worldwide golf march 2013
DESCRIPTION
Tips to improve your game, the latest gear, features on Michael Campbell and Billy Foster, Michael Jordan talks golf, Justin Bieber shows the golfers how tweeting is done! Golf news from around the globe and much moreTRANSCRIPT
ISBN 978-9948-15-427-3
The 2005 US Open champion is back with his old coach and
reunited with belief.
M I D D L E E A S T ’ S N o . 1 G O L F M A G A Z I N E
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Official Publication of The Emirates Golf Federation & The Arab Golf Federation
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BILLY FOSTERTalks about his freak
accident, his funniest moments and caddying for
the best golfers in the game
The NBA legend gets his kicks sinking putts rather than shooting
hoops these days
COLUMNISTSPLAYER
MAJORS SHOULD FOLLOW TENNIS
NORMAN ART OF CHAMPIONSHIP
DESIGN SUCCESS
COWEN TUNE UP FOR THE MAJORS
WINreunited wi
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Ping G25 irons – arguably their most versatile club yet
Callaway turn up the heat with the X Hot iron range
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
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TOP GEAR
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Official Media Partner Middle East
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elief.
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Talks about his freakaccident, his funniest
moments and caddying forthe best golfers in the game
The NBA legend getshis kicks sinking puttsrather than shooting
hoops these days
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FOLLOLL W TENNIS
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TAKES A LOOK AT CAMBO’S SWING
CAMBORETURNS
2 www.wwgolf.biz
GOLF has come a long way since I
first started my career and a lot of
things have changed, many of
them for the better. We’ve got better
clubs to play with, better balls, better
courses, better travel, better organisation
and better communications.
Yet we still have only four Major
Championships with three played in the
United States and one in Great Britain: The
Open, the Masters, the US Open and the US
PGA.
Historically, there’s good reason for this
and I don’t expect for one minute that the
situation is going to change. But in this
modern era where golf is now a truly global
game, we should have the four Majors
played in four different parts of the world.
Tennis has got it right. Their four Grand
Slam events are played in England, France,
America and Australia. That’s how you get a
real Champion of the World.
I wonder how many Major champions we
would have had from different countries if
golf’s four Majors had been played in four
different countries or continents. It’s always
easier playing on home soil in front of your
home crowd and the Americans have a
distinct advantage in three of the four
Majors every year.
The Open Championship began back in
PlayerINTRODUCTION Worldwide Golf Executive Editor Since 1999
The 9-time Major Champion and 9-time Senior Major Champion who has witnessed and been a part of some of the most historic and memorable golfing occasions reflects on the game today
g greflects on theeeeeee y
Gary
I wonder how many Major champions we would have had from different countries if golf ’s four Majors had been played in four different countries or continents. It’s always easier playing on home soil in front of your home crowd and the Americans have a distinct advantage in three of the four Majors every year.
1860 at Prestwick in Scotland. The US
Open followed in 1895, with the US PGA
starting in 1916 and the inaugural Masters
was in 1934.
With the game of golf originating in
Scotland it’s understandable that the first
Major should be played there. When the
game was popularised in the United States
it was also understandable that the other
three Majors should be played in the US.
Before the Second World War golf was
predominantly a game played almost
exclusively in Great Britain and the United
States. It’s ironic that it was an Englishman,
Jim Barnes, who won the US PGA
Championship in the first two years of its
existence, 1916 and 1919, and a Scotsman,
Jock Hutchinson who won the third event
in 1920. Walter Hagen and Gene Sarazen
between them won the next seven US
PGA Championships.
England’s Harry Vardon was the first
non-American to win the US Open, in
1900 and it was another 20 years before
another non-American, England’s Ted Ray
won it.
As far as the Masters is concerned I was
the first non-American to win, in 1961. I
won it again in 1974 and for a third time in
1978. So from the inaugural Masters
tournament in 1934 to 1978 I was the only
non-American to win the Masters. Seve
was the next non-American to win at
Augusta National in 1980 and 1983,
quickly followed by a succession of
Europeans.
In my early days I was one of the few
players who were prepared to fly around
the world to compete in the Majors and
the big events. It wasn’t easy to travel back
then but I was determined to play in as
many big tournaments as I could.
I remember once flying from America to
Australia to play in the Australian Open
with Jack (Nicklaus) and Arnold (Palmer)
via Paris where we were delayed by fog at
the airport for such a long time that Jack
and Arnold decided to fly back to the
States. I was so determined to play, I
continued my journey and arrived at Royal
Melbourne Golf Club just three hours
before teeing off in the Championship. I
had no time to prepare but I came out the
winner. Between 1958 and 1974 I won the
Australian Open seven times.
Jack and Arnold did their fair share of
globetrotting but, overall, Americans are
not enthusiastic travellers outside the
United States. But, then, they could make
the point that they don’t have to travel
abroad too much to compete in so many
big tournaments.
TENNIS LESSON
Australia: Novak Djokovic
USA: Andy Murray
France: Rafael Nadal
England: Roger Federer
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FOR EVERY PLAYER.
Editor-in-Chief: Mike GallemoreExecutive Editor: Gary PlayerEditor: Alex Gallemore
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COLUMNISTS
Five holes to play before you die, pimp my ride, golf funnies, Tour news and more.
Understanding The European Tour’s Final Series which debuts on The Race to Dubai this year.
INSTRUCTION
Greg Norman, Gary Player and Pete Cowen air their views on the state of the game.
Know your stats to lower your scores and learn how to enjoy windy conditions.
ARABIAN GOLF
News and results from the leading clubs in the Middle East.
Joel Neale catches up with leading amateur Michael Harradine and we report from the sold out WWG Open at Al Ain.
STYLE
Michael Jordan talks golf, Driving Range with the BMW 740Li, Up close with LPGA star Suzann Pettersen.
TOP GEAR
Titleist launch the 2013 ProV1, Callaway turn up the heat with the X Hot irons and Ping reveal the do-it-all G25 irons.
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THE STARTER
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THE STARTER
5 HOLES TO PLAY BEFORE YOU DIE
Hole 1 Doonbeg Golf Club, Ireland567 yards Par 5
The Greg Norman-designed Doonbeg Golf Course in County Clare, Ireland, is home to arguably the most beautiful opening hole in golf. With the Doonbeg Lodge behind you play from a raised tee overlooking the crashing waves of the Atlantic to the west down to a green encircled by towering dunes which create a natural amphitheatre.
Hole 3B Punta Mita Golf Club, Mexico199 yards Par3
The Jack Nicklaus-designed Pacifico Course at the Punta Mita Golf Club in Mexico actually has 19 holes with two par-3 third holes. No. 3B, known as ‘The Tail of the Whale’ involves a shot over the Pacific Ocean to the world’s only natural island green which is situated atop a mound of black lava rock. The green is only accessible by buggy during low tide – during high tide the club has an amphibious vehicle to transport you!
Hole 17St Andrews455 yards Par 4
The Road Hole at the Home of Golf is arguably the most famous hole in the world and there isn’t a golfer alive who wouldn’t sell their grandmother to play it! The tee shot gives you the option of a risky drive over the Old Course Hotel to the right or what looks like an easier shot down the left but actually brings several pothole bunkers into play, and leaves you with an approach that is severely complicated by the notorious Road Bunker to the left of the green. One to tell the grandchildren about.
Hole 15 Cape Kidnappers, New Zealand639 yards Par 5
Every hole on the Tom Doak designed Cape Kidnappers in New Zealand is a stunner, with the course jutting out on a series of promontories into the spectacular Hawkes Bay. In the middle of a stretch of holes that follows these natural cliff fingers is the 15th – “Pirates Plank.” Look where you’re going when playing this long Par 5 as there’s a 140m drop into the sea on the left and a deep cavern to the right.
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Legend Golf Resort and SafariExtreme 19th
437 yards Par 3
South Africa’s Legend Golf Resort and Safari is home to the world’s longest and highest Par 3. The tee box is only accessible by helicopter – 430m up the majestic Hanglip Mountain – and you play to a green cut in the shape of Africa. The view from the top is truly spectacular while the distance between the foot of the mountain and the back of the green is a jaw dropping 400m. Hit from the radically elevated tee the ball takes 20 seconds to land.
GOLFERS DO THE SILLIEST THINGS
Michael Campbell and Billy Foster, who both feature in this issue, have been victims of bizarre injuries in recent times. Campbell did his shoulder in lifting a suitcase off a luggage carousal while Foster stepped in a hole as he kicked a football, causing his knee ligaments to basically snap! In honour Cambo and Foz we decided to look at some of golf’s other strange injuries.
JOSÉ MARÍA OLAZÁBALThe then reigning Masters champion ended his participation in the 1999 US Open by punching a hole in his hotel room wall and breaking his hand after shooting a first round 75. Temper, temper!
ERNIE ELS The Big Easy ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in 2005 after falling off a banana boat. The initial PR described it as a ‘sailing accident’…erm, not quite!
MARTIN KAYMERThe German Ryder Cup star was leading The Race to Dubai in 2009 when a go-karting crash left him with three broken bones in his foot, forcing him to miss two crucial months of the season. He eventually finished third on the money list. Expensive day at the track...
PAUL CASEY A snowboarding injury derailed the Englishman’s 2012 season when he dislocated his shoulder while getting ‘radical’ in the mountains of Colorado on Christmas Eve 2011. Bummer!
LUCAS GLOVERThe 2009 US Open champion missed the start of last season after spraining his right knee while paddleboarding ahead of the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. You might say it left him up the creek with no paddle (sorry).
MIGUEL ANGEL JIMÉNEZ The charismatic Spaniard became the latest Tour player to fall victim to a bizarre season-damaging injury when he broke his leg while skiing in his homeland. Well, if you will try to ski with a bottle of Rioja in one hand and a cigar in the other…
RORY MCILROYThe World No.1 dropped a 50lb barbell on his toe when pumping iron the day before the 2011 WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral got underway. He still went on to finish in the top 10…the big show off.
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THE STARTER
RULE AMENDMENTS
A ball sliced or hooked into the
rough shall be lifted and placed
in the fairway at a point equal to
the distance it carried or rolled in
the rough. Such veering right or
left frequently results from friction
between the face of the club and
the cover of the ball, and the player
should not be penalised for erratic
behavior of the ball resulting from
such uncontrollable mechanical
phenomena.
A ball hitting a tree shall be
deemed not to have hit the tree.
Hitting a tree is simply bad luck
and has no place in the scientific
game. The player should estimate
the distance the ball would have
travelled if it had not hit the tree and
play the ball from there, preferably
from a nice tuft of grass.
There shall be no such thing as
a lost ball. The missing ball is on
or near the course somewhere
and eventually will be found and
pocketed by someone else. It thus
becomes a stolen ball, and the
player should not compound the
felony by charging himself with a
penalty stroke.
PimpMy RideGolf carts…bit boring aren’t they? They pretty much all look the same, nothing to differentiate one from the other…
TWITTER WARSThese days more and more golfers have joined the Twitter revolution Tweeting their every waking move to an army of fans around the world – but who’s winning the Twitter Wars?Rory McIlory might be replacing Tiger Woods at the top of the world game but when it comes to online followers, Tiger’s still top dog.
Name Handle Followers
Tiger Woods @TigerWoods 2,982,952
Rory McIlroy @McIlroyRory 1,532,156
Ian Poulter @IanJamesPoulter 1,442,859
Stewart Cink @StewartCink 1,149,265
Tiger might be top Twitter dog in the golf world…but he still has a long way to go to catch this guy:
Justin Bieber @justinbieber 34,807,794!
A couple of elderly gents were golfing when one said he was going to Dr. Taylor for a new set of dentures in the morning. His friend remarked that he had gone to the same dentist a few years before. “Is that so?” the first said. “Did he do a good job?” “Well, I was playing yesterday when the fellow on the ninth hole hooked a shot,” he said. “The ball must have been going 200 mph when it hit me in the groin... and that was the first time in two years my teeth didn’t hurt.”
Dentures
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THE STARTER
PGA Tour consider ‘local rule’ rejecting belly putter ban
THE US PGA Tour are considering adopting a ‘local rule’ which will see them reject the proposed ban on the anchoring of belly putters.
The changes to the rules, which are due to come into force in 2016, were proposed by the R&A and the USGA last November, with a 90-day consultation period granted for views on the subject to be expressed. The US Tour are said to have reservations about the ban and players such as Jim Furyk have been outspoken in their opposition to it.
“Right now we’re just giving our opinion on what we think is best for the game of golf,” said Furyk. “We’re not discussing what we are going to
do if the USGA does this or they do that. That bridge hasn’t been crossed.”
Ian Poulter believes it could get “very messy” if the PGA Tour goes against the governing bodies of the game. “It will be a shame if they get overridden and the PGA Tour go out on their own,” he said. “There is going to be lots of disconnect between tournaments.”
