Desert Swing: Week 1

20 Jan

It’s great to be back in the Middle East, and with every year that passes it is amazing to see the developments taking place. I think I speak for all the players in saying we had a superb week in Abu Dhabi.

Interestingly, I felt that the way the course was prepared in the previous week’s South African Open – with tough rough lining the fairways – in many ways represented the ideal preparation for Abu Dhabi, which had a similar kind of set-up. And, as with Glendower, the golf course was in amazing shape. From the players’ perspective the facilities and level of service were absolutely first-rate. The European Tour, HSBC and Abu Dhabi Tourism have to be congratulated for what they’ve been able to achieve with this tournament in its 10-year history. It’s very impressive.

For me personally it was a tournament where I could gain a lot of satisfaction from my game, especially over the weekend. Shooting 10-under par for the final 36 holes, with 10 birdies and no bogeys, was particularly pleasing.

Abu Dhabi Review pic2

Obviously it’s an exciting prospect to build on that and try to carry some good form into the second leg of the Desert Swing, this week’s Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club. You’ll probably recall that I won on my debut here in 2005 and, as any player will tell you, it’s always fun returning to golf courses where you’ve won before and played well. The tournament sponsors have also announced a three-year extension so again it is great for the game in the region.

That win in 2005 was one half of a great couple of weeks’ golf. We’d won in Dubai the week before, eagling the final hole to beat my old friend Miguel Angel Jimenez, and then here in Doha we made up a big deficit in the final round to shoot 65 and just pip Henrik Stenson to make it back-to-back wins in the desert. The wind was really blowing that final day in Doha, as it often does here, especially in the afternoon, and that can make this golf course a pretty tough test; one for the shot-makers you might say. It measures 7,400 yards and the front nine alone must be one of the longest we play all year at 3,815 yards, including a 639-yard monster of a par-5 just before you turn for home. On a calm day, though, the course doesn’t play quite as long as it looks on paper, and there are birdies to be had, partly because the greens are smooth, true and an absolute joy to putt on. It’s a top golf course and this tournament always attracts good crowds.

It’s attracted a strong field this year, too, including three of the world’s top-six players and many of Europe’s Ryder Cup winning team from Gleneagles. South Africa has a good track record in this event, though, with three winners (myself, Retief and Darren Fichardt) in the space of five years.

Unusually for the European Tour it’s a Wednesday start in Qatar and I’ve got a really nice draw in the first two rounds, playing with Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia – all three of us looking for our second win in this event. After Qatar I’ll be competing in the following week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic, another of my favourite tournaments of the year.

For many people in the golf industry it is also a big week back in the US in Florida with the PGA Merchandise show in Orlando. Obviously I won’t be there but I wish all of my sponsors and those attending a fantastic week.

Okay, that’s it for now. I’ll write again soon. In the meantime, follow me on Twitter @TheBig_Easy.

Sponsors

Partners

Connect

Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
© 2024, Ernie Els   A / A Website by Noesis