THE TIGER KING pic.twitter.com/4h6wrcV1Oy

— Mister Morris (@mistermorris55) March 23, 2020

Who are we kidding? Anyone reading this has already watched it. Well, except my parents. Seriously, give it a try, guys. What else do you have to do? Well, other than read The Grind, of course. We may not have Joe Exotic, but we’ve got a quirky cast of characters in their own right and some unusual plotlines as well. So let’s dive in.

WE’RE BUYING

Michael Jordan’s playground: New playground, that is. Man, I used to love watching that VHS (dating myself!), but now MJ has an actual, sprawling playground with his own golf course called The Grove XXIII (get it?). Our Derek Duncan did a story on the Hobe Soundtrack and it looks absolutely spectacular:

LC Lambrecht

Also looking spectacular? That ESPN documentary on Jordan’s Bulls, which has now had its release date pushed up because everyone begged for it. Turns out, peer pressure can be a good thing!

Larry David: First of all, have you watched the new season of Curb Your Enthusiasm? It’s utterly brilliant. So good, in fact, I’m considering moving it into a tie with Seinfeld. . . but anyway, Larry is doing good things off-camera as well like setting up a fund for Riviera’s caddies during these tough times. The best part? He did it with his friend, Lloyd Braun. Meaning there’s actually a real Lloyd Braun!

OK, so that’s not actually the best part. The best part is the money for the caddies, but you get the point. Well done, LD.

Calvin Peete: I’m not sure why, but a few people were discussing Peete’s driving accuracy on Twitter and it caught my attention. Look at these stats!

Calvin Peete hit 81.5% of fairways from 1980-1990. That's an average of 11.4 out of 14 per round.

His driving accuracy rankings from 1980-1990:

1980: 2nd
1981: 1st
1982: 1st
1983: 1st
1984: 1st
1985: 1st
1986: 1st
1987: 1st
1988: 1st
1989: 1st
1990: 1st https://t.co/5MkjRquggT

— Sean Martin (@PGATOURSMartin) March 25, 2020

The dude hit more than 81 per cent of his fairways for over a decade?! That’s nearly Michael Jordan’s career free-throw percentage! Amazing. Also, my grandpa (RIP) always said he was a big fan of Calvin (RIP as well) who played before I started watching golf. So yeah, he’s way up in my book, too.

WE’RE SELLING

More postponements/cancellations: Another week, more moving parts when it comes to golf’s interrupted schedule, many of which were reported by our Joel Beall and Brian Wacker. The British Open could be heading for September, the U.S. Open could be moving to October (and moving locations), and the Masters might be in November now. Actually, assuming life gets back to normal, that sounds like a pretty sweet plan. Fingers crossed.

Mass DQs: As long as golf continues to be played somewhere, there will continue to be rules violations. Even on the Outlaw Tour, where you might think the rule of law wouldn’t apply. Turns out, the Outlaw Tour has a Sheriff! True story!

Sheriff out! Love it. But seriously, this situation sucks, especially for the 14 players who plunked down as much as $875 to enter the tournament only to be disqualified after a scorecard mix-up that caused them to play from a LONGER yardage. Ouch.

Corona-aided aces: With golf courses that are still opened raising cups to help prevent the spread of the disease, this is a valid question:

https://twitter.com/cfenmagic/status/1244045815267700747

But, sorry, the answer is no. Call me the Hole-in-One Sheriff.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour heads to was supposed to be at the Valero Texas Open, AKA that event that now precedes the Masters even though it’s not at all a tune-up for the Masters like the Shell Houston Open was. Regardless, it’s safe to say the Valero Texas Open has never been missed this much.