Tournament of Hope postponedTHE International Federation of PGA Tours and the Sunshine Tour have pulled the plug on the inaugural Tournament of Hope which was scheduled to take place in November this year.
The event was set to be contested in South Africa and feature the top 50 players on the World Ranking and the top players from the Order of Merits on the Tours that make up the Federation of PGA Tours.
“We are confident that the initial
enthusiasm for the Tournament of Hope remains in South Africa and among other potential international sponsors,” said Selwyn Nathan, executive director of the Sunshine Tour. “We are hopeful that, with an improvement in the economic climate, we will be able to conclude all arrangements for a successful staging of the Tournament of Hope at a future date.”
Avantha Masters moves to Greg Norman-designed courseTHE only European Tour event to take place in India, the Avantha Masters, has a new home this year as the tournament moves to the Greg Norman-designed Jaypee Greens Golf Course on the outskirts of New Delhi.
The tournament, scheduled for March 14-17, is the only course in India designed by the two-time Major Champion. It is approximately one hour from Delhi airport and is reminiscent of classic Melbourne Sandbelt courses. South African Jbe Kruger is defending champion.
It’s not every day you win a Major, or The Ryder Cup and Graeme McDowell did both in 2010…so he made sure he celebrated properly!“After the US Open win at Pebble Beach we all went to an old-school Irish bar in Carmel near Pebble called Brophy’s Tavern,” said McDowell. “I was with my family and friends and I may have been the drunkest man on earth. The next day I woke up and saw the trophy on the table in my room and thought, ‘This is a really great hangover.’ I had to pinch myself. When I went back to Ireland we had a party at my golf club, Rathmore, and we did drink out of the trophy cup.“Another fun moment and celebration was after the 2010 Ryder Cup win, Rory McIlroy and I drank out of The Ryder Cup. I really enjoy the social aspect of getting together with 15 or 20 school friends and relaxing in the clubhouse at Christmas time and when I am at home, which isn’t often as I travel so much.”Extract taken from Two Good Rounds by Elisa Guadet
TALES FROM THE 19TH HOLE
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USGA to address slow play issuesJUST a few days after Tiger Woods endured a pathetically slow final round on his way to winning the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour, the USGA announced a new initiative with the aim of tackling slow play.
The USGA have proposed plans to launch a “multi-faceted programme” later this year in a bid to resolve the issue, which affects those at the top as well as recreational amateurs.
“The cry that pace of play has become one of the most significant threats to the game’s health has become only louder over the last year,” said USGA president Glen D. Nager.
Executive Director Mike Davis echoed Nager, saying: “Six-hour rounds are just not good for the players, our championships or the game. Slow play is also incompatible with our modern society, in which our personal time for recreation is compressed. This is an issue that demands our complete attention.”
Woods said that it took his group just over three hours to complete nine holes – three of which were par 3s.
Lyle still dreaming of Ryder Cup captaincy
TWO-time Major winner Sandy Lyle has said he has not given up on being a Ryder Cup Captain after revealing he was considered for the 2014 role before Paul McGinley was selected.
Players’ Committee Chairman Thomas Björn called Lyle after the McGinley announcement to inform him that he was one of five candidates considered for the role.
“At least I’m still being considered because two years ago I thought I was regarded as too old,” said Lyle, 54. “When I got the phone call from Thomas I knew, and with that they seem to have deleted the unwritten rule that says when you reach 50 it’s the end of your Ryder Cup chances. I live in hope and I shall keep my ears and eyes open. Tom Watson being chosen to lead the USA has opened the door for us oldies.”
Lydia Ko wins her third pro titleFIFTEEN-year-old amateur Lydia Ko won her third professional title last month with a one-stroke victory over American Amelia Lewis at the New Zealand Women’s Open.
In January 2012 the then 14-year-old Ko won the New South Wales Open and last summer after turning 15 she became the youngest ever winner of an LPGA Tour event at the Canadian Open.
“I didn’t cry at the Canadian Open so I don’t know why I cried here. I guess it meant more. It is our national open, so to win means a lot,” she said.
Ko, who is still an amateur, tees it up in her first LPGA Tour Major next month at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
Dinah Shore is born in Winchester Tennessee on February 29th 1916 and celebrates her birthday on March 1st for three out of every four years until her death in 1994. Shore becomes a famous singer and television personality and is the only non-player to be inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame in 1994, having been a long-time supporter of women’s professional golf. She founded the Colgate Dinah Shore tournament, which has since become the Kraft Nabisco Championship, one of the Majors on the LPGA Tour.
1916 A star is born
THIS MONTH IN HISTORY
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THE STARTER
WWG: What’s your favourite golf course?VS: Augusta National.
WWG: What’s your favourite hole in golf? VS: The 18th at Pebble Beach.
WWG: Who is your favourite golf course architect? VS: Alistair MacKenzie.
WWG: What’s the one mulligan you’d like to take? VS: The 15th hole during the final round of the
2000 Masters.
WWG: What’s your favourite club in your bag? VS: The putter.
WWG: What’s the best golf book you’ve read? VS: The Natural by Sam Snead. WWG: What’s your all time favourite movie?VS: Forest Gump.
WWG: Which is your favourite sports team?VS: The New York Yankees
WWG: Favourite musician or group? VS: Pink Floyd
VIJAY SINGH LOOKING GOOD AT 50
Did you know? Vijay enjoyed rugby, cricket and football as a child, but gave them up to
concentrate on golf after he dropped out of high school at 16.
He often ran across an airport runway to reach the nine-hole Nadi Airport Golf Club near his childhood home in Fiji.
Vijay means ‘victory’ in Hindi.
Vijay became golf’s first 10 Million Dollar Man in 2004 when he won US$10,905,166 in prize money with nine PGA Tour victories.
He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2006.
QUICK 9
Born: February 22, 1963
Height: 6ft 2in
Major Victories: 3
Career Victories: 57
Driving Distance: 290 yards
Driving Accuracy: 58.74%
Greens in Regulation: 70.14%
Sand Saves: 51.27%
Scoring Average: 70.32
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THE DP World Tour Championship, Dubai
won last year by World Number One
Rory McIlroy, will have an even greater
significance this year as the climax not only to the
2013 European Tour’s Race to Dubai , but also to
the newly introduced ‘Final Series.’
The Final Series will consist of four tournaments:
The BMW Masters at Lake Malaren Golf Club in
Shanghai, China (October 24-27); the WGC-HSBC
Champions tournament at Sheshan International
Golf Club in Shanghai, China (October 31-November
3); the Turkish Open at The Montgomerie Maxx
Royal in Antalya (November 7- 10) and will conclude
with the US$8 million DP World Tour Championship
on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates from
November 14-17.
The combined prizemoney for all four
tournaments is US$30.5 million, plus the additional
Race to Dubai Bonus Pool of US$3.75million,
awarded to the top 10 players at the end of the
season, after the DP World Tour Championship.
Any European Tour Member hoping to qualify
for the for the DP World Tour Championship – and
therefore earn a chance to compete for The Race
to Dubai $3.75 million Bonus Pool – will have to
participate in two of the three events preceding the
season-ending finale. This regulation only applies to
those European Tour Members who are eligible for
all three events at the close of entries.
Furthermore, at the conclusion of the Perth
International Championship in Australia on October
20, the last event prior to ‘The Final Series,’ The Race
to Dubai will be converted to a points table with €1
equalling 1 point. This will allow for a 20 per cent
“points” bonus to be awarded to any player who
plays all of the first three events in the ‘The Final
Series’. The bonus will be added to the respective
players’ points totals before the start of the DP
World Tour Championship, potentially improving
their chance of either winning The Race to Dubai or
increasing their share of the Bonus Pool.
Keith Waters, Chief Operating Officer of The
European Tour (pictured above, right) said: “The
Final Series is designed to attract the world`s best
players and create a fitting climax to The Race to
Dubai. The large prize funds in all four events plus
an added bonus of 20 per cent if a player plays the
preceding three events is designed to keep The
Race to Dubai alive to the last event, the DP World
Tour Championship.
“Last year Rory McIlroy, through his superb
performances, had clinched The Race and the
Bonus Pool two weeks prior to the Grand Finale at
Jumeirah Golf Estates and while the new format
does not guarantee that will not happen again, it
does create greater opportunities for the chasing
pack to catch the leader of The Race to Dubai.”
Mohammed Sharaf, Group CEO DP World,
commented: “We are delighted to be entering our
fifth year supporting The European Tour, and the
second year as the title sponsor of the season-
ending DP World Tour Championship. Last year will
be a tough act to follow with Rory having secured
the double in winning The Race to Dubai and the
money list on the US PGA Tour in such fine style, as
well as winning the DP World Tour Championship,
birdieing the last five holes. We look forward
to seeing how this year’s Race to Dubai season
develops and the impact of The Final Series. With all
60 of the top European Tour players earning their
place at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, it is certain
to be a thrilling climax to the season.”
The Race to Dubai features a total of 45
tournaments across 24 countries, including the
Majors and World Golf Championships.
Following the Desert Swing in January and
February, the 2013 Race to Dubai moved from
South Africa to the World Golf Championships
in Arizona and Miami before heading for India,
Malaysia and Morocco, in the early stages of a
golfing odyssey that traverses the globe as it builds
towards the exciting new climax of ‘The Final Series’.
George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The
European Tour, said: “The Introduction of ‘The Final
Series’ and the associated changes to the structure
will bring even more drama and excitement to the
conclusion of our season, and further enhance The
Race to Dubai.”
The BMW Masters was won last year by Swedish
Ryder Cup player Peter Hanson, and the 2013 field
will be made up of 78 players comprising the top 60
in the World Ranking, 14 players from the Chinese
Golf Association, three tournament invites and the
balance from The 2013 Race to Dubai.
Eckhard Wannieck, Head of Sponsoring,
Co-operations and Product Placement BMW,
said: “Last year’s inaugural BMW Masters tournament
at the Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai exceeded
even our own expectations – it provided a fantastic
THE FINAL SERIES“The Final Series is designed to attract the World`s best players and create a fitting climax to The Race to Dubai. The large prize funds in all four events plus an added bonus of 20 per cent if a player plays the preceding three events is designed to keep The Race to Dubai alive to the last event, the DP World Tour Championship.” –Keith Waters
RACE TO DUBAI NEWS
Chief Operating Officer of The European Tour
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advertisement for the sport of golf as well as the
BMW brand in the dynamically expanding Chinese
market. We also welcome The European Tour’s
newly-created ‘The Final Series’ as the climax to the
season; it underlines the elevated status of the BMW
Masters and our role as one of the leading partners
in golf worldwide.
A prize fund of US$7 million makes the BMW
Masters one of the most lucrative international
sporting events on the calendar. As The Race to
Dubai enters the home straight, the tournament
will play a key role in determining who finishes the
season at the top of the rankings. This is a major
sporting feather in the BMW Masters’ cap.”
The following week ‘The Final Series’ moves across
Shanghai to Sheshan International Golf Club for the
WGC-HSBC Champions from October 31-November
3, the second HSBC title-sponsored event of the
year after the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.
The final World Golf Championships event of the
season counts towards both The Race to Dubai and
the PGA Tour’s FedExCup for the first time. The field
of 78 players features the current Major and WGC
champions and champions from the other leading
tournaments scheduled across all the Federated
Tours. The top 50 from the World Ranking qualify, as
do the leading five players not otherwise exempt
from both The 2013 Race to Dubai and FedexCup
and six players from the Chinese Golf Association.
Last year’s title went to another Ryder Cup winner,
Ian Poulter.
Giles Morgan, HSBC Global Head of
Sponsorship and Events, said: “The WGC-HSBC
Champions is our flagship event and one of the
things we’re most proud of is the qualification
criteria with the majority of the field qualifying only
by winning a key tournament on their Tours or by
being ranked in the top 50.
“This absolutely guarantees we’ll have a glittering
array of golfing talent in Shanghai and the fact that
the players will also be battling it out for ‘The Final
Series’ adds even greater lustre to what promises to
be a thrilling climax to the season.”
Guy Kinnings, Global Head of IMG Golf,
the tournament promoters, added: “When we first
staged the HSBC Champions in 2005, HSBC and IMG
were well aware of the ever-growing importance of
Asia on the global golf map and we are delighted
with the stature the tournament now holds in the
worldwide schedule today.”
The Turkish Open from November 7-10 is a new
event on The European Tour International Schedule
and follows an exhibition last year when Justin Rose,
another of Europe’s Ryder Cup heroes, triumphed.
The top 50 in the World Ranking, five tournament
invites and the balance from The 2013 Race to
Dubai will make up the field of 78.
Ahmet Agaoglu, the President of the Turkish
Federation, said: “We are honoured to host the
first European Tour event in Turkey and especially
delighted to have secured a prime date on The Tour
Schedule. The venues and coastline of southern
Turkey provide an ideal destination for international
events and tourists alike.”
