European Tour 2016 - Dubai

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Selected RD 1 Tee Times
1 07:40 Felipe AGUILAR Raphaël JACQUELIN
1 07:50 Renato PARATORE Mikko ILONEN
1 08:00 Romain WATTEL Jaco VAN ZYL
1 08:10 Matthew SOUTHGATE Kiradech APHIBARNRAT
1 08:20 Ricardo GOUVEIA Padraig HARRINGTON
1 08:30 George COETZEE Pablo LARRAZÁBAL
1 08:40 Marcus FRASER Brandon STONE
1 08:50 Victor DUBUISSON David LIPSKY
1 09:00 Jorge CAMPILLO Julien QUESNE
1 09:10 Tommy FLEETWOOD Nacho ELVIRA
1 09:25 Joakim LAGERGREN Soomin LEE
1 09:35 Nicolas COLSAERTS Alejandro CAÑIZARES
1 09:45 Richard STERNE Byeong Hun AN
1 09:55 Charl SCHWARTZEL Grégory BOURDY
1 10:05 Rikard KARLBERG Alexander LEVY
1 10:15 Shane LOWRY David HORSEY
1 10:25 Bradley DREDGE Matthew FITZPATRICK
1 10:35 Richard BLAND Scott HEND
1 10:45 Francesco MOLINARI Andrew JOHNSTON
1 10:55 Thomas PIETERS Søren KJELDSEN
1 11:10 Sergio GARCIA Haotong LI
1 11:20 Thongchai JAIDEE Ross FISHER
1 11:30 Joost LUITEN Jeunghun WANG
1 11:40 Martin KAYMER Andy SULLIVAN
1 11:50 Lee WESTWOOD Bernd WIESBERGER
1 12:00 Thorbjørn OLESEN Chris WOOD
1 12:10 Louis OOSTHUIZEN Rafa CABRERA BELLO
1 12:20 Branden GRACE Tyrrell HATTON
1 12:30 Rory MCILROY Alex NOREN
1 12:40 Danny WILLETT Henrik STENSON

Is Rory considering pregnancy in the near future?

Davie wrote:Is Rory considering pregnancy in the near future?

I doubt it, but his fiancee might be.

The Zika virus can be transmitted sexually, so if Rory gets it...so can Erika.

Rory must be wumming. That's the worst BS I've heard since he got tooth ache. Does he stay away from the US because he's afraid of being shot then??

I haven't really read up on Zika and what risks it would pose to visiting athletes but it is easy to imagine the link to birth defects is enough to make it a justifiable worry. Is there any point risking infection just to play in an event that no golfer really takes seriously?

Rory actually confirming his withdrawal could really open the floodgates and have everyone of note pulling out.

Rory agent has clarified: He doesn't consider to pull out due to Zika, but to pull a sickie...

Impending toothache, the kind only previously diagnosed at the "Honda"?

pedro wrote:Rory must be wumming. That's the worst BS I've heard since he got tooth ache. Does he stay away from the US because he's afraid of being shot then??

Being from Northern Ireland, Rory should be good at dodging bullets.

GPB,
You'll have a hard time proving that gun-related deaths in Northern Ireland are higher than the US.

According to the American Jnl of Medicine, firearm deaths per 100,00 are:

UK: 0.2

USA: 10.2

Always good to see the USA out in front again; unfortunately I can't find a breakdown between England, N.I., Scotland & Wales but to suggest that N.I. might have a higher death-rate by firearm than the USA is arithmetically improbable. No stats unfortunately for knee caps.

How about during the 80s and 90's?

Apparently 3000 deaths over 30 years of troubles in NI from 1960s. Of course not all gun related. Terrorist funding came from a variety of sources, but probably best we don't get too far into that!

The Irish Open was absolutely fantastic but as a golf event it seemed to lack the usual drama....shame about the winner haha

Gmac tweeted pic from a round a Bearwood lakes, isn't that where Mavrick/Fader claimed to play? Wonder if Gmac stopped to get some tips from Mav?

McLaren wrote:Gmac tweeted pic from a round a Bearwood lakes, isn't that where Mavrick/Fader claimed to play?  Wonder if Gmac stopped to get some tips from Mav?

No it wasn't Mav's area - he was Essex I think.

Bearwood Lakes is my area - elite-ish but not in the same league as the courses he used to talk about.

I get to play there as a guest a couple of times a year

The pictures do look rather good though - the one with him teeing off is the 4th and the other is the 10th - couple of great holes. I'm due to play there in a couple of weeks time

I just remember he claimed to frequent one of the newish high end south east clubs.


Davie, maybe you could take a few pics to share with the board?

Are you playing for fun or in a comp?

I think Mav once claimed to be playing the New Zealand course? Or one of those ultra-elite courses. As I say, Bearwood is more elite than your average club but not in that league.

You want pictures there are plenty on the club website - http://www.bearwoodlakes.co.uk/home/gallery/

I'm playing in a charity day in a couple of weeks time .. so it's a "fun comp" ...

McLaren wrote:Gmac tweeted pic from a round a Bearwood lakes, isn't that where Mavrick/Fader claimed to play?  Wonder if Gmac stopped to get some tips from Mav?

I used to be a member there......

Why "used to". Did you tire of coming a distant second to Mav in the medals?

Do you not actually read any replies here Mac? I already told you it wasn't Bearwood that Mav used to brag about. I may have had more chance of catching him out if it had been....

