By Matt Smith
Every year, just as the heat rises to remind us all that another summer of sweat is on the way, the finest golfers in the UAE gather for one of the most popular events on the calendar — the Dubai Golf Trophy.

Now in its 23rd year, the event sees the top 16 amateurs in the UAE and the finest professionals battle it out for the bragging rights in this Ryder Cup-style event. And 2022 carried more weight than usual as the ‘Ams’ were going for an unprecedented seventh consecutive triumph over the ‘Pros’.

Fans hoping for another gripping encounter — this tournament has served up many classic clashes over the years — were not disappointed as Mike Major’s Pros finally stopped the rot to reclaim the coveted prize from their rivals after six long years. 

Played over two days at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club (Sunday) and Emirates Golf Club (Monday) in Dubai, the competition closely follows the format of the Ryder Cup, with Day 1 seeing eight foursomes and eight fourballs matches, before 16 individual clashes on Day 2.

Chris May, CEO of organisers Dubai Golf, was on hand to watch the spectacle unfold. “It is such a privilege to host this great event that is steeped in UAE golf history,” he told Golf Digest Middle East. “It raises the game and the standards of golf for the UAE. We are delighted to be involved in such an occasion.

“There used to be such a gap between the pros and the amateurs, but we have really seen that gap close up due to the competition and the quality of facilities and academies on offer in the UAE. In recent years we have seen a few kids come through like Josh Hill, Toby Bishop, Ahmad Skaik and Khalid Yousuf. You see this flurry of quality come through as they push each other. But they seem to be coming along more frequently after the likes of Rayhan Thomas, who has done very well and is now in the States. The others take inspiration from that, saying: ‘If he can do it, or she can do it, I can do it to.’

“The Dubai Golf Trophy really plays a key role in this as we get everyone together and they can really see how they compare, regardless of upbringing, race or even club. It is a really meaningful team format, and reflects how far the amateur game has come.”

While the pros held the advantage after the action at Dubai Creek — with the most slender of leads at 8.5-7.5 — they held their nerve when it looked like they might throw it all away.

Khalid Yousuf’s amateur team were so quick out of the blocks on Day 2 at EGC and had their noses in front when Yash Majmudar and Hugo Garcia thumped Michael Bolt and Steven Munro 6&4 and 4&3 respectively.

The other two early matches between Sujjan Singh and Max Burrow, and Jackson Bell and Craig Vance were halved, and the amateurs were scenting another victory.

But then came the blue wave of Pro scores as Graham Forbes thrashed Jay Mullane 4&2, Tom Buchanan denied Yousuf 2&1 and Thomas Ogilvie chalked up a 3&1 win over Ali Parlane.

History-making Olivia Jackson showed her mettle as the first ever female to play in the event as she saw out a see-saw battle against Sam Mullane to snatch a vital half-point.

“To see Olivia come through to become the first female to compete at this tournament is wonderful,” added May. “It is great for us all as she is our pro here at EGC, but she is such a great role model and inspiration for the next generation of boys and girls.

“She can definitely hold her own against the boys and I think she is going to play more competitively this summer in tournaments back in England, so she is only going to get better.”

Back out on the course, just when it was looking all rosy on the blue side for the Pros, the red army charged back as amateurs Toby Bishop (3&2) and David Guinee (2up) saw off Nathan Kernaghan and Jack Woods respectively.

Loius Gaughan (4&2 v Raghav Gulati) got the pros back on track, but wins for Tom Nesbitt (4&2 v Sam McLaren), and Jonathan Selvaraj (4&3 v Luke Plumb) meant that the two-day epic came down to the last game and the last green.

Barry Pavic held a one-hole advantage with three to play, which would have meant a 16-16 tie and the amateurs retaining the trophy as defending champions. But up stepped Purna Sharma for the professionals, winning on 16 before halving the last.

That triggered a wave of celebrations from the Pros, and the Ams graciously accepted defeat 16.5-15.5 in one of the closest ever Dubai Golf Trophy clashes. Amid a sea of buggies, Sharma was embraced by his teammates before going on to lift the trophy.

“That was the hardest two-putt in my life,” Sharma told Golf Digest Middle East just after coming off the final green. “I can’t believe I held my nerve there.”

It was quite the celebration to end a dramatic day. Major, the non-playing Pro captain reflected on a tumultuous weekend, having been on the receiving end for the past six years as a player.

“I guess we can take a hint. I don’t play and we finally win,” he joked, an ACL operation taking him out of this year’s playing capabilities. “But every player was tremendous today and every single one of them contributed points over the two days. For it to be so close shows you the quality on both sides of the ‘divide’. The Ams were brilliant but we managed to find that little bit more when needed … at long last. I must thank Dubai Golf for putting on such a great event, with both the Creek and the Majlis in impeccable conditions. It has been a long, long journey to get here this weekend and we are so glad to win.”

Losing captain Yousuf was gracious in defeat. “They were tremendous,” he said. “We thought we had a chance there at the end but they held on. It was a great two days but sadly we have to give up the trophy after six great years. We will regroup. There is a whole new batch of youngsters coming through and we will see who will make the grade. We are losing a few guys like Josh Hill, Toby Bishop, Yash and (non-playing UAE No.1 amateur) Ahmad Skaik. But as we have proved time and again, there are always more and more players coming through and, each year, the quality gets better and better. Congrats to the Pros, it has been a long time for them.”

So now, the rebuilding process starts all over again, with new faces emerging and older ones bidding farewell ahead of 2023. Will the Pros or the Ams prevail? The Pros’ Buchanan perhaps explains it best. “It has been a long time coming,” he said. “It is always nice to play here and it was great to put on quite a show. Who knows who will win next time around, but this is the best weekend in UAE golf, bar none.”