Andrew Chandler, of promoters
International Sports Management, added: “The
Turkish Open, positioned in the penultimate week
of The Race to Dubai and played on a great golf
course, will attract an exceptionally strong field as
the anticipation at the tail end of the season grows.”
These three events build towards the thrilling
climax to ‘The Final Series’ at the DP World Tour
Championship, from November 14-17 where once
again the top 60 players in The Race to Dubai after
the Turkish Open will be eligible for the season
finale.
BMW Masters
Lake Malaren Golf Club
Shanghai, China.
October 24 -27.
Prize fund: $7,000,000.
WGC-HSBC Champions
Sheshan International GC
Shanghai, China.
October 31-November 3.
Prize fund: $8,500,000.
Turkish Open
The Montgomerie Maxx Royal,
Antalya, Turkey.
November 07-10.
Prize fund: $7,000,000.
DP World Tour Championship, Dubai
Jumeriah Golf Estates
Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
November 14-17
Prize fund: $8,000,00.
The Race to Dubai will be converted to a points table with €1 equalling 1 point. This will allow for a 20 per cent “points” bonus to be awarded to any player who
Championship, Dubai, potentially improving their chance of either winning The
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www.wwgolf.biz 23
OFFICIAL 2013 RACE TO DUBAI
THE 2013 RACE TO DUBAI RANKING AS AT FEBRUARY 25, 2013
1 STERNE Richard RSA 5 €521,389
2 JAMIESON Scott SCO 6 €436,205
3 OOSTHUIZEN Louis RSA 4 €435,328
4 SCHWARTZEL Charl RSA 3 €421,432
5 DONALDSON Jamie WAL 4 €419,932
6 OLESEN Thorbjørn DEN 5 €395,478
7 POULTER Ian ENG 1 €371,546
8 WOOD Chris ENG 4 €363,704
9 GALLACHER Stephen SCO 4 €348,452
10 COETZEE George RSA 6 €332,598
11 SANTOS Ricardo POR 6 €284,050
12 ROSE Justin ENG 3 €270,601
13 GRACE Branden RSA 7 €269,961
14 WEBSTER Steve ENG 6 €267,298
15 GARCIA Sergio ESP 3 €255,177
16 JAIDEE Thongchai THA 5 €237,724
17 FICHARDT Darren RSA 8 €234,544
18 AGUILAR Felipe CHI 4 €206,694
19 MULROY Garth RSA 7 €204,388
20 McDOWELL Graeme NIR 1 €204,350
21 KAYMER Martin GER 3 €200,689
22 FDEZ-CASTAÑO Gonzalo ESP 4 €199,242
23 NOREN Alexander SWE 4 €187,687
24 FRASER Marcus AUS 4 €184,277
25 BOURDY Grégory FRA 7 €180,126
26 SULLIVAN Andy ENG 7 €176,767
27 CABRERA-BELLO Rafa ESP 5 €176,307
28 BROBERG Kristoffer SWE 6 €174,759
29 HARRINGTON Padraig IRL 3 €165,282
30 COLSAERTS Nicolas BEL 2 €152,362
30 LOWRY Shane IRL 4 €152,362
32 MANASSERO Matteo ITA 5 €147,399
33 VAN ZYL Jaco RSA 6 €138,842
34 CLARK Tim RSA 2 €136,124
35 STENSON Henrik SWE 5 €127,822
36 WILLETT Danny ENG 5 €126,324
37 HANSON Peter SWE 3 €124,241
38 HOWELL David ENG 5 €119,345
39 GAGLI Lorenzo ITA 7 €118,379
40 LAWRIE Paul SCO 4 €108,260
41 WESTWOOD Lee ENG 2 €105,987
42 HORNE Keith RSA 7 €103,015
43 QUESNE Julien FRA 4 €102,363
44 RAMSAY Richie SCO 4 €99,339
45 SIEM Marcel GER 5 €97,937
46 KRUGER Jbe RSA 6 €93,954
47 BJÖRN Thomas DEN 5 €92,254
48 ROCK Robert ENG 6 €89,020
49 ELS Ernie RSA 4 €83,844
50 KIEFFER Maximilian GER 6 €81,076
51 MOLINARI Francesco ITA 3 €79,539
52 CASEY Paul ENG 4 €79,496
53 FLEETWOOD Tommy ENG 6 €77,741
54 AIKEN Thomas RSA 6 €77,350
55 LAWRIE Peter IRL 5 €76,621
56 DE LA RIVA Eduardo ESP 4 €73,939
57 SINGH Jeev Milkha IND 4 €72,774
58 DONALD Luke ENG 1 €71,337
58 PETTERSSON Carl SWE 1 €71,337
60 WALL Anthony ENG 3 €70,889
61 WIESBERGER Bernd AUT 4 €67,403
62 KHAN Simon ENG 3 €65,614
63 LUITEN Joost NED 3 €64,621
64 WALTERS Justin RSA 6 €63,147
65 DRYSDALE David SCO 7 €61,973
66 VAN DER WALT Tjaart RSA 4 €57,570
67 FISHER JNR Trevor RSA 4 €55,235
68 CAMPILLO Jorge ESP 7 €54,851
69 LOCKERBIE Gary ENG 6 €53,180
70 CAMPBELL Michael NZL 3 €49,444
71 ÅKESSON Björn SWE 4 €49,293
72 MAYBIN Gareth NIR 5 €49,086
73 BLAND Richard ENG 5 €48,726
74 NIXON Matthew ENG 5 €48,184
75 OLAZÁBAL José María ESP 4 €46,962
76 HOEY Michael NIR 5 €45,913
77 HANSEN Anders DEN 3 €45,162
78 HARTØ Andreas DEN 7 €44,849
79 CHOWRASIA S.S.P IND 5 €42,414
80 WARREN Marc SCO 6 €41,393
81 LEE Craig SCO 6 €41,358
82 MADSEN Morten Ørum DEN 4 €40,719
83 HORSEY David ENG 6 €39,821
84 ILONEN Mikko FIN 3 €39,594
85 SLATTERY Lee ENG 5 €38,689
86 KINGSTON James RSA 4 €38,542
87 GONZALEZ Ricardo ARG 4 €37,290
88 JACQUELIN Raphaël FRA 3 €37,103
89 DERKSEN Robert-Jan NED 4 €36,645
90 GARRIDO Ignacio ESP 7 €36,123
91 LYNN David ENG 1 €34,182
91 McILROY Rory NIR 2 €34,182
93 DA SILVA Adilson BRA 3 €34,150
94 RUMFORD Brett AUS 4 €33,702
95 GOOSEN Retief RSA 2 €33,550
96 MEESAWAT Prom THA 3 €33,079
97 DUBUISSON Victor FRA 3 €33,073
98 TULLO Mark CHI 3 €32,700
99 CLARKE Darren NIR 2 €32,150
100 GREEN Richard AUS 3 €31,739
Pos Name Nationality No. of events Prizemoney Pos Name Nationality No. of events Prizemoney
www wwgolf.biz 2www.wwgolf.biz 23
The Race to Dubai is a season-long competition spanning a minimum of 45 tournaments in 24 countries and all five continents on The 2013 European Tour
International Schedule. The Race to Dubai winner receives The Harry Vardon Trophy (first awarded in 1937), and a seven year European Tour Card exemption. The
winner of The Race to Dubai will secure Category 1 Membership of The European Tour similar to the winners of The Open Championship, the US Open, the US PGA
Championship and the Masters Tournament. The Bonus Pool will count as Official Money on the final Race to Dubai standings.
E X P L A N AT I O N O F T H E E U R O P E A N TO U R R A C E TO D U B A I 2 0 1 3
www.wwgolf.biz26
WITH the consultation process to consider banning the
belly putter now at an end following the conclusion
of the snow-hit World Golf Championships-Accenture
Match Play Championship, there is new speculation that
the US PGA Tour may allow the introduction of ‘local rules’ to override
the proposed ban by the USGA and the Royal & Ancient.
When I heard the news that golf’s governing bodies, the R&A and the
USGA, had finally decided to ban the anchoring of the long-handled
putter I couldn’t have been more pleased, although I didn’t understand
why they wanted to wait until 2016 before implementing it.
Now it seems the US PGA Tour are considering allowing “conditions of
competition” that apply to each tournament, encompassing the possible
use of the long-handled anchored putter.
If the US PGA Tour take this route and the R&A and the USGA go ahead
with the ban it could lead to total chaos. We could end up with a situation
where someone like Ernie Els would be allowed to use his long-handled
putter playing a US PGA Tour event one week and the following week he
could be playing a European Tour event and be banned from using it.
It took the R&A and the USGA many years before deciding to ban
the anchoring of long-handled putters and I welcomed it because I
believe it should have been banned from the outset. By prolonging the
implementation of the ban they are merely allowing exponents of the
anchored putter to continue their campaign to reverse the ruling.
It’s a crazy situation where it seems that the USGA, who are responsible
for making the rules of golf in the United States and Mexico, and the R&A
who set the rules and administer them in the rest of the world, could be
overruled by the PGA Tour through the loophole of using ‘local rules’ to
allow its use.
The simple truth is that the game of golf was never intended to
include long-handled anchored putters. The governing bodies have to
standardise the rules. They have to either do it or not do it but they can’t
leave it open-ended.
I’ll never understand why, having decided to ban it, they then opted to
give everyone three years to get used to the idea.
There is not a great deal between the ability level of players on the
Tour but there’s a big difference in their mind control. I’m only a small guy.
In my career I won 165 golf tournaments, nine regular Majors and nine
Senior Majors. I couldn’t have done that without my mental strength. It’s
what made the difference.
I couldn’t hit the ball anywhere near the distance of my rivals but I
could use my mental strength to use my course management and my
mental focus to get the best out of what I’d got, including the strength
of my putting when the chips were down. Superstars in most sports only
become superstars because of their ability to be in total control of their
emotions and their nerves.
Golf is all about pressure and how you react to it. When you’re in a
tight situation and you’ve got to use everything in your power to get
the job done, that’s what champions are all about. If you take the nerves
out of the game you are ruining the spectacle. Golf is all about making
great shots under pressure and having the nerve to turn those shots into
birdies and eagles or making a vital save.
Take out the mental nerves from golf and you take out the guts from
the game. It’s 30 or maybe 40 per cent of what it’s all about.
By using an anchored long putter, whether you anchor it in your
midriff, your chest, your chin, or wherever it suits you, it’s taking the wrist
action altogether out of your putting stroke. If a player is struggling with
his putting, he has to come to terms with it. Many players suffer from a
lack of confidence with their putting at some stage of their career but
they have to overcome it. But by using the anchored putter it means they
are taking away a vital element of the game. I can remember when some
players used beta-blockers to calm their nerves. Well, using an anchored
GARY PLAYERIt’s a crazy situation where it seems that the USGA, who are responsible for making the rules of golf in the United States and Mexico, and the R&A who set the rules and administer them in the rest of the world, could be overruled by the PGA Tour through the loophole of using ‘local rules’ to allow its use.
BY USING AN ANCHORED LONG PUTTER, WHETHER YOU ANCHOR IT IN YOUR MIDRIFF, YOUR CHEST, YOUR CHIN, OR WHEREVER IT SUITS YOU, IT’S TAKING THE WRIST ACTION ALTOGETHER OUT OF YOUR PUTTING STROKE. IF A PLAYER IS STRUGGLING WITH HIS PUTTING, HE HAS TO COME TO TERMS WITH IT. MANY PLAYERS SUFFER FROM A LACK OF CONFIDENCE WITH THEIR PUTTING AT SOME STAGE OF THEIR CAREER BUT THEY HAVE TO OVERCOME IT. BUT BY USING THE ANCHORED PUTTER IT MEANS THEY ARE TAKING AWAY A VITAL ELEMENT OF THE GAME.
www.wwgolf.biz 27
putter is no different than taking a pill. Fortunately, they have been
banned from the game and the anchored putter should be treated in the
same way.
Orville Moody was one of the best ball strikers on Tour in the 1960s but,
by his own admission, his putting was what let him down. He won the
1969 US Open using a cross-handed putting grip. But when he reached
50 and joined the US Champions Tour he switched to an anchored long-
handled putter and won 11 tournaments including the 1989 US Senior
Open. You shouldn’t be allowed to use the anchored putter as a cure for
your nerves.
Tom Weiskopf was one of the best ball-strikers in the game. He was a
better ball striker than Jack or Arnold or me but he didn’t win the number
of tournaments he should have won because of his nerves in pressure
situations.
Tiger Woods went through a period, after his personal problems, when
he lost his focus. His nerve, which made him the player he was, just wasn’t
there when he needed to sink those five or six foot putts which had been
automatic certainties to him previously. Now, he’s getting it back again.
He’s swinging better and he’s got his mental approach in order again. He’s
won already on Tour at Torrey Pines in January and he’s my bet to win the
Masters.
