The legendary Gary Player was in the media centre on Saturday as part of European Tour’s announcement that he will be the host of NedBank Challenge tournament in Sun City, which becomes part of the European Tour’s Final Series starting this year.
Players spoke on a variety of subjects, including why he wants Tiger Woods to make a comeback and why he wants the game’s governing bodies to rein in the golf ball, as well as his thoughts on the current world No1 Jordan Spieth.
“It’s fascinating to watch the new so‑called big three, Rory (McIlroy), Jordan and Jason Day,” said Player.
“Rory and Jason, they have the best swings. But the best putter is Spieth. And it’s going to be fascinating to see who does the best in the end. This man is such a putter. He might be as good a putter as I’ve seen. Although Tiger takes a lot of beating. But this man, day‑in and day‑out, is such a great putter.”
When asked if Spieth should curtail his travel to avoid burnout, Player exclaimed: “You say burnout? I think burnout is in the mind. I think tiredness is in the mind. I don’t know how you can get tired playing for $1 million every week!”
Clinics wow fans
One of the highlights of Dubai Desert Classic each year is the ‘Star Clinic’ where fans get to see some of the leading lights of the game showcase their shot-making skills.
This year, organisers ‘Golf in Dubai’ gave a slight twist to the clinic – the first one featured two US Amateur champions (Bryson DeChambeau and Matt Fitzpatrick), along with renowned coach Pete Cowen, while the second one had European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke hosting some of the legends and hopefuls of the biennial tournament (Miguel Angel Jimenez, Graeme McDowell and Andy Sullivan).
The Ryder Cup clinic, held on Friday evening, was dubbed by the organisers as their ‘most successful clinic ever’, with nearly thousand odd fans enjoying the show. Jimenez started the proceeding by showing off his warm-up routine, while Captain Clarke and Sullivan kept them laughing with their funny interaction.
Making hay…
Joachim B Hansen sure knows how to make the most of what is handed to him.
The Swede got into the tournament on Thursday morning as the first alternate in the field after Thomas Bjorn withdrew with a neck injury.
And Hansen looked like heading home early when he was two-over par for the tournament with three holes to play on Friday. Because he started on the 10th tee, he faced the difficult seventh, eighth and ninth of Majlis.
As it turned out, Hansen birdied each one of them, and then was quick off the blocks on Saturday with three straight birdies.
But the real surge came on the back nine, where he eagled the 10th, and then made four birdies in the next four holes to finish the day on eight-under par 64, which elevated him 44 places to tied 21st at the end of the day.