Ryder Cup star Rafa Cabrera-Bello takes time out to coach school children in Dubai

Cabrera-Bello has enjoyed another fine season but the 2012 Omega Dubai Desert Classic winner, who hasn’t missed a cut in competitive golf for more than a year, is known as one of the most down to earth and good-natured players on the European Tour and he proved it by passing on some of his knowledge to the eager schoolchildren during some down time in the emirate he calls his ‘second home.’

“Just watching the kids smile really makes my day! I’m very happy to be given the opportunity to be here and watch the kids play the game for the very first time and to see how excited they are and how they interact with their classmates,” said the Spaniard.

He spent over an hour teaching pupils the basics of the game as part of an initiative by the Emirates Golf Federation which will see over 6,000 schoolchildren given an introduction to golf.

“I think this initiative is a great idea in getting golf into the PE classes,” Cabrera-Bello added. “This misconception that golf is for old men and non-athletic people is blown out of the way with an initiative like this. If the schools have the space and capacity to implement this initiative, then I think they should go for it. It will do lots of good for the sport and in this region.”

Europe may have lost the Ryder Cup to the USA for the first time in eight years but Cabrera-Bello, who also represented Spain in the Olympic Games in Rio this summer, emerged as one of the shining lights of Darren Clarke’s European team.

“It was probably the best week in my career! I would trade my two wins on the European Tour for a win in The Ryder Cup,” he said. “The team went to the tournament as friends before but our bond got even stronger after the tournament.

“We fought as hard as we could and we gave it all for the captain, for the team and for Europe. Obviously we were disappointed that we didn’t win but personally I was pleased with my performance and contribution to the team. As a Ryder Cup rookie I can say that the experience itself is greater than winning or losing.

“The Olympics was also great – to be able to represent my country was something special. All of the people back home in Spain were watching me play, whether they followed golf or not. It was a huge honour and also a big responsibility which I took very seriously and with great pride.”