The world No.1 finished a shot shy of Tommy Fleetwood in his Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship debut last January despite recording just three red numbers – a birdie and two eagles for a collective five under – in 20 visits to the par 5s.

That stat caught the 33-year-old American unawares in his pre-tournament presser.

“Yeah, I guess, I didn’t know what I shot on the par fives last time. I guess you just told me, so I didn’t play them that great. Obviously like to play them a little better.”

If DJ plays the 2nd, 8th, 10th and 18th holes anything like he’s capable of, he’ll take some beating, especially as he comes in with form after an eight shot romp to the PGA Tour’s Sentry Tournament of Champions a fortnight ago.

“The golf course here is very good. Actually the fairways are probably a little bit softer this year than they were last year, same with the greens. You know, the par 5s, they are not real easy because they are fairly long, but dependent on the wind, I can reach them if I hit good tee balls.”

With six drives of more than 370 yards in his closing 65 in Kapalua, two of them in excess of  400 yards, that shouldn’t be an issue.

“This year I know the course a little bit better, so we’ll see. Hopefully I can play as well as I did in Hawaii.

“It’s hard to say, yeah, I’m going to go out and win. There’s a lot of great players in the field, so you know, I could have a really good week and still lose. That’s just how golf is. I just want to go out and put myself in a position to have a chance to win on Sunday…that’s kind of all I can do.”

The post Johnson eyes The National’s 5s appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Staff reporter
Guy Williams didn’t quite travel the furthest to the second event of the Golf Digest Middle East, in association with King’s College Hospital London, Amateur Series but he sure left Al Hamra Golf Club happiest.

The Abu Dhabi City G.C. member made the trek from the UAE capital to Ras Al Khamiah – with wife Amanda – well worth it when he captured the division A title (0-10 handicap) with 34 stableford points on September 30. The avid Springboks fan overcame sweltering conditions and Sean Kinsley by two points to depart with a pair of new Ecco shoes and a hospitality pass for the Thursday of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

Kinsley’s consolation wasn’t too shabby either – hospitality on the Saturday of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, also in January.

Kyle Taggart won division B (11-24 handicap) with 36 stableford points from Byung Jin Woo (33 pts) while Ken Davies scored a weekend drive in a Mercedes, courtesy of series’ official lease parter, Autoroute, after winning the nearest-the-pin prize on Al Hamra’s picturesque 7th. For the record, Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club member David Nabi, who features in the tweet below, made the biggest commitment to get to RAK.

Casper Schonfeldt, meanwhile, took the gross prize with a fine 78 given the energy-sapping conditions. His prize is an invite to the Kings College Hospital London-sponsored Golf Digest Middle East Classic, the series finale, at Emirates Golf Club on Oct.17. He will also return to the Majlis in Jan. after winning Saturday hospitality to the Desert Classic which will be headlined by the PGA Tour star Pat Perez.

Related: PGA Tour cult-hero Pat Perez to headline 2018 Omega Dubai Desert Classic

The 2017 Golf Digest Middle East Amateur Series decider will coincide with the official 100th our issue celebrations.

Related: Happy Anniversary to us!

The three-tournament series opened at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, the home of the HSBC Championship, on September 21.

Related: See our photo gallery from Abu Dhabi

The post Springboks fan wins Golf Digest Middle East, in association with King’s College Hospital London, Amateur Series at Al Hamra appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Englishman captured the Falcon Trophy Sunday, roaring home in 31 strokes on a windswept National for a final round 67 to win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on -17, one clear of U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson and Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal.

Fleetwood started the day a shot back of Tyrrell Hatton (who faded to T13 at -10) but coped best with the gusty wind the buffeted The National, not to mention the pressure of easing past and then holding off a decorated chasing pack as the Desert Swing opener reached its dramatic climax.

