DUBAI // If the final hole on the Earth Course is supposed to offer the typical “risk or reward” choice, then judging by yesterday’s DP World Tour Championship it should come with a government health warning.
It certainly caused more than a few headaches among the European Tour’s elite.
When professional golfers dissect a round they usually will repeat the line about how they needed to take advantage of the par-5s. The long holes provide condensed prizes. Birdies, or even eagles, are par for the course.
However, 18 proved an exception to the rule during the first round at Jumeirah Golf Estates, and a rather sizeable one at that. Measuring 635 yards from the tee to the flag at the back of green, the monster hole punished 16 of those who attacked it. Of those, 15 bogeyed, with Craig Lee the only to fare even worse. His pain would have paled next to that of Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Marcus Fraser, though, as both players tied for the lead alongside Alejandro Canizares as they approached 18. They each departed in second place.
Averaging over par, at 5.13, it was the hardest the hole had played for an opening round in four years.
Martin Kaymer, one of the vanquished many, tried to explain 18’s aggressive turn.
“From the front tee it’s a good hole, from the back tee it’s not so good,” he said. “If you hit a solid drive from the long one you should have the chance to get home in two, but now that you have to lay up it’s not that exciting. I hope they put the tee forward in the next few days.”
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Germany’s Martin Kaymer, a three-time winner of the European Tour event in Abu Dhabi, was back to his desert tricks yesterday with an opening 70, despite two closing bogeys. Over his career in the UAE, he has cleared US$1.9 million (Dh 6.98m), including his bonus for winning the Race to Dubai in 2010.
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Rafael Cabrera-Bello is attempting to become the third player to win both of the European Tour events in Dubai. The Spaniard opened with a 68 yesterday and stands in joint fourth. “I feel very comfortable playing in short sleeves and warm weather,” he said.
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The 2011 Race to Dubai winner Luke Donald jumped on to the leaderboard yesterday before finishing with a 73, a too-familiar result. Donald, who is making some swing changes, said: “I’m beyond frustrated. I get to a couple under par, make a mistake and lose momentum. I can’t seem to get away from it.”.
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Jamie Donaldson, the winner in January in Abu Dhabi, opened with a 68 in after finishing second last week in Turkey. He’s fifth in Race to Dubai points and has a decent shot at the bonus if he wins. “I’d like to think so,” he said. “I’m here, I’m playing pretty good. Just keep doing what I’ve been doing.”
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