HOPEFULLY this could be Lee Westwood’s year to win a Major. He’s
done the right thing in moving to the States and taken a lot of pressure
off himself. He’s showing signs of finding his best form and I’d like to see
him finally win a Major. He deserves it. It will be interesting to see how
Rory McIlroy performs at the Masters, which will give us an insight into his
much anticipated season ahead.
I’m pleased to see how the South African boys are shaping up.
Richard Sterne and Darren Fichardt have won recently, along with Charl
Schwartzel, who, with Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace, Ernie Els and
Retief Goosen, and the up and coming George Coetzee, look like making
this a memorable year for South African golf.
I THNK it’s time to put rules into golf to govern the progress of new
technology. Not for the amateurs, the local club golfers, but for the Tour
pros. There’s a Canadian professional from Alberta, Jamie Sadlowski, who
is one of the longest drivers in the world, who regularly hits the ball over
400 yards. He’s got a personal best of 445 yards and he’s no giant. He’s 5
foot 10 inches and 168 pounds.
Players are driving the ball further and further and If the trend
continues it will change the character of some of the world’s greatest golf
courses and make some of them totally redundant. We need bifurcation
in the game of golf immediately.
www.wwgolf.biz 29
IT’S interesting to see how all the big names are preparing for the
season ahead, with their main focus on the Majors in general and
the Masters in particular.
I was over in Santa Monica, California, last month working with
Graeme McDowell, Padraig Harrington and Martin Kaymer. Graeme is
struggling a bit with his confidence but that’s not at all surprising given
the time he’s been off the course. But his game is in quite good shape
after his 10-week layoff and he’s hitting the ball well enough. He’s fit
physically but he’s missing that vital, competitive sharpness you need
for tournament golf. But he’s happy and playing well overall so it won’t
take him long to get back into the swing of things. It’s not necessarily a
bad thing for players to take a good, long break around Christmas and
New Year. Being fresh is a good thing as Tiger has shown by successfully
taking a long winter break for many years.
You need to make sure you’re in the right frame of mind where you
really want to play. You don’t want be thinking, ‘I’ve already played 8 or 10
weeks and I’m getting tired already.’ You want to be fresh but you’ve got
the have the eagerness to get back into action.
Padraig is also in good shape. He feels he’s got no problems with his
game. Last year he was playing well but he just couldn’t finish anything
off. If he had been putting a little bit better at certain times he could
probably have won a few times and maybe won another Major. But
he just wasn’t putting well enough. If you’re not putting well out there
you’re not going to be winning anything.
Although many of the major European players, like Lee Westwood,
Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose are now based
in the United States, Padraig has never been tempted to live over in
America. He’s always taken the view that if you’re good enough it doesn’t
matter where you live.
It’s a difficult thing for the Europeans to go over to the United States
and be successful. We tend to forget that here’s huge strength in depth
on the US PGA Tour and good, new players are joining the Tour every
year.
They play on golf courses out here that are decent, but easy to score
on. Ten-under is a normal score for these guys on most of these layouts.
At the end of the day it all comes down to putting. The putting stats at
each tournament tell you everything about the players. Brandt Snedeker,
for instance, is one of the most naturally gifted putters in the game
right now. Anyone who putts that well is going to win tournaments. If
you’re putting well, invariably the rest of your game is good because the
confidence that comes from putting well is unbelievable. When your ball
is dropping into the cup the hole looks like a bucket to you.
Another player who is putting well at the moment is Richard Sterne.
Last month it was great to see Sterne back in the winner’s enclosure
after two years out of the game through injury. I used to coach Sterne
at the same time as Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel. When I first
worked with all the three of them together I told them that they had
the opportunity to dominate golf for the next 15 years if they wanted to.
They all have that quality. You can also add George Coetzee to that list. It
seems that the Afrikaaners have got that certain edge to them. They’ve
got a steely determination and a real fighting spirit – Ernie, Goose,
Branden Grace, Sterne, Louis, Charl and George, all Africaaners. They’re
all really tough competitors.
In golf you’ve got the level of players who can win Tour events and
you’ve got another level who can win Majors. The Majors are different
from ordinary Tour events. They’re a different kettle of fish. It’s like a
football team doing well in the Championship but they’ve then got to
step it up to succeed when they get into the Premiership.
Mickelson is the perfect example of a Major hunter. He always
comes out firing on all cylinders at the beginning of each season. He’ll
take two or three weeks before getting into action. The only thing
he wants on his CV is more Majors – and that’s what he’s looking for.
As a three-times Masters winner he’s got a great affinity for Augusta
National. He’s always going to be in contention at the big events,
particularly the Masters.
Majors are always contested by the usual suspects with the odd
surprise package thrown in. The cream always rises to the top – with the
odd exception. But that doesn’t happen very often.
Off the course I’ve been doing a bit of work with Callaway. As you can
imagine I’ve seen every possible club out there but the new X Hot series
took my eye. The large 3-wood is unbelievable,
the control and additional speed makes it
a safe driver alternative. I managed to hit a
few and there wasn’t much in it against my
driver. The irons are brilliant. A classic iron
you could argue, is a classic iron but the X- ot
sole progression is spot on. The key is how it
interacts with ground on impact and Callaway
has designed a cracker with these.
Right, I’m now off to the States again to team up with the lads in
Florida in preparation for the WGC -Cadillac Championship at Doral, lets
hope it doesn’t snow!
PETE COWENPadraig has never been tempted to live over in America. He’s always taken the view that if you’re good enough it doesn’t matter where you live.
www.wwgolf.biz 29
ere but the new X Hot series
ble,
ot
t
way
eam up with the lads in
Championship at Doral, lets
www.wwgolf.biz30
Caddies Who Carry the Can
www.wwgolf.biz 31
Getting back on the bag
WWG: How did your bizarre accident
actually happen?
BF: It was just before the Quail Hollow
Championship last May in the States. The
caddies had organised a football match
against a local Charlotte team. They asked
me to play but I told them that I wouldn’t
because I was too old and it was too
dangerous to risk injury. My job was too
important to me. The boys were having a
bit of a kick-around before the game and
the ball came my way. As I tried to kick it
back to them I put my foot in a hole. My
leg went one way and my knee went the
other. It snapped my cruciate ligament
and damaged my lateral ligament. I made
a really good job of it. That was 10 months
ago and it’s been pure agony ever since.
WWG: How’s the knee doing?
BF: I’ve had three operations since the
accident and only yesterday I had my
knee drained and a steroid injection to
calm it down. It’s been a nightmare for
me mentally and physically and a disaster
financially as I’m basically self-employed.
WWG: Have you missed not being on the
course?
BF: When you’ve done the job I’ve done
and enjoyed the highlights and travelled
the world for the past 30 years then
obviously I miss it but it’s also the sheer
boredom of having to lie on the couch
keeping my leg elevated for months on
end and having to watch unwatchable
programmes on television. I’ve missed not
being able to do anything with the kids and
the family. I’ve had to be careful and take
care of the knee and nurse it along. But I’m
getting there and I can see the light at the
end of the tunnel. I’m hoping to get back
out there in the next few weeks. Hopefully,
I’m on the last leg, as it were.
WWG: What are your plans for the future?
BF: I’ve not been able to make any firm
plans because I don’t know exactly when
I’ll get the all clear to get back on course.
I’ve been patient and followed the doctors’
orders to the letter so I wouldn’t hinder
the healing process. Once I get close to a
return to the game I’ll make it known to the
caddies and management companies that
I’m back in business. I’ll just have to bide my
time and be patient a little longer. I’m not
going to jeopardise everything by coming
back too soon. There’s no guarantee I’ll get
a top job when I start caddying. Maybe I’ll
have to freelance for a while.
WWG: How difficult is it to become one of
the leading caddies in the game?
E x c l u s i v e
www.wwgolf.biz32
be beaten. The memory will stay with me
forever.
WWG: Who do you rate as the best of
Europe’s Ryder Cup Captains?
BF: There have been so many good
Captains – Bernhard Langer was
exceptional, Colin Montgomerie and Mark
James were brilliant, especially in the way
they involved the caddies. Before Medinah
I had no doubt that José Maria Olazábal
would make the best Captain ever and
he certainly was. His passion and desire is
second to none.
He’s a very inspirational man and he had
the strength to cope with all situations.
Being Seve’s sidekick in The Ryder Cup
meant he had learned all the tricks of the
trade. In The 2008 Ryder Cup, after the
Captain, Nick Faldo, had made a speech
in the locker room I actually kicked José
first win in the United States and it
reversed the fortunes of The Ryder Cup as
a proper competition after years of it being
little more than an exhibition match for
the USA. I’ve worked at many great Ryder
Cups but the most outstanding and most
emotional was when I caddied for Darren
Clarke at the K Club in Ireland in 2006
when we won 18.5-9.5.
Darren called me to say he’d been
offered a wildcard by Captain Ian
Woosnam shortly after his wife, Heather,
passed away. He asked me what I thought
and he decided that Heather would have
wanted him to play. The atmosphere
throughout the week was something
special and there were a lot of tears.
When Darren won his singles match to
make it three points out of three to keep
The Ryder Cup we all burst into tears. I
don’t think that moment for me will ever
BF: I was fortunate in being asked by
Seve to caddie for him for the following
year when I was with Gordon Brand Jnr in
1990. Seve was the greatest golfer of his
generation and it was a great honour for
me. He had huge highs and lows and it
was a real rollercoaster ride. But six weeks
after starting with him he won three
tournaments in four weeks. It was the
single-minded determination that made
him so special.
One of the most important things about
being a caddie is being able to ‘see’ the
right shots even from virtually impossible
positions. I learned that from Seve. Nothing
was impossible in his eyes. Everything I
know came from those five years with The
Grand Señor. Working with him was the
greatest endorsement I could have. It was
a fantastic experience. We had good times
and bad times. We were close friends.
Being a caddie is a tough job, whoever
you are caddying for. There’s more to it
than meets the eye. You’ve got to know
when to speak up and when to keep quite.
When’s the right time to speak and when
it’s the wrong time.
Sometimes it’s having the balls under
pressure to make your point. You’re always
going to be in a lose-lose situation. There
have been times when I’ve reared up but
you’ve just got to use your judgement. To
have a successful relationship you’ve got to
have mutual respect between caddie and
player. I’ve been very lucky to have caddied
for some great players and I’ve enjoyed
success and got on with all of them. You’ve
also got to do your homework and get the
information right.
WWG: You’ve caddied in 11 Ryder Cups.
What was your most memorable?
BF: My first Ryder Cup was in 1987
when I caddied for Gordon Brand Jnr. at
Muirfield Village, Columbus, Ohio, under
Tony Jacklin’s captaincy. That was an
unbelievable experience. It was Europe’s
Billy Foster
WWG: What was the most
heartbreaking moment of your
career?
BF: Caddying for Thomas Björn when
we all thought he was bound to win
The Open at Royal St. George’s in 2003
was a real heartbreaker. I thought
about it every day for six months after
that. It broke my heart. I remember
standing on the 15th green with
Thomas leading the field by three
shots. I told him: ‘Thomas, there’s a
lot of hard work to do yet, just stay
focused on what you are doing.’
Then he left his ball in that
greenside bunker on 16 twice for a
double bogey and then bogeyed 17
to lose by one shot to Ben Curtis. It
was tough for me but how tough was
it for Thomas? In golf it’s never over
until the fat lady sings. That’s just golf
and I have no illusions about that.
You’ve just got to stay focused.
I’ve been so close to a Major so
many times – I’ve been caddying
at The Open since 1984 and being
on the bag for The Open Champion
remains my biggest ambition in the
game. It’s a special event for me.
‘In the 2008 Ryder Cup, after the Captain, Nick Faldo, had made a speech in the locker room I actually kicked José (Maria Olazábal)under the table and said he needed to say something to rally the troops. He spoke for about 20 minutes and had half the players in tears. José is a strong-minded man and a tough competitor.’
Billy with Darren Clarke at the emotional Ryder Cup in 2006
Billy and Lee Westwood on their way to victory at the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.
www.wwgolf.biz 33
to override everything else that’s going
on. I get nervous but I don’t let it show. I’ve
always had a placid state of mind. I can
be jovial but also serious when I need to
be. Winning golf tournaments is a serious
business.
WWG: You have seen so many funny
happenings on and off the golf course
but which is the funniest?
BF: I was caddying for Thomas Björn at the
2004 Ryder Cup and, for a bit of fun I drove
off with Thomas’s buggy. After they’d hit
their tee shots at the 12th I ran down the
hill and jumped in the buggy and shot off
down the fairway with everyone chasing
behind me. It was like a scene from a Benny
Hill sketch. They started to catch up so I put
my foot down.
I was still standing up with Thomas’s
bag on my back. I slipped on the floor of
the buggy, cart-wheeled onto the fairway,
did a triple somersault and ended up on
my back with clubs and bag on top of me
with the buggy veering off towards the
galleries. Luckily, the crowd parted and
it ended up harmlessly in the trees. I was
lying there thinking I was facing a number
of multi-million-dollar lawsuits from injured
spectators but fortunately nobody was
hurt and everyone saw the funny side of it.