He triggered his irrepressible back nine with a chip in for eagle on the par 5 10^th. Birdies followed at the 11^th and 16 before the Southport man secured the title with a two-putt birdie on 18. That was set up by a majestic 3-wood to the heart of the final green after Fkeetwood had secured a free drop from a cart path after tugging his final drive left.

Fleetwood’s second European Tour win comes exactly (yes, someone counted) 1247 days since his breakthrough at the 2013 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

The world No. 102 is expected to leapfrog just inside the top 50 – guaranteeing automatic major championship and World Golf Championship invites – after his Abu Dhabi win.

It also continued a fine run of form since last season’s Open Championship, with 10 top-20 finishes in his last 14 starts including a tie for third in his first event of the new European Tour campaign at the UBS Hong Kong Open in December. Fleetwood was 9^th in the Race to Dubai before Sunday but will surge up that leaderboard too.

Johnson finished with an eagle on the last in a closing 68. Larrazábal needed to eagle the last to force a playoff following a rousing birdie on 17. But the 2014 champion pushed his drive, pulled his three wood approach into more hay and had to make do with an up and down birdie for a share of second with DJ.

Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger also signed for a 68 in finishing at -15 alongside three-time champion Martin Kaymer and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who had rounds of 69.

The post Fleetwood’s Falcon appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

A topsy-turvy even par 72 kept the 36-hole leader on -12 through 54-holes of the 12th Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship but saw the 32-year-old drop a spot into a five-way share of second heading into the final round.

The world No.53 was regarded as one of the coolest closers in golf until he infamously let a 10-stroke lead slip with just 13 holes of the 2015 championship to play, handing the Falcon to Frenchman Gary Stal.

As such, the two-time major champion doesn’t mind starting Sunday a shot adrift of English pace-setter Tyrrell Hatton who carded a 68 Saturday to lead at -13.

“I just really enjoy the challenge tomorrow,” Kaymer said.

“I’m not having a lot of pressure of winning the golf tournament. Always when you lead a golf tournament by three or four shots, you kind of expect yourself to win, and I don’t really have that pressure tomorrow. I know I’ve done very well here in the past, so I can play very free and very aggressive tomorrow.”

But surely The National owes you one after 2015?

“It doesn’t really owe me one. It was my own fault. I didn’t really get unlucky. It was just poor golf shots at the wrong time. It was in the past. Let’s keep it that way.”

Kaymer mixed three birdies with as many bogeys on Saturday as the wind whipped up.

“I missed a few fairways today and then it’s difficult to create birdie chances. And then I had a couple of poor shots on 10 and 11. Made a couple bogeys there,” he said.

“The wind was strong from the first tee to maybe 13 or 14, and then it was quite tricky to hit the fairways, because the holes, even when it was downwind, you have to cut so much off of the fairway. Almost the holes become doglegs. I found it very difficult today to hit fairways and therefore, didn’t shoot the best score.

“I fought back well with another birdie, and then the putts didn’t drop in the end. So overall, still a decent round. I think I’m in very good position for tomorrow.”

The post Dangerous tailgater appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Zimbabwe born South African is playing the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship for the first time, a week after finishing fourth in the BMW South African Open. However, his week got off to a rocky start when it seemed he may not make it to Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

“This is kind of a bonus week for me. Didn’t get a Visa until Tuesday morning, and got in here at 3.00am Tuesday morning. It’s just nice to be here, and to play well is just a bonus,” the 27-year old said.

“Visas are a bit of an issue. Unfortunately our passport’s not exactly the greatest one to be travelling on in the world, but I managed to get it sorted.”

The six-time Sunshine Tour winner certainly got it sorted Saturday, cruising to a single bogey 66.

“Pretty solid stuff. Actually woke up this morning feeling not too great. But as the round went on, sort of felt better and better and got a couple lucky breaks early on when I wasn’t feeling too great. The putter is rolling well this week, so I’m pretty happy.”