Random tournament fact: Charley Hoffman might miss this event more than anyone considering he has a win, two seconds and a third. In fact, PGATour.com put him No. 1 on an all-time Valero Texas Open power rankings list. Yep, these are tough times for creating golf content. We applaud the effort.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

— Gambling isn’t allowed/encouraged at MJ’s golf course: 1 MILLION-to-1 odds
—The Masters won’t be played in 2020: 3-to-1 odds (Actual odds… gulp…)
—I will make a Corona-aided ace and not be allowed to count it now: LOCK

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Scary, devastating scenes from Davis Love III’s St. Simons Island (Ga.) house burning down:

Sad news from St Simons Island.
Glynn County Fire chief says Davis Love III home was destroyed by fire early this morning. No injuries. pic.twitter.com/VMAZgAp8Ao

— RICHARD ROGERS (@RRNEWS12) March 27, 2020

Thankfully, no one was hurt.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

A bored Joe Buck asked for people to send him random videos to do play-by-play to and Justin Thomas responded with one of him fixing his hair. The result was superb:

Here’s my buddy @pgatour player @JustinThomas34. Is this the most captivating video? No. Is it relatable to 75% of the men that will see it? Yes. Yes, it is. Justin, we can DM about who to go see. Also, I did the @JordanSpieth line per your request so now make a donation! pic.twitter.com/bwzAhCgPyB

— Joe Buck (@Buck) March 28, 2020

I lost it on the “Jordan Spieth pulldown” line. Well done all around.

ARCHIVE VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

A little over four years ago, Nicolas Colsaerts smoked a 3-iron through a sliding door in his hotel room. It was an impressive—and dangerous—shot that went viral, but we only just found out how dangerous it actually was. Turns out, Colsaerts’ first attempt didn’t make it through!

After inundated requests from the archives I present – The famous @Coelsss 3am, 3 iron first attempt – Never seen before – @IMGAcademy @LukeKerrDineen @LukeDonald @IanJamesPoulter @JustinRose99 @Bryce_bunkered @GolfMonthly pic.twitter.com/SASuriqSum

— Kevin Craggs (@kevincraggsgolf) March 27, 2020

As with the Love house fire, thankfully, no one was hurt.

THIS WEEK IN DUSTIN JOHNSON-PAULINA GRETZKY PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION PUTTING

If Dustin and Paulina are any indication, we are going to see unprecedented good putting when this is all over. pic.twitter.com/RjS2rMEatq

— Alex Myers (@AlexMyers3) March 26, 2020

You know what they say: The couple that putts together, stays together. But seriously, it seems like everyone from tour pros to colleagues have been practising their putting during this crazy time. I should probably get on that. Or exercise. Or just do something other than eat Hershey’s Kisses.

THIS WEEK IN PHIL BEING PHIL

A few days after I knocked the five-time major champ for being too quiet during this boring time to be a sports fan, Mickelson delivered some potentially amazing news on the content front:

Working on it

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) March 30, 2020

A Tiger-Phil rematch? Sign me up! But could this really be a possibility?

I don’t tease. I’m kinda a sure thing

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) March 30, 2020

Not a tease, that is, unless you count all those U.S. Opens! Anyway, let’s hope this “sure thing” comes through. Whatever the format. Whoever the participants. Please. Give us anything.

THIS WEEK IN OTHER TOUR PROS BEING QUARANTINED

Soren Kjeldsen figured out a way to have some family fun while poking fun at Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and others with these impersonations:

Søren Kjeldsen's home impressions ?

Thanks to Kjeldsen Productions (his kids) for filming. pic.twitter.com/mi7xymnLRJ

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) March 25, 2020

Good stuff. Also, if that’s all part of Soren’s backyard, it looks like he’s invested his career earnings very well. And in case anyone was wondering if Rory is still good at golf:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-XT0ImlzMl/?utm_source=ig_embed

Yep, Rory is still good at golf.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Excuse my French but this shit is going to make us treasure so much down the road guys. ??

— Eddie Pepperell (@PepperellEddie) March 30, 2020

You’re excused, Eddie. And completely correct.

THIS AND THAT

Sunny Kim shot a final-round 59(!) to win his 67th(!) Minor League Golf Tour event. Not sure how the MLGT stacks up to the Outlaw Tour, but that is mighty impressive. . . . The 2020 Olympics has been officially postponed to 2021. In other words, Justin Rose can tote his gold medal around for another year. . . . And finally, Mark Calcavecchia played the role of hairdresser for his wife:

@MarkCalc the hair dresser. #domyroots #nograyhere ??‍? #StayAtHome #Quarantinewcalcs pic.twitter.com/6nzjbXijYF

— Brenda Calcavecchia (@brendacalc) March 30, 2020

You’d think a golfer would have a lighter touch.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Will they still be called the 2020 Olympics?
Are we about to enter the greatest putting era ever?
How long can I last before my wife has to cut my hair?

