to finish third on -16, a shot ahead of Cheyenne Woods who closed with a two-under 70.

.@aditigolf wins the 2017 @FBMLadiesOpen on -18 & lands her third LET title. Another extremely impressive display ?????? pic.twitter.com/ytyZwiwpW2

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 4, 2017

The post Ashok four-putts penultimate hole but holds on for third LET title appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

South African Lee-Anne Pace somehow achieved just that with a second successive 66 at Saadiyat Beach to hold onto her overnight lead at the halfway stage of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open.

The 36-year-old is -12 through 36-holes of the Ladies European Tour event, a shot clear of reigning LET Rookie-of-the-Year Aditi Ashok after the Indian teen matched Pace’s 66.

Lee-Ann Pace

Luna Sobron soared 73 places up the leaderboard with a 62 that eclipsed the old course record by two shots and shares third at -9 with Swede Camilla Lennarth (65) and Cheyenne Woods who holed out with a seven iron from 161 yards on the 6th en-route to a 66. It wasn’t the only pure shot the American hit in the second round either:

Who said long bunker shots were tough?! @Cheyenne_Woods giving a masterclass @FBMLadiesOpen pic.twitter.com/DNtaouXHZ3

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 2, 2017

Related: Luna Sobron rockets into contention at FBMLO with course record 62

“It feels great,” Pace said of remaining atop the leaderboard.

“I remembered the course better today but I struck the ball really nicely too. I hit the shots I wanted to hit and I hit it really close to the pin and made the putts.

“Tomorrow I’d like to start the way I did today, and be a bit patient, as patience helps you to do a lot. I had some chances which I didn’t take but in the end I’m pretty satisfied.”

Luna Sobron en-route to her course record 62.

Ashok is ominously poised.

“I feel I’m hitting the ball well enough, though I missed a couple of drives left. But apart from that I struck the ball pretty well. My putting has been pretty good too, so I’m happy,” said the 19-year-old from Bengaluru.

“I’m still bogey free and everyone is mentioning it. I’m just focusing on hitting the fairways and letting the birdies happen.”

Georgia Hall shot an impressive 67 to finish at -8 in joint fifth place with fellow Englishwoman Florentyna Parker, Celine Herbin (France) and Swede Linda Wessberg.

.@georgiahall96 so close to a hole-in-one on the par-3 6th hole @FBMLadiesOpen pic.twitter.com/M9Uw23ds6k

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 2, 2017

It was a tough day for Marianne Skarpnord as Norway’s rising star dropped to -2  while fan favourite Carly Booth shot another 72 to finish even and miss the cut – made at -1 – by one shot.

Defending champ Beth Allen also has an unwanted weekend off after adding a disappointing 76 to her opening 73 to finisb +5.  Her tweet afterwards summed up the America’s feelings:

What a world class event here at @SaadiyatBeachGC for @FBMLadiesOpen. Gutted to have put up such a terrible defense. #nextyear

— Beth Allen (@BethAllenGolf) November 2, 2017

Full scores here

The post Pace persists as Woods and Luna left over the moon at FBMLO appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Luna Sobron has slashed the course record at Saadiyat Beach G.C. by two strokes to go from potential cut victim to genuine title contender at the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open.

The 23-year-old Spaniard mixed an eagle, nine birdies and a bogey in a 10-under 62 to rocket from a share of 76th place overnight following an opening 73 to a share of third early on the second day of the Ladies European Tour event.

?NEW COURSE RECORD?@Lunasobron ?@SaadiyatBeachGC
1 eagle
9 birdies
7 pars
1 bogey
62 (-10)
?????? pic.twitter.com/j5CHXQhlvH

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 2, 2017

Sobron is -9 for the championship, three shots behind first round leader Lee-Anne Pace (South Africa) who had a second successive 66 to move to -12. Reigning LET Rookie-of-the-Year Aditi Ashok (India) is at -11 after also signing for a second round 66 while Sobron shares third with Swede Camilla Lennarth after a 65.

The 62 eclipses the course record of 64 jointly established by defending champion Beth Allen and Brit Georgia Hall at the inaugural FBMLO last year.

Sobron went out in three under 33 with four birdies and a bogey at the par 3 6th. She came home ina staggering seven under 29 highlighted by an eagle on the par 5 15th and played her last 11 holes nine under par.

“I didn’t know it was the course record so I am very happy, it must have been all the putts I made, including that eagle on the 15th,” said Sobron who advanced to the final stage of LPGA Tour Q-School after finishing T-5 at the second stage in Florida just before arriving in Abu Dhabi.

“My back nine was just amazing. On the 18th I made a good chip onto the green and I just prayed my final putt would drop [for par which it duly did].

“I am now confident ahead of the rest of the tournament, however it will be difficult to do again, so I just need to enjoy my golf.”

On Thursday at least, satisfaction was guaranteed for the Rookie-of-the-Year candidate who will be one to watch over the weekend at Saadiyat Beach.

The post Luna Sobron rockets into contention at FBMLO with course record 62 appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Lee-Anne Pace has a surname tailor made for the top of golf leaderboards, not to mention easy/cheesy headlines. She’s also a pace-setter with a game that ensures her full name regularly gets engraved on important trophies.

The 36-year-old South African set a cracking early mark at the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open Wednesday with an opening six-under 66 at Saadiyat Beach G.C.

She’ll take a one stroke advantage into Thursday over six players – Jenny Haglund (Sweden), Marianne Skarpnord (Norway), Amy Boulden (Wales), Isa Gabsa (Germany), Aditi Ashok (India) and Florentyna Parker (England) – after a red number day in Abu Dhabi where 55 players bettered par.

