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

Have fun sirb,
Hatton with an interesting (Fitz & Westwood) group. And a thrill for Paratore to be playing with Jose Maria.

Luke Donald finishes with a dissapointing +5

Disappointing for Luke wisden, but he should be proud of the leaderboard, very strong.

Really interesting course. Fun to watch.

Agree Sr, it looked good.
Confirmation that Westwood is going oop north next year, to Close House, which I hadn't realised was a Harry Colt original. No word about Justin Rose's plans, but see Lukey is already up for a repeat if invited!

Great run event! Noren is on fire! Mentally looks stronger than ever (and physically)

Shotrock wrote:Really interesting course. Fun to watch.

I never know what to make of the Grove.

I remember watching the WGC on TV (in 2006?) when it first opened, Tiger did a lot for their marketing by eagling 18 three days in a row, and they capitalised on it by putting 3 little plaques on the fairway on the spots from where he hit his approaches. Then I've played the course a few times since (and when your tee shot finishes next to one of Tiger's plaques, the temptation to take out a 3 wood and try to emulate him is too great). The greens are as good as any I've ever putted on, the green complexes are well thought out and the little run off areas are great fun. It lacks a bit of challenge off the tee, not as much strategy needed as other championship courses.

Enjoying a round at the Grove is a bit of a guilty pleasure. You're not supposed to like the corporate feel, the whole nouveau footballers' wives atmosphere, the way you're treated like a customer, the pricey food and drink, the location off the M25 near Watford, the lack of history, pedigree or natural golfing turf. But when you're out there it's a fun course.

raycastleunited wrote:

Shotrock wrote:Really interesting course. Fun to watch.

Then I've played the course a few times since (and when your tee second shot finishes next to one of Tiger's plaques, the temptation to take out a 3 wood and try to emulate him is too great)..

Fixed a typo

raycastleunited wrote:

Shotrock wrote:Really interesting course. Fun to watch.

I never know what to make of the Grove.

I remember watching the WGC on TV (in 2006?) when it first opened, Tiger did a lot for their marketing by eagling 18 three days in a row, and they capitalised on it by putting 3 little plaques on the fairway on the spots from where he hit his approaches. Then I've played the course a few times since (and when your tee shot finishes next to one of Tiger's plaques, the temptation to take out a 3 wood and try to emulate him is too great). The greens are as good as any I've ever putted on, the green complexes are well thought out and the little run off areas are great fun. It lacks a bit of challenge off the tee, not as much strategy needed as other championship courses.

Enjoying a round at the Grove is a bit of a guilty pleasure. You're not supposed to like the corporate feel, the whole nouveau footballers' wives atmosphere, the way you're treated like a customer, the pricey food and drink, the location off the M25 near Watford, the lack of history, pedigree or natural golfing turf. But when you're out there it's a fun course.

It does pretty much conform to Kyle Phillips design principles of plenty of room off the tee but more exacting when it comes to approaching the greens (Kingsbarns, Castle Stuart and Dundonald are similar in that aspect, indeed Castle Stuart is often criticised for being too generous off the tee).

I played back on black a couple of times 2-3 years back and loved it but yes i'm less a fan of the nouveau riche, footballers wives atmosphere and prices in the bar/restaurants.

No no Pedro. I've got big muscles, and can brag about my prodigious length, both in my golf bag and my trousers.

And also the fact that Tiger was teeing off a good 40-50 yards back from where I was.

That's the thing JAS, everyone looks down at the Grove for it's lack of tradition and being nouveau riche, but you can't help but enjoy it. I've stayed in the hotel too, and eaten there, and it's top notch.

Not played Castle Stuart or Kingsbarns, but Dundonald is a brilliant design. One of my favourite courses.

It's a bit like that crazy golf course outside alton towers then?

kwinigolfer wrote:
Confirmation that Westwood is going oop north next year, to Close House, which I hadn't realised was a Harry Colt original.

Those marketing guys are clever aren't they? The Colt course at Close House was opened by Lee Westwood in 2011, and is so named because it was "inspired" by Harry Colt.

Shocked to see Eddie Pepperell's cataclismic finish, worst round of the day so far following a 64 and almost guaranteed now to lose his card.
Thought he might turn in to something special, hopefully he still will.

Yes Paddy! Keep it going

Cummon the Padraig!! LEGEND!!

Great win for Paddy... he looked so tight on the last putt I thought his head was gonna explode... but he got it in there.. GOOD ON HIM.

robopz wrote:Great win for Paddy... he looked so tight on the last putt I thought his head was gonna explode... but he got it in there.. GOOD ON HIM.

It did look a bit nervie Robo, but dribbled in in the end! My nerves are certainty shot! He's always a good bet to get up and down tho... genius.

Get in there Padraig, legend!!! His short game was incredible today!

Fantastic win for St.Padraig.
I wonder to what extent this win may shape his schedule now as his career starts to wind down? But wins now in 2015 & 2016, more to come hopefully.

What is the cut off for keeping the card? 111 was mentioned but I see there's a few players who haven't played 12 events (Aiken, Reed ......)

Ken Brown mentioned that #112 (Storm) might still have a chance but didn't explain why. Don't know about Aiken & Ree (and Molinari only played 6), and haven't heard how they're treating Rose's absence, can't see him in the R2D standings at all.