Davie

I was just messing. I read your post don't worry. Where is Mav these days?

McLaren wrote:Why "used to".  Did you tire of coming a distant second to Mav in the medals?

No Mac, it was cost, and a change in my role at work.
When I was a member you had to buy a debenture, then there was a joining fee, and then your annual fees. I joined with a couple of mates when it first opened and as I was working shifts I could manage around 3 games a week on a 5 day membership. But my role at work changed and I was working Mon-Fri 9-5. Fees for 5 day members around that time were £1500 pa. So that worked out, at my playing rate, of £100 a round. Not sustainable. Edit: Can't do maths. So it was pointless me continuing to be a member. I manged to get my debenture back.

You were lucky to get your debenture back INW! Lots of members now can't shift them.

Not sure what 5 day membership is now but I understand 7 day is around the £4k mark.

How long ago did you leave? Quite a few changes in recent years. I think the 16th(?) is the latest to be remodelled .. not seen the changes yet though

A long time ago Davie....1999. Yes I was lucky to get my debenture back. Went on a deposit for a new car!!

Mav was Kent. Littlestone I believe was where he said he played.

Agree with that Grumps, though it doesn't really sound/look like his sort of place. But then, where does? Probably Dick's Sporting Goods.

At a bar last week (suburban Philadelphia) and was introduced to (swing coach?) Simon Holmes, who had just returned from a round at Oakmont with Rickie Fowler. We chatted about some of the finer courses in and around London and then about the Ryder Cup. No clear favorite was his shoulder shrugging response.

Mav claimed to be a member at some course just south of London in Kent... not a well known one. I have a vague recollection he described driving 2 short par 4s in a round and a poster (Hibz?) caught him out by looking on the course planner and pointing out they were into the wind or something similar.

He also claimed to be a member at Littlestone.

And he once claimed that he played a round at Queenwood, which is the ultra exclusive club in the mould of Loch Lomond. Which was of course pure fantasy. Not played Queenwood but you either have to be very wealthy or famous (preferrably both) to play there (Hugh Grant, Jamie Redknapp, Tim Henman, Kevin Pietersen etc).

Ah yes Queenwood was the one I was trying to remember

Ray, good shout, I was thinking of Queenwood.

Jamie Lovemark wearing hoodie in practice round. I wonder if you could wear it on competition day?



Source: GCW'ers.

Why not?

I obviously wouldn't mind but I am sure the tour officials could find a reason for players not to wear hoodies.

It's a mild (low 70's) forecast so I'm sure it'll be a moot point.

But hope a hoodie wouldn't be an issue regardless.

IMO, with the EuroT giving special treatment to the French Open this summer, it has hurt the BMW-PGA field.

Justin Rose's back is on the road to recovery.  In the field next week at Jack's place.

Do you know someone who I saw at the Irish Open who should be churning out far better results than he has had.....Ross Fisher!

Hi sirb,
I can relate to that about Fisher - I followed him a few years ago and his driving and long game was like a clinic; around the green, not so much and every mistake led to bogey, or worse.
It seems his career had its purple patch and he regressed when you'd've expected him to train on.

Hope all you Wentworth-goers have a great time!

GPB wrote:Justin Rose's back is on the road to recovery.  In the field next week at Jack's place.

Almost miraculous.

After Gmac's appearance at Bearwood yesterday (must have just been a private appearance as my friend there said there was no official event, Luke Donald was also spotted nearby at a 9-hole muni! What a difference...

A quick thought on the BMWPGA strength of field discussions.  Just had a look and the SOF field for the event is 274, which under normal circumstances would give the winner 48 OWGR points.

This is actually pretty good for the European tour with only the Abu Dhabi event bettering it so far this season on 52 (Dubai was worth 48 as well and Irish Open (46).

Last season the top European tour events in terms of SOF were;

DP tour finals 52
Abu Dhabi 50
Dubai 50
Scottish open 50
BMW Masters 50
Irish open 48
Dunhill 44
Turkish open 44

Is it realistic to expect the event to do any better than 48 points when other events with more to splash on appearance fee's, more favorable timetabling and more popular courses can only just scrape about the 50 point mark? (and compulsory appearance in the tour finals events)

kwinigolfer wrote:Hi sirb,
I can relate to that about Fisher - I followed him a few years ago and his driving and long game was like a clinic; around the green, not so much and every mistake led to bogey, or worse.
It seems his career had its purple patch and he regressed when you'd've expected him to train on.

Hope all you Wentworth-goers have a great time!

Agreed, Fisher's short game and putting was substantially worse than Padraig and it was noticeable! (Although his much better driving was noticeable too haha)

I remember Fishing fading while being in contention at an open? Was it Turnberry 09?

McLaren wrote:I remember Fishing fading while being in contention at an open?  Was it Turnberry 09?

Yes it was Mac, although the 5th was more like a car crash than a fade. Think he quadrupled it then spiralled from there.

Didn't Fish, at one stage or another and in some cases very early doors, actually lead all four Majors in 2009?

Possibly Kwini. Did he keep getting put out early on the Thursady's with Na?

Jin Jeong should give up playing.

EmmDee57

I wasn't joking when I said that Super_Realist would have as good a chance at competing as some of those in the field this week.

Nice to see Luke still knows his way around the West Course...

And Simon Kahn (he of letting his child smoke fame) also remembering how to tackle the West course.

Letting his child smoke?