The Abu Dhabi debutant had two top-10s last season with his best European Tour finish being T3 in the Tshwane Open in 2015. At -11, in a five way tie for seventh place alongside South Koreans Byeong Hun An and Jeunghun Wang, Swede Peter Hanson and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger, he’ll be looking to go two better Sunday.

“[My round] kick started on the eighth. I hit a great shot into seven and missed the putt. Then a solid birdie on eight. Hit the green in two and two-putted and nice birdie on nine and another birdie on 10 and another one on 11,” he said.

“Those four in a row kind of just came out of nowhere, and that kept me in the game. Before I knew it, I saw my name on that leaderboard and I was kind of just grinding out the last few holes and a nice way to finish.” – John Tully-Jackson

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The 20-year-old from Perth, the reigning U.S. and Asia Pacific Amateur Champion, announced himself to the European Tour Friday with a second round 65 to roar into the weekend tied 12th at -7 in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championships.

After struggling with the pace of The National’s greens Thursday, Luck got his putter going with a faultless seven-birdie loop to be just four shots off the lead midway through the second round.

“Yesterday was a bit rough so to come back and obviously have a good one today is I guess good for the confidence for the rest of the week.,” said Luck who eagled the par 5 second and birdied the last in the first round but cancelled the gains out with three bogeys.

“Hopefully this form continues, and yeah, I’m ready to get to the weekend and give it a crack.”

Luck may be an amateur but he’s no novice at the pro level having won the Queensland Open in October, the first amateur to achieve the feat since 1991. He ended 2016 on a high with a creditable T11 at the Australian Open at Royal Sydney where he teed it up with eventual champion Jordan Spieth a fortnight after being paired with former world No.1 Adam Scott at the Australian PGA Championship.

He’ll draw on those experiences as he goes in search of a low weekend.

“Just looking at the leaderboard, I’m still going to need a big weekend to catch up. There’s definitely low scores out there. So I’m expecting to see the leaderboards keep climbing higher and higher with these guys,” he said.

“I’ve just got to try to keep up, post more good numbers and see Sunday afternoon I guess.”

Regardless of what transpires, Luck has more than justified his sponsors invite to Abu Dhabi which is all part of a wider reconnaissance mission before he turns pro after April’s U.S. Masters. He’s also qualified for the U.S. Open at Erin Hills and the 146^th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on the back of his amateur awesomeness last year.

“Every bit of experience I’m getting over the next three months is crucial to when I finally get ready to turn pro and play events like the Masters. Just the overall, being here, the circumstances and getting to play with such great players is awesome.

“I had some good conversation with Spieth and Adam Scott [about Augusta National]. I think the biggest thing that comes in common with what they are saying is probably that the course just transforms overnight between Wednesday and Thursday; it’s a completely different golf course.

“I’m excited to get there and just obviously see the place. I think that’s going to be the biggest thing that I have to get my head around, but yeah, so excited.”

The post Beginner’s Luck propels Aussie amateur into Abu Dhabi contention appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 24-year-old followed a 68 Thursday with a sensational second round 66 to leave himself at 10 under par through 36 holes, two shots adrift of German pace-setter Martin Kaymer.

“My game feels in good shape. I’m hitting a lot of good iron shots and giving myself a lot of chances. Greens being as good as they are, you are bound to take a few. It’s exciting, yeah. Looking forward to a good weekend.”

However, after his run at The Open somewhat derailed and resulted in a disappointing tie for 30th, Dunne knows not to read too much into two strong opening rounds.

“Nice to get off to a good start but that’s all it is. We’re only half way there. Hopefully keep doing what we’re doing and post some of the same numbers again.”

Dunne had two-top 10 finishes on the European Tour last year, after turning pro in 2015. Although he may not have been able to emulate the instant success of leading going into the final round of a major as an amateur, the two-time former Irish Boys’ Champion feels his game is at its best since joining the pro ranks.

“I definitely feel I’m a better player now than this time last year. I’m better off the tee and I’m a better iron player,” he said.

