Preferred Lies January 2008

Down the middle…

All the news from the golfing world

Big names bound for Abu Dhabi

By John MacDonald

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, 2007 Open champion, world No 7, and Europe’s golfer of the year and highest-ranked player, is determined to seize the coveted ‘Falcon’ trophy and the winner’s cheque at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, to be played over the National Course at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club on January 17-20.

Harrington – who also top of the European Tour’s Order of Merit in 2006 and has finished in the top ten seven times – is poised to resume his friendly rivalry with Englishman Paul Casey, following the pair’s titanic battle in the closing round of the 2007 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

“I’m gearing myself up for Abu Dhabi which will be my first event of the year. As the first event of the year, I am flying my whole team out as with the great weather and excellent facilities it is the perfect place to jump-start my year. I know I’ll have a huge Irish following as the UAE capital is now on the Irish map since the launch of Etihad flights to Dublin. This year was great, everyone was so friendly and hospitable and I’m really looking forward to coming back,” said Harrington.

England’s Luke Donald, the current world No 17, has also joined the latest player to join the star-studded field chasing the US$2 million, European Tour-sanctioned, Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, to be played over the National Course at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club on January 17-20.

Donald, widely regarded as having one of the best swings in golf, will make his regional debut in Abu Dhabi, and joins a line-up that includes fellow countryman Ian Poulter and defending champion Paul Casey; Australian Adam Scott, ranked sixth in the World; Open Champion Padraig Harrington, the World number seven; Scottish maestro Colin Montgomerie, and Swedish number one, Henrik Stenson.

“Abu Dhabi will be a whole new experience for me. I watched the final day of this year’s Championship on television – it was very exciting and it was then I decided to compete,” said Donald, who has won five events since turning pro in 2001.

“It was a great win for Paul Casey who’s a good friend of mine. We’ve spoken at length about the Championship, the city and the Emirates Palace Hotel, which sound amazing.”

“I’m ready to give it my all in January and I’d like nothing better than to add my name on the ‘Falcon’ trophy in 2008!”

Defending champion Casey, the 2006 European Player of the Year and currently ranked 22 in the world, is only the fifth golfer in Ryder Cup history to score a hole-in-one and is aiming to create another bit of history by making it back-to-back wins.

“The win at Abu Dhabi was an important milestone for me and the perfect way to start the year. Next year’s event will help me kick-start my 2008 season and I can’t think of a better place to do it. The reception I received last year was incredible and I look forward to trying to defend my title and hope the fans will bring me as much luck as they did last time.”

The Englishman added he is hoping to recreate the excitement of this year’s championship, which was won in thrilling fashion with five players contesting for the title on the final day.

Describing the final round 65 as his “finest ever”, Casey shot a combined score of 271, 17 under on the par 72 Championship course.
Spain’s Ryder Cup Star Miguel Angel Jimenez and Sweden’s Peter Hanson tied second place with one shot off the pace. American Chris DiMarco, winner of the inaugural Championship was fourth, with Irishman Padraig Harrington, winner of this year’s Open Championship at Carnoustie, finishing tied fifth with South Africa’s Retief Goosen and Frenchman Jean-François Lucquin.

Garcia tees up in Qatar

Spanish superstar Sergio Garcia will have his sights set on winning his first title on the Middle East’s booming golf scene when he competes in the 2008 Commercialbank Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club from January 24-27.

The world No 13, Garcia returns to Qatar having been one of the star turns at the Commercialbank-sponsored tournament in 2007. And while his top 20 finish included a stunning 67 on the final day, he finished several shots behind champion Retief Goosen.

Still only 27, Garcia is using the Commercialbank Qatar Masters as his launch pad for the 2008 Ryder Cup season and joins Australian world number six Adam Scott among the big guns quick to confirm their participation in the 11th PGA European Tour event to be staged in the Gulf state.

“Our aim year on year is to have the best available players agree to join us for the Masters,” said Commercialbank Group CEO Andrew Stevens. “I think the Tour and the players are in agreement that we have made radical steps with the event and made it one of the most professional on the circuit. To keep moving forward, however, we need their ongoing support so I’m delighted to hear that Sergio Garcia is looking forward to joining us again.”

The Qatar Master will mark a long-awaited return to the Middle East for Adam Scott, the world No 6.

“It’s been a long time since I won in Qatar back in 2002 and a lot has happened to me since then but I am delighted to be heading back to Doha for the Commercialbank Qatar Masters,” said the 27 year-old Australian,

For Scott it’s a chance to get to grips once again with the challenging 7,374-yard Doha Golf Club where in 2002 he stunned the field with rounds of 67, 66, 69, 67 (-19). It was a powerful performance that saw him win by six shots from England’s Nick Dougherty and Frenchman Jean Francois Remesy and claim his second title on the PGA European Tour International schedule.

Since then he has gone on to win some of golf’s biggest titles including the PGA Tour’s Players Championship in 2004 at Sawgrass when at the age of 23 years, eight months and 12 days he became the youngest winner of an event considered by many to be the game’s fifth Major.

Junior bosses head for GolfEx

Joe Louis Barrow, CEO of the First Tee, and Mike Round, CEO of the Golf Foundation, two of the world’s biggest junior golf programmes, have pledged their support for GolfEx Dubai’s initiative to host the biggest gathering of junior golf pioneers and organisations in one location in January 2008.