That was one of many stupid things that
I got up to. It’s all harmless fun that helps
bring people together.
under the table and said he needed to say
something to rally the troops. He spoke for
about 20 minutes and had half the players
in tears. José is a strong-minded man and a
tough competitor.
WWG: Do you think Paul McGinley will
make a good Ryder Cup Captain?
BF: I think Paul is an excellent choice for
the Team. He’s a very good communicator
and he’ll do a very good job. He’s well liked
by the players and he’ll create the right
atmosphere in the locker room. He’s had
bags of experience and a lot of success in
the Seve Trophy and he’s gained a lot of
knowledge from being a vice captain in
The Ryder Cup. He’s got all the qualities
needed to lead the Team to another
victory.
WWG: What is it that makes a great
player?
BF: Different players have different
qualities but the most important thing is
to be in control of your emotions. A player
with a strong, focused mind and a sharp
short game will always beat a good ball
striker.
WWW: Do you ever get nervous in tight
situations and caught up in the drama
of it all during a tournament?
BF: Any caddie or player is nervous to
some extent. But your thought process has
WWG: What has been your biggest
success?
BF: I couldn’t pick just one but the most
memorable moments for me have been
caddying for Darren Clarke when he beat
Tiger Woods in the final of the WGC-
Accenture Match Play Championship at
Carlsbad in 2000; caddying for Darren
at The Ryder Cup at the K Club in 2006;
Winning The Race to Dubai and the
DP World Tour Championship with Lee
(Westwood) in 2009; and with Seve,
winning the PGA Championship and the
World Match Play Championship in 1991.
WWG: What are your memories of
Dubai and the UAE?
BF: I’m a great fan of Dubai and the UAE
and, like the players, I always enjoy going
over there. Dubai is a hub for the golfers
and caddies. It’s a halfway stopover
whether you’re going to Malaysia, Hong
Kong, the Far East, Australia or New
Zealand. They’ve got a great airline in
Emirates, who make it a joy to travel.
Stopping off in Dubai breaks up those
long distance trips. Dubai, the UAE and
the Middle East Swing has done a lot for
European Golf and The European Tour. It’s
a special place to go to. I missed going
over there last year and earlier this year
but I’m looking forward to getting back
over there, hopefully for the DP World Tour
Championship in November.
WWG: How important is humour to you?BF: I know I have a reputation for being one of golf ’s court jesters but if I didn’t have a sense of humour I’d be lost. You have to have a release from the pressure out there. My humour has certainly got me through the agony of the last 10 months. I’ve got through it and, hopefully, the good times are only just around the corner.
BILLY FOSTER: “It was at The Open at St Andrews with Darren Clarke in 2000 that I first had the idea of raising funds for the Candlelight charity and for Darren’s foundation for Breast Cancer by walking from Loch Lomond Golf Club – venue for the Scottish Open the week before – to The Open Championship but it wasn’t until Turnberry in 2009 that I had the opportunity to do it when I was working a job-share between Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood. I was pleased to complete the ‘course’ by holding my golf bag aloft at Turnberry. We managed to raise £70,000 split between the two charities, which was great.”
Billy caddying for Tiger Woods in The Presidents Cup (above) and for Sergio Garcia (below).
Caddies Who Carry the Can
www.wwgolf.biz34
www.wwgolf.biz 35
Richard Bevan talks to MICHAEL CAMPBELL as the 2005 US Open Champion reveals how the seven bleak years which followed his epic victory almost saw him quit the game for good and how he’s now rediscovering the old magic once again.
Guess who’sback - again?
MICHAEL Campbell knows a
thing or two about bouncing
back, upsetting the odds and
surprising people. You see,
his latest return to form following seven
years in the doldrums isn’t the first time
he’s successfully weathered a storm in his
turbulent career and it might not be the last.
But the New Zealander has a steely inner
core that belies the laid back ‘big teddy bear’
image which sees him frequently described
as the ‘nicest guy in golf.’
“I’m used to making comebacks you know,”
he says. “It sounds a strange thing to say but
I’m used to that sort of stuff where I do kind
of disappear for a period and then come back
again. So it’s just a matter of being patient and
believing that what you’re doing is correct.”
Cambo is finally starting to see the first
chinks of light at the end of what has been
a very long, dark tunnel since he etched
his name into the golfing history books by
becoming the first Mouri to win a Major
championship when he held off Tiger Woods
at Pinehurst No.2 to win the 2005 US Open.
He then followed up by claiming the World
Match Play Championship at Wentworth.
These days Campbell is sticking around for
the weekend at tournaments more often – a
novel experience for someone who at one
point during his barren run made only one
cut in 19 events.
“It’s been a big turnaround for me,
especially during the last six months or so,”
says Campbell. “I came close in Portugal (tied
third, his first top three finish for four years), close
in Hong Kong (tied eighth), Abu Dhabi (tied
17th) and Doha (tied 16th) – so I’ve managed
to get that door open again a little bit. It’s just
down to a lot of hard work, self belief and a
‘never give up’ attitude.
“I think the talent to play golf will always
be with you – it never goes away. It’s just that
sometimes a combination of other things
going on in your life makes it a little bit more
difficult.”
Campbell is in no doubt about what the
damaging cocktail of ingredients were that
saw him drop from a high point of 13th in the
World Ranking following his 2005 heroics to
a low point of 910th last summer as his form
and confidence deserted him.
A major factor was his bad time
management following his epic
accomplishments that made him one of the
most sought-after players in golf.
“It was really surreal. The attention
showered on me was quite overwhelming,” he
says. “A lot of opportunities came along off the
golf course with all my charity work, which I
love doing, helping kids. All of these projects,
including course design, meant there was so
much stuff going on off the golf course that I
didn’t have time to actually practice or play.
“It was my fault and I take full responsibility
because I chose that path, I chose that
schedule. In hindsight I should have divided
my time more sensibly rather than do what
I did. But, hey, that’s just the way it is. I look
back now and think, ‘Well, it doesn’t matter, it’s
gone, it’s time to move on and be in the now
and enjoy the moment.”
Another factor was his split from his long-
time coach Jonathan Yarwood. Like many
before him, Campbell made the risky decision
to overhaul the swing that had seen him
achieve his dream and he parted company
with Yarwood in 2009, having worked with
him for 10 years.
In retrospect he admits it was the wrong
thing to do and when Jonathan moved back
to Europe from America last year the pair re-
connected after a three year break. Since then
things have gone from strength to strength
– he’s gone back to basics and remembered
what made him such a great player in the first
place.
“The main thing was that I was too
obsessed with wanting to hit the ball a lot
further for some reason,” says Campbell. “I
E x c l u s i v e
www.wwgolf.biz36
blessing, and my boys’ support, that’s what
we did. They made huge sacrifices, having
to leave their friends and home, on my
behalf. Behind the scenes there was lots
going on that affected my game and once
you’re happy with your life personally it
reflects in the way you play.”
With the green shoots of recovery now
starting to show through Cambo will be
hoping the cyclical nature of his career
continues in the same vein as it has in the
past. Having enjoyed a spectacular rookie
season on The European Tour in 1995,
finishing third at The Open among a string
of top results that saw him take fifth place
on the Order of Merit, his form deserted
him over the next two seasons – not
helped by injury.
He required a trip to Q-School in 1997
to regain his Tour card. Two years later
he embarked upon one of the finest
seasons of his career, winning his first three
Tour, and in 2010 it was just €13,576. Only
the exemption granted to him for his US
Open win allowed him to keep playing
at the top level. When he missed the
12th consecutive cut of a dismal run at
the 2011 Commercialbank Qatar Masters
he considered walking away from the
game for good. Instead, he made the bold
decision to relocate the family – wife Julie
and children Thomas and Jordan – to
Marbella in Southern Spain.
“I thought, ‘this is the last straw, I’ve
had enough.’ So I went back to Australia
and took six weeks off. It gave me time to
reflect on what I should do with my career.
I said to my wife, bless her, ‘Look I’ve got to
do something here. I can walk away from
the game – I’ve had a great career and I
can look back and say, ‘Wow, what a great
career I’ve had.’ Or, we can pack up the
house in Sydney and move back to Europe
and give it another crack. So with Julie’s
thought that in order to get to the next
level, to be even more competitive, I
needed more distance. So I decided to
change my swing completely in order
to achieve that. It was crazy doing that.
It put me off a lot. My strength is really
my iron accuracy and my short game so
I went from working on my strengths to
working on something that wasn’t exactly a
weakness but it wasn’t really the strongest
part of my game. I was spending too long
working on my length and that’s what
started the whole snowball effect.
“You’d have to ask Jonathan for his
perspective on our split but my opinion
at the time was that our relationship had
gone a little bit stale. We’d been together
for 10 years which is a long time. We split
up for three years and now we’re back
together we’re even better than before as
a team.
“You really do appreciate things more
when they’re not there. I don’t want to say
‘absence makes the heart grow stronger’
because we’re two guys! But it does kind
of happen that way. Now we get on great,
we’re very good friends and we get on
better than ever. Things really started to kick
on when I got back with Jonathan.”
Campbell’s form was also hampered by
the inconvenient location of his Sydney
home in relation to the events he plays
on The European Tour, having made the
decision to move there from Brighton in
2009.
“I tried to play on The European Tour
while living in Australia for three years,
which was really hard because of all the
travelling. Six or seven times a year I was
away from my family for three or four weeks
at a time, then back for two weeks, then
away for five. One time, I was away for nine
weeks from my family. It was absolutely
ridiculous. I wasn’t happy with that situation
of being away from them for so long. So
combine that with not playing well, and
a lack of confidence and you’re bound to
miss cuts.”
Things weren’t helped when he
injured his shoulder lifting a suitcase off a
luggage carousel during one of his many
international journeys. In 2009 the Kiwi
earned just €19,655 on The European
Michael Campbell
MAKING A SPLASH: Michael Campbell pictured with his wife, Julie, holding the 2005 US Open trophy on the beach in Brighton, England, where they used to live.
TEAM CAMPBELL: Michael pictured with his wife, Julie, and sons Thomas and Jordan after he won the HSBC Match Play Championship at Wentworth in 2005 to finish off a bumper season. Through all Cambo’s ups and downs this magical team have stuck together, the major force that enables him to continue to bounce back.
Michael’s Milestones 1993 Turns professional and
the Australasian Tour’s Canon Challenge.
1994 Wins three Challenge Tour titles to gain his European Tour card for the 1995 season
play on The European Tour.
1995
third at The Open and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and runner-up at the British Masters and the Volvo PGA Championship.
1997 Losing his European Tour card after a combination of injuries and a loss
rd on the Order of Merit after scraping in at 120 the previous year.
2000 Makes his breakthrough on The European Tour winning
fourth on the Order of Merit.
2005
European Tour season as he searches for form.
www.wwgolf.biz 37
terribly and didn’t know what to do. But,
once again, I just knuckled down and
worked very hard and started making a
few cuts. Then I had a few top 10s before
the US Open and Julie convinced me to
try and qualify for the US Open because
the qualifiers were only a few minutes’
drive from my house in Brighton at Walton
Heath. I thought I might as well give it a go.
I played with Steve Webster and he missed
the cut by one and I made it right on the
number – I think it was 4-under. Then I flew
over to America and won it!”
Despite regaining a certain amount
of form prior to the US Open, Campbell’s
putting was all over the place when he
arrived at Pinehurst and he almost decided
to play using a belly putter.
“My putting was very, very poor, to the
point where I was so desperate I had a
practice round on the Monday using a belly
putter,” he says. “My coach arrived the next
European Tour titles and finishing fourth on
the money list.
“I beat Geoff Ogilvy by a stroke to win
the Johnnie Walker Classic at the end of
1999, the beginning of the 2000 season.
Tiger was also playing and I beat him
by five strokes, which was pretty cool.
That gave me a lot of confidence,” says
Campbell. “I was thinking, ‘I can really make
a good living from this game.’ I went onto
have a great season, winning two more
tournaments.”
Three more titles followed over the next
three years but the way his career-defining
season in 2005 began gave no hint of what
was to come. He only decided to try to
qualify for the US Open after his wife, Julie,
persuaded him
Campbell explains: “It was a strange six
months leading up to ithe US Open. I’d
missed nearly every cut – five in a row
at the start of the season. I was doing
day, saw me and said, ‘What are you doing? ‘
I said I’m so desperate Jonathan, I can’t putt.’
So on the Tuesday we spent the whole day
putting. We didn’t go to Pinehurst at all, we
went to a different golf course about 20
minutes away from the championship and
spent about five hours just putting. That
gave me a lot of confidence – I was hitting
the ball great, my short game was great, my
putting was great so I was quietly confident
but I had no great expectations.
“Winning is a pleasure and there are no
guarantees in this game. I just went out
there to enjoy being part of another Major.