What they said

Olivia Jackson, Pros
“They will be hurting having lost. Last year I was around the team even though I was not playing. We did not want to go out after the defeat. We just wanted to go home and I think they will be feeling the same. But we will all be friends again tomorrow and they will regroup as it was such a close thing.”

Toby Bishop, Ams
“It was unfortunate to get the loss, but everyone tried their best. Obviously the pros got the win but it was a fun weekend and that was the main part.”

Tom Buchanan, Pros
“The team spirit was fantastic out there and every player contributed to our points, showing how we were pulling for each other. The crowd at the last and the buggies everywhere shows you just what this means. A fantastic day once again.”

Khalid Yousuf, Ams captain
“I have been part of this event for so long. It was nice to finally captain the team. We tried our best. We came up slightly short but it was nice that it came right down to the last match and the last shot. Shows you what it meant to everyone involved.”

Mike Major, Pros non-playing captain
“It was great until the final hour. That was a horrible time as I was not playing so I couldn’t do anything about what was going on. It has been six years to get here and it is much down to the guys who didn’t play today, pushing up the standards, that has helped us finally win.” 

Yash Majmudar, Ams
“It was a great event, we were behind from the get-go yesterday, but each session was so close and a few things didn’t go our way — a few putts here and there. But I am really proud of how we performed.”

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The post Home is where the heart is: Looking back at the dramatic Dubai Golf Trophy with captains and players appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Matt Smith
Toby Bishop is taking a break from golf — but only until his final-year exams are out of the way, as bigger things beckon in the United States. Dubai-bred Welshman Bishop, 18, is studying hard as the dreaded exams loom, but it will be worth the grind as a golf scholarship at the university of Florida awaits after the summer.

“The clubs will be put away for a while now and it is time to hit the books,” Bishop told Golf Digest Middle East on the sidelines of the recent Dubai Golf Trophy at Emirates Golf Club.

“There will probably be more stress than when playing golf actually with all my exams, but once they are done it will be worth it as there are some exciting times ahead.”

Bishop has already been out on a trip to the US to see the set-up at the university he will call home for the next four years.

“I am really excited at the opportunities they have there in Florida,” he said. “They give you every opportunity to make it as a pro on the PGA tour. I went out there on my visit and had a week to see the place and meet the guys. It will be bit difficult to visualise properly until I get there but they are all really good guys to learn from and I need to make the most of the chances I have been offered.”

Fellow Dubai amateur Josh Hill is also heading to the States this summer, and Toby is sure they will stay in touch.

“For sure. We are in the same comp zone so I am sure we will play in a few comps together and compare notes,” he joked.

Bishop also reflected on the landmark moment as two of Dubai’s own step out on the next part of their journey in golf.

“It really highlights the facilities and chances we have here in Dubai,” he said. “I always reflect on how small this country is and to see so many players coming through, firstly with Khalid Yousuf and Ahmad Skaik, and now me and Josh. Hopefully it brings more attention and development to the region and obviously we are proud of what we have done and proud to represent, having grown up here, and fly the UAE flag.

“Hopefully in a couple of years I could get an invite to play in one of the big DP World Tour events and come back here to contend if I play well.

“My parents always joke that I am their mortgage so it will be good to come back and pay them back. But they always support me and I am pretty grateful to have that support as it means I know I have their full backing.”

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The post Dubai golfer Toby Bishop swaps clubs for books as exams loom ahead of move to US on scholarship appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Matt Smith
It is with great excitement and honour that I take over the helm of such a prodigious title as Golf Digest Middle East, and hope to continue
the journey we have all enjoyed under my editorial predecessors Kent Gray and Robbie Greenfield.

These are no small shoes to fill as we have charted the growth of the game over 13 years and 154 editions of the Middle East’s No. 1 golf publication. We will be part of plenty more to come as golf continues to break new ground in the UAE, Middle East and further afield.

More about the ‘new’ soon, but let’s begin with the ‘old’ and familiar, as timely as it is to my own journey thus far. 

It is somewhat appropriate that my arrival at Golf Digest Middle East sees the spotlight in the sport dominated by one man — and it isn’t the one that won the Masters title and the famous green at Augusta National in April. Instead it is the man that already has five golf’s most sought-after garments hanging up at home.

The guy who had fans clamouring for a glimpse of his practice-round swing as part of a record-breaking Masters Monday crowd was one of the reasons I got into the sport. He has been hitting fairways, greens and — sometimes shocking — headlines ever since, and well before I first saw him play at the Open Championship at Royal Troon way back in 1997, when I was a beginning to find my way as a young(ish) hack.

Of course, I am referring to Tiger Woods as he once again proved why he is simply in a world of his own on and off the course, just by managing to tee it up at the 86th edition of the Masters last month. Tiger — a man who has made a career out of defying the odds — staged arguably his most astounding chapter yet when he carded a one-under-par 71 on Masters Thursday, only 408 days after he almost lost his legs and his life in a horrendous car crash in Los Angeles.

When Tiger claimed his fifth Masters title and 15th major in staggering style in 2019 following a series of near-career-ending operations on his spine and creaking legs, the question was who, if anyone, could ever top such a comeback.

Well, there simply was only one man who could, and that was Tiger himself.

Even lining up over that first tee shot on the first hole last month on legs that now seem to be more metal than flesh and bone is an astounding achievement in itself, let alone making the cut while honed athletes half his age and less were packing their bags after round two. 

Following his 12-over weekend and a 47th-place finish, the six-deep crowds around the 18th were something we usually only witnessed for the outright winner. That says something about Woods’ longevity with the dedicated fans as well as his own body.

