Lucas Herbert stressed he has not arrived back home in Australia to celebrate his recent win in Dubai after playing in Saudi last week, as he prepares for the ISPS Handa Vic Open.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES

LUCAS Herbert is eyeing more silverware at the ISPS Handa Vic Open this week, just a fortnight after winning his first European Tour title at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Herbert is from the city of Bendigo, approximately 125 miles from 13th Beach Golf Links – the host venue of the Vic Open since 2013.

The 24-year-old is looking forward to enjoying support from family and friends this week.

But Herbert insists that the champagne is on ice after his play-off victory against Christiaan Bezuidenhout at Emirates GC two weeks ago.

Herbert, who had been tipped by some pundits to be the next Australian winner in 2019, said: “I don’t turn up to any tournament just to enjoy it. You want to win every event you tee it up in.

“I’m definitely not here this week for a bit of a party with my friends.

“I’ve got next week off and then I’m playing two in a row and then I’ve got a pretty nice stretch off.

“I know in the back of my mind I’ve got some celebrating to do coming up, but right now it’s business time – and we’re going to go and do the things I need to do to play well.

“My game’s good. I played well this morning, so it’s just a case of trying to shake off a bit of jet lag from the travel in Saudi Arabia last week.

“The course is good. I’ve been here enough times to sort of know what’s going on, where they like to put all the pins and how it kind of plays.

“You get pretty much any wind direction out there, so having like a lot of experience is going to be really helpful if the weather behaves, or not, over the weekend.”

Herbert will be joined in the first two rounds by 2018 Dubai Desert Classic champion Haotong Li and three-time European Tour winner Marcus Fraser.

“I think game’s getting there, there are just little bits and pieces I need to put it together, I need to be sharper, said Haotong Li.

“Especially on this course. There’s a lot of fade shots so you have to hit keep your ball lower and hit more fairways. If you do that you’re going to have birdie chances.

“This is my first time playing in a tournament like this, but I think it’s a great idea and to grow the game and let more people realise golf can be a little bit different.

“It’s going to be an interesting week, but I’m enjoying it so far,” added the 24-year-old China pro who is looking for his third European Tour win, and his first Down Under.

Li, who broke through from the Asian Tour after winning the 2016 Volvo China Open, made his third appearance as a professional on Australian soil in 2011, and is making his Vic Open debut this week.

The ISPS Handa Vic Open sees men’s and women’s tournaments played concurrently on the same golf courses for equal prize money.

The first two rounds are played on the Beach and Creek Courses at Barwon Heads, with all the weekend’s action moving to the Beach Course.

All four days will be played played with men’s and women’s alternating groups.

The 36-hole cut sees both tournaments reduced to the top 60 and ties, with the top 35 and ties making a second cut which takes place after the third round.

The men’s event is co-sanctioned by the European Tour and ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia, while the women’s event is co-sanctioned by the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and Australia Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG).

•Play gets under way at 7.10pm UK time on Wednesday, February 5. To follow live scoring in round one click here.

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Lucas Herbert won a play-off against South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout to secure his first European Tour event at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

LUCAS Herbert won his maiden European Tour title with a play-off victory over Christiaan Bezuidenhout on a dramatic final day at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

The duo entered the final day six shots off the lead but with strong winds and showers at Emirates Golf Club, the leaderboard was blown wide open.

Lucas Herbert, who survived a trip to the water 18 before winning at the second extra hole, said: “The last ten minutes feel like I’ve been dreaming.

“It’s so weird. It’s awesome. It’s just the best thing ever. It is so good. We’ve got a bottle of Scotch at home to celebrate, so I can’t wait to get into that with the boys.

“Last week, I was probably like 20th going into the weekend, and probably like for the 10th time in the last 12 months seemed to just back it out and finish at the back of the field.

“We got really frustrated, so put in some really good tactics this week with my mental coach, Jamie Glazier, trying to be positive and a lot of positive stuff.

