It was a case of 74th time lucky for Sergio Garcia when he finally ended his Major drought by winning the 2017 Masters.
The nearly man was no more. Seventy-three appearances on golf’s biggest stages, four times a runner-up, twelve top fives, 22 top tens … the wait was over.
In 2012, at the same Augusta National course, the despairing Spaniard had seemed resigned to his fate. "I'm not good enough,” he said after seeing his victory hopes ended after a third-round 75.
“I don't have the thing I need to have. I've come to the conclusion that I need to play for second or third place … I have my chances and my opportunities and I waste them."
Fast forward five years, and Garcia found that “thing” as the 37-year-old overcame a two-shot deficit with six holes to play to beat Justin Rose in a sudden-death play-off.
"If there's anyone to lose to, it's Sergio. He deserves it," Englishman Rose said afterwards. "He's had his fair share of heartbreak.”
Garcia had been one of the finest players of his generation, a Ryder Cup great who seemed destined never to win a Major crown.
He had come agonisingly close at the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie in Scotland, leading after each of the first three rounds before shooting a 73 to throw away a three-shot lead, then losing a play-off to Padraig Harrington.
A three shot lead would also disappear in the final round at Augusta a decade later, as Rose overtook the stumbling Spaniard and took a two-shot lead of his own.
Garcia, though, showed his new-found Major mettle after fighting back to tie with Rose and then missing a five-foot putt on the last which would have won him the championship.
There would be no play-off heartache this time round. On the par four 18th as Rose drove into the trees from the tee and Garcia found the fairway.
With two putts to win the title, Garcia, who carded 71-69-70-69 during the tournament, nailed the first. In his 19th Masters appearance and 74th Major, the most by any player before their first title, the wait was over.
He became the third Spanish player to win the Masters, after Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal. Nearly six years after Ballesteros died of brain cancer, on what would have been his 60th birthday, Garcia had reached his Holy Grail.
“It definitely popped in my mind a few times,” said García of the Ballesteros anniversary. “There’s no doubt about it. Obviously today a couple of times here and there. And I’m sure he helped a little bit with some of those shots or some of those putts.
"It has been such a long time coming. I knew I was playing well. I felt the calmest I ever felt in a Major. Even after a couple of bogeys I was still positive that there were a lot of holes I could get to. I am so happy.
"It is amazing. To do it on his [Seve's] 60th birthday and to join him and Jose Maria Olazabal, my two idols in golf, it is something amazing. Jose Maria texted on Thursday saying how much he believed in me and to believe in myself.
“This is something I wanted to do for a long time. But, you know, it never felt like a horror movie. It felt like a little bit of a drama, but obviously with a happy ending.”
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The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
The specs: 2018 BMW X2 and X3
Price, as tested: Dh255,150 (X2); Dh383,250 (X3)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder (X2); 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder (X3)
Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)
Torque: 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (X2); 500Nm @ 1,520rpm (X3)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic (X2); Eight-speed automatic (X3)
Fuel consumption, combined: 5.7L / 100km (X2); 8.3L / 100km (X3)
The specs: 2018 Jaguar E-Pace First Edition
Price, base / as tested: Dh186,480 / Dh252,735
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 246hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 365Nm @ 1,200rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on animal trafficking
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20Profile
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Without Remorse
Directed by: Stefano Sollima
Starring: Michael B Jordan
4/5
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
MATCH INFO
Leeds United 0
Brighton 1 (Maupay 17')
Man of the match: Ben White (Brighton)
Results
4pm: Maiden; Dh165,000 (Dirt); 1,400m
Winner: Solar Shower; William Lee (jockey); Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
4.35pm: Handicap; Dh165,000 (D); 2,000m
Winner: Thaaqib; Antonio Fresu; Erwan Charpy.
5.10pm: Maiden; Dh165,000 (Turf); 1,800m
Winner: Bila Shak; Adrie de Vries; Fawzi Nass
5.45pm: Handicap; Dh175,000 (D); 1,200m
Winner: Beachcomber Bay; Richard Mullen; Satish Seemar
6.20pm: Handicap; Dh205,000 (T); 1,800m
Winner: Muzdawaj; Jim Crowley; Musabah Al Muhairi
6.55pm: Handicap; Dh185,000 (D); 1,600m
Winner: Mazeed; Tadhg O’Shea; Satish Seemar
7.30pm: Handicap; Dh205,000 (T); 1,200m
Winner: Riflescope; Tadhg O’Shea; Satish Seemar.
MORE ON TURKEY'S SYRIA OFFENCE
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Cherry
Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo
Starring: Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo
1/5
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