Following the Augusta frenzy, Tiger will go back to his more secluded lifestyle, work on strengthening his legs further and await the next circus, perhaps at the US Open or Open Championship. With a quiet schedule and cherry-picked events ahead of the remaining majors this year — including at a happy hunting ground on the Old Course at St Andrews — who is to say the old cat is done just yet?  

And on to the ‘new’. We are also witnessing an exciting time closer to home with the next generation. Dubai-based youngsters Josh Hill and Toby Bishop are about to embark on their own journey, breaking new ground for the region, thanks to golf scholarships at the University of Tennessee and University of Florida respectively. We are also watching the emergence of a host of promising Saudi youngsters including Faisal Salhab and Saud Al Shariff, who are making great strides.

As Josh showed at the recent UAE Swing, it seems we are getting ever closer to crowning our own locally created champions.

So as Golf Digest enters a new era, it seems our next generation of hopes from the UAE and beyond are striking out on their own, too.

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The post Old faces and new at Golf Digest Middle East appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Emirates Golf Club witnessed one of the closest, most dramatic days in UAE golf history on Monday as the ‘Pros’ defeated the ‘Ams’ to reclaim the Dubai Golf Trophy.

The competition is one of the biggest events on the UAE golf calendar and this year it lived up to its reputation as history was made left, right and centre.

Now in its 23^rd year, the Dubai Golf Trophy pits the UAE’s top 16 professional players against the top 16 amateurs in the region. Each team consists of 12 automatic qualifiers from the season-long UAE PGA tournaments and qualifying Emirates Golf Federation events across the UAE. Both team captains then took their additional four ‘wildcard’ picks.

The event, which closely follows the Ryder Cup format, saw two teams of 16 battle it out in the team matches at Dubai Creek on Sunday and then 16 matchplay singles on the Majlis at Emirates Golf Club on Monday.

And it was an epic.

MORE
Relive all the live action here

While the pros held the advantage after Day 1, with the most slender of leads at 8.5-7.5, they held their nerve when it looked like they might throw it all away and give the Ams the bragging rights and the Trophy.

Khalid Yousuf’s amateur team were so quick out of the blocks on Monday and had their noses in front when Yash Majmudar and Hugo Garcia thumped Michael Bolt and Steven Munro 6&4 and 4&3 respectively.

The other two early matches between Sujjan Singh and Max Burrow, and Jackson Bell and Craig Vance were halved, and the amateurs were scenting another victory.

But then came the blue wave of pro scores as Graham Forbes thrashed Jay Mullane 4&2, Tom Buchanan denied Yousuf 2&1 and Thomas Ogilvie chalked up a 3&1 win over Ali Parlane.

History-making Olivia Jackson showed her steel as the first ever female to play in the event as she saw out a see-saw battle against Sam Mullane to snatch a vital half-point.

While it looked all rosy on the blue side for the pros, the red army charged back as amateurs Toby Bishop (3&2) and David Guinee (2up) saw off Nathan Kernaghan and Jack Woods respectively.

Loius Gaughan (4&2 v Raghav Gulati) got the pros back on course, but wins for Tom Nesbitt (4&2 v Sam McLaren), and Jonathan Selvaraj (4&3 v Luke Plumb) meant that the two-day epic came down to the last game and the last green.

Barry Pavic held a one-hole advantage with three to play, which would have meant a 16-16 tie and the amateurs retaining the trophy as defending champions. But up stepped Purna Sharma for the professionals, winning on 17 before halving the last.

That triggered a wave of celebrations from the Pros, and the Ams graciously accepted defeat 16.5-15.5 in one of the closest ever Dubai Golf Trophy clashes. Amid a sea of buggies, Sharma was embraced by his teammates before going on to lift the trophy.

“That was the hardest two-putt in my life,” Sharma told Golf Digest Middle East just after coming off the final green. “I can’t believe I held my nerve there.”

Chris May, CEO of organisers Dubai Golf, was on hand to watch the spectacle unfold. “It is such a privilege to host this great event that is steeped in UAE golf history. It raises the game and the standards of golf for the UAE, not just for the professional arena but across the globe for every aspiring golfer. We are delighted to be involved in such an occasion.”

It was quite the celebration to end a dramatic day. Mike Major, the non-playing pro captain reflected on a tumultuous weekend, having been on the receiving end for the past six years as a player.

“I guess we can take a hint. I don’t play and we finally win,” he joked, an ACL operation taking him out of this year’s playing capabilities. “But every player was tremendous today and every single one of them contributed points over the two days. For it to be so close shows you the quality on both sides of the ‘divide’. The Ams were brilliant but we managed to find that little bit more when needed … at long last. I must thank Dubai Golf for putting on such a great event, with both the Creek and the Majlis in impeccable conditions. It has been a long, long journey to get here this weekend and we are so glad to win.”

History-making Jackson added: “It is an honour to become the first female to play in this event as it gives us the recognition we deserve. But I really do not see the gender difference as these guys are all my colleagues and friends. I play with them every week and this just reflects how we should have more mixed events and prove we are all equals.”

Losing captain Yousuf was magnanimous, even if it was with a wry smile. “They were tremendous,” he said. “We thought we had a chance there at the end but they held on. It was a great two days but sadly we have to give up the trophy after six great years. We will regroup. There is a whole new batch of youngsters coming through and we will see who will make the grade. We are losing a few guys like Josh Hill, Toby Bishop, Yash and (non-playing UAE No.1 amateur) Ahmad Skaik. But as we have proved time and again, there are always more and more players coming through and, each year, the quality gets better and better. Congrats to the pros, it has been a long time for them.”