“It’s so cliché but it works so much. I felt so confident out there and just felt like good golf was going to come.

“I spoke to him just before the play-off, and we talked about the fact that I hit some really poor shots out there today.

“Obviously the second shot on the first play-off hole, probably not one of my best, but you know, you go back and watch any sort of winners, final nine holes, final round, play-off holes, it’s never a perfect scenario.

“Everyone always hits bad shots, and everyone will probably forget about that now that I’ve just gotten that up-and-down and won a tournament.”

Plenty of people have admired Herbert’s talents, so a maiden win was always likely to be a question of when, not if.

So for it to happen after a tumultus few months for his native Australia, and on Australia day itself, proved to be bitter sweet for the 24-year-old from Victoria, who is now exempt on the European Tour until the end of the 2022 season.

Lucas Herbert said: “I know everyone back home is going to be still up, and obviously there’s some pretty awful stuff happening right now in Australia with the fires.”

And it meant yet another young Aussie has joined the winners’ circle after Cameron Smith claimed the Sony Open in Hawaii, on the PGA Tour, two weeks ago.

Herbert added: “Cam Smith sort of said it a couple weeks ago when he won, and I’d like to say the same thing.

“Everyone around the world is behind us and hopefully we can keep fighting harder than what I did on the first play-off hole.

“That’s nothing compared to the firefighters and volunteers putting out the fires. Sending all my love back home and hope everyone is well, and thanks for the support.”

Bezuidenhout and Herbert both fired brilliant rounds of 68 to get to nine-under par, with the South African finding water after laying up on the last.

The winner of last year’s Andalucia Masters – at Spain’s equally tough Valderrama – made a clutch putt for bogey, while Herbert birdied the 17th and 18th to get into the play-off, having taken on the water at the daunting last to make his birdie four.

This time it was the Australian who found the water with his second on the first play-off hole before saving par thanks to a stunning shot from the drop zone to take it back to the tee.

His second shot next time around could not have been more different, as he got within 20 feet and a two-putt birdie handed him the title, and second position in the Race to Dubai Rankings.

LUCAS HERBERT LEADS AUSTRALIAN PGA AFTER FIRST ROUND

Bezuidenhout has overcome his own battles – having been banned for taking a banned substance as an amateur prescribed to help him overcome a serious stammer and nervousness problem.

He was putting a positive face on the disappointment of his first play-off defeat.

“I was hitting something great putts. Made great saves coming in,” said Bezuidenhout.

“Made a great up-and-down on 14 and 15 to keep myself going. I just think we played in the tougher conditions.

“Those last five holes played quite brutal. Happy to finish off the way I did and make the save.

Reflecting on the trip to the water in regulation, he added: “I laid it up to my perfect yardage, 78 to the flag.

“The first shot just came out a little bit right – didn’t fly the yardage, just spun back.

“If it landed on the green, it was quite firm, and it landed just in the fringe and spun back into the water. With the spin, it was always going to be in the water.

“Me and my coach Grant have been doing work which I believe in.

“I believe we’re doing the right things and we’re working towards the right stuff, and nice to see all the hard work’s paying off, and paying off on the course, especially in big tournaments like this.”

Spaniard Adri Arnaus, South African Dean Burmerster and Hertfordshire’s Tom Lewis finished at seven-under – a shot clear of American Kurt Kitayama and China’s Wu Ashun.

•To see the final results click here.

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Second round leader Eddie Pepperell has been putting better after switching to the claw grip. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

OXFORDSHIRE’S EDDIE Pepperell was happy putting his faith in feeling his way around Emirates Golf Club.

The two-time Euorpean Tour winner carded a round of 67 to take a one-shot lead at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic after 36 holes.

Lighter winds made for better scoring in round two and the Frilford Heath member took advantage of the morning condiitions to move to eight-under.