“If I get the ball in the fairway around this course, the way I’m hitting my irons, I’ll give myself a lot of chances and bound to take a few with the greens being so good. If I can keep the ball in play like I have the last couple of days, just give myself an iron in my hands in the short grass, I’m pretty confident.”  – By John Tully-Jackson

The post Dunne but not yet dusted appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

In an exclusive interview with Golf Digest Middle East, the 28-year-old world No.13 discusses his preparation ahead of the Desert Swing opener from January 19-22 which features Danny Willett, Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson, the respective reigning Masters, US Open and Open champions.

The Cobra-Puma star also goes off-piste to share his thoughts on some of the most pressing issues facing golf today including Tiger Woods’ comeback, computer gaming’s impact on junior golf , that elusive major and why he’ll forever favour Orange on Sundays.

Many players swear off golf during the holidays. What constitutes a great vacation for Rickie Fowler?
2016 was such a busy year with the Olympics and the Ryder Cup so I took a few weeks off with my family but I was still be working on my swing with Butch and playing some golf with my buddies when possible so I’m ready to defend my title at the National Course.

How important is this period of recharging?
Travelling can be tiring but it’s all part of being a professional golfer. I love my job and I worked hard for years before turning professional to make this my career and I love travelling to new parts of the world. Last year was only my second time in the Middle East and I enjoyed it so much I came back for a third year running. I’ll take some time out during the holidays to recharge but I’ll be back swinging early January so that I’m ready to defend my title in Abu Dhabi.

How tough is it to defend a title given all the extra fuss around your already heavy PR workloads?
I’m used to doing media at most events so it isn’t too much extra to me. I really enjoy talking to media, especially when it’s at a place where I have good memories because I’ve won there.

A stellar cast has been assembled for the 12^th edition of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. It’ll be the first time many will see Dustin Johnson in the flesh. Give us an inside the ropes insight into the character behind those booming drives:
Dustin is one of the coolest guys on Tour and he’s so chilled out when he’s on the course. I love travelling to European Tour events and I’m excited that Dustin is coming over to join me as an American on European Tour soil. The National Course has seen a few big hitters over the last 11 years but I’m sure he’ll be driving his ball to some places that not many players have been to before.

You moved up to No.4 in the OWGR after your win in Abu Dhabi last January and it seemed, following your stellar 2015, it was going to be another barn-storming year, only for your form to fizzle out a little. With the beauty of hindsight, what do you put that down too and how do you rate 2016 overall?
It’s easy in golf to think your next good result is just around the corner, only for your form to fade. 2016 wasn’t the first time in my career where I fizzled out a bit during the season and it won’t be the last so I’ll continue doing everything I can to get better and comeback stronger. I played a lot of golf in 2016 so maybe I was a bit tired but overall I feel like I’m swinging it well and I’m looking forward to 2017. I still see 2016 as a successful year though, I won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, played my third Ryder Cup and represented my country in the Olympics.

You game has flourished under the guidance of Butch Harmon but we presume it is still a work in progress? What do you need to do to regain that 2015 consistency?
I’m always working to get better and I don’t think anyone could say they’ve finished tinkering with their swing, there is always something to work on. I have a ton of positives to take from last year and it’s great to be back in Abu Dhabi at a venue where I have fond memories.

After Abu Dhabi, everyone was saying it was only a matter of time until you won a major, not if you’d win one. How do you feel now some say you’ve entering that bitter-sweet territory as one of the best golfers in the world not to win a major?
There are a lot of good players not to win a major and I know I’ve come close but I still see myself as one of those guys trying to win a golf tournament, just like any other week. I don’t really think about whether I should have won one or not but instead just try and put myself in a position to win and learn from previous years and experiences.

The renowned British photographer David Cannon, recalling your ball striking during the third round at Royal St. George’s in 2011, believes an Open Championship is part of your destiny. Do you feel like the Open is your best shot at a big?
I certainly enjoy the Open Championship and everything that comes with it. I love links golf and the variety of shots you have to play so if I were lucky enough to lift the Claret Jug, I’d be a happy man.

