Brooks Koepka’s status might have changed beyond all recognition since the last time he played in Abu Dhabi, but the world No 2 says the course is still just as he remembers it.
The general consensus ahead of the 2019 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA was that the National Course would be more testing than in recent times, with tighter fairways and punishing rough.
The fact Shane Lowry recorded the equal lowest total out of over 5,000 rounds that have been played in the capital, as his 10-under-par 62 led after Round 1, suggested good scoring is still possible.
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Read more:
Second round groups and tee times for Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA: Day 1 as it happened
Brooks Koepka 'still the same me' since last appearance in Abu Dhabi
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Koepka signed for an opening round 67 on his first appearance back in the capital since he missed the cut in 2014.
“I remember it being a tight, tough course, and it reminds me of a major championship,” said Koepka, who has won three major titles and been to world No 1 in the time since he was last here.
“It’s very demanding. You need to be able to put the ball in the right positions if you want to score.”
Koepka, who will start Thursday’s Round 2 five shots behind the leader Lowry, deems the course “intimidating”.
“I’m a little different player that I was five years ago, but I like this golf course,” he said. “I like the way it sets up. I feel like it’s very visually intimidating.
"You’ve got to strike the ball well. These greens are so good that anything from inside 10 feet, you put it on line and it’s going to go in.”
Koepka’s compatriot and United States Ryder Cup teammate, Dustin Johnson, shot a 3-under-par 69 on the opening day.
While it meant he is some way shy of the leaders, it was at least the best opening round the former world No 1 has managed on his three visits to Abu Dhabi to date.
He made matching, mediocre 72s in the past two seasons, and still finished those tournaments among the contenders.
“It was a struggle early but I definitely hit is a lot better in the last nine holes,” Johnson said.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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
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Tips from the expert
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Picture of Joumblatt and Hariri breaking bread sets Twitter alight
Mr Joumblatt’s pessimism regarding the Lebanese political situation didn’t stop him from enjoying a cheerful dinner on Tuesday with several politicians including Mr Hariri.
Caretaker Culture Minister Ghattas Khoury tweeted a picture of the group sitting around a table at a discrete fish restaurant in Beirut’s upscale Sodeco area.
Mr Joumblatt told The National that the fish served at Kelly’s Fish lounge had been very good.
“They really enjoyed their time”, remembers the restaurant owner. “Mr Hariri was taking selfies with everybody”.
Mr Hariri and Mr Joumblatt often have dinner together to discuss recent political developments.
Mr Joumblatt was a close ally of Mr Hariri’s assassinated father, former prime minister Rafik Hariri. The pair were leading figures in the political grouping against the 15-year Syrian occupation of Lebanon that ended after mass protests in 2005 in the wake of Rafik Hariri’s murder. After the younger Hariri took over his father’s mantle in 2004, the relationship with Mr Joumblatt endured.
However, the pair have not always been so close. In the run-up to the election last year, Messrs Hariri and Joumblatt went months without speaking over an argument regarding the new proportional electoral law to be used for the first time. Mr Joumblatt worried that a proportional system, which Mr Hariri backed, would see the influence of his small sect diminished.
With so much of Lebanese politics agreed in late-night meetings behind closed doors, the media and pundits put significant weight on how regularly, where and with who senior politicians meet.
In the picture, alongside Messrs Khoury and Hariri were Mr Joumbatt and his wife Nora, PSP politician Wael Abou Faour and Egyptian ambassador to Lebanon Nazih el Nagari.
The picture of the dinner led to a flurry of excitement on Twitter that it signified an imminent government formation. “God willing, white smoke will rise soon and Walid Beik [a nickname for Walid Joumblatt] will accept to give up the minister of industry”, one user replied to the tweet. “Blessings to you…We would like you to form a cabinet”, wrote another.
The next few days will be crucial in determining whether these wishes come true.
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MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2
Vinicius Junior (71') Mariano (90 2')
Barcelona 0
Expert advice
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“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
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