Luke Donald laughed off the idea that he might play himself into his own Ryder Cup team after making a fine start to the 2023 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
The Englishman topped the leading board after the morning matches at Yas Links, having carded an 8-under-par opening-round of 64.
Donald will captain the European Ryder Cup in Rome later this year. The former world No 1 is now down at 541 in the global standings, and he said the idea making the side on merit is fanciful.
“[It was] 1975 I think the last time that happened,” Donald said when asked of the possibilities of qualifying for Rome. “No, we are a long way from that.
“I actually came into this year with higher expectations than I had in a while just for my own game.
“You know when you're swinging reasonably well. I feel like I've done some good work on my long game with [coach] Jamie Gough, and I've done some good work with my short game with Pat Goss.
“And to be honest, I feel like my game is in a pretty good spot. It's not totally surprising that I shot 64 today.
“I went out there, again, last couple days, I've been hitting it nicely, swinging well, and it was nice to carry that on today.”
Coincidentally, Donald teed it up at precisely the same time as Henrik Stenson, the player he controversially replaced as Europe’s leader for the match against United States.
Neither of the 7.50am matches attracted a vast gallery. While Donald was making his way to a birdie three at the 10th – his opening hole – a total of six spectators watched Stenson playing the first.
Stenson, who was removed from his Ryder Cup role last June due to his decision to join LIV Golf, ended his own opening round with a 4-under 68.
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'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'
Rating: 1 out of 4
Running time: 81 minutes
Director: David Blue Garcia
Starring: Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Mark Burnham
Company%C2%A0profile
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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
PROFILE BOX
Company name: Overwrite.ai
Founder: Ayman Alashkar
Started: Established in 2020
Based: Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai
Sector: PropTech
Initial investment: Self-funded by founder
Funding stage: Seed funding, in talks with angel investors
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
Trolls World Tour
Directed by: Walt Dohrn, David Smith
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake
Rating: 4 stars
SPECS
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What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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