ABU DHABI // Twelve boys who have earned the right to take on the Abu Dhabi National golf course this weekend will be hoping to set off on a journey to fame and fortune that opened up for Justin Rose over a decade ago.
Rose, one of the world's leading professionals and winner of the European Order of Merit two years ago, first became noticed as a potential champion when he became the 13th teenager to capture the Daily Telegraph Junior Golf Championship title - an event which was launched relatively quietly in 1985 but now attracts more than 40,000 entrants every year.
The capital is the seventh international destination for the cream of British and Irish youngsters following Dubai Creek which had a three-year hosting stint when taking over from Sun City in South Africa in 2005.
Rose's triumph in 1997 came at Sea Island in Georgia, USA, and a year later he arrived for real on the world stage when he became leading amateur at the British Open at Royal Birkdale, famously chipping in at the 72nd hole to secure a share of fourth place.
Since then Rose, 29, has won seven professional tournaments and this year, despite playing much of his golf on the US Tour, finished a respectable 52nd on the European money list which was finalised at the Dubai World Championship at the weekend when Rose tied for 50th place.
Rose, who was pictured swinging a golf club shortly after his first birthday, began playing the game as a five-year-old.
He regarded the competition - temporarily renamed the Abu Dhabi Junior Championship - as one of his defining moments on the way to joining the paid ranks.
"It was a great feeling to beat some of the best junior players around," he said.
"Winning is great for your confidence and that victory helped me to gain valuable experience and to continue believing in myself.
"Kids enjoy playing in places where the Tour professionals play. The UAE is a great spot to play golf with perfect weather virtually guaranteed."
Abu Dhabi has not yet featured on Rose's schedule, although he competed in the Qatar leg of the Desert Swing earlier this year.
Florida-based Rose hopes that the staging of such a leading event in Abu Dhabi will encourage more schoolchildren in the region to try to follow in his footsteps.
"Youngsters anywhere should consider taking up golf," he said.
"It teaches you honesty and integrity. You have to interact with adults most of the time which makes you more mature. It is also a game for life."
The 11 boys and nine girls who qualified from this year's heats staged all over the UK and Ireland will be accompanied for the first time this year by a local representative. Joele Neale, 18, the UAE's amateur Order of Merit winner for the last two years, earned that right in a recent qualifying tournament at the Abu Dhabi course.
The English-born Neale will play for the visiting team in a challenge match against the best of the UAE teenagers today.
The three-day main strokeplay event gets under way tomorrow.
@Email:wjohnson@thenational.ae
RESULTS
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200
Winner: Miqyaas, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Untold Secret, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Shanty Star, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Alkaamel, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
8.50pm: Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Speedy Move, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm: Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Quartier Francois, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
WITHIN%20SAND
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Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
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
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%3Cp%3EHigh%20fever%20(40%C2%B0C%2F104%C2%B0F)%3Cbr%3ESevere%20headache%3Cbr%3EPain%20behind%20the%20eyes%3Cbr%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3Cbr%3ENausea%3Cbr%3EVomiting%3Cbr%3ESwollen%20glands%3Cbr%3ERash%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
RESULTS
Dubai Kahayla Classic – Group 1 (PA) $750,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Deryan, Ioritz Mendizabal (jockey), Didier Guillemin (trainer).
Godolphin Mile – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Dubai Gold Cup – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (Turf) 3,200m
Winner: Subjectivist, Joe Fanning, Mark Johnston
Al Quoz Sprint – Group 1 (TB) $1million (T) 1,200m
Winner: Extravagant Kid, Ryan Moore, Brendan Walsh
UAE Derby – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Dubai Golden Shaheen – Group 1 (TB) $1.5million (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zenden, Antonio Fresu, Carlos David
Dubai Turf – Group 1 (TB) $4million (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord North, Frankie Dettori, John Gosden
Dubai Sheema Classic – Group 1 (TB) $5million (T) 2,410m
Winner: Mishriff, John Egan, John Gosden
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 30-December 2, at The Sevens, Dubai
Gulf Under 19
Pool A – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jumeirah College Tigers, Dubai English Speaking School 1, Gems World Academy
Pool B – British School Al Khubairat, Bahrain Colts, Jumeirah College Lions, Dubai English Speaking School 2
Pool C - Dubai College A, Dubai Sharks, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Yasmina
Pool D – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Deira International School
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
