Like a lot of the younger set these days, Brooks Koepka wears a golf cap with a bill that is as big as a front porch, just as flat, and pulled down over his eyes.
Before he did a brief interview after his round on Friday with Sky Sports, the interviewer asked him to push back the cap back on his forehead so that people could get a good look at his face.
That will not be an issue now. There will be no place to hide.
Taking a big leap in a career that has included major hops across the Atlantic Ocean, Koepka will play in the final group of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on Saturday alongside world No 6 Rory McIlroy, who will start the third round with a one-shot lead at 11 under.
Koepka, who turned pro in the summer of 2012, took a decidedly non-traditional route to the European Tour, earning a battlefield promotion last year from the developmental Challenge Tour after recording three victories.
For an American, that represents a significant detour. Still a European rookie, he matched the day’s low round with a seven-under 65 and will be staring across the tee box at former Dubai champion McIlroy, 24, who is actually a year his elder.
Only 23, Koepka turned pro after the 2012 US Open. He has played in 39 professional events in 21 countries on six different tours, including the PGA Tour, where he nearly won an event last autumn outside San Jose, California.
“It’s fun, and I’m loving it,” he said. “Travelling the world as a 23 year old isn’t too bad of a gig.”
Though both players live in the South Florida area, Koepka has only superficially bumped into McIlroy here and there, though the American’s caddie is Northern Irishman Ricky Elliott, an acquaintance of McIlroy, who is also an Ulsterman.
“It will be fun,” Koepka said. “I’ve been seeing [Rory] for years, when I was in college, lighting it up out here.”
That almost makes McIlroy sound old, no?
For a player with so few years as a pro, Koepka has some serious experience already. In fact, his accomplishments have been credited for a two-fold boost in the number of Americans who entered European Tour qualifying school last autumn.
His roommate in Florida, fellow American Peter Uihlein, is also playing in Europe and has already won a tournament, another reason more Americans have looked eastward.
“I think it’s awesome to see guys coming over here,” Koepka said. “I think guys got stuck in the States and forget about coming over here.”
Koepka, who was a top player at Florida State University, contended at the Frys.com Open last autumn. Had he won, he would have had instant tenure on the US tour. But unlike many players, he plans to keep his European card.
“I’m planning on playing over here a long time,” he said. “My ultimate plan is to be able to play both.”
McIlroy, among others, is a double member. However, few players can boast as many passport stamps as Koepka in such a short period of time. Because he did not have status on any of the bigger tours, he played where he could to get a foot in the door before securing his European Tour card last year.
“It’s crazy,” he said. “It’s been fun, though, getting to see the world at 23.”
The 65 represented his lowest round in European Tour play, and it did not take long to determine the reason.
After struggling on the greens last week in Qatar, where he finished 37th, he switched to a different model with a longer shaft and only needed 25 putts.
“Just the putting’s the difference,” Elliott said.
Koepka said he had a hard time reading the greens at Emirates Golf Club in the first round, though he shot 69. That probably should not be a surprise, since most weeks present courses he has seen previously only on television.
That would be the case this week, for certain.
“I remember watching it when I was in the States, a bunch,” he said.
Even so, when Koepka arrived in the UAE a few days before the Abu Dhabi tournament to get acclimated, he was blown away by the Dubai skyline.
“It’s great, it’s crazy,” he said. “The buildings are so tall.”
Given his pairing companion’s accomplishments, the competition is stacked pretty high, too.
selling@thenational.ae
MATCH DETAILS
Barcelona 0
Slavia Prague 0
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
OIL PLEDGE
At the start of Russia's invasion, IEA member countries held 1.5 billion barrels in public reserves and about 575 million barrels under obligations with industry, according to the agency's website. The two collective actions of the IEA this year of 62.7 million barrels, which was agreed on March 1, and this week's 120 million barrels amount to 9 per cent of total emergency reserves, it added.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELeap%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ziad%20Toqan%20and%20Jamil%20Khammu%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Fixtures
Opening day Premier League fixtures for August 9-11
August 9
Liverpool v Norwich 11pm
August 10
West Ham v Man City 3.30pm
Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 6pm
Burnley v Southampton 6pm
C Palace v Everton 6pm
Leicester v Wolves 6pm
Watford v Brighton 6pm
Tottenham v Aston Villa 8.30pm
August 11
Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm
Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
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"
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2-litre%204-cylinder%20mild%20hybrid%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20S%20tronic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E265hp%20%2F%20195kW%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20370Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh260%2C000%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Scorebox
Sharjah Wanderers 20-25 Dubai Tigers (After extra-time)
Wanderers
Tries Gormley, Penalty
Cons Flaherty
Pens Flaherty 2
Tigers
Tries O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
Cons Caldwell 2
Pens Caldwell, Cross
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
RESULTS
Main card
Bantamweight 56.4kg: Mehdi Eljamari (MAR) beat Abrorbek Madiminbekov (UZB), Split points decision
Super heavyweight 94 kg: Adnan Mohammad (IRN) beat Mohammed Ajaraam (MAR), Split points decision
Lightweight 60kg: Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Faridoon Alik Zai (AFG), RSC round 3
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Taha Marrouni (MAR) beat Mahmood Amin (EGY), Unanimous points decision
Light welterweight 64.5kg: Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) beat Nouredine Samir (UAE), Unanimous points decision
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Haroun Baka (ALG), KO second round
