When Rory McIlroy said at the end of last year in Dubai that he would pay to play in the Ryder Cup, it felt as though he was speaking on behalf of the whole of Europe.
Since then, the decision to pay United States’ players has been ratified. The Europeans, meanwhile, will continue to play for honour rather than cold, hard cash when they attempt to defend the trophy at Bethpage in September.
If any poster boys were required for the McIlroy way of thinking, then Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard fit the bill. The latest dry run for the Ryder Cup - the Team Cup - takes place in Abu Dhabi this weekend. The Hojgaard twins will be lining up together for Continental Europe against Great Britain and Ireland.
It is the first time the 23-year-old brothers have been involved in partnership in team competition since their highly successful amateur days in Denmark.
Nicolai played in the first running of the event at the National Course two years ago, then went on to feature in the Europe side who won the biennial match against the US later that year.
He said his Ryder Cup debut in Rome in 2023 exceeded everything he dreamt it would be. The only thing that could improve it would be if brother Rasmus was alongside him.
It feels as though the day that happens might not be far away. Potentially, they could even be in harness as part of Luke Donald’s team later this year.
Growing up as aspiring golf pros, Nicolai said their first goal was always to win their home event in Denmark. After that, the dream quickly morphed into becoming Ryder Cup heroes.
“We have talked about it many times: imagine having a putt to win,” Nicolai said. “It doesn’t matter which occasion it is, but over the years it always turned into the Ryder Cup.
“We would imagine being out first in the foursomes and rolling in a putt when the crowd goes crazy. I tried that up close in Rome, and it is the best feeling in the world.
“To have the thought that we could potentially do that together in the future is enough to keep us fired up.”
Rasmus, for his part, had a close-up view of the action in Rome. He was not one of the 12 for the match, but was brought along to be part of the wider party. So as not to spend all his time gnawing his nails with nerves for his brother, he spent most of his time driving Thomas Bjorn’s buggy around the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club instead.
“It was very special,” Rasmus said. “Nicolai was playing in the afternoon on the Friday, and you are very nervous for him.
“Watching is a bit different, because you have 12 guys there who are playing. If Nicolai was trying to win a normal tournament, I would probably be more nervous seeing him play the last three or four holes than I was for him at the Ryder Cup.
“It was more about getting it under way that was the nervous part of it for me.”
The twins played in European Team Championships at boys and senior level for Denmark. The majority of competitive golf they played growing up was also as part of teams, rather than individually.
“There is a huge difference,” Rasmus said. “When you are part of a team, you don’t want to let anyone down.
“It is not like you are happy to let yourself down when you are playing on your own. But when you are in a team, you want to deliver points for them, to show some leadership by going out and doing my part to motivate the others in the team to go out and do their part.
“It is so different. You feel a bit more proud being part of a team.”
The brothers were speaking to The National via Zoom on Rasmus’s mobile phone, while sat in a golf buggy taking a break from a practice round in Dubai.
They will head to the capital for the Team Cup before driving back up the E11 next week for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
Each will have designs on winning the Dallah Trophy at Emirates Golf Club, when the country’s longest established Tour event starts on January 16.
Nicolai, in particular, has form on the fairways of the UAE. Two of his three wins on the DP World Tour have come in this country: the 2022 RAK Championship, and the 2022 DP World Tour Championship.
“I do feel like I can challenge,” Nicolai said. “I really enjoy playing here. It is one of our favourite places to go to and the Desert Classic is one of the best events we play every year.
“It is also a course that suits us pretty well. I feel in a good spot at the moment and I am really looking forward to getting things started. I think I can challenge the guys at Emirates [Golf Club].”
Both know that McIlroy is unlikely to give up his title without a fight. The Northern Irishman is going for three in a row at the Classic.
McIlroy was the Hojgaards’ favourite player growing up. Nicolai says he remains so – all the more so having experienced his presence as a teammate at the Ryder Cup two years ago.
“Obviously he is a leader in the team room,” Nicolai said. “He is the best player, the guy who has achieved the most. He is very good with everyone. He doesn’t put himself in front of anyone. He doesn’t do anything that all the other guys don’t do.
“He is a very, very good teammate. That is the only way to describe him. He is a very, very good golfer, which helps because you know you are going to get points out of him. To have someone who is a very good guy, as well as an incredible teammate, is a very good mix.
“Having him in Rome was brilliant. He really excelled that week. It felt like he was a leader and he really enjoyed that.”
Grand slam winners since July 2003
Who has won major titles since Wimbledon 2003 when Roger Federer won his first grand slam
Roger Federer 19 (8 Wimbledon, 5 Australian Open, 5 US Open, 1 French Open)
Rafael Nadal 16 (10 French Open, 3 US Open, 2 Wimbledon, 1 Australian Open)
Novak Djokovic 12 (6 Australian Open, 3 Wimbledon, 2 US Open, 1 French Open)
Andy Murray 3 (2 Wimbledon, 1 US Open)
Stan Wawrinka 3 (1 Australian Open, 1 French Open, 1 US Open)
Andy Roddick 1 (1 US Open)
Gaston Gaudio 1 (1 French Open)
Marat Safin 1 (1 Australian Open)
Juan Martin del Potro 1 (1 US Open)
Marin Cilic 1 (1 US Open)
The%20specs
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MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')
Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')
Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
More from Neighbourhood Watch
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures
Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)
Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy
Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy
Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy
Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
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More on animal trafficking
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Sri Lanka Test squad:
Dimuth Karunaratne (stand-in captain), Niroshan Dickwella (vice captain), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohamed Shiraz, Lakshan Sandakan and Lasith Embuldeniya.
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Surianah's top five jazz artists
Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Match info
Uefa Nations League Group B:
England v Spain, Saturday, 11.45pm (UAE)
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