Pepperell, who is looking for a second win in the Middle East after his maiden victory at the Commerical Bank Qatar Masters nearly two years ago, said: “I’ve played with swing feels for a few years.

“I have a couple of drills that have given me some quite strong ones and that’s where I’ve had a lot of success, to be honest.

“It might look very technical with me but believe it, or not, in my mind it doesn’t feel that way.

“At least certainly when I’m doing pretty good, because it’s all about feeling.

“I felt more calm today, I would say. Actually, I would tend to feel more calm as the week goes on at most tournaments,” added the 28-year-old, from Abingdon, who played junior golf at Drayton Park.

“I was happy with how I was feeling early and I got off to a nice start.

“For the most part it was very, very good until the cameras came along. I must have been concerned with how I was looking, because then I started struggling.

“When I looked at my putting in the past I’ve always felt that when I look at my set-up I’ve never looked that comfortable.

“Regardless of what your hands are doing on the grip, great putters tend to look quite comfortable.

“So that’s one thing I’ve never liked about my setup. It’s been very good the past two days and I’ve been surprised with how good it’s been.

“If I can keep doing that over the weekend, with what I’ve been doing with the swing, I think I’m going to make plenty of birdies which would be great.”

Pepperell who has vastly experienced caddy Micky Doran on the bag, has missed his last two cuts and has gone back to some old drills.

He switched to a claw putting grip as he looks to kickstart his 2020 Race to Dubai campaign after wathching Lee Westwood find some form on the greens on the way to his 25th career win in Abu Dhabi, last week.

The 2018 British Masters champion is a shot clear of defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, South African Dean Burmester and Sweden’s Robert Karlsson heading into the weekend.

DeChambeau would love to repeat his win of 12 months ago and then go on to win the Masters as Danny Willett did in 2016 and Sergio Garcia in 2017 after claiming the Dubai title.

“My wedge game has been immaculate, my putting has been – for the most part – a success, and iron play has kept me in the proper place,” said DeChambeau.

“Hit a couple of nice drives today and getting better with my driving. Just got to iron out a couple more things when the pressure gets to me, or certain situations occur.

DeChambeau spent time after the FedEx Tour Championship in August bulking up in the gym, piling on the pounds, in a bid to give him extra yards off the tee.

And DeChambeau revealed: “Well it has opened new boundaries that I never thought were possible.

“I don’t know necessarily how to control all of it yet.

But I’m getting to the place where I’m starting to learn with driver I need, under the gun – in certain conditions, a left-to-right wind, a right-to-left wind, what to do, and how to apply that power in a way that’s going to keep me in the fairway, and allow me to have more scoring opportunities.

“It’s a gigantic leap for me,” said DeChambeau, who has also addressed the criticism of some – including World No. 1 Brooks Koepka about his “slow play.”

“I would say it is about getting just more comfortable on the golf course, recognising the fact that I’m not perfect.

“I make mistakes and I made mistakes in the past but working on improving everything.

“That’s my whole goal for the game of golf is not only to make myself a better player – but to have people have a more enjoyable experience when I’m around.

“And that’s really what I’m trying to do, so I don’t bother anybody on the golf course, that’s the last thing I want to do.

“I made it a point to work on it and I’ve gotten a little bit better and I think it shows.”

Meanwhile Burmester revealed he has adopted a new mental attitude after being involved in a car accident ahead of the tournament.

His family were also involved in the collision on Wednesday, with all members thankfully escaping with only minor injuries.

Burmester said: “The accident was pretty hectic. We went to the aquarium and on our way back we took an Uber on the way back to the hotel.

“There was traffic on the other side of a blind rise and so we went into the back of a Porsche.

“There were four cars involved, but luckily we just got away with a couple of bumps and bruises and just thank God that we’re all okay.

“I think for the most part I putted really well and I’ve just been consistent trying to hit fairways, because the rough’s quite deep.

“So, for me to hit fairways is pretty good. I think the major difference is probably my mental attitude towards it.