So now, the rebuilding begins once again before the 2023 showdown. Will the Pros or the Ams prevail? The Pros’ self-nominated spokesman Buchanan puts it best: “Who knows but this is the best weekend in UAE golf, bar none.”

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The post ‘The best weekend in UAE golf’: Reflections on the Dubai Golf Trophy drama at Emirates Golf Club appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Following an eye-catching debut as a 14-year-old in 2018, a dip in form and a pesky pandemic forced Dubai-domiciled Josh Hill to sit out the past two R&A Home Internationals. It’s clear Hill, now 17, didn’t feel comfortable out of his England team blazer.

Hill was once again a headliner as England took advantage of familiar surroundings to make a clean sweep of the annual matches between England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales over the weekend. The MENA Tour winning world record holder went unbeaten – contributing 5½ of a possible 6 points – as the combined England Girls’ and Boys’ team recorded wins over Ireland (18½-2½), Wales (16½-4½) and Scotland 11-10 at Woodhall Spa last weekend.

The England senior men’s and women’s teams also triumphed at the Lincolnshire layout, sealing a memorable treble at the home of the country’s governing body, England Golf.

Hill has now helped England to victory in his two appearances at the annual U-18 team’s event – he debuted in 2018, missed selection in 2019 after struggling with his driver while the 2020 edition was cancelled due to COVID-19. He contributed three of a possible four points on debut in 2018 while this year’s event was historic with the girls and boys teams combining for the first time.

Josh Hill (Photo by Richard Martin/R&A via Getty Images)

Hill teamed with Jack Bigham (Harpenden Golf Club) to win all three of his foursomes matches at Woodhall Spa and was only denied joining Lottie Woad and Josh Berry with a perfect six from six record after being held to a half by Ireland’s Thomas Higgins in his opening singles match.

However, Hill and Bigham contributed a vital early point in what turned out to be a final against Scotland, thumping Ruben Lindsay (Turnberry) and Archie Finnie (Royal Burgess) 4&3 before he capped the three-day event with a 5&3 triumph over Lindsay.

It continued an increasingly impressive UK summer campaign for Hill who became the youngest winner of an Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) event when he captured the MENA Tour’s Al Ain opener in 2019. He narrowly missed out on a playoff at the prestigious St Andrews Links Trophy (4th) in early June before reaching the last 32 of the 126th Amateur Championship at Nairn and the quarterfinals of the English Amateur in Yorkshire.

Next up is the Brabazon Trophy, the English Men’s Open Amateur Stoke Play Championship which is scheduled for Ganton Golf Club from August 19-22.

Hill’s Trump International Golf Club, Dubai team-mate Toby Bishop endured a frustrating Home Internationals’ debut. Wales finished last in the girls and boys event after a boys player tested positive for COVID which resulted in the boys matches against England and Ireland being abandoned. The University of Florida-bound Bishop did enjoy a solitary win, 1up over Scotland’s Archie Finnie in the first afternoon’s singles.

R&A Boys’ and Girls’ Home International – Final Standings

1. England 3 wins (46-17)
2. Scotland 2 wins (37-26)
3. Ireland 1 win (28-35)
4. Wales 0 wins (15-48)

JOSH HILL (Eng)

Aug 4 – England 18.5 v Ireland 2.5
Josh Hill & Jack Bigham (Harpenden) bt Gavin O’Neill and Darcy Hogg 4&3
Josh Hill halved with Thomas Higgins

Aug 5 – England 16.5 v 4.5 Wales
Josh Hill & Jack Bigham bt Sean David and Jamie Dean 1up
Josh Hill bt Jamie Dean 1up (by walkover)

Aug 6 – England 11 v Scotland 10
Josh Hill & Jack Bigham bt Ruben Lindsay and Archie Finnie 4&2
Josh Hill bt Ruben Lindsay 5&3

TOBY BISHOP (Wales)

Aug 4 – Wales 6.5 v Scotland 14.5
Toby Bishop and Matthew Sandoz lost to Daniel Bullen and Ross Laird 1down
Toby Bishop bt Archie Finnie 1up

Aug 5 – Wales 4.5 v England 16.5
Boys matches not played

Aug 6 – Wales 4 Ireland 17
Boys matches not played

The post Dubai-honed Josh Hill unbeaten as England sweep R&A Home Internationals appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Can Michael Bolt finally be the captain to halt the amateur’s five-year Dubai Golf Trophy dynasty?

We’re about to find out with the teams for the April 10-11 Ryder Cup-style matches between Bolt’s UAE PGA Tour pros and the Ahmed Skaik-captained Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) amateurs released.

REWIND: UAE PGA captain Luke Plumb on fifth straight Dubai Trophy loss: ‘The EGF top 5 did a number on us’

Bolt’s 16-man team for the 22nd edition at Emirates Golf Club (Faldo course) and Jumeirah Golf Estates (Earth course) features a number of familiar faces including freshly minted UAE PGA Championship winner Luke Plumb and David Gray who edged Bolt 1-up to win his third UAE matchplay championship recently.

UAE PGA Championship winner Luke Plumb is set to be a key member of the professional team.

Skaik, the first Emirati to captain a Dubai Trophy team, will partner UAE national teammate Khalid Yousuf in the Saturday foursomes against Purna Sharma & Malcolm Young.

There are some particularly juicy top of the order match-ups with amateur team talisman Josh Hill teaming with Jay Mullane to take on Dong Lee and Jonathan Craddock while Arjun Gupta and Yash Majmudar take on Bolt and beaten UAE matchplay semifinalist Sujjan Singh.

For the first time, women will compete in the Dubai trophy with Olivia Jackson and Anneke Strobach representing the UAE PGA and Hyeonji Kang and Natalii Gupta, Arjun’s sister, the EGF amateurs. They will play a separate competition this week ahead of the women being incorporated into the full Dubai Trophy in 2022.