The first three rounds I played quite nicely
but my mate Goose was miles ahead and I
was thinking, ‘OK just enjoy yourself today,
you never know what’s going to happen –
a Major is a Major, and stranger things have
happened.’
“ I think with12 holes to play I was
leading, which was pretty cool. Tiger was
about two groups in front of me. He was
making all of these birdies – he was the
crowd favourite, the TV favourite, everyone’s
favourite and I was the underdog, which
was fine by me.
“It’s a great advantage being able to fly
under the radar. I played some wonderful
golf and had the self belief that I could do
it. I was telling myself the whole time, ‘This
is what you’ve practiced for all these years.
This is your chance, Michael, it’s a special
day for you, you can do it. This is why you
spent all those hours on the range. This is
your time to shine.’
“Anybody can hit the ball from A to B,
anybody can sink a 10-foot putt, anybody
can chip or play a bunker shot and hit
it close, hit fairways, hit greens. But the
bottom line is you’ve got to be able to do it
under the gun when you know you need
to be able to perform well, that’s when it
really matters. That’s a really good gauge of
how well you can handle pressure.”
Campbell, who went on to become
only the fifth person, along with Jack
Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and
Mark O’Meara, to win the World Match
Play Championship in the same year as
winning a Major, is intensely proud of his
trail-blazing achievements for people of
Mouri descent in the world of golf. He grew
“My coach arrived the next day, saw me and said, ‘What are you doing? ‘I said I’m so desperate Jonathan, I can’t putt.’ So on the Tuesday we spent the whole day putting. We didn’t go to Pinehurst at all, we went to a different golf course about 20 minutes away from the event and spent about five hours just putting.”
REUNITED: Michael Campbell pictured in 2006 with coach Jonathan Yarwood. The pair went their separate ways for three years, before reuniting in May 2012.
– Michael Campbell
2005
2005At his wife Julie’s behest he plays in the
2005Creates history as
a Major, beating Tiger Woods by two strokes at Pinehurst No.2.
Caps a sensational season by winning the World Match Play Championship, beating good friend Retief Goosen
2006 Rises to a career high
th in the World Ranking.
2009 Splits with his coach Jonathan Yarwood after 10 years working
th on the Order of Merit.
2010Makes only one cut all
th on the Order of Merit with
2012Drops to a career low Ranking of 910th in July, reunites with Jonathan Yarwood, and returns to form later in the season.
www.prosports.ae
www.wwgolf.biz 39
taxi service every day, it’s ridiculous, we’re
running back and forth, here, there and
everywhere.’ I thought about it and said,
‘OK, I’ll give golf a go.’
“I thought golf was more of a challenge
because back in those days there were no
young Mouri kids playing. I wanted to break
the mould and become the first Mouri
to win on The European Tour, and the
first Mouri to win a Major – which I was. I
wanted to break all of these records and
I’ve done that, which is pretty cool.”
Unlike many of today’s pampered stars
who are born into luxury and live the life
of a rich golfer long before they actually
make it, Campbell worked in a ‘real job’
prior to turning professional in 1993.
“Yeah, I had a proper 9-to-5 job!”
he laughs. “I worked for Telecom as an
engineer. It took me five years to qualify
for that job – from age 16-21. I’m officially
a fully qualified technical officer! So I’ve
done a real job, although I didn’t like it!
But I could afford a car and stuff so it was
pretty cool.
“I always had that dream of turning
pro one day and touring the world but
along with my family I decided to get
the qualification to fall back on just in
case golf didn’t work out – so that’s why
I started working for Telecom as a fully
qualified technical officer at 21. Two years
later, at 23, I turned pro.
“Having done stuff like that has given
me the ‘never give up’ attitude because
up in the New Zealand town of Patea on
the North Island’s West Coast where money
was tight and golf was not a popular sport.
“We used to live in government
housing,” he says. “I remember when I was
a kid, just having a pair of shoes was an
amazing thing. We had nothing really.
Both my parents worked very, very hard
– sometimes working two jobs just to get
by. I think growing up that way has made
me appreciate things much more – having
money and all that sort of stuff. But don’t
get me wrong, I had a great time growing
up. We used to kick a ball around and just
enjoyed what we had. “
A naturally gifted sportsman, Campbell
spent a lot of time playing rugby, dreaming
of becoming an All-Black. He also played
many other sports. He was introduced to
golf at nine years old after being dragged
along to the course by his father.
“The golf course I grew up playing was
actually on a farm!” he says. “There were
sheep on the course, fences around the
greens – sheep droppings everywhere –
and it cost like two dollars to play 18 holes.
I used a chopped down 6 iron I got off my
father!
“I was probably 12 when I thought I’d
try and make a go of it as a golfer. I was
a natural sportsman and played lots of
different sports – rugby, softball, basketball,
golf – during the week. My parents said to
me eventually, ‘Michael you have to choose
one sport because we can’t provide a
I know that what I have is very special.
I know that it’s just one of those things
where you’ve got to stick at it and never
quit. My upbringing has definitely helped
me in that way. I know I’m lucky to be
where I am, doing something I love, so I
need to make the most of it.”
Campbell’s journey has been anything
but smooth, but his immense inner
determination to overcome all odds has
led him to the greatest heights. After the
toughest seven years of his career, all the
elements are now back in place for another
assault on top honours. The level-headed
star isn’t getting carried away just yet.
“The most important thing is not to
look too far ahead and not to think too
much about the consequences or have
too much of an expectation of getting
back to the level of winning another
Major,” he says.
“The most important thing for me is to
take baby steps, get back in that top 50 in
the World Ranking – that’s my first goal.
Then make The Presidents Cup. If I can do
that, things will happen around that. If I do
get into the top 50, that means I’m playing
well, so If I focus on that and keep going
through the same processes I’m doing
now, other things will be achievable.”
If history has taught us one thing, it’s
that you can’t keep a good guy down for
too long, and Michael Campbell is a good
guy and one of the best in the business.
Watch this space.
GOOD LAUGH: Campbell is one of the most laid
back Major Champions we know. Whether it’s
enjoying a track day with the boys in Bahrain,
trying his hand at the World Sand Championship
or having a joke with Samuel L. Jackson at the
Alfred Dunhill Championship, he makes friends
wherever he goes, just by being himself.
Michael Campbell
“The golf course I grew up playing was actually on a farm! There were sheep on the course, fences around the greens – sheep droppings everywhere – and cost like two dollars to play 18 holes. I used to use a chopped down 6 iron I got off my father!”
www.wwgolf.biz40
PETE COWENPGA MASTER PROFESSIONAL & coach to the stars, such as
McDowell, Harrington, Kaymer, Stenson ... if Pete doesn’t know
it, it isn’t worth knowing!
CAMBO HARD ON THE RANGE
THE ACADEMY AT EMIRATES GOLF CLUB in Association with PETE COWEN
7 8 9
1 2 3
Swing
Michael Campbell is a great player and a great character off the course. I’m pleased to see him finding form again and to hear he’s gone back to his old coach Jonathan Yarwood. You can see from this sequence that his swing looks alot simpler and better for it as he’s no longer trying to force things by trying to find extra yardage.
1Michael has nice posture here but I would like to see a little more flex in the lower body and
the shoulders less rounded.
2 As you can see he’s got a one-piece take away which creates a slight over-turn of the body in
the early part of the backswing.
3 As a result of the over-turn you can see in this frame that he has to lift his arms.
www.wwgolf.biz 41
Pete Cowen checks out the swing that won the 2005 US Open
10 11 12
4 5 6
4 Cambo’s continued to lift his arms and not loaded the wrists yet so he’s
not setting the club hard. This makes him consistent but not very powerful.
5The right arm is supporting the club well at the top of the backswing.
6The change in direction is good as it’s coming down the left forearm and
the shift is going to follow accordingly. I’d like to see a little more loading in the wrists but the position is still good.
7Simple and good here with no problems!
8The delivery position is good. The club is out in front so it’s easy to
deliver the club from here.
9 The exit line is good and strong, with everything going left, which is what
you want to see.
10Continues to exit well up and through the shoulders. It’s quite
a decent body match but if I was being critical I would like to see a little more angle in his hips to match his shoulder angle and stop lower back problems.
11Good strong position to finish. Keep up the good work Cambo!
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BEAT THE WIND To hit successful shots into the wind or facing a crosswind (go ahead and swing away as normal when hitting downwind), remember two key factors. First, keep the hands ahead of the ball at impact. This is what I meant by “covering” the golf ball previously. Not only will this produce a lower shot, but a slower release of the hands ought to reduce spin as well. Use these tips to help control your ball in windy conditions and lower you scores.
BY- Bryan Smyth, Golf Professional at Emirates Golf Club
THE KNOCKDOWNIn windy conditions, basically what you’re doing is hitting a knockdown shot. This is a lower, less-spinning iron shot that isn’t as susceptible to ballooning in the wind as a normal shot would be. The action should have a curtailed backswing and finish with the hands in a lower position. This will help you hit down and through, as opposed to down and up, which might add loft to your shot. A knockdown is also a great option for distances in between two clubs, or if you need to hit a controlled shot under a tree.
NEW VOKEY SM4 WEDGES.The Advanced Spin Milled Technology in the New Vokey SM4 wedges deliver maximum spin and control that enable players to hit precise shots. Master Craftsman Bob Vokey has covered every detail in this fourth generation of Spin Milled wedges. His experience working with the best players in the world has resulted in a line that represents his most extensive range of options to date, including more choices in loft, bounce and tour-proven sole grinds. Visit Vokey.com and learn more about the science of hitting it close.
PRECISE SHOTS REQUIREPRECISION TECHNOLOGY.
Learn more at titleist.co.ukProsports International [email protected] Tel: +971 4 3477737
www.wwgolf.biz58
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ARABIAN
60 GCC CHAMPIONSHIPS62 WORLDWIDE GOLF AL AIN OPEN65 JOEL NEALE COLUMN67 MICHAEL HARRADINE Q&A68 MENA TOUR 201370 EMIRATES GOLF CLUB71 DUBAI CREEK GOLF & YACHT CLUB72 ‘PIC ‘ GOLF SOCIETY LEAGUE SHARJAH73 SHARJAH GOLF & SHOOTING CLUB75 INTERNATIONAL PAIRS UAE76 JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES76 THE ELS CLUB77 THE ADDRESS MONTGOMERIE DUBAI78 AL HAMRA GOLF CLUB
78 TOWER LINKS GOLF CLUB79 ARABIAN RANCHES GOLF CLUB79 AL AIN EQUESTRIAN AND SHOOTING AND GOLF CLUB80 ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB80 SAADIYAT BEACH GOLF CLUB81 YAS LINKS ABU DHABI82 DIRAB GOLF CLUB83 INTERCONTINENTAL RIYADH84 ALMOUJ GOLF85 MUSCAT HILLS GOLF CLUB87 AL GHAZAL GOLF CLUB88 ABU DHABI CITY GOLF CLUB88 AL BADIA GOLF CLUB89 THE TRACK, MEYDAN GOLF
AJYAL GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP HOTTING UPCHILDREN of all ages descended on Dubai Creek
last month for the fourth event of the 2012-2013
Ajyal Golf Championship Under the Patronage
of the children of Sheikh Diab Bin Saif Al Nahyan
and stand-out player Mohmood Skaik improved
his lead on the Order of Merit with another
impressive first-place finish.
Skaik took the gross honours after signing for a
36 over nine holes for a two-stroke win over Abu
Dhabi’s Khaled Al Mutawa. Finishing third with a
gross 41 was Mohammed Saeed Abdulla.
A superb gross 29 saw Mohammed Ali Al Shaer
win his first event as he topped Division ‘B’ by six
strokes. Finishing second was Ahmed Al Marzouqi
with a countback victory over the ever-improving
Alyazya Al Shehhi.
“We are pleased to introduce these events for
our youngsters who are on the programme already
and I am sure this is going to be the beginning
of many more events that will be organised in
the future for our young Emiratis,” said Khalid Al
Shamsi, Secretary General of the Federation. “With
a competitive atmosphere to the game, we will
soon be seeing some of these players making it to
National Team levels.”
Sheikh Khaled Ali Al Mualla who presented
the prizes on behalf of Sheikha Shikha bint Diab
Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammed bin Diab Al
Nahyan commented: “I am sure with the continued
support from the Al Nahyan family and parents,
the league will continue to grow bigger and better.
We are also grateful to all participating clubs who
help in making our league a success.”
The winning juniors pose with their prizes after the fourth
event in the Ajyal Golf Championship series.
www.wwgolf.biz 59
LOCAL NEWS
GOLFAL AIN EQUESTRIAN, SHOOTING & GOLF CLUBTurn to page 62 to see who triumphed in the Worldwide Golf Open held at
AESGC last month. Pictured here is the par-5 ninth hole. Turn to page 79 to
read Luke Plumb’s tips on how best to navigate your way down it.
