Photo courtesy Christopher Pike/LDWS

By Kent Gray
Ricky Dominguez mightn’t have qualified for the main event but he has starred in an image – with supporting video evidence – that will be hard to beat from the opening leg of the 2018 Long Drive World Series in Dubai.

The Dubai-based South African amateur needs “to invest in some new product” after his driver head parted company with one of his expensive long drive specific shafts during qualifying at the AED 94,500 (£19,000) event.

Check out the dramatic moment from Jumeirah Golf Estates here:

Dominguez barely battered an eyelid and was straight back into his work as the five-minute shot clock counted down on the JGE range. But with the wind easing, the 37-year-old scratch-handicapper’s best hit of 338 yards wasn’t long enough to make it into Friday night’s main event from 7pm where Tim Burke and two-time world champion Joe Miller are among the headline acts.

Related: American Tim Burke back to defend Dubai title

The consolation was the 20 yards he added to his best effort at last year’s inaugural Dubai LDWS event, not to mention an excellent excuse to go driver shopping.