Fowler battles the elements during the 3rd round of the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s – Getty Images

David wants to know if you regard that 68, etched out of miserable conditions en-route to a T5, as one of the best rounds of your career?
I couldn’t even open my umbrella that day at St George’s and shot a score that put me in contention on the final day so at the time, as a young professional without any wins on Tour, it was the best round of my career. I’ve had a couple of other stand out rounds since though, not least my final round of 69 last year at the National Course to win my first Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. That round was up and down all the way and went right down to the wire which was tense. Chipping in on the 17th was particularly memorable because is put me in position to close out the Championship.

What’s your take on the venues for this year’s major championships? Any one in particular you fancy?
It goes without saying that I love teeing it up at Augusta but beyond that, they all look great and I’m excited for the year ahead. I won my first PGA TOUR event at Quail Hollow so with the US PGA Championship heading there for the first time, that’ll be interesting and one where I’ll hopefully be able to channel my good memories.

We all see you on the range preparing for tournaments but can you take us behind the scenes of a typical tournament day, the stuff we don’t see. What rituals do you follow? Are you superstitious?
I don’t really have any superstitions, that’s if you don’t include wearing orange on Sunday of course. My manager is usually with me at events to help me with all of the off-course stuff but I also like travelling with my friends. There’s a few of us on the PGA Tour that have a fun time together and it can be exciting going to each tournament together. In terms of dealing with the off-course demands, I don’t see it being too much of a problem because I have some really cool sponsors like Puma and Red Bull and we do some exciting things. I’m a real adrenaline junkie so if I can combine sponsor demands with fun, that’s perfect.

You do great stuff with all your charity work and always seem to be pushing the youth angle. From your vantage point, is enough being done to foster the junior game?
I think the game is always doing its bit to try to nurture new talent and gets kids playing golf. The USGA certainly run a number of good initiatives, as do the R&A, so hopefully between them and myself and others on the professional golf circuit, we can inspire kids to get in to golf and then keep them there once they start.

We’re seeing online gaming tournaments televised now by the likes of ESPN. From someone who knows about both past-times, how do we get kids off their computers and onto the course?
I don’t know about converting kids that play video games but with the growth of social media and the sort of things we as professionals and bodies such as the European and PGA Tours can showcase on those channels, hopefully that’ll give them an idea of what they are missing out on. You’re never going to get everyone out there in to golf. This is the same for other sports too but if we can showcase golf as a fun and exciting option, that will help us move kids from their computer to the course or driving range.

You played the third round with Tiger in his comeback at the Hero World Challenge. He’s still the biggest draw and so important to the game isn’t he?
Tiger Woods is arguably the best golfer that has ever-lived so whenever I get a chance to tee it up with him, I’m excited. You’ve only got to look at the TV figures during the week to know that Tiger still draws the biggest crowd and golf is in a better place when he plays. It’s good to have him back and it’d be awesome if I got the chance to go toe-to-toe with him some time in the near future on the back nine Sunday.

Rickie Fowler and Tiger Wood’s during last month’s HERO World Challenge in the Bahamas. – Getty Images

You and Kiwi professional Danny Lee are renowned for pranking each other in public. It’s certainly lightened the stuffy reputation of the game…is the goofing about a conscious PR effort or just boys being boys? And who is going to have the last laugh?
It’s quite simply boys being boys. anny is a funny guy but I’ve got to say I’ll have the last laugh just in case he reads this.

With time to reflect, what did the Ryder Cup win at Hazeltine National mean for Team USA, especially in light of your tough time at Gleneagles in 2014? It must be nice to bury the “they don’t have our chemistry” talk?
I always love playing for my country and we had a blast at Hazeltine. The team really gelled together and it was one of my major goals last year to make the team and play in front of a home crowd. It was nice to dispel the feeling or talk that we aren’t a team but we weren’t thinking of it like that. We were just doing everything we could to win the Ryder Cup and bring it back to America!

