Tommy Fleetwood hits out of a bunker during a practice round ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links. Getty
Tommy Fleetwood hits out of a bunker during a practice round ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links. Getty
Tommy Fleetwood hits out of a bunker during a practice round ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links. Getty
Tommy Fleetwood hits out of a bunker during a practice round ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links. Getty

Tommy Fleetwood to draw on past Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship success despite Yas Links move


John McAuley
  • English
  • Arabic

Even with the switch to Yas Links, two-time champion Tommy Fleetwood hopes to lean on previous successes in his bid to capture a third Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

The Englishman’s wins, in 2017 and 2018, came at the National Course, the tournament’s home since its inception in 2006, so of course that familiarity has gone.

“It's going to be a completely different test,” Fleetwood, competing on tour for the first time since November, said on Tuesday. “I think I've played this course once, maybe twice. But being honest; I remember very little about it.

“But you obviously draw on that I've had success in the area. First event of the year, you never quite know what to expect. I always feel very aware that I haven't played a tournament for a while and you feel rusty.

“But once you get going and get into, you start to pick up things about your game and feel a lot more in the flow of things. Draw on all the good experiences I've had in this event, and take the next two days to learn about the course, and start again.”

Since the back-to-back triumphs, Fleetwood has tended to begin the season in Abu Dhabi well. In his past two starts, he finished tied-2nd and tied-7th.

However, with the likes of world No 2 Collin Morikawa and four-time major champion Rory McIlroy in the field, and on that new layout, the 2017 Race to Dubai winner acknowledges a serious test awaits.

“I've been saying for a while, no matter where you play now, the standard of golf is so high, the margin for error is so small, and no matter where you are you're not going to get away with playing mediocre,” the world No 41 said.

“You have to turn up and give it some of your best form or highest level to compete with everyone out here. But it's great for the sport and it's great for this event to have so many great players here.

“I love playing over here. I love golf over here. I love how popular it is. But I've had success here, so there's a lot of good things going for me this week, and just excited to get going.”

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Company Profile 

Founder: Omar Onsi

Launched: 2018

Employees: 35

Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)

Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners

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The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE

Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000

Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6

Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm

Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms

ANALYSTS’ TOP PICKS OF SAUDI BANKS IN 2019

Analyst: Aqib Mehboob of Saudi Fransi Capital

Top pick: National Commercial Bank

Reason: It will be at the forefront of project financing for government-led projects

 

Analyst: Shabbir Malik of EFG-Hermes

Top pick: Al Rajhi Bank

Reason: Defensive balance sheet, well positioned in retail segment and positively geared for rising rates

 

Analyst: Chiradeep Ghosh of Sico Bank

Top pick: Arab National Bank

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While you're here
$1,000 award for 1,000 days on madrasa portal

Daily cash awards of $1,000 dollars will sweeten the Madrasa e-learning project by tempting more pupils to an education portal to deepen their understanding of math and sciences.

School children are required to watch an educational video each day and answer a question related to it. They then enter into a raffle draw for the $1,000 prize.

“We are targeting everyone who wants to learn. This will be $1,000 for 1,000 days so there will be a winner every day for 1,000 days,” said Sara Al Nuaimi, project manager of the Madrasa e-learning platform that was launched on Tuesday by the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to reach Arab pupils from kindergarten to grade 12 with educational videos.  

“The objective of the Madrasa is to become the number one reference for all Arab students in the world. The 5,000 videos we have online is just the beginning, we have big ambitions. Today in the Arab world there are 50 million students. We want to reach everyone who is willing to learn.”

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Bert van Marwijk factfile

Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder

Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia

Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

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The bio

Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
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Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home

Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now

There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:

1. Rising US interest rates

The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.

Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”

At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.

2. Stronger dollar

High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.” 

3. Global trade war

Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”

4. Eurozone uncertainty

Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.

Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”

The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”

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Updated: January 18, 2022, 12:18 PM