The Faldo will host the foursomes and fourball matches on Saturday ahead of the singles on Earth Sunday.

[divider] [/divider]

UAE PGA Professionals v EGF Amateurs

Saturday Foursomes
Match 1: Dong Lee & Jonathan Craddock v Josh Hill & Jay Mullane
Match 2: Michael Bolt (Captain) & Sujjan Singh v Arjun Gupta & Yash Majmudar
Match 3: Luke Plumb & Phil Waine v Viggo Sorensen & Zubair Firdaus
Match 4:  Graham Forbes & Louis Gaughan v Toby Bishop & Sam Mullane
Match 5: David Gray & Ryan Smith v Steve Kelbrick & Max Burrow
Match 6: Purna Sharma & Malcolm Young v Ahmed Skaik (Captain) & Khaled Yousuf
Match 7: Bishnu Sharma & Sam McLaren v Dan Byrne & Niklas Korjonen
Match 8: Michael Major & Thomas Ogilvie v Gordon Munro & Jake Wiltshire
Ladies: Olivia Jackson & Anneke Strobach v Hyeonji Kang & Natalii Gupta

The post Bolt, Skaik name teams as EGF amateurs chase Dubai Golf Trophy six-peat appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 16-year-old Dubai-based England Boys’ international notched up another EGF title at the weekend, overcoming a “lacklustre” opening round 72 on Friday with a stunning nine-under 63 on Saturday to win the Arabian Ranches Men’s Open.

With lift, clean and place in operation, the 63 (which included a bogey on the par-3 7th!) doesn’t count as an official course record but it mattered little as Hill overturned a two-shot deficit to triumph with a -9 total, two strokes clear of pal Arjun Gupta. Toby Bishop made it a Trump International Golf Club, Dubai one-two-three after sharing third place with James Nash (Ormskirk G.C.) on -2.

RELATED: Prodigy Power – The driver swing that helped Josh Hill wow the golf world

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted elite amateur golf even more profoundly than the professional circuits which makes the EGF Order of Merit series a vital source of competition for the region’s top ams, especially with the planned resumption of the MENA Tour’s postponed season in Jordan apparently canned.

Hill’s father Russell underlined that in an Instagram post celebrating yet more silverware for his world-record-setting son in the third event of the 2020-21 EGF OOM Championship:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Russell Hill (@golf_osteo_path_dxb)

Russell Hill, an osteopath who recently went out on his own in a business actively looking to help golfers avoid common injuries and improve their own games, has been on hand to capture his son’s hard work in the gym recently.

“I tried to convince Josh (because it was weekend) that we should have a bit of a sleep in and start later (7am),” Russell Hill said in a recent social media post. “He totally refused and insisted we start at 5.30. I don’t have the inclination to put a dampener on desire, enthusiasm, momentum, dreams, dedication, drive, grind, progress etc, etc. I love supporting it and love being part of it.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Russell Hill (@golf_osteo_path_dxb)

There has also clearly been some tidy work on the Trump Dubai range in conjunction with his England-based coach Rob Watts. Just check out that divot patten:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Russell Hill (@golf_osteo_path_dxb)

Hill’s latest victory comes after he captured the Trump Dubai club championship last month with a pair of course record-equalling rounds of 65 to comfortably edge Craig Vance by four strokes.

RELATED: Meet the MENA Tour’s new Boy Wonder

It will be interesting to see whether Hill has the opportunity to qualify for the Abu Dhabi and Dubai Desert Swing events early next year or will be handed invites. He became the youngest player to qualify for two European Tour starts earlier this year, the opportunity at the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic courtesy of his victory in the MENA Tour’s 2019 amateur OOM race.

Hill entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest winner, at 15 years, six months and 27 days, of an Official World Golf Ranking event at the MENA Tour’s Al Ain Open in October 2019.

The next EFG OOM event is the Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club Men’s Open on Dec 4-5.

The post Josh Hill fires closing 63 to enhance EGF legacy with Arabian Ranches victory appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Anxious to avoid a fifth straight defeat in the annual Ryder Cup-style matches, the pros will take a two-point, 9-7 advantage into the 16 singles matches at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club after a particularly satisfying afternoon of work on Earth yesterday.

 

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DGT2020

A post shared by DGT (@dubai_golf_trophy) on Oct 3, 2020 at 12:16am PDT

The amateurs established a 5-3 lead after the opening foursomes at Jumeirah Golf Estates on Saturday, highlighted by 2&1 wins for Josh Hill and Toby Bishop and Emirati duo Ahmad Skaik and Khalid Yousuf over Michael Major and Tom Buchanan and Ryan Smith and David Laing respectively.

Hill and Bishop were impressively six-under in seeing off Major and Buchanan.

 

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A few from today’s #dubaigolftrophy @j.hill_golf and @welsh_golfer shot six under to win their foursomes 2&1! It was a great match, well done lads! @robwattsperformance

A post shared by Russell Hill (@golf_osteo_path_dxb) on Oct 3, 2020 at 12:05am PDT

But the pros mounted an impressive comeback in the afternoon fourballs, winning six of the eight matches. Hill and Bishop kept their unbeaten record intact for the amateurs with a 2&1 win over Buchanan and Samuel McLaren while Arjun Gupta and Dave Guinee kept the amateurs in the contest with an important 3&2 win over Steven Munro and Malcolm Young.

Check out the putt Hill drained to seal a second win with Bishop.