The post Michael Jordan’s (new) playground, Phil Mickelson’s big tease, and Joe Buck roasts Justin Thomas’ hairline appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Amid trying to keep his game sharp for when the season resumes, Soren Kjeldsen has sharpened his imitation skills of other top golfers, including Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia, and Ian Poulter. Here’s the 44-year-old Danish golfer’s video, which was co-created by his kids:

Søren Kjeldsen’s home impressions ?

Thanks to Kjeldsen Productions (his kids) for filming. pic.twitter.com/mi7xymnLRJ

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 25, 2020

Now that’s some good quality family fun while on lockdown. Who says you just have to watch “Frozen 2” over and over (and over) again. Seriously, make it stop.

Anyway, well played by the four-time European tour winner. The Tiger twirl and strut was a highlight, but so was his go at Tyrrell Hatton’s animated on-course reactions. And how about imitating Rory McIlroy’s infamous club toss into a lake at Doral by. . . actually tossing one of his clubs into a lake. Talk about commitment.

So keep up the good work, Soren, because we like watching. And, well, there’s not much else to do these days.

The post European Tour pro imitates Tiger Woods and other golfers, is your new quarantine MVP appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Thomas Bjørn’s buildup to the European Tour’s newest stop has been nothing if not emotional.

The Ryder Cup captain savoured having his son Oliver along for the walk during the Pro-Am on the eve of the $1.75 million NBO Oman Open at Al Mouj Golf in Muscat.

“He’s mad keen on golf and he’s had a bit of a hard time with an operation on his leg recently so it was nice for him to get out of the cold and wet back home and enjoy some sun,” said the 47-year-old. “We’ll see if he can make it around the golf course – he’s struggling a little bit – but it’s always nice to spend some time with him at golf tournaments.”

Not the only Dane father/son duo in Oman this week…@thomasbjorngolf and his son Oliver ?? pic.twitter.com/engJad2esD

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

The special father-son moments are a bit of a Danish theme this week; Søren Kjeldsen has his son Emil on the bag this week.

Father/son goals ?‍?

Søren Kjeldsen has his son Emil on the bag this week. pic.twitter.com/NVF3hcP16V

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

There was, however, a somber tinge to the day for the Danish contingent in Muscat after news filtered through that Denmark’s Prince Henrik had passed away late on Tuesday night. He was 83.

Sad day for our nation.
HRH Henrik, prince of Denmark, thank you for everything you have done for our country.
Heart and thoughts go out to our wonderful royal family at this time.
RIP

— Thomas Bjorn (@thomasbjorngolf) February 14, 2018

With September’s 42nd Ryder Cyp matches at Le Golf National looming, Bjorn’s main golf focus remains on preparations for Paris. But he’s still plugging away with his own game and will be looking to make it three cuts and four starts at Al Mouj.

After an encouraging T-30 finish in Abu Dhabi, Bjørn was a victim of the historically low scoring at the Desert Classic where he missed the cut by two shots despite being three under. He followed up with a T-39 effort in Malaysia at the Maybank Championship and is delighted to be one of the headline acts this week.

Related: This is your Ryder Cup captain speaking

“It’s great to have new events come up on the European Tour like this one. In golf you lose some events over time and you gain some, and if this kind of event – with such a beautiful golf course, a great venue and a great place to come – is the kind that we gain, it bodes well for the future,” said Bjorn who will tee it up with Kjeldsen and Belgian Thomas Detry at 7.25am in Thursday’s opening round.

“It’s just a great place to come and play golf. We enjoy all of our events in the Middle East but the Challenge Tour guys had been saying this was a great venue and a great golf course and they weren’t wrong.