Pace, who mainly plys her trade on the LPGA Tour in the United States, is playing the FBMLO for the first time but remains one of the Ladies European Tour’s marquee stars.

Her breakout year in 2010 was nothing short of sensational – five wins, the order-of-merit title and Players’ Player-of-the-Year honours courtesy of 92 percent of the vote. She’s added four more LET titles since, the last in 2014 at her home South Africa Open, the same year she captured her thus far sole LPGA title at the LPGA Blue Bay in China.

The world No.97 started the 2017 LPGA season with a bang with a fourth placing at February’s Honda LPGA Thailand and backed it up with another top 10 and three more top 20s in her next four starts. Her form dipped thereafter – she finished 88th in the CME Globe Rankings – but has come good in her last two LET starts with a share of second in Spain in September and a T-16 at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France last month.

She rode a hot putter Wednesday at Gary Player’s ocean-front layout, a course she sees as ripe for the picking.

“It’s the first time that I’ve played here and the par fives are definitely reachable. I messed one up, the 15^th, where I went into the water, but I managed a par there,” said Pace who mixed seven birdies (two of them on par 5s) against a lone bogey on the tough 16th.

“It wasn’t perfect but I did make a lot of putts and seven birdies is quite nice. I played nicely, hit 14 greens and made quite a few putts for par saves, so the putter was working.”

Parker looked set to join Pace atop the leaderboard but the Solheim Cupper bogeyed the 18th to settle for a 67. It was a top start too for 24-year-old Haglund, the current Rookie-of-the Year leader and Ashok who won that honour last year while Boulden will be buoyed by the fast start after the frustration of failing to advance from the second stage of LPGA Tour Q-School in Florida last month.

Cheyenne Woods is poised just three shots back after a 69, alongside Georgia Hall who is third on the LET money list but in pole position to win the OOM title as leader Anna Nordqvist and second-placed In-Kyung Kim have not played the requisite five events to qualify. Kim, the reigning Women’s British Open champion, is scheduled to play the season ending Omega Dubai Ladies Classic but that will only bring her up to four events.

Hall hinted at a fast start with Boulden and friends at Yas Marina on the eve of the tournament. Check out the great LET promo – and some priceless expressions – here:

American Beth Allen opened her title defence with a one over 73 which included a topsy-turvy double bogey, bogey, par, chip-in birdie finish while new European Solheim Cup captain Catrions Matthew signed for a one-under 71 and Dame Laura Davies an even par 72. Even par is already to the projected cut line.

Solheim Cup rookie Mel Reid withdrew from the tournament with a back injury after opening with a 77.

The post Lee-Anne sets sizzling Pace at Saadiyat Beach

 appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
South African Lee-Anne Pace set the, ahem, pace on the opening day of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open with a six-under 66 at Saadiyat Beach.

But the 36-year-old former Ladies European Tour Player-of-the-Year has plenty of close company on a leaderboard smothered in red numbers. Here’s a selection of reactions from players just off Lee-Anne’s Pace (we promise to stop now):

Marianne Skarpnord (Norway/67)

“I was a little tired this morning, having to wake up at about 4.30am but theconditions were perfect. I played a solid round and I got a bit lucky on the 18^th [where she holed out for an eagle two], so it was a good start, which is important on this course as it’s quite a score-able course to do well on. I haven’t been playing that well lately and I’m just trying to get out there, chill and have fun and hit the golf ball.

Amy Boulden (Wales/67)
 “Yes, I played well. I had a lot of birdie chances and my putts weren’t that great today, I holed a few but I did miss a few short ones too, which is very unlike me. I loved the early start, as it’s generally cooler out there at that time and of course it got hot but there was a nice breeze too.”

Jenny Haglund (Sweden/67)
 “I played really well and I putted it well today, so I’m very happy. It was my putting that worked really well. I made lots of putts and lots of birdies that’s what made the difference.”

Victoria Loveday (Brazil/68)

.@vic_brasil_golf cards a 1st round 68 to move into T4 position @FBMLadiesOpen on -4 pic.twitter.com/ZflVPpG5vy

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 1, 2017

“It was a great day. It was a beautiful morning as well. The wind wasn’t blowing that much. I love this game, that view on the course and keeping in the present gave me good vibes. Going forward I am in a good place and the tournament is only going to end on Saturday so there is lot of golf to be played and I’m just going to keep enjoying myself, one shot at a time.”

Georgia Hall (England/69)

“Yeah I played really well today, I hit loads of greens, my long game was really good, I just couldn’t hole anything on the front nine. In my opinion, I could have easily hit seven-under today. The greens were a little hard to read on the front nine, because you’ve got to read the grain too but it’s a solid start for day one. I’ve played the first round now so I am off and going, hopefully I can just putt a little better tomorrow.”

The post They said it at the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Ladies European Tour trio savoured a chance to experience the epic vastness of the Empty Quarter during a promotional visit to Liwa Desert ahead of the Nov. 1-4 event at Saadiyat Beach G.C.

Check out the video here:

Mozo, Boulden and Mehmet get down to the serious business of the €515,000 FBMLO with the Pro-Am on Tuesday ahead of the first round Wednesday.

The tournament is free to attend and public can register for free tickets at www.fbmladiesopen.com/tickets or on the gate on the day.

Visit fbmladiesopen.com for more info and stay tuned to Golf Digest Middle East for daily coverage.

L to R: Belen Mozo, Inci Mehmet and Amy Boulden.

The post Liwa Ladies launch Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.