European Tour - Abu Dhabi HSBC Tour Championship

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Although most of the discussions and headlines coming from Abu Dhabi so far have been about events that have very little to do with the European Tour's new season, such as the Ryder Cup captaincy and Rory's new golfing gear, there is still a pretty decent golf turnament taking place this week over there. And talking of headlines, even though there seem to be only one topic of conversation when it comes to this year's golf tournament proper,i.e. the much hyped Rory vs Tiger mega-duel, there was something else that caught my eye this early morning, and that was Dufner's comments that he is considering taking European Tour membership this year..."I think it makes you a little bit of a better player to come over here and experience golf in different places against different golfers". Good on you Jason, I like this guy more and more every day...

As for the Rory -Tiger duel, no idea who's gonna win it (probably Nike), or if the winner will even be one of them, all I hope for is that these two 3-million dollar men will put on a good display of their A-golf game and live up to all that hype (to be fair, both of them played pretty well last year here). Other than this, the Abu Dhabi tournament 7-year history has been dominated by two players: Casey who won it twice and is/was usually doing very well in the desert, and especially by Martin Kaymer who's record here is quite incredible, with three wins and a runner up finish in the space of four years between 2008-2011. And as we know, both of them have been more or less completely out of form the last year or so, but have been showing some signs of a turnaround towards the end of last year. Another player who fits the same sort of patterns (did well here in the past, out of form for quite a while and showing signs of recovery lately) is Stenson, and judging by the look of the early leaderboard, he's looking pretty determined right now to add a win to the two runner up spots he earned here in the past. Unfortunately, no real signs of a turnaround in form yet from last year's popular winner, Robert Rock, after famously beating Tiger on the final stretch (probably the day when Woods came up with his favorite 'joke': 'Is that your real hair?").

Other things that I'd like to keep an eye on this week would be the Oosthuizen vs Rose duel for #4 in the world (even though the south african is not playing in Abu Dhabi), two of the best players who could potentially upset the top three OWGR status-quo this year, plus hopefully a confirmation that Harrington's putting and his oveall game in general are on the up. Also, I hope for a good week and a good result for Jason Dufner (not just because he's been saying the right things). But apart from all this, I wouldn't be surprised and wouldn't mind to see a new and not so expected winner emerging this week, just like RRock was last year. And as the first 'big league' event of the year, I'm hoping for a great tournament overall to set us up nicely for an even greater 2013 season...

super_realist wrote:Delighted to see Soren Kjeldsen on form too.

Whats so great about Kjeldsen?

he loves scandinavians

woods is fighting well here. Will probally scrape in the cut line. Rors i doubt will find the majic he needs to make it

Angry coartzee playing really nice.. 6 under.

Rose still on top at 8 under

mystiroakey wrote:he loves scandinavians

Olesen the one to love this week I'd say.

He has allready salivated over him Pedro

2 stroke penalty for Woods, just when it looked like he'd done enough to make the cut. How unfortunate for him.

NedB-H wrote:2 stroke penalty for Woods, just when it looked like he'd done enough to make the cut. How unfortunate for him.

Early bath for the unsightly Shane Lowry too, a tepid 24C is simply too hot for him.

Does that mean Donald back to number 2?

Donald isnt playing so i doubt it- it depends on the decays

McIlroy can't blame the clubs, Olesen is doing just fine, and he's also a new addition to the Gola of Golf with Nike.

I hate nike prodcuts.. Havent ever got to grips with any off it. However the stuff the pros will be using will be highly speced to them and shouldnt in theory be much different to the titliest blades

Probably the least cool and innovative company in golf right now. All the major players are making nice gear but Nike seem to be stuck in 2004.

I'm not sure where they get all their money from as sport wide they also seem to be losing market share.

Adidas, Under Armour, Galvin Green etc have a stolen a massive march on them and left them for dead. Be nice to see them leave golf completely.

NedB-H wrote:2 stroke penalty for Woods, just when it looked like he'd done enough to make the cut. How unfortunate for him.

I vonnder why Woods is so unfocused?