“You look at some of the views on this course and some of the holes along the water, it’s spectacular. The course is great, the facilities…it’s one of those places where you come through the gate, see what’s here and realise it’s a really nice place to play golf. I’m sure anyone playing with these views will be up for it and I’m just looking forward to a nice week.”

Related: We preview the key first round groups for your viewing pleasure

Bjorn’s praise for Al Mouj echoed around the Twitter-sphere with 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie and Ryder Cupper Andy Sullivan giving their seal of approval.

Very enjoyable pro am this morning with three very nice locals and the golf course is mint @NBOGolf pic.twitter.com/aGdZgewKur

— Paul Lawrie (@PaulLawriegolf) February 14, 2018

Great finishing hole here in Oman. Going to be a great watch stunning course #pure pic.twitter.com/t0wFHqW62B

— Andy Sullivan (@andysulligolf) February 14, 2018

The European Tour social media team are certainly impressed with the Greg Norman design, the par 3s in particular. It’s no surprise to us of course; Al Mouj rated third in our 2018 Top 10 Courses in the Middle East.

“Infinity” 11th green (left)
“Island” 5th green (right)

This week’s par 3s are epic pic.twitter.com/T5WYUDOc0C

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

The post Bjørn on NBO Oman Open venue Al Mouj: ‘It’s amazing here’ appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 21-year-old Indian is the surprise early leader of the season-long Race to Dubai after winning the Joburg Open and Maybank Championship in the past two months to scoot up to No.71 in the Official World Golf Rankings.

Sharma will peg it up with 2016 Ryder Cupper Andy Sullivan and Frenchman Alexander Levy at 7.15am in the marquee morning three-ball as Al Mouj Golf graduates to full European Tour status after a five year Challenge Tour apprenticeship. He’s clearly expecting a challenging week.

“I’m surprised this is the first time Al Mouj Golf has hosted a European Tour event as it’s such a great course,” he said. “It’s a tough, long course that can get windy; I definitely think that it’s a championship course. Now they have the event here I’m sure it will continue for many years to come.

“It would mean a lot to win an event in the Middle East especially at such a great course as Al Mouj Golf. I’m playing well at the moment so hopefully I can have four good rounds and we will see what happens. Every win is special to me so hopefully I can keep going and pushing my career on.”

Levy, whose ace during last month’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic earned the European Tour shot of the month award, has his eyes on a 2018 Ryder Cup spot and will tee off the 10th, 10 minutes before European captain Thomas Bjorn who is grouped with Soren Kjeldsen and Thomas Detry.

January’s Shot of the Month ?️???

Fans voted this @AlexLevyGolf shot as the European Tour’s best shot in January. pic.twitter.com/iAT9XutwdD

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 13, 2018

Fan favourite Andrew “Beef” Johnston will look to rebound from an unwanted weekend off at last week’s World Super 6 Perth when he heads off at 11.55am with former Ryder Cupper Robert Karlsson and Joost Luiten.

Thai Thongchai Jaidee, Welshman Jamie Donaldson and England’s David Horsey are off 10 minutes earlier, also from the 1st tee, while the threesome of Darren Clarke, Brett Rumford and Stephen Gallacher are sure to lure their share of the first day galleries at 12.05pm.

There will be great local interest in the performance of Omani amateur Azaan Al Rumhy (8.15am, 10th tee) and Bahrain’s Nasser Yaqoob (1.15pm, 10th tee) who qualified via the Oman amateur qualifier.

With just Sharma and Jorge Campillo in the current Race to Dubai top-10 and Levy, at No.62, the highest placed entry in the OWGR, the new Desert Swing event is wide open.

One of the stars could be Al Mouj Golf itself. The Greg Norman design, ranked third in our latest Top 10 Courses of the Middle East ranking, is in sparkling condition and set to be showcased to a global audience in excess of 400 million.

Related: Our 2018 Top 10 Courses in the Middle East ranking

Coverage of OSN Sports runs from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Thursday and resumes at 2pm-5pm.

The @NBOGolf course is ??#NBOOmanOpen pic.twitter.com/x6XcCKPj7n

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 13, 2018

The post Surprise Race to Dubai leader Sharma off early as Al Mouj makes its European Tour bow appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.