 

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Good day at the office, the 4 ball second match today was a grid but Josh carried a boogie free day on till the end! Most important lesson was proving that golf still can be won with only three GOOD shots and 65 average shots in a round! @jmgolfcoach thanks had to borrow that! #dubaigolftrophy

A post shared by Russell Hill (@golf_osteo_path_dxb) on Oct 3, 2020 at 8:34am PDT

Boom.

There were big 5&4 wins for the Michaels, Major and Bolt, over Max Barrow and Bayhaan Lakdawala, and for Jackson Bell and captain Luke Plumb over Barry Pavic and Gordon Munro. Louis Gaughan and Jordan Gallagher were also impressive 4&3 winners over Skaik and Yousuf.

And so onto Sunday’s singles where there are some intriguing matchups with Hill pitted against newly minted UAE PGA Matchplay champion Major in the first match out at 11.30am. EGF captain Steven Kelbrick, who will face Gallagher, has stacked his order hoping for a fast start to ratchet up the pressure on the Plumb’s pros.

A fascinating Sunday awaits at The Creek.

 

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All to play for tomorrow with the UAE PGA Professionals leading the way 9-7 from the EGF amateurs. Morning foursomes 3-5 afternoon fourballs 6-2 so a come back from the pros. #dubaicreek #jumeirahgolfestates #dubaigolftrophy #dubaigolf #uaepga #egf

A post shared by UAE PGA (@uaepga) on Oct 3, 2020 at 8:03am PDT

The post UAE PGA pros fightback for 9-7 lead heading into Sunday’s Dubai Trophy singles appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

After being on European duty last summer, COVID-confined Josh Hill, Toby Bishop and Arjun Gupta are back to bolster Steven Kelbrick’s EGF line-up who are seeking a fifth straight win in the 54-hole event set for Jumeirah Golf Estates and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club on Oct. 3-4.

Hill, fresh from a run to the round of 16 at The 125th Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale, and Gupta are two of Kelbrick’s four picks, joining Sharjah’s William Xu and Emirati international Khalid Yousuf. Bishop qualified through the truncated EGF Order of Merit season which was won by Dan Byrne. The Els Club Dubai youngster adds yet more firepower to the amateur side which was revealed on Thursday to Golf Digest Middle East, along with Plumb’s 16-strong team.

RELATED: Amhad Skaik set for Dubai Trophy history

Plumb has handed captain’s picks to Al Ain’s Tom Buchanan and unattached former Arabian Ranches head pro Malcolm Young, another experienced Dubai Trophy campaigner who forced his way in with a top-five finish at last week’s UAE PGA Championship.

JA The Resort-attached Plumb is confident he has the team to halt a run of four straight losses but also concedes Kelbrick’s team deserve to go in favourites.

“The Amateurs have a really strong side. Golf in the region has some fantastic talent,” Plumb said. “The big three are all playing, Josh, Toby and Arjun, and they are mixed in with lots of experience so they are formidable opposition. I think we are underdogs but certainly have a great chance and there is no pressure on us.”

It’s not that the Pros are lacking talent or form. Plumb just wrapped up the UAE PGA Order of Merit title, Michael Major (Dubai Creek) edged Dong Lee (Emirates G.C.) 3&2 to capture the Henrik Stenson Eyewear UAE PGA Matchplay Championship while UAE national Ahmed Al Musharrekh (EGF) carded rounds of 75-69 at The Creek for a +1 aggregate to become the first Emirati to capture the UAE PGA Championship earlier this week.

 

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Congratulations to @major_michael for winning the 2020 @henrikstensoneyewear UAE PGA Matchplay Championship ???? Mike fired some timely back nine birdies to edge out runner up @dongkyonlee by 3&2. @gaughanlouis pipped @davidlaingpga to finish in overall 3rd Place. A big thank you to our sponsor Henrik Stenson Eyewear & @trumpgolfdubai for the hospitality today. #uaepga #henrikstensoneyewear #matchplay

A post shared by UAE PGA (@uaepga) on Sep 15, 2020 at 5:30am PDT

 

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Congratulations to Ahmed Al Musharrekh on winning the UAE PGA Championship. Ahmed fired a -2, 69 round a testing Dubai Creek for a total of 75/69 +1. This is the largest golf competition for a UAE National to ever win and a fantastic achievement for Ahmed ??? Runner up by only a single shot was @jacksonbell01 JGE with 68/77 +2 and in solo third @graydavid_1 with 72/74 +3. X3 tied 4th on +4 @malc_younggolf @phil_waine @urs_perfectman. A fantastic 2 days @jumeirah.golf @dubaicreekgolf and thanks to all their teams for the hospitality. #dubaigolf #dubaicreek #jumeirahgolfestates #uaepga #uae #winner #champion

A post shared by UAE PGA (@uaepga) on Sep 22, 2020 at 4:24am PDT

“I think the team is extremely strong this year, maybe one of the best I’ve played in with no weak links and lots of people playing well so we go in with a good chance,” Plumb said. “We will be creative with the pairings to try and give us the best chance. I think it’ll just come down to who plays well on the two days. If we play to the level we can, then we have a great chance this year.”

Kelbrick is equally confident, insisting he hadn’t looked at the UAE PGA team.

“We can only control ourselves,” the Trump Dubai member said before recalling his dream performance at the 2019 Senior Open at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.

“It’s the same as Senior Open. We are here now, let’s embrace it and believe that we can win. Five in a row is possible but the key is attitude. We’ve got to enjoy the experience and allow it to lift our performance. That’s the goal.”

The post Big names return as EGF Amateurs chase Dubai Trophy five-peat appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
We’re not sure if Josh Hill, Toby Bishop or Arjun Gupta have ever studied the deeds of Winston Churchill in history class but the Dubai schoolboys have, at least unwittingly, heeded one of the former British Prime Minister’s famed quotes.