Well I don't see the need for him to trim his schedule down, he's already playing a bare minimum on the European Tour the last two years

Paddy said he's strongly considering playing the 3 RTD tourneys. His main priority is to try to qualify for Augusta.

Rory giving the Turkey trot a miss next week.
Security concerns? Certainly haven't heard of any injuries.

No Turkish Delight either for Reed and Stenson.
Others from the top of the R2D rankings staying away include Grace & King Louis, Rafa, Noren and Chris Wood.

A cold turkey for the organisers - but just as much for the ET, seriously devaluating the RTD Final Series. It just shows the unsustainability of putting all your eggs in a glass basket. (Did I just invent a new saying there?) 

No offence, but the Middle East, China or Africa doesn't sound like places you'd want to build long term relationships on. In this context the ET resembles a prostitute: you don't really want to, but you have to. 

Ironic that Keith Pelley looks like a pimp.

Can't blame them, These places are easy targets and golf tournaments are very easy places to get into and close to some high profile targets.

I've been to a few Islamic countries, I didn't particularly like them at the time, I'd be even less likely to visit them now.

super_realist wrote:
I've been to a few Islamic countries, I didn't particularly like them at the time, I'd be even less likely to visit them now.

In a few years time you'll be living in one...

Can't see that happening.

pedro wrote:

super_realist wrote:
I've been to a few Islamic countries, I didn't particularly like them at the time, I'd be even less likely to visit them now.

In a few years time you'll be living in one...

Pedro campaigning for the BNP?

Maybe I'm just more super realist than super_realist..

Or maybe you've been listening to Enoch Powell too much.

Or believe everything the "I am a twonk of the highest order" murdoch peddles...

Why so defensive, guys?

Just don't like to see gullible people duped by massive over reactions to non events. It's sad to see.

Having stayed at the venue for the Turkish Open and played the Carya course several times, it will be interesting to see how it looks on TV and how the pros play it.
The hotel complex is absolutely stunning, possibly the best place I've ever stayed.

Upside of the disappointing field this week is the excellent turn-out for the Nedbank, led by Stenson, Willett, Noren, Hatton, An, Rafa, Wood, Kaymer, Sulli, Pieters, Jaidee, Kjeldsen, plus Grace, Louis, Charl etc.
Pity Rory's not there, Shane too.

And another publicity stunt by the EuroTour

The 16th tee is atop a roof of a nearby villa

Rooftop 16th Tee:

I wonder if the front and left swimming pools are oob or red hazards? They'd definetely be in play for me...

GPB wrote:And another publicity stunt by the EuroTour... The 16th tee is atop a roof of a nearby villa

in a totally unrelated development... The Euro Tour announces a new Tournament to be added for next years Finals Series to be played at Top-Golf... :-)

I went to Houston Top Golf the other week Robo. Good fun. Lowry would love it as you can drink and eat as you play.

Man, anyone sense an obsession with Lowry besides me?

Do people who keep snarking about the same old thing over and over and over again ever tire of it.

I see it on other blogs, and I relate it to a child that keeps tugging on their Mother's apron hoping to get some attention. Mommy Mommy Mommy Mommy.

Jeez, people, get some new material. Move on!

If someone raises why Lowry doesn't seem to fulfill his potential. It's obviously the first thing that comes up as the most likely answer.

Until you just did, when was the last time someone mentioned Lowry's potential in this thread?

Plenty of Fit and Trim golfers not playing up to their potential.

It's about longevity and the detrimental effect being 40 lbs overweight will have over a period of time.

I keep saying this, but see how more tired you'd be with 40lbs strapped around your waste.

malapropism presumably intended . . . . . . .

kwinigolfer wrote:malapropism presumably intended . . . . . . .

That was rather a Mac homonym wasn't it?

Super Realist wrote:"...If someone raises why Lowry doesn't seem to fulfill his potential.."

Super Realist wrote:"...It's about longevity and the detrimental effect being 40 lbs overweight will have over a period of time. ..."

Let me guess....your favorite dance is the Hokey-Pokey.

"You put your left foot in
You take your left foot out
You put your left foot in
and shake it all about"

Phil Mickelson has been over-weight for his entire career, as has Ernie Els.

And PM has been a fixture in the Top 30 for 20 plus years....no one else is even close.

If Lowry fades and fizzles, IMO, it won't be because he is not fit and trim, it was because he was never that good to begin with or motivated.

Yes, Mickelson and Els have been overweight, but are far more talented than Lowry. Neither though is anything like as fat as Lowry.  

You can't think of many other fatties in the last 20 years who have stayed like that though can you? They are becoming rarer and rarer.

Just look at the OWGR and Major winners in last 5 years. Not many fatties doing the business there.

You keep ignoring the effect weight has on how tired a player becomes. Lowry has already bemoaned the heat in the Middle East as a reason he doesn't play well there. Weighing less would enable him to cope better with the heat. He might have closed out the US Open if he hadn't been carrying around a surplus 40lb for 5 hours a day for the 4 days of the competition. It can't ever be good to weigh that much and expect to be a top competitor unless you have talent above everyone else, which Lowry certainly doesn't have.

Lowry is effectively playing with the weight of his tour bag on him when he doesn't have to. That can't possibly be good for your game/physical/mental tiredness.

By the way, when I say Lowry, that's shorthand for "all fat players"