I had (still have in the garage) and loved the original pro combo irons and the ignite driver was a good bat too. Clothing is mostly ugly though.

Not been as keen on the recent equipment though although the vr pro combo forged irons are still pretty good looking and (as with most manufacturers) the pure blades are good looking.

IMO - the clubs mostly look better than the majority of Taylormade ones though and I have an unjustifiable dislike to Callaway. Thing is there's better stuff out there but few people end up buying due to the marketing of TM/Nike/Callaway.

Thing is Roller, Nike gear probably performs perfectly well, but I've never seen or heard of it behaving as impressively as say the Rocketballz range for instance.

They are simply an uninspiring company these days.

Round my club most players have Titleist/Ping/TM products and any Nike around are very old (SQ era).
No panache, no glitz, just dreary, bit like old Nine Chins himself.

Just had a look at Lindsey Vonn, way out of his league. Amazing what a bit of money and fame gets you isn't it?

Fast forward to a tournament in the states (save for a major) ... Rory and Tiger both missing the cut would devastate most gates and weekend ratings. You can be sure a number of PGA folk have growing stomach acid watching these two golfers playing so poorly at the moment.

Think Rors fancied a hop to Melbourne and Tiger fancied a hop in Salzburg . . . . .
Shouldn't worry too much.

kwinigolfer wrote:Think Rors fancied a hop to Melbourne and Tiger fancied a hop in Salzburg . . . . .
Shouldn't worry too much.

Hmm. Maybe not but what great value for their appearance fees eh?

navyblueshorts wrote:

kwinigolfer wrote:Think Rors fancied a hop to Melbourne and Tiger fancied a hop in Salzburg . . . . .
Shouldn't worry too much.

Hmm. Maybe not but what great value for their appearance fees eh?

Embarrassing, to say the least. With all the hoo-haa surrounding them, incl. their Swoosh thing going on, I wonder if they'll just end up like golf's two amigo's - kinda like to the two old guys in the Muppet Show balcony.

mystiroakey wrote:I hate nike prodcuts.. Havent ever got to grips with any off it. However the stuff the pros will be using will be highly speced to them and shouldnt in theory be much different to the titliest blades

Based on own experience Faldo just spoke out about Rory's change of equipment on the Golf Channel, stating that the timing is bad, it was unneccessary and that he's risking messing up his game. Acc. to Faldo it DOES make a difference and it will take time to adapt. Well, time will tell...

The thing about switching clubs is that you could just as easily play better with a new set as you could play poorly.
I actually think that McIlroy and the bald one played this tournament out of contractual obligation or an obscene appearance fee with an air of malaise rather than trying their hardest and just playing badly.
The switch of clubs to Nike doesnt seem to have affected Olesen, i'll wager baldy nine chins also got a significant increase when McIlroy came on board as theres no way he would play second fiddle and so we might see a pattern emerging where only the really big tournament is when we see these two put in maximum effort, the fact baldy has appeared in virtually all of the news about McIlroy switching shows he seems uncomfortable with McIlroy getting the limelight, kind of like the embarassing way that Blake couldn't leave bolt to it in the Olympics, he had to be around him getting reflected glory.
Certainly in nine chins case. He doesn't seem to enjoy playing golf, just forlornley chasing jacks record and in the unlikely event he ever surpasses it he might just give the game up.

I just had a strange dream that Micheal Campbell was leading a big golf event.Back to sleep

Nike will try and sign him up.

Rose birdirded two on the spin.. -9

leading olsen by 1

we have had two 65's and two 66's today.. Course seems to be scoring alot better today

HOw much did you put on Rose Oakey?

Hope he's not on PED's

15 each way.. on casey and rose.. so total 60..

If rose comes top 5 i have my money back.. anything more i am in profit

rose is flying!!

3 ahead..

navyblueshorts wrote:

kwinigolfer wrote:Think Rors fancied a hop to Melbourne and Tiger fancied a hop in Salzburg . . . . .
Shouldn't worry too much.

Hmm. Maybe not but what great value for their appearance fees eh?

Is that all you boys've got?!?