While top-flight professional golf is back, sans spectators, the world’s elite amateur events are only slowly creaking back into life courtesy of the coronavirus pandemic. But channelling Churchill’s circa 1940 “Never let a good crisis go to waste” war cry, the MENA Tour teens are working harder than ever. Indeed, they haven’t really stopped, escaping into the desert for socially-distanced practice sessions even before lockdown when courses were deemed out of bounds to teens for health and safety reasons.

There’s no need to suddenly try salvaging something from what is essentially a lost year when you don’t see it that way. Rather all three have kept on keeping on with carefully plotted progression plans.

Hill is working with a new coach, Bishop is invigorated after committing to the University of Florida and Gupta has refreshed by hitting his school books – knowing the sooner he sorts his education the sooner he can get on with chasing his pro golf dream.

If you’ve been following along, you’ll know the teen trio were dubbed the ‘Three Amigos’ by the MENA Tour in a nod to the 1986 American comedy-western starring Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Short. You need to draw a long bow to connect Hill, Bishop and Gupta to the Hollywood stars in a golf context, perhaps other than giving this period a movie moniker, something like 2020 global-horror.

But together the talented 16-year-olds have kept smiling and getting on with their young lives, looking forward to the mooted conclusion of the MENA Tour season in Jordan in mid-October to late-November. And brighter, ‘new normal’ times beyond that.

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Josh Hill

THE RESET

The way Josh Hill’s unforgettable 2019 rolled into 2020, you’d have thought the English Boys’ representative would be cursing the big amateur golf shutdown caused by the coronavirus. Quite the opposite for the +6.5 handicapper (not a misprint!) as it turns out.

As a refresher few will require, Hill earned an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records when he won the MENA Tour’s Al Ain Open last October. The youngest winner – at 15 years, six months and 27 days – of an OWGR event went on to qualify for a European Tour debut in Abu Dhabi and played the following week in Dubai (courtesy of winning the MENA Tour’s amateur Order of Merit), keeping his name in lights. But his game was in a slightly darker place thanks to an uncooperative driver which saw him miss the cut at both Desert Swing events.

“Even though it was frustrating going into lockdown, I felt it came at a good time,” Hill reveals. “I was doing a lot of changes in my swing to help me control the ball better and this probably would have been harder to do whilst playing in tournaments.”

Those changes, instigated by new coach Rob Watts, took some inventiveness to bed in, first during lockdown in Dubai and later, when flights resumed, at the family home in England.

“Even though I was in a small apartment in Dubai, I tried to keep myself busy and keep improving. Before lockdown, when juniors weren’t allowed to practice at the clubs, we went into the desert to hit balls which was fun. Once we were in lockdown I would hit balls into a net in the communal area of the apartment and I ran in the underground car park and did the best gym session I could with the equipment I had.

I cannot thank them [Joe Marshall and the CH3 Dubai team] enough for what they did but sometimes change is good and challenges you.”

“I still did a bit of swing work [in Dubai] but it has been nice to see the ball flight again to know that what I had been working on was working. I played some really good golf before leaving for England and was shooting some good numbers around Trump. Hopefully, I can keep doing this up in the upcoming tournaments.”

Golf news, much less Middle East amateur golf news, has been scarce since the COVID-19 outbreak but if there was a headline popper, it was Hill’s decision to end his relationship with Joe Marshall at the Claude Harmon 3 Performance Golf Academy at The Els Club, Dubai.

“Joe and the CH3 team really helped me in the three years I was with them. They helped me progress and get some good results. I cannot thank them enough for what they did but sometimes change is good and challenges you,” the 16-year-old says.

“Rob Watts has a lot of good players and I feel since we met, he has a lot of confidence in me and we have a good relationship. When I was in Dubai, we would do Skype calls from the range which worked well and now that I’m back in the UK I see him every couple of weeks.”

The initial feedback from the new partnership has been encouraging after Hill made the cut at the prestigious Tillman Trophy and eventually settled for a share of 20th at leafy Foxhills Country Club in Surrey.

“I felt a bit rusty but it was good to get the season going and I cannot wait for the next few tournaments.”

Will that include the MENA Tour’s mooted five-event, six-week encampment at Ayla Golf Club, or part thereof?  And later, maybe following pal Toby Bishop to college in the U.S.?

“I hope I will be able to play in the rest of the MENA tour season as it is such a great tour. But I also need to see what is happening with school and go from there.

“I feel for me college golf is definitely a possibility and I have spoken to some of the coaches and am working towards this but it depends where my game is when the time comes.”

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Arjun Gupta

TRENDING

With Josh Hill creating history and headlines around the world and Toby Bishop learning to become a serial winner too, it is easy to cast Arjun Gupta as the third Musketeer. Don’t be too quick with the supporting role tag though.

With a closing 66 to snare fourth place at the Ghala Open in mid-February, the Dubai-born Indian earned his best finish on the MENA Tour. It underlined the potential the +3 handicapper had shown by capturing the Faldo Series Middle East Championship at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club in April 2019.

Gupta played his final 36-holes in Oman in an impressive 11-under-par to seal his second amateur title on the regional development circuit after he shared that honour with Hill at last November’s MENA Tour Championship. He also came within a shot of earning his first-ever Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points. We suspect they will follow soon enough.

“I want to win the Amateur Journey to Jordan this year and this is a good step in that direction,” Gupta said at the time.

A year 12 student home-schooling through iCademy Middle East, Gupta spent the two months of lockdown in Dubai but unlike golf-focused Hill and Bishop.

