– Tommy Fleetwood is set to compete in his fifteenth Dubai Desert Classic. It sounds easy. He hasn’t missed an edition since 2012. He has never won it, and at the same time, he has never missed the cut. The situation borders on the paranormal. Even more so considering his best result is a sixth place, and only once more did he finish in the top 10. Adding to the X-Files is that the Emirates Golf Club is his course. He lives in Dubai and plays it often. The last time, in fact, was on New Year’s Eve, with Oscar and Mo, his two stepsons. “I was winning until on the 14th hole I overclosed the tee shot and lost the ball to the left. That’s where my chances ended…”, he said today.
Winning this week is high on Fleetwood‘s wish list/goals. It is undoubtedly the tournament he is most eager for after the Majors. He won twice in Abu Dhabi, conquered last year’s Dubai Invitational, but the Emirates, for now, eludes him. The Englishman has a theory about it. “I need to play the doglegs on the back nine better and I’ve never managed to putt at my best level.” Doglegs like the one on the 14th, yes, the New Year’s Eve one, the 13th, or the 18th, to name just the most pronounced. Basically, he refers to not having been able to make the most of the last two par 5s at the Emirates (13 and 18). This week he arrives as one of the top three favourites.
– By the way, Fleetwood admitted today that José María Olazábal is one of the people he admires most. “He always gave me good advice. I remember once in my early years playing in Italy, he told me a couple of details to improve, and the next time we met, he congratulated me because he said I was doing much better. He is one of my great inspirations as a player and person. One of my best memories of the Ryder in Italy was his hug on the 17th hole.”
– Jon Rahm played the back nine of the Majlis course for the first time in his life today. Gold and lead on holes 13 and 17. On the first, a par 5 that turns left, he hit a great tee shot, leaving it just behind one of the palm trees on the right side of the fairway and hit an atomic 5-iron. He left it a metre from the flag for eagle. Given. In contrast, on the 17th, a short par 4 where you can go for the green, he hit a drive he wasn’t entirely happy with, somewhat heeled as he admitted, and lost the ball in the short rough on the right.
– Precisely, on that 17th tee, there was a Marx Brothers-style cabin moment, Armada version. The practice rounds were exasperatingly slow, and the groups of Iván Cantero, Ángel Hidalgo, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Padraig Harrington, and Jon Rahm, Alfredo García Heredia, and the 20-year-old Moroccan amateur Adam Bresnu (with Tyrrell Hatton, who had left them a bit earlier) coincided on the tee. Seeing the bottleneck, those in front, Spaniards plus Harrington, who said goodbye precisely on that hole, told Rahm, Alfredo, and Bresnu to go ahead while they went to the green to wait less. “Where should I aim here, let’s see?” Jon said with humour. Jordi García del Moral, Hidalgo and Cantero’s coach, gave him the coordinates. “By the sign, over the sign.” In case anyone had any doubts, that was the reference Adam Hayes already had noted. For Jon’s caddie, it’s also the first time at the Emirates, but he rarely misses a thing.
– It’s truly impressive to see Harrington‘s drives live and up close. He doesn’t leave a gram of force in each attempt. He gives it his all (as you can see in the image accompanying this article, drive on the 13th hole). It’s unclear whether the Irishman’s violence in each swing at the ball or Ángel Hidalgo is more frightening. They were neck and neck…
– Hidalgo is progressing well from his untimely tonsillitis, but he’s still far from 100 per cent. And he probably won’t be by Thursday. However, he’ll try to compensate with his fierce fighting spirit. Today, on the 17th tee, he was just one down against Iván Cantero, who, by the way, is hitting the ball spectacularly. How the Malagueño holds on.
– Rafa Cabrera Bello remains the first reserve for the tournament. There are a few hours left for someone to withdraw and for him to get into the tournament. He’s satisfied with his golf, although he admits he’s still missing a little bit to get everything right. This week he’s accompanied by a friend carrying his bag, but from Ras al Khaimah onwards, he’ll work with Manolo Barrinuevo. “One of the goals is to have more fun on the golf course. I know that for that, the most important thing, beyond the result, is to play well, control, know that you can shoot seven under even if it doesn’t come out. Still, I think Manolo can help me.” Moreover, the Malagueño is a guarantee for that, we can add.
– Tom Vaillant has bulked up. The small and brave French golfer has given it his all in the gym this winter and has gained nine kilos of muscle. French golf wants to keep making noise in 2025.
– Harrington and Jordi García del Moral have been talking throughout the 16th hole. It was a vibrant exchange. You could see both enjoying the conversation. Lots of golf and lots of technique. Both are crazy about the matter. The Spaniard didn’t want to reveal the content of the conversation, but it was more or less like a master class.
– Speaking of master classes, what two little chips from Adam Scott on the 12th hole from off the green, short bare area on the right. Two balls. One high and one low. Both within a foot. Pure class.