The mad conpiracy theorist might suppose they have something against HSBC, given how they also both snubbed the WGC in China.

very very mad i think

Good showing from both Ramsay & Olesen, at 52 & 53 in the rankings I take it they'll both make top 50 if they stay where they are or better.

Looks like it's Rose's to lose which I imagine will move him back above Louis

Also wondered what a win would do for Howell, currently languishing at 258 in the Rankings.

Rose is clearly the class of this field.... now that them so called superstars have gone..

no one there or there abouts with his experience and quality.. But this course is getting easier so someone may be able to go seriously low tommorow and post a decent target.. But no one paired with rose will bother him

I guess you could say Rose is blooming in the desert heh heh

howell is flying!

jeas- never thought i would see him up the top again. I now its not the strongest ever fields.. but all the same better than the standard euro tour one

olsen has flaked out... he is all over the shop..

Duffner has flown threw the pack showing his class and not to far away..(5 under through 8)

Jadee impressing


howell still going well.. Showing that them sky practise digital nets arent to far from the truth!


rose steady start- -1 through 2 and hit the green in reg at 3.. still the main man of this event, Donaldson his main challenger

and olsen fires back to roses drop shot...

both 12 under- interesting

howell hits a good bunker shot to 4 foot..

he misses long- he misses again(from 2 foot) and then guess what- misses again!!

4 putt from 4 foot..

Gotta feel for him

Didn't see any of that:
Was it a Donaldson win?
Or a Rose loss??

Very unusual these days for Justin Rose to lost a final round lead, reverting to the petal who so often stubbed his final round toe in his first few years on the PGA Tour.

Opportunities for big owgr points moves by Ramsay and Jaidee squandered.

ermm.. very similar to last year where all the leaders blew up..

I remeber rock winning with a 6 or 7 down the last- donaldsonson had a 6 down the last.. However played the other holes well before.

Rose dropped away towards the end and lipped out to take it to play off. He played the last ok.. but the putt lipped out and he shouldnt have been in that position anyway..

Rose will be very angry i reakon. Donaldson was let of the hook..

But at the same time- great win for him and he did look steadier than rocks win last year

I wasnt happy as i bacxked nim. But i got him at each way at least.,

Apart from 18, Donaldson holed everything on the back 9.
Olesen must have had 15-20 missed birdie putts inside 15 ft. - in the weekend alone.

Cheers mysti,
Good result for Olesen - another top result like this should secure him a spot in the US Open, the only Major he's in danger of missing.

Well done Jamie. Come on the Silkmen - now for Wigan!!!

rock made 6 on 18 last year after caddy basically stopped him trying to escape from the edge of the hazard by standing in his way.Recent interview with the guardian suggest he had some personal(family?)stuff going on this year.
Oleson looks the business with a year or two more experience could hit the big time

The first "real" tournament of 2013 imo. And quite exciting as well, despite coco and woods missing the cut. Looking forward to next week in Qatar. Decent field there as well.

Vell done Herr Kaymer! The Fatherland is proud of your genius in removing 9 chins from the tournament.

In appreciation for your heroic success the Fatherland has renamed your title as 'The Desert Fox'!

stefano1660 wrote:Vell done Herr Kaymer! The Fatherland is proud of your genius in removing 9 chins from the tournament.

Did you get banned Super? He must be pleased that 9 chins is catching on

yeah wondering who steffan is using that line...

stefano1660 wrote:Vell done Herr Kaymer! The Fatherland is proud of your genius in removing 9 chins from the tournament.

In appreciation for your heroic success the Fatherland has renamed your title as 'The Desert Fox'!

I wouldn't be too sure. Earlier this week we saw secret footage of agent 00-ninechins and his private jet not too far from the Eagles Nest. Vat dit hi du serr? Secret complot against Kaymer?

I think Lindsey Vonn is somehow p1ssed off at Eldrick.

kwinigolfer wrote:I think Lindsey Vonn is somehow p1ssed off at Eldrick.

Not sure how well that encounter in the snow went a week ago, but the follow up was pretty disastrous: Woods's quick exit from Abu Dhabi, while Vonn withdrew from a slalom in Flachau on Tuesday, citing... lack of training...