“After the car accident you realise what’s important in life and I think I was taking golf a little too seriously.

“So I just kind of relaxed and looked at the family. We’re just enjoying our time, so that’s been the biggest difference.”

A sore ankle did not look to bother him as he carded a round of 68 putting himself in contention heading into the weekend.

Karlsson seeks first win in a decade

ROBERT Karlsson was the first Swede to be crowned European No. 1 after claiming the Order of Merit in 2008, the year before the introduction of the Race to Dubai.

The tall Scandinavian, who turned 50 in September, is putting his energy into his search for a first win since 2010 – when he claimed the Dubai World Championship in 2010, beating Ian Poulter in a play-off.

A victory just over nine years later would put him in the category of over 50s winners on the European Tour alongside Miguel Angel Jimenez – only three players have achieved that feat in the PGA Tour’s history.

Karlsson, who played in the 2006 and 2008 Ryder Cups, said: “Yesterday, on a very tough day, I kept the ball in play and when I missed I was a little bit lucky.

“I hit it in the fairway bunkers instead of the rough and I holed a lot of important putts.

“Today I actually hit more fairways and it was obviously much nicer weather. I played nicely.

“The tricky thing is we had a couple of years where they set it up a little bit nicer around the greens, with less rough.

“I think players want to have a bit tougher conditions and I’m very, very happy the way that they set it up.

“That’s been my personal response from the players. The problem on this golf course is there’s a lot of doglegs where you cut across, so it’s really hard to hit fairways on holes like one and six and 18.

“But everybody knows it and you play for it, so, but I like it.”

Frenchman Romain Langasque and China’s Wu Ashun are two shots off the lead at six-under, a shot clear of South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout, German Sebastian Heisele, American Kurt Kitayama and another Frenchman in Victor Perez.

Tommy Fleetwood fired the lowest score of the day with an impressive round of 65, edging his way back up the leaderboard to head the chasing pack at four-under, thanks to a strong putting display.

First-round leader Thomas Pieters could not repeat his birdie fest of 24 hours earlier, taking 10 shots more after an opening 67.

•To follow live scoring in the third round click here.

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Thomas Pieters racked up eight birdies at the Emirates Golf Club to lead the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on five-under in much tougher conditions. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

THOMAS Pieters fired eight birdies in an impressive round of 67 to open up a one-shot lead in the first round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Much thicker rough than normal and a testing wind made Emirates Golf Club a sterner challenge than in recent years.

But the Belgian made a strong start as he chases his fifth European Tour win off the back of a tied 30th result last week in Abu Dhabi.

The 27-year-old was quickly the man to catch after starting on the 10th, making birdies on his opener, the 11th, 13th, 15th and 18th.

A double bogey on the first knocked him back and when he followed it with a dropped shot on the next, he had gone from one in front to two behind.

But the Ryder Cup star birdied the fifth and sixth before hitting a beautiful tee shot into the seventh for his third two of the round to edge a shot ahead of the field.

Pieters, who won the 2016 Made in Denmark to seal his place in Darren Clarke’s European Ryder Cup team at Hazetline, said: “My drives and three woods weren’t very good.

“But somehow I found the greens and if I did hit a fairway, I took advantage of it.

“I played the par threes very well. So that means I’m hitting my irons pretty good as I did last week and I just rolled in a few putts, which was nice.

“I’ve been working on my putting real hard, and I just hope to see some progress.

“I saw that today. Hopefully we can keep it up. I know I’m hitting the ball quite nice, and I’m just looking forward to the next three days.

“There was nothing easy about today, but I found 14 greens, which is always nice in these kind of conditions.”

Thomas Pieters admitted it was hard to guage how much progress he had made over the winter break so early in the season.

“You don’t know what to expect, even though you’ve put the work in,” said Pieters.

“That competitive mind-set sometimes takes awhile to kick in. But today was, I think, one of my better rounds of the year.”

