Darren Clarke will this week play his second Mena Tour event in quick succession, with the 2011 British Open champion having signed up for the Golf Citizen Abu Dhabi Open at Yas Links.
The Northern Irishman, who also acts as the tour’s patron, made his 2017 debut at the Dubai Creek Open this month, where he finished in a tie for 16th. Clarke had competed on the developmental circuit only once before, coming home joint second at the RAK Classic in 2015.
Two of the tour’s in-form players, MG Keyser and Rayhan Thomas, will not be present at Yas Links when the competition begins on Monday, though, with Keyser playing in an Asian Development Tour event in Malaysia. The South African, who lives in Dubai, has won the past two Mena Tour tournaments to lead the Order of Merit.
Dubai-based amateur Thomas, meanwhile, is in New Jersey to contest the inaugural Junior President’s Cup. Now 31st in the world amateur rankings, he forms part of Trevor Immelman’s International team.
Keyser’s absence provide a number of rivals the opportunity to rein him in in the season-long race, with Sweden’s Fredrik From and English duo Jamie Elson and Luke Joy aiming to make up valuable ground.
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Joy knows Yas Links well given he is attached to the capital club. Fourth in the Order of Merit, he will be looking to improve on two runner-up finishes and a third already this season to narrow the gap and close in on a place at next year’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic. The top three players in the overall standings guarantee a spot at the European Tour event next January.
Joy, 29, comes into the event on the back of last week’s disappointment in Austria, where he missed out on the second stage of European Tour Q-School by a single shot.
“I think I need to re-focus and get back on the horse and ride again,” he, however, said.
Profile of Tarabut Gateway
Founder: Abdulla Almoayed
Based: UAE
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 35
Sector: FinTech
Raised: $13 million
Backers: Berlin-based venture capital company Target Global, Kingsway, CE Ventures, Entrée Capital, Zamil Investment Group, Global Ventures, Almoayed Technologies and Mad’a Investment.
Company Profile
Company name: Yeepeey
Started: Soft launch in November, 2020
Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani
Based: Dubai
Industry: E-grocery
Initial investment: $150,000
Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year
The specs
The specs: 2019 Audi Q8
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 340hp @ 3,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
Juventus v Napoli, Sunday, 10.45pm (UAE)
Match on Bein Sports
if you go
The flights
Air France offer flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Cayenne, connecting in Paris from Dh7,300.
The tour
Cox & Kings (coxandkings.com) has a 14-night Hidden Guianas tour of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. It includes accommodation, domestic flights, transfers, a local tour manager and guided sightseeing. Contact for price.
The biog
Favourite Quote: “Real victories are those that protect human life, not those that result from its destruction emerge from its ashes,” by The late king Hussain of Jordan.
Favourite Hobby: Writing and cooking
Favourite Book: The Prophet by Gibran Khalil Gibran
Brief scores:
Manchester City 3
Aguero 1', 44', 61'
Arsenal 1
Koscielny 11'
Man of the match: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
