A home away from home, that’s the UAE for Rory McIlroy. And the world number three returns to familiar terrain for his season opener this week on the DP World Tour where he will be looking for a third consecutive win in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic (and the fifth of his career!) at the Emirates Golf Club.
McIlroy’s last competitive outing came in the DP World Tour Championship (also in Dubai) last November, although his time since then has seen him partner Scottie Scheffler in a win over Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau in The Match, while also putting time into the launch of the TGL simulator league (with Tiger Woods his chief collaborator).
There are three Irish players in the field for the Desert Classic, the first of the Rolex series events on the European circuit this season, with McIlroy joined by Tom McKibbin and Pádraig Harrington, who remain in the UAE for next week’s Ras al Khaimah Championship.
Séamus Power, meanwhile, has withdrawn from this week’s American Express Championship at La Quinta on the PGA Tour after suffering a recurrence of a back injury in the Sony Open. The Waterford man is undergoing treatment and aims to be back playing in a fortnight’s time, with two Signature tournaments at the AT&T Pebble Beach pro-am and the Genesis Invitational among his targets.
Rory McIlroy looking for third consecutive win in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club
Shane Lowry was the perfect man to kick off TGL’s weird world of volcanoes, U2 and Americans explaining ‘craic’
Justin Rose learns lessons from GB&I win in Abu Dhabi Team Cup
Tom McKibbin shines alongside Tyrrell Hatton at Team Cup in Abu Dhabi
Presenter Di Stewart teams up with Clubs to Hire as its latest brand ambassador
Dublin-based Clubs to Hire – the club rental company which now operate at 29 locations globally – have brought golf broadcaster and presenter Di Stewart on board as its latest brand ambassador, joining former Ryder Cup player David Howell in that role.
Stewart’s extensive career includes a long tenure as presenter on Sky Sports Golf and more recently presenting Live at the Range at The Open each year and also hosting the hugely popular Why Golf podcast.
Tony Judge, the founder and CEO of Clubs to Hire, said of the addition of Stewart: “Our female business is growing rapidly as thousands of women take advantage of our service when golfing abroad . . . they will really enjoy Di’s inside knowledge on the game and trends taking place in golf.”
Founded 15 years ago, Clubs to Hire – which rents clubs to golfing tourists at rates from €45 to €90 per week – operates at 29 locations, including Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Dubai, Thailand and South Africa.
Word of Mouth
“I’ve been working my ass off and I’ve been working hard. It’s been really rewarding to see that things are falling their way. I’m having a pretty simple mentality of hit the best shot you can every time you step up. I’ve been doing that and it’s been going well, other than that last putt” – Nico Echavarria after missing a 10-footer on the second playoff hole to extend the Sony Open, won by Canadian Nick Taylor who’d chipped-in for eagle on the 72nd hole of regulation. Echavarria, from Colombia, has risen to a career best 41st in the official world rankings on a the back of a run of 1st-6th-29th-2nd-32nd-2nd dating back to his ZoZo Championship win last October.
By the Numbers: 1-2-3
Tennis star Carlos Alcaraz was asked at the Australian Open to place the swings of himself, Rafa Nadal and Jannik Sinner in order of “beauty.” Alcaraz placed himself at number one, Nadal at two and Sinner – whose unorthodox golf swing recently went viral on social media – at number three. “Sorry about that, it’s not personal,” said Alcaraz, who took up golf during the pandemic and has a handicap of +.03.
On this day: January 14th, 1979
John Mahaffey came off the back of a career stellar year – one in which he won the US PGA Championship, his only Major title – by hitting the ground running in the season-opening Bob Hope Desert Classic played on four resort courses at Palm Springs in California.
Mahaffey had discovered the art of winning at the back end of the previous season and continued on his merry way in a tournament that had the distinction of being the biggest numerically on the US circuit: the 90-holes event was played on four courses – Indian Wells, La Quinta, Bermuda Dunes and Tamarisk – and featured 384 amateurs along with the 128 professionals.
“It’s hell finding your way home from a different place every night,” quipped Lee Trevino of the scattered nature of the four courses.
As it happened Trevino finished one stroke behind Mehaffey, the winner putting together rounds of 66-66-71-71-69 for a total of 17-under-par 343. Mehaffey sank a 12-footer for birdie on the 18th in the final round at Indian Wells to win. “I didn’t come out here expecting this. I hadn’t played any golf (over the winter). But I guess nobody’s played any golf . . . . outside of the playoff hole in the PGA, it was as good a putt as I ever hit,” said Mehaffey. It would prove to be his only win of the season.
Social Scene
Honoured to have been shoulder to shoulder with these guys over the last few days. As a captain I couldn’t have been luckier as they played with pride, skill and commitment producing some amazing golf! Great way to start the year. #TeamCup – GB&I captain Justin Rose enjoyed his first stint as a captain. Rose is the favourite to get the European Ryder Cup captaincy at Adare Manor in 2027.
Fun few days at the Team Cup! Delighted to contribute 3.5 points to team GB&I. Thank you captain @justinrose99. Next stop @DubaiDGolf – Tyrrell Hatton aiming to take that form on to the Dubai Desert Classic.
Throw the hammer @RickieFowler @XSchauffele @MattFitz94 !!!! That or ask for life support ASAP – Justin Thomas having the craic at the expense of his pals getting hammered by Shane Lowry & co in the inaugural TGL match. Tiger Woods’ Jupiter Links team are in action in week two (live on Sky Sports at midnight tonight).
In the Bag
Nick Taylor – Sony Open
Driver: Titleist TSi3 (10 degrees)
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
5-wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max (18 degrees)
Hybrid: Titleist TSR2 (21 degrees)
Irons: Titleist T100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46, 54), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks (58)
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour Red
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Know the Rules
Q In a match Player A requests Player B to lift B’s ball that is on A’s line of play. Player B refuses to do so. What is the ruling?
A If Player A is forced to make a stroke with Player B’s ball on their line after B refused to comply with A’s request, then B loses the hole. (This is covered by Rule 15.3: If Player B refuses to lift their ball or move their ball-marker when required to do so by another player, and a stroke is then made by the other player, Player B gets the general penalty).
