After a disappointing display - by his own lofty standards - in Abu Dhabi last week, Collin Morikawa did what all elite-level golfers do: he immediately set about rectifying things.
“I have a lot to work on,” said the world No 2 on Tuesday at Emirates Golf Club, as he prepared for the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic. "Spent all afternoon yesterday working. It was probably the hardest, longest I've worked in a while pre-tournament on a Monday. But it's good.
“Sometimes you need to have that reset button and really figure out and dive deep. I had my agent and my caddie, and we were just literally sitting on the range for hours trying to figure out what to do.
“We know what's not working. It's just trying to get back to my old swing and trying to get back to what I know I can do. I still have a couple things I've got to work out and feel, but I'm in a much better position right now, at least if I had to go play tomorrow or right now, versus where I was last week.”
Last week, upon debut at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Morikawa just about made the cut. He concluded Day 2 at a blustery Yas Links right on the number – 3-over par – before eventually finishing on Sunday in a tie for 62nd.
To be fair, the conditions in the capital weren’t particularly forgiving, especially on Friday when the wind was up and so too were the scores.
“It happens,” said Morikawa, the winner of last year's Open and reigning Race to Dubai champion. “Thankfully I was still able to learn a lot from it and show up this week with a fresh mind and ready to go.”
The short drive between emirates, not to mention the additional endeavour on the range, has helped put last week in the rear-view mirror.
“You just forget about it,” Morikawa said. “It's as simple as that, really. It's not I need to sit in a bed or stare at a wall to try to figure out what I do. It's just in my nature, I want to get better.
“I am trying to figure out what I did poorly and try to work to get better this week. It's just about remembering things I've done well in the past, and it's as simple as really forgetting about what happened. I can't do anything about what happened last week. It happened. I played bad. I learned from it."
Fortunately for Morikawa, as the two-time major champion relayed, at least he knows what to expect in Dubai. He made his Desert Classic bow last year, finishing T68th. This week marks the tournament's first as a Rolex Series event. As such, it boasts an $8 million purse.
“After last week, I have things I need to work on,” Morikawa said. “I'll get that done by Thursday and I'll be ready. It's just going out and playing the course the best I can.
"What happened last week, I wasn't really in my head. I wasn't playing to my strengths. Obviously I had no clue where the ball was going, which makes it a lot harder. But out here, I now the course and where I need to hit it.”
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
SPECS
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Martin Sabbagh profile
Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East
In the role: Since January 2015
Lives: In the UAE
Background: M&A, investment banking
Studied: Corporate finance
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
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