Donald lift-off delayed
The 2011 Race to Dubai champion, Luke Donald, was on the bubble last week as it relates to cracking the top 60 and securing a spot in the limited field this week. In fact, based on the evolving, live tournament projections last week during the Turkey event, he toppled out of the top 60 at times. Donald, who skipped the Turkey event, began the week at No 55 in points and was very much tracking the action from his home base in Chicago. In fact, he cancelled a corporate day on Monday in the UAE because his fate was hardly secured, pushing back his commercial departure one day. “Being here Monday would have meant leaving [Sunday] before I knew,” he said. When Donald was 59th in points after the Turkey results were finalised, he sent out a tweet that read: “Never a doubt.”
Lowry raises the bar
It could not really get more Irish. Shane Lowry, the two-time winner on the European Tour, will today unveil a sparkling new sponsorship deal. Nothing new there, especially in the world of heavily branded modern pro golfers? Yet this partnership is not to promote your usual sportswear company, or even to shine a light on some faraway real estate firm. No, Lowry has entered into an agreement with the Bonnington Hotel and McGettigan’s Irish Pub.
A tall tale
At 6ft 5ins, Chris Wood is undeniably the European Tour’s beanpole. The Englishman is also receptive to a bit of gentle ribbing, if yesterday’s pro-am partners are anything to go by. Having launched a rocket from the professional tees at the par-3 4th, Wood remarked that the other members of his group, all amateurs and teeing from 40-odd yards closer to the green, were hitting only half the distance. To which one quickly quipped back, “Aye, but we’re half your size.”
ETPI makes a killing
What is that well-worn golf phrase, spouted by coaches or irritable fathers as their student stands over the ball? The one that implies they had better not try to beat the living daylights out of the ball? Sometimes, though, it can be loosely applied, judging by yesterday’s verdict on the new European Tour Performance Institute (ETPI) at Jumeirah Golf Estates. “Amazing,” said Ahmed Al Musharrekh, the Emirati professional. “I’ve been to IMG’s David Leadbetter facility in the States, which is pretty cool, but this kills it.”
Ian Poulter: Road king
The Englishman, at No 4 in Race to Dubai points and a pre-tournament favourite, is playing for the fourth week in as many weeks, in a third country. Hereas that would knock the legs from under most travellers, Poulter is a scratch-handicap sleeper. “When you’re half man, half mattress, it’s absolutely fine,” he said. “It’s no problem. I sleep plenty.”
European for life
The US Open champion Justin Rose yesterday was named an honorary life member of the European Tour, an honour bestowed upon members who win major championships. “Now you will save the princely sum of £150 [Dh878] a year for your membership fee,” the tour commissioner George O’Grady said with a laugh.
sports@thenational.ae