Barrow commented: “As the First Tee celebrates its 10th anniversary, I am very pleased with the opportunity to be part of the 3rd GolfEx conference scheduled for Dubai on January-27-28, particularly as its theme will provide an international focus on Junior Golf. The future of golf is indelibly linked to having more and more young people reached worldwide and given the opportunity to play. The GolfEx initiative and focus can, and will, give our crusade further impetus.”

Mike Round, added: “As GolfEx enters its third year I was absolutely delighted to learn that the focus will be on Junior Golf. As chief executive of the Golf Foundation, I welcome the opportunity to participate in a global debate that rightly will focus on how best we can encourage and give maximum opportunity to young people to take up and make golf the game of their lives. Dubai – as an emerging golf nation and region – is the perfect setting for GolfEx and I look forward to discussing a variety of issues with all those who have an interest in the future of the game and who understand the importance of junior development work.”

Coming back in style

After a few months away from Dubai, Dave Wall returned in style to win the seniors’ championship over the Wadi by Faldo course with a gross 77. Wall completed the outward nine in 3-over par but found some form after the turn for a 1-over par 38 back nine. The only birdie of his round came on the newly extended 489-yard par-5 10th. Two shots adrift and in second place was Ken Newell with a gross 79. Ed Hesson continued his run of good form, also signing for a gross 79. In the nett, category Bryan Wilson excelled with a 68 followed by David Clark’s 71.

Up with the pros

Qatar-based Sammy Rose and Maria Sayers will line-up with many of the biggest names in golf after winning two coveted slots to play in the 2008 Commercialbank Qatar Masters Pro-Am.

To be staged as the curtain raiser for the tournament at Doha Golf Club on January 23, the Rolex-sponsored Pro-Am will see Rose and Sayers play alongside a leading PGA European Tour star such as Adam Scott or Sergio Garcia in the Commercialbank Team.

The two guaranteed their places after finishing top in their respective divisions in the 172-player Commercialbank Pro-Am Challenge played over the tournament course. Thirteen-handicapper Rose earned his place thanks to a round of 39 Stableford points, which was enough to edge out joint runners-up Ike Begonia and Wille Ribbe by one point. Begonia took second on the countback.

In the 19-player ladies’ division, Sayers – playing off a handicap of 28 – took the title with a round of 36 points, four points better off than runners-up Ellen Dissevelt and Rose Quilacio, with Dissevelt taking second again on a countback.

National honours at Abu Dhabi

Brian Mullen and Kevin Jamieson celebrated UAE National Day in style by winning the National Day Cup at Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s National Course.

In a tightly contested tournament, their betterball total of 47 stableford points by was good enough for a single point victory over Kamal and Bilal Belaid.

“The scores were so tight amongst the teams all day – I’m thrilled we could pull through to take the game,” said Mullen. “Winning this event after such an enjoyable day on the course feels great. It was an honour to win the first National Day Cup in Abu Dhabi and we’ll be back to defend our title next year.”

Four teams tied for third place on 45 points, with Mike Larter and Shelley McQuattie winning the countback from Cliff and Natalya Wisely, Ron and Dawn Kenney and Michelle Larter and Andy McQuattie.
Longest drive prizes went to Alex Charawani and Joan

McGuinness, with nearest-the-pin for T. Aboshi and Shelley McQuattie.

New revolution in China

In terms of golf development the achievement of Liang Wen-chong is quite a landmark. As the newly crowned Asian Tour No 1, the 29-year-old from the city of Zhongshan is set to become the first Chinese golfer to play in the Open Championship.

Liang, who won the European Tour co-sanctioned Singapore Masters this year and had eight other top-10s on the Asian circuit, is exempt into the final field for Royal Birkdale next July.

“The opportunity to play the British Open is great,” said Liang, who became the first Chinese player to become Asian No 1 and also qualifies for a place in next year’s WGC-CA Championship in the US. “Not only that, this title will open a lot of doors, including more invitations to play on the PGA Tour.”

It might be too much to forecast that this unorthodox player – his follow-through makes him look more like a baseball player than a golfer – will take the world by storm.

Yet his achievements are not in doubt and, as the first player from the world’s most populous nation to make this breakthrough, he could easily become a notable pioneer.

Golf was wiped out in the 1960s by Chairman Mao’s Cultural Revolution. It was branded a vile pastime and a prime example of western decadence. The game was banned, courses were dug up and handed back to farmers, and it was not until the 1980s, as the nation opened up its borders, that it began to reappear.

Liang was introduced to golf at school and taken under the wing of the Zhongshan Hot Springs club, where the first course there was designed by that well-known American decadent Arnold Palmer.

Nowadays, China has nearly 300 courses and more than 500,000 golfers, putting it on a similar level numerically to Scotland.

The Royal & Ancient has been supporting golf development in China through profits from the Open, and in particular the Faldo Series in Asia, where the finals are currently being held in China at the Mission Hills club. That was also the venue for Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren’s World Cup victory for Scotland last month.

Duncan Weir, the R&A’s director of golf development, was at Mission Hills along with three-time Open champion Nick Faldo himself, when he described Liang’s success “as an inspiration to these kids and aspiring golfers everywhere. It shows what can be achieved in countries where golf is only just beginning its development. It is a milestone for golf in China and I’m sure that many more Chinese golfers will go on to play in the Open Championship.”

Warren is a product of the Faldo Series and posters of him and Montgomerie abound on the road from Hong Kong to Mission Hills making the pair just as famous, if not more so in this embryonic golfing nation, as they are in their homeland.

The R&A, the governing body for world golf outside of the US and Mexico, supports golf in around 120 countries and there were three new ones this year: Burundi, Pakistan and Samoa.