TEAMS from Emirates Golf Club and
The Address Montgomerie Dubai
have progressed to the semi-finals of
the UAE Invitational Scratch League
after the recent set of fixtures.
In League C The Montgomerie
team downed The Els Club 3-1 (5-1)
which means they progress on goal
difference ahead of The Els Club with
them both locked on 15½ points after
four matches each.
The Emirates Golf Club team have
dominated League D and qualified to
the semi-finals with a game to spare.
They beat Sharjah Wanderers 4-0 (6-0)
to get to an unassailable 17½ points
with one match remaining against Al
Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club.
With Arabian Ranches already
through from League A the only
remaining semi-finalists to be
determined are from League B. It is still
possible any of the three teams can
qualify with Yas Links still to play both
Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Dubai Creek
Golf and Yacht Club, with both fixtures
at home.
The UAE Invitational Scratch Golf
League sees 12 teams competing in
four leagues of three teams with each
team playing four matches – two at
home and two away.
The points system sees each team
accumulate their individual winning
games added to a bonus of 2 points
for a team win and 1 point for a team
draw.
The matches are played with a
team of 8 players in a scratch fourball
matchplay format. All remaining round
robin fixtures are to be played by the
end of March, 2013.
EMIRATES GOLF CLUB AND THE MONTGOMERIE PROGRESS TO THE SCRATCH LEAGUE SEMI-FINALS League A
Team Played Points Bonus Total
Arabian Ranches 4 12 6 18Tower Links/Al Hamra 3 5 ½ 4 9 ½Al Ghazal 3 2 ½ 0 2 ½
League BTeam Played Points Bonus Total
Dubai Creek 3 6 ½ 4 10 ½Abu Dhabi Golf Club 3 6 ½ 3 9 ½Yas Links, Abu Dhabi 2 3 1 4
League CTeam Played Points Bonus Total
The Address, Mont. 4 10 ½ 5 15 ½The Els Club 4 9 ½ 6 15 ½Al Badia Golf Club 4 4 1 5
League DTeam Played Points Bonus Total
Emirates Golf Club 3 11 ½ 6 17 ½Al Ain 3 5 ½ 2 7 ½Sharjah Wanderers 4 3 2 5
www.wwgolf.biz60
2013 GCC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
BAHRAIN BACK ON TOP TO WIN GCC TITLETHE talented Bahraini team reinstated their
domination of the GCC Golf Championships at
Almouj Golf The Wave, Muscat, Oman, in
winning the event for the 16th time in the
tournament’s 17-year history. Their only
blemish was last year’s victory by the UAE
Team at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club.
In the individual event it was the Qatari player,
Ali Al Bishi, who led from his first tee shot until
his final putt. The third and final round of the
54-hole Championship was played in groups of
three with the top players going out last. By the
18th green Ali Al Bishi had carded the top score
of the day, a 72, with Bahrain’s Hamad Mubarak
and Qatar’s Abdul Rahman Al Bishi both three
shots behind after shooting 75 apiece.
In the main team competition Bahrain showed
their consistency with Hamad Mubarak, Nasser
Yacoob, Ali Saleh and Sultan Abdullah staying
ahead of Qatar in the top 10, individually,
finishing second, third, fourth and fifth
respectively, ahead of individual winner, Ali Al
Bishi. Last year’s winners, the UAE Team, sealed
third place with the Oman team pushing them
all the way but having to settle for a credible
fourth place overall. The Saudi Arabia team put
in a spirited chase to finish in fifth, ahead of the
Kuwaiti team in sixth and last place.
Bahrain’s Hamad Mubarak was very happy
with his team’s win, saying: “We knew that when
Farah Al Mansour of Saudi Arabia tees off
during the 17th staging of the GGC
Championships played at Almouj Golf The
Wave, Muscat, Oman last month.
The victorious GCC Golf Championships winners: The Bahrain Team of Hamad Mubarak, Nasser Yacoob, Ali Saleh and Sultan Abdullah.
The staging of the 17th GCC Golf Championship at Almouj Golf The Wave, Muscat, Oman was due to the work put in by Golf Oman, with the support of the Ministry of Sport and key sponsors National Bank of Oman, Omantel and Etihad Airways.
www.wwgolf.biz 61
LOCAL NEWS
“I am very proud to have won the individual competition but as a team we were really hoping to beat Bahrain and take the group trophy back to Qatar with us.” – Individual winner Ali Al Bishi (pictured above receiving his trophy).
we came to Almouj Golf we were facing a
challenge from some of the teams, and that
we could not discount a single one of them.
“The conditions here at Almouj Golf have
been perfect in producing a tight competition
with each hole throwing a new challenge at
us. We look forward to the competition next
year where we hope to win again, although we
know the other teams will be training hard as
well.”
Qatar’s Ali Al Bishi was equally pleased about
winning the individual event, commenting:
“The first day I went out and carded a 70 which
I was very happy with and it really gave me
inspiration for the following rounds. I am very
proud to have won the individual competition
but as a team we were really hoping to beat
Bahrain and take the group trophy back to
Qatar with us.
“But we’ll be back next year stronger and
more experienced and we will give it our best.
In the meantime, I look forward to playing
Almouj Golf again. It is a great course which
offered many challenges throughout the
competition.”
The Championship ended with a closing
ceremony presided over by His Excellency Dr.
Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Rumhy, Oman’s
Minister of Oil and Gas in the presence of
Sheikh Saad bin Mohammed Al Saadi, Oman’s
Minister of Sports. Also in attendance were His
Excellency Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi
(UAE) , Pan-Arab Golf Federation Chairman and
Khalid Ibrahim Al Abu Nahyan (KSA), the GCC
Golf Committee Chairman.
ALTHOUGH the UAE National Senior Team had to relinquish their title to the
triumphant Bahrain team the UAE juniors proved that the future of golf in the
Emirates is looking good by claiming the Junior Champions’ Team title by a
clear margin of 12 shots.
The team comprising Abdulla Al Qubaisi, Ahmed Skaik and Ahmed Al Budoor,
produced a series of stunning performances over the Greg Norman-designed
Almouj Golf The Wave, Muscat, Oman.
The host team, Oman finished in the runners-up position in the junior
competition and the Bahrain team, winners of the main senior team event, was
placed third, a further two shots behind.
The UAE Junior Team also won the Net Division, ahead of Oman.
Abdulla Al Qubaisi won individual third place (gross) and was the individual
runner-up (net), while Ahmed Skaik took individual third (net).
Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi, Secretary General of the Emirates Golf Federation
and UAE National Team manager, expressed his delight over the remarkable feat
by the UAE Junior Team, saying: “We are extremely proud of this achievement.
Our juniors have shown that with clear focus, dedication and rigorous training
we can achieve our goals. In 2012 our junior team was placed in third position
in the GCC Golf Championships, and in just a year they have made a great
strides. We hope for even bigger honours in the future.”
UAE JUNIOR TEAM TAKE THE TITLE
The victorious GCC Golf Championships UAE Junior Team pictured at Almouj Golf The Wave, Muscat,
Oman: Ahmed Albudoor, Abdullah Al Qubaisi and Ahmed Skaik with EGF Secretary General and
UAE National Team Manager Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi and coach Jason Froggatt (right).
Pictured left to right: Individual
winner Ali Al Bishi putts while
winning Bahrain team member
Nasser Yacoob looks on; Hamad
Mubarak from the Bahrain team
hits an approach shot; Faisal Salhab
of the Saudi Arabia team gets to
grips with the Greg Norman
designed Almouj Golf
Championship Course.
www.wwgolf.biz
DISAPPOINTING TO SEE CLASSIC CROWD NUMBERS DOWN
THE talk around the UAE following
the conclusion of The European
Tour’s Middle East Swing revolves
around Chris Wood winning his first Tour
title in Doha, Stephen Gallacher winning
the Desert Classic and Jamie Donaldson’s
triumph in Abu Dhabi with the World No.1
and No.2, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods,
not even making it into the weekend.
Most people I’ve spoken to about the
Desert Swing, agree that Great Britain and
Ireland golf at the moment is second to
none with experienced European Tour
players dominating the World Ranking
and so many other up-and-coming young
players coming through.
With the likes of Tommy Fleetwood
showing form and confidence to compete
with the top guys on Tour it seems that a
win may come from him this season as well!
British golfers are exposed to so many
types of courses, such as parkland and links,
which is why I think in terms of their shot-
making ability they are a more complete
‘golfer’ than many of their American rivals.
One thing that was disappointing to
Brought to you by
see was the surprisingly low numbers of
spectators at the Desert Classic this year and
I’m not alone in saying this.
Some people felt like they even had to
voice their opinion in the ‘letters page’ in
the 7Days newspaper the following day
saying things like: ‘Last Thursday I thought
it would be nice to take my young boys to
the Dubai Desert Classic for the afternoon. I
was disappointed to find that the promoters
were charging 175dhs for an adult’s entrance
ticket.’
For a number of years this was the
premium event in the region attracting the
world’s top golfers. This year, perhaps with
the exception of Westwood and Garcia, the
field was made up of yesterday’s men and
current European Tour journeymen golfers.
The less-than-stellar field, combined with
the ticket pricing, resulted in poor spectator
numbers. The promoters should take a leaf
out of the season-ending Race to Dubai
event at Jumeirah Golf Estates, where the
field is outstanding and the crowds are large
due to the free tickets. This is how most
people feel – why charge for ‘journeymen’ at
the Dubai Desert Classic when the likes of
Abu Dhabi pay large endorsements to get
Tiger and McIlroy playing and then promote
it as a free event for spectators.
Most golf enthusiasts look past the
175dhs per ticket but when a family of four
go to Emirates Golf Club for the afternoon
they’re 800dhs down before buying a bottle
of water.
This is sad to see when so much hard
work goes into putting on such an historic
event. There’s nothing worse than minimal
crowds.
I’m not advocating paying huge
appearance money endorsements for
big names, as I don’t believe players
should receive any payments to play golf
tournaments. They should only be rewarded
in the form of payment for doing well.
However, I do believe a small fee should
be paid to watch these sporting events,
somewhere in between 175dhs and free in
my opinion would be fair. It’s good for the
game of golf.
Tiger Woods, winner of the 2008
Dubai Desert Classic, played in
Abu Dhabi rather than Dubai
this year and in 2012.
www.wwgolf.biz
JN: Do you have any sort of regular practice
routine that you try and follow?
MH: Not really. If there’s an area of my game that
needs work I try to spend time on that. I try to use
60-70 per cent of my time on my short game.
My long game tends to be quite steady but I know
there is always room for improvement with my iron
play. It really depends on what needs work on any
given day. If I’m struggling with the putter, I’ll putt a
lot more, if it’s the driver, I’ll drive a lot more. I don’t
really have any fixed routine I just go with what I
think needs work.
JN: How do you balance your time between
working for Harradine Golf and practising?
MH: Obviously, I’d like to concentrate all my time
and effort on playing and practising to get my
game to the highest level I can. Because I’m not
spending all day, every day playing and working on
the range, it’s harder to get into a steaady routine.
I’m sure that if I had the whole day to devote to my
game it would be a lot easier to plan a full routine
that covers all the different elements I need to work
on.
JN: You’ve been selected to play for the Swiss
National Team. You must be thrilled to be asked.
MH: The officials from the Swiss National Team
approached me last November to ask if I’d like to be
considered for the Team. It was a goal of mine two
years ago to get into the National Team and at that
time I met up with the coach and told him I was
interested. I went on to have a horrible season so
last year I decided not to say anything! Fortunately,
I had a good season playing on the amateur circuit
in Switzerland and got some good results. They
always do the selection at the end of the year and
I got an e-mail from the coach saying he’d like to
meet up and go through a few things. I wasn’t
sure at first whether he wanted to talk about the
National Team but when I met with him he said,
‘You’re in the Team.’ So I was quite happy with that!
JN: Now that you’re in do you get much chance
to go and play with them or is it a seasonal
thing?
MH: It’s seasonal. It works well with me living in
Dubai because our season is in the winter and
theirs is in the summer. They knew I was playing
in the Desert Classic, so they told me, ‘Play in the
Classic then work hard for two months and come
over in April’. Fitness is a big thing for them so
hopefully I’ll be in good shape when I go over there
next month.
JN: Do you have any aspirations to turn
professional – maybe at the end of this year?
MH: I’m certainly thinking about trying for
Q-School for The European Tour but that’s
obviously a really tough proposition. I’m definitely
going to be going to Asian Tour Q-School next
January. I’d love to turn professional and play on
one of the major tours but there are so many
talented guys out there trying to do the same
thing. It’s much tougher than people think.
JN: Do you think you’re in a better situation
being based in Dubai with the likes of the
MENA Tour right on your doorstep which
provides a platform for you to get invitations to
play in tournaments like the Abu Dhabi HSBC
Golf Championship, the Commercialbank Qatar
Masters and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic?