American David Lipsky led the way early in the day with five birdies and a single dropped shot to get to four-under.

Lipsky said: “ I hit a lot of fairways and greens, and out here with the way the rough is, and how firm the greens are, you’ve got hit fairways to attack pins.

“The greens are so firm that coming into the greens from the rough is really tough.

“I was fortunate. I was first off so the wind died down my first six, seven holes – took advantage of those.

“With how tight the fairways are, and how they are always at angles, finding the fairways is tough out here and that’s key.

“I just want to put myself in contention more often, with a little bit more consistency to my game.

“I worked really hard in the off-season with my swing coach and I’m seeing it play dividends right now.”

Lipsky sits one-shot clear of a large chasing pack that includes countryman Kurt Kitayama, Oxfordshire’s Eddie Pepperell,

Pepperell, whose second European Tour win came in the 2018 British Masters at Walton Heath, said: “I’m really happy with that.

“It was clear early on it was going to be very, very challenging,” added Eddie, whose breakthrough win came in Qatar two years ago.

“I played a good round of golf today and proud of that – if you know my record on Thursdays.

“It was, I imagine, fun to watch. The course has gone from being a five-under cut to, I suspect, being a couple-over cut,” added Pepperell, who signed a contract to switch to Ping clubs earlier this month.

The 28-year-old, from Abingdon, has also adopted a new putting grip this week.

“The claw grip was inspired a little by Lee Westwood. I must say, I’ve been struggling with the greens,” he said.

“I’ve never been a good putter on Tour, but for me, it’s about not being a terrible putter.

“I was watching the golf last Sunday and I couldn’t believe how comfortable Lee looked on the short putts, especially.

“I thought, I might as well give this a try. I was very good today inside six-eight feet. So I’m optimistic. Best I’ve putted for a while.”

Tied alongside the Frilford Heath member is Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, and Dane Søren Kjeldsen, who made his 600th European Tour appearance last week.

Defending champ DeChambeau: It’s tough

DEFENDING champion Bryson DeChambeau is at two-under after an opening round of 70 left him a shot ahead of Major Champions Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington and Louis Oosthuizen.

DeChambeau said: “It’s a very, very good test of golf and you have to make sure your wedge game is on, and your iron play is on.

“It’s playing at least four shots harder a day,” said the former US Amateur Champion, comparing the first round to last year when he won outside America for the first time.

DeChambeau, who won four times in the States in 2018, added: “Iron play was great out of the rough and the fairway, and my wedge game around the greens was impeccable.

“Stuff I’m doing there is awesome. I’m putting still really well. I feel like I’m rolling it on my line except one putt on six today.

“Other than that, it was pretty much smooth sailing and still working on the driver. That’s a work-in-progress, but it will be a work-in-progress until I get the right stuff in my hands.”

•To follow Thomas Pieters and the rest of the field in round two click here for live scoring.

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Lee Westwood has won back-to-back twice four times in his career and is confident of making it five at this week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Picture by GETTY IMAGES.

LEE Westwood prepares to tee it up at Omega Dubai Desert Classic – keen to continue his perfect start to the season off the back of his 25^th European Tour victory on Sunday.

Westwood has managed to win back-to-back four times so far in his a career and the Newcastle-based Ryder Cup ace now has four wins in his 40s.

Nottinghamshire’s “Worksop Wonder” produced a brilliant final round display to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship – his 44^th worldwide victory – bringing his winning run into a fourth decade, having secured his maiden title in 1996 at the Scandinavian Masters.

Westwood now has the same number of wins in his 40s as Bernhard Langer, who is still going strong on the PGA Champions Tour at 62, and Colin Montgomerie.

Lee said at the Emirate Golf Club on Tuesday: “I think the more you win, the more you get used to getting back to being on an even keel.