“I went to the desert a few times to hit a few shots but, apart from that, just focused on my education. I was a bit frustrated that I couldn’t play golf that much but I got the opportunity to focus on education and health.”

I want to win a tournament on the MENA Tour and this gives me confidence that I am close.”

Gupta had planned to tee it up in events in the U.S. before the pandemic changed everything. Now he’s focused on the MENA Tour’s October- November plans at Ayla Golf Club in Aqaba.

“They are the only events I hope to play in this year. I have learned a lot from the pros and gained real competitive experience through the MENA Tour.”

The U.S. still features in Gupta’s plans but it’s unlikely he’ll follow in the soft-spiked footsteps of University of Florida-bound Bishop.  Again, don’t be fooled. There is a firm plan, one where Gupta continues to let his golf do most of the talking.

“I’m happy to see Toby achieving his goals but I don’t have college plans at the moment,” said the Jamie McConnell coached Gupta. The reason? “Because I would like to turn pro and achieve my goals.”

Time will tell if Gupta’s longterm vision comes to fruition. For now he retains bold amateur ambitions.“I want to win a tournament on the MENA Tour and this [his Ghala performance] gives me confidence that I am close.”

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Toby Bishop

FOR THE GATOR GOOD

Few amateurs have greater cause to lament the months of top-flight competition lost to the pandemic than Toby Bishop.

The reigning Welsh U-18 Boys’ Strokeplay champion – who doesn’t celebrate his 17th birthday until Dec. – had been riding a giddy wave of form right up to golf’s shutdown, sparked by an unlucky playoff loss in the Trump Men’s Open.

He scorched to a cool nine stroke victory at another EGF-sanctioned event, navigating the Saadiyat Beach Men’s Open with a -14 (36-hole) total that included an amateur course record 62. Later he overcame a field that included the likes of European Tour player Gavin Moynihan to capture The Els Alliance and looked on course to make the honours board at Trump Dubai after carding a 68 for a three stroke lead following the opening round of the club championship.

Then, with U-18s banned from UAE courses overnight, the decision was taken to cancel the club champs. Lockdown followed shortly afterwards and surely too angst at a white hot spell extinguished by an invisible enemy?

“My coach Jamie McConnell and I didn’t look at this break as a negative or make excuses,” says Bishop who counts the U16 European Faldo Series title he won in late 2018 among his chief triumphs to date.

“Every other player was in the same situation as me, so it was down to me to work harder than them during lockdown to improve my game and allow me to return to competitions with the same great form.”

With a win and a second in a pair of Trump medals since the reopening, and rounds of 69-75 to edge Kate Bibby by three strokes at the CH3 Collegiate Invitational at The Els Club, that was a mission largely accomplished as we went to print.

“It was definitely a weird feeling returning to competitions, mainly the tournament mentality and getting used to that again. But it’s what every player strives for. I love the pressure of the situation and enjoy every moment when I’m out there competing against my friends.”

Competition is coming in spades for Bishop who has committed to join the University of Florida in the recruiting class of 2022. World amateur No.2 Ricky Castillo is among Bishop’s imminent Gator team-mates.

“With both my parents being teachers, the collegiate pathway has always been the goal for me…and Florida has been my first choice college for a long time. It’s an environment I can’t wait to experience and look to grow as a golfer and a person during my time there. My goal is to be the best at what I do and I believe the University of Florida provides me with the best platform to achieve that.”

As he does on the range at The Els with coach McConnell, the Director of Instruction at the CH3 Performance Golf Academy, Bishop left no stone unturned before settling on the Gators’ golf programme.

My goal is to be the best at what I do and I believe the University of Florida provides me with the best platform to achieve that.”

“I ended up making contact with around 20 programs. On these calls I had to narrow down which programs met my criteria and I could not have found a better fit than University of Florida. The coaching staff there, in coach Deacon and coach Leon, have been so helpful throughout my calls and were a huge part in my decision. I will be spending four years there and my family and I couldn’t think of anyone we would rather have to develop me as a golfer and a person off the course than Coach Deacon, he is such a great role model for all his players and fellow golfers.”

It’s been frustrating having to forego a trip to the U.S. to visit collegiate campuses and play AJGA events, not to mention the full summer schedule he had planned in the UK including the Carras Trophy, the (British) Boys’ and Welsh Amateur Championships and the Boys’ Home Internationals.

Refocused, Bishop is now looking forward to entering Year 12 at Dubai English Speaking College this month and kicking off his A-Level studies. There’ll also be enough golf to keep his competitive fires stoked.

“The rest of my year will be based in Dubai. I will play in as many Men’s opens and local tournaments as I can find and we have the Dubai Golf Trophy [the Ryder Cup-style match between the top-performing EGF OOM amateurs and UAE Tour pros] scheduled for late October. In preparation for those events I will continue to follow my practice plan and work with Jamie to fine tune all areas of my game. We’re currently focusing on speed as my main goal and trying to become as sharp as I can around the greens.”

School commitments might prevent Bishop playing all the remaining MENA Tour events, if they are played in Aqaba later this year as mooted. What isn’t under debate is Bishop’s praise for the pathway provided by the regional developmental circuit.

“To be able to compete against European and Challenge Tour players across many different countries on great courses, is such a valuable learning experience. Just having to be independent travelling, learning from the pros and also learning to own my game at the same time.

“Early on during my first season, the MENA Tour highlighted areas of my game that needed improving. That enabled me to improve to a much higher level this season and structure my practice in a much more productive manner. I hope to use these experiences and the confidence gained to compete during the events later on this year.”

The way Bishop has carried on from where he left of pre-COVID, don’t be surprised if he keeps good on that goal as well.

The post The MENA Tour’s ‘Three Amigos’ are staying calm and cracking on appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.