Do you ever wish you’d chosen a different colour than orange for Sunday’s?
I couldn’t possibly choose another colour, I’m orange to the bone! I’m so proud to have been at OSU [Oregon State University] and love that I can honour them every Sunday.

Tell us one thing we don’t know about Rickie Fowler?
My middle name is Yutaka – after my grandfather Taka Tanaka.

What’s one thing you’d like to do that money can’t buy? Family

The post VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: The Big Interview – Rickie Fowler appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Extensions to the greens on the par 3 7^th and par 4 9^th holes are the most notable “refinements”, as Abu Dhabi Golf Club agronomy chief Clinton Southorn describes them, set to greet the 126-player field from January 19-22.

The 7th green has been extended on the right-hand side, increasing the putting surface by 25 percent to open up space for more testing pin positions. The 9th green has also been extended in similar fashion, bringing the large green side bunker into play.

Elsewhere, a small alteration of the contours on the 4^th green add to the difficulty of the par 3 with any shot landing to the right of the pin in danger of feeding off the putting surface and down the tightly mowed fringe to find the water hazard. Additionally, all the bunkers will revert back to having broomed faces with the bottom areas raked to enhance the presentation and make for more consistent lies.

Kaymer, who claimed his maiden European Tour title on The National in 2008 and went on to add the famed Falcon Trophy to his resume in 2010 and 2011 (the latter with a championship record -24 total), praised the tweaks to the Peter Harradine-designed course.

“A few changes have been made over the last two or three years and I think it’s one of those golf courses where you see that those were good changes,” said Kaymer, a two-time major champion.

“Sometimes these days, they change golf courses just to make them longer, but longer doesn’t always mean better or more difficult.”

One hole the German is happy things have been left alone is The National’s iconic par 5 18^th.

“My favourite hole has to be the 18th; I think it is one of the best par-fives that we play, especially for my type of game,” Kaymer said.

Kaymer escapes the sand on the 9th hole during the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship at the Abu Dhabi Golf Cub on January 21, 2016. – Getty Images

“The tee shot fits my eye perfectly and my ball flight very well. I can aim at that left hand bunker and just let the ball fade into the fairway and then the second shot is a great one towards the long, large green.”

Tournament director Peter German echoed Kaymer’s praise.

“The changes we have made for 2017 aren’t major, but each of them has been strategically implemented to provide a different and new challenge for the players by enhancing the degree of difficulty,’ German said.

“The Championship course is renowned for providing a tough but fair test and we look forward to watching the world’s best, including first-timers such as US Open Champion Dustin Johnson, take it on in January.”

The 12^th edition of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is headlined by reigning U.S. Open champion Johnson. The big-hitting American is joined by defending champion Rickie Fowler, world No.2 Rory McIlroy, Open champion Henrik Stenson, Masters champion Danny Willett, defending Qatar Masters champion Branden Grace, Alex Noren, Thomas Pieters, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Lee Westwood, Thongchai Jaidee and the newly announced Team Europe Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn.

Visit www.abudhabigolfchampionship.com for ticket information.

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The European Tour event is offering amateurs the chance to experience the pressure of hitting a tee shot in the heat of battle with the stars on The National’s famed par 3 7th hole.

This is no Pro-Am hit and giggle – the winners will peg it up alongside the likes of world No.2 Rory McIlroy, U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson and defending champion Rickie Fowler during the Thursday, Friday and Saturday of championship week which runs January 19-22.

To earn this epic opportunity, simply visit Abu Dhabi Golf Club between 2-4pm today and tomorrow (January 6-7) and participate in a nearest the pin challenge on the driving range. Who knows, you might be showing Rors, Rickie of DJ how much game you got next…

www.abudhabigolfchampionship.com

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