MH: Definitely. Don’t get me wrong, the UAE has
always been a great place to practice. We’ve got
beautiful courses, great facilities, the weather’s
perfect – but previously we had good amateur
events and nothing really after that. The MENA
Tour has really helped. They started with four
tournaments the first year, then six and now 11 so
it’s certainly growing. It’s been just such an fantastic
experience to play six tournaments in a row of
three rounds each. It gives you a great taste of
what it’s like for a touring pro. I was surprised how
draining it is, mentally not physically. When you’re
actually in tournament mode for that length of time
it takes it out of you more than you’d imagine.
SCENEJoel Neale talks to the UAE’s leading amateur, MICHAEL HARRADINE, on his plans for the future now that he has been selected to play for the Swiss National Team.
LOCAL
BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
Michael Harradine is pictured with the trophy
after winning the prestigious Shaikh Rashid
Trophy at Jebel Ali in 2010.
www.wwgolf.biz68
NEW EVENTS IN MOROCCO TO KICK OFF THE 2013 MENA GOLF TOURTHE 2013 MENA Golf Tour schedule has
been announced with two new events in
Morocco kicking off the Tour this month
before nine events complete the Tour later
in the year. Last year there were six events
on Tour and that number has almost
doubled this year with 11 set to take place
including new events in Morocco, Oman,
Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The Tour, now in its third year, has grown from
four events in the inaugural 2011 season and
with the additions of events across North Africa
it now has a truly regional flavour and offers
total prize money of $575,000.
The expansion provides greater opportunities
for players to enhance their careers and the split
in the schedule utilizes the months conductive
to playing golf.
The first section of the tour travels to Morocco
for two events – one each at Royal Dar Es Salam
Golf Club, Rabat, and Royal Mohammedia Golf in
Casablanca – while nine events spread over UAE
and neighbouring Gulf states between
September and November will complete the
schedule.
“With 10 tournaments already confirmed,
including one in Oman and two in Saudi Arabia,
we are hopeful of making additional
tournament announcements in the near future
which will further strengthen the playing
schedule for the broad spectrum of our
membership,” said Mohamed Juma Buamaim,
Chairman of the MENA Golf Tour. “The expansion
of the tour to North Africa will continue to serve
as a platform in developing top talent by
providing top-class playing opportunities with
reasonable entry fees for its members.
“It is, indeed, a matter of pride that a large
contingent from Morocco has competed in the
MENA Golf Tour events, showcasing the rising
standards of the game in the Arab world. We
value their overwhelming support of the Tour.”
The Tour continues to attract global attention
with the top players on the Orders of Merit for
professionals and amateurs winning invitations
Morocco Championship
Royal Dar Es Salam Royal Golf Club,
Rabat, Morroco
March 11 – 14
Prize Money: US $50,000
to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and getting
exemptions to the final stage of the Asian Tour
Qualifying School. Muhammad Munir of
Pakistan used the experience gained on the
MENA Golf Tour to earn his Asian Tour card for
2013.
“We would like to thank our sponsors Omega
and Mercedes-Benz and colleagues in golf ’s
governing bodies around the world – the R&A
and the Arab Golf Federation – for their support
of the MENA Golf Tour, and we look forward to
welcoming them all to the 2013 season,”
concluded Buamaim. Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan
2013 MENA GOLF TOUR SCHEDULE
Morocco Classic
Royal Mohammedia Golf,
Casablanca, Morocco
March 18 – 21
Prize Money: US $50,000
American Express Dirab Golf
Championship
Dirab Golf and Country Club,
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
September 15 – 18
Prize Money: US $50,000
Mohamed Juma Buamaim, Chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, announces the 2013 MENA Tour Schedule.
www.wwgolf.biz 69
LOCAL NEWS
MENA GOLF TOUR
Qasimi, President of the Arab Golf Federation
and head of the MENA Golf Tour’s new Board of
Trustees, presided over the board earlier in the
day. The new board includes representatives
from Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Egypt,
Morocco and Qatar.
Sheikh Fahim, who is also the Chairman of the
Emirates Golf Federation, lauded the growing
popularity of the tour saying it has given the
emerging players from the region, especially
amateurs, a perfect platform to hone their
competitive edge.
He confirmed that The Arab Golf Federation
would do its best to encourage countries under
its umbrella to host a tour event in the near
future. “We have many other countries in the
region like Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia and Bahrain
who have shown their keen interest in hosting
tour events. I am sure the tour will expand
further in years to come,” he said.
Sheikh Fahim also praised the Sheikh Maktoum
Golf Foundation for awarding a golf scholarship
to the leading amateur on the Order of Merit.
“Their gesture will encourage other promising
Arab players to work hard on their game. It was
nice to see an Arab player (Ahmed Marjan of
Morocco) win the scholarship in the inaugural
edition of the tour,” said Sheikh Fahim. “It is a
complete Tour in its own right and the only one
which is open to amateurs as well. We want to
develop amateurs who represent their country
in the region since they are the ones who will
encourage more people to take up golf.”
Launched by the Sheikh Maktoum Golf
Foundation in 2011, the MENA Golf Tour is
affiliated to the R&A and the Arab Golf
Federation. Each tournament – a minimum
54-hole stroke-play event – carries World
Ranking points.
2012 MENA Golf Tour champion Stephen Dodd receives the trophy from Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Qasimi, Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation, with Mohamed Juma Buamaim, Chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, and Saif Al Shamsi, Board Member of Al Ain ESGC.
TBC
Venue TBC,
Saudi Arabia
September 22 – 25
Prize Money: US $50,000
Dubai Creek Open
Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club,
Dubai, UAE
September 29 – October 2
Prize Money: US $50,000
Ras Al Khaimah Classic
Tower Links Golf Club,
Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
October 13 – 16
Prize Money: US $50,000
Abu Dhabi GOLF CITIZEN Open
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club,
Abu Dhabi, UAE
October 6 – 9
Prize Money: US $50,000
Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open
Al Badia Golf Club,
Dubai, UAE
October 20 – 23
Prize Money: US $50,000
TBC
Doha Golf Club
Qatar
October 27 – 30
Prize Money: US $50,000
Mena Tour Championship
Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club,
Al Ain, UAE
November 10 – 13
Prize Money: US $75,000
Oman (Title TBC)
Ghala Valley Golf Club,
Muscat, Oman
November 3 – 6
Prize Money: US $50,000
www.wwgolf.biz
STYLEMichael Jordan has switched the court for the course, find
out why the NBA legend is mad for the game.
Suzann Petterson has scaled the LPGA Tour rankings but did you know she’s scared of heights and would love to swap places with Roger Federer for a day?
BMW have found the right balance of pace and luxury while also befriending the eco demands of today’s world with the latest 740Li. Plus...plenty of room for the clubs!
www.wwgolf.biz92
Jordan
www.wwgolf.biz 93
play – you’re battling with yourself and
that makes it more competitive for
me. My whole nature is competitive
and I think when I left basketball I
was looking for a substitute for that
competitive drive. Golf does that for
me because you never conquer the
game – one day you can be playing
great and the next day you can
stink! That’s the way golf is, it’s a very
humbling game and for someone
who’s as competitive as I am – you
need that humbling experience each
and every day to drive you and that’s
what golf does.
What’s more difficult, becoming a
great golfer or becoming a great
basketball player?
MJ: They both take a lifetime of
discipline and dedication. Although
each has a specific skill set, I would not
rate one more difficult than the other.
You were known for getting into
the zone on the basketball court.
Does that happen to you on the
golf course?
MJ: I’ve had many moments on
the golf course where I was able
to simply play the game without
consciously thinking or forcing it.
Unfortunately, my skills are not at the
professional level to allow me to do
that consistently. It’s one of the great
challenges that make golf such a
special game.
If you had discovered golf before
college, do you think you would
have tried to go pro?
What do you enjoy most about the
game of golf?
MJ: It allows me to get away from
people because I’m always in a position
where I really can’t let my hair down
but when you play golf you’re out
among nature – by yourself or with
your buddies and you can just relax. If
I hit a bad shot I can scream and not
worry about it being on the internet
or whatever. It gives you a sense of
pleasure just being away from people
and enjoying the environment a lot
more than you normally do.
What’s it like being Michael Jordan
and not being able to let your hair
down?
MJ: It’s no different to other people who
have a responsibility to people who pay
attention to them and look up to them.
But sometimes you just don’t want to
think about all of that, and that’s what
golf allows you to do, it allows you to go
out and have fun and not worry about
how things are going to be perceived.
You’re amongst friends and you’re just
having a good time.
Are there any similarities between
golf and basketball and do any of
the qualities that made you such a
good basketball player transfer into
your golf game?
MJ: Golf is a very competitive sport –
you battle against yourself a lot more
than in basketball. In basketball you’ve
got team mates – so if I have a bad
day, I’ve got four other guys on the
basketball court that can save me. In
golf, if you hit a bad shot, you’ve got to
MJ: No, my God given path has always
been basketball and I’m grateful for
the success it has brought me. There’s
no doubt that I have a strong love and
appreciation for the game of golf. Golf
is definitely my favourite recreational
activity but basketball is and has
always been my number one passion.
You’re often seen at The Ryder Cup
and the Presidents Cup – what gets
you so fired up about those team
competitions?
MJ: It’s that you’re representing your
country. You’re not just representing
yourself and your fan base, now you’re
representing that red, white and blue
and I get chill bumps every time I go
to those events. It’s not about the
money, it’s about the pride.
Who would make up your dream
foursome?
MJ: Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and
Lee Elder – that would be a great
foursome!
WWG STYLE
Top: Michael chats with Phil Mickelson at the Presidents Cup. Middle: Enjoying a joke with Thomas Bjorn
at The Ryder Cup. Bottom: A young and cheeky Sergio Garcia says something that provokes MJ to give
chase at the Dunhill Links Championship.
94 www.wwgolf.biz
2013BMW 740LI
WWG STYLE
www.wwgolf.biz
THE 2013 BMW 7 Series gets incremental improvements everywhere. Outside the changes are minimal:
fewer vertical slats inside the kidney grille and a larger chrome surround, two horizontal chrome accent bars
splitting the lower intake, restyled side mirrors with turn-signal indicators, and new shades of red on the
taillights. Inside are resculpted front seats, more soundproofing, redesigned ambient lighting, an updated
iDrive controller and “floating” screens for the Rear Seat Entertainment package, and an optional Bang &
Olufsen sound system. Along with those changes, the look of the navigation system has been updated with
new menu organisation, displays, a “pie menu” and 3D elements. The Attention Assistant system gives BMW
drivers their own coffee cup icon to remind you when it’s time to rest while hands-free trunk operation
makes its first appearance in the range.
The eight-speed steptronic transmission, fitted to every model, allows the new 7 to make more of
its engines. Under the hood, the inline six-cylinder in the 740i maintains the same power ratings, 315
horsepower and 330 lb-ft, but is mated to the new eight-speed Steptronic transmission and said to have
“significantly improved” efficiency, with a 20 percent increase noted in the EU cycle. The 4.4-litre V8 in the
750i gets fitted with Valvetronic and gets bumps of 45 hp and 30 lb-ft, for 445 hp and 480 lb-ft total. The
changes reduce its 0-60 time to 4.7 seconds, at the same time as fuel economy on the EU cycle climbs 25
percent with the new transmission.
The second-gen ActiveHybrid 7 drops down an engine size, swapping its previous V8 for the 3.0-litre six-
cylinder from the 740. It’s yoked to a 55-hp synchronous motor. Rated at a combined 349 hp and 367 lb-ft,
BMW says it is 14 percent more fuel efficient than the 740i.
Both the 740i and 750i will come with a new powertrain management system dubbed ECO PRO that
joins the other Driving Dynamics Control settings and that includes a coasting mode operable between 30
and 100 mph. Other driving enhancements include Dynamic Damper Control, an electronically controlled
damping system that works on each shock individually dependent on road conditions, self-leveling rear
suspension now standard on all models, while xDrive is available on the 740i.
DRIVING RANGE
WE HAVE 9 GOOD REASONS FOR VISITING US DURING WEEK DAYS.
MEET ON THE GOLF COURSE AND PLAY A 2 BALL FOR JUST AED 222.
Peace and quiet with no interruptions (ok there may be
a few birds singing) The Track is the perfect place to
catch up and talk business, or not, but for just AED 222
for a 2 ball between 7am and 4pm, you’d be silly not to
make the most of this weekday offer.
Offer valid from 1st to 31st March 2013.
www.meydangolf.com
Email [email protected] or call us now on +971 4 381 3733 for tee time bookings.
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ecco.com
WHICHARE YOU?Every ECCO HYBRID is engineered for traction, stability and comfort. In all conditions. For all types of players. Performance is a given. Style is up to you.ecco.com/golf
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Available at leading Golf Clubs, Golf House Shops and ECCO Shops in UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Iran & Egypt.Tel: +971-4-299 3885 EXT 100, 101, 404 · Email: [email protected]