“A lot of people, if they are won early in their career, they struggle to bring themselves back again, but I’ve won a lot of tournaments and I’ve won weeks back-to-back.

“Obviously, over the years, I’ve had to really kind of evaluate everything, take it all in, process it, if you call it that – I hate that term – and then get ready for the following week.

“Yesterday I came up, hit a few balls, but being here in Dubai, letting people congratulate me, kind of being around, being present and getting that out of the way, lets me focus on this week’s tournament quicker.

“The goal is to work on the mental side of the game because I feel like that part of the game, if anything, has been lacking and that’s going to enable me to play my best more often.

“It is basically just go out, try my best, have fun, and just control what I control.

“I know if I get it in the right positions on the golf plane, I hit the ball straight, and you know what, shock – if I hit the ball straight and start holing a few putts, I’m talented enough to win tournaments.

“And if win tournaments, I move up with the world rankings and move up the money list and start qualifying for World Golf Championships and Majors – and possibly at the end of the year, the Ryder Cup team, who knows?”

Now the former World No. 1 returns to the Emirates Golf Club for the 25^th occasion – having finished runner-up twice in 1999 and 2010.

He arrives with a fresh mental approach to the game and as the new Race to Dubai No. 1 – a title he claimed back in 2009 after victory in the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai that season.

His first European Tour Order of Merit triumph came back in 2000 when he clocked up five wins.

The veteran of 10 Ryder Cups now has four wins in his 40s – team-mate Miguel Angel Jimenez, picked up 14 of his 21 European Tour wins in his 40s, including five in 2004 after turning 40 that January.

And for anyone looking for some other links between the two premium ball-strikers, the “Mechanic” was 46 when he won the Omega Dubai Desert Classic 10 years ago, pipping Westwood in play-off.

Westwood has finished in the top five of the money list eight times in his career – with a runners-up finish in 1999, having been third two years in a row after turning pro.

Fleetwood’s praise for Westwood’s longevity

WESTWOOD’S countryman Tommy Fleetwood was quick to praise the 46-year-old’s longevity in the game.

The runner up in Dubai at last season’s DP World Tour Championship is himself searching for a sixth European Tour win of his career – and third in the Middle East – following his victories in Abu Dhabi in 2017 and 2018.

Fleetwood said of Westwod: “I think longevity, it’s going to be the standard word used for him now now.

“His swing hasn’t changed since he was about 20 and it’s been working fine for the last three decades, so it might as well work in this one. I think he’s in a really good place himself at the moment, and it’s a different inspiration now.

“Because you watch him play as a kid, and now – as good as he is as a competitor – I class him as a friend and somebody that we can speak to, and great to hang around with and learn off.

“I think we’re all lucky to have Lee out on the Tour and absolutely if you can aspire to somebody, Lee is a fantastic person, looking at his career and the way he’s played – and how good he’s been for a long time.

“It’s very impressive,” added the World No. 10 – who was crowned European No. 1 three years ago – and who came close to winning himself last week.

The Lancastrian signed for a 63 on Sunday to finish tied second alongside Hallamshire’s Matthew Fitzpatrick and France’s Alfred Dunhill Links winner Victor Perez.

Fleetwood added: “I think most players feel very at home when they come out here.

“There are so many events now in the Middle East or the UAE.

“You always start the year out here and hopefully you end the year here. It’s not a given but generally we always end the year in Dubai.

“You get used to the golf courses. That’s one side. I’ve not always done well in the Middle East.

“I feel like I’ve grown to improve, and actually I feel comfortable and it is such a great place to play golf.

“You’re talking about second-place finishes in the last couple events in the UAE or second-place finishes in the in Majors,” added Fleetwood, who returned to the winner’s enclosure at the Nebank, in November, having gone nearly two years without a victory.

“The positive thing is they’re second-place finishes, I’m up there plenty of times, and hopefully it’s just a matter of time and eventually it will be my time – and I would love to get one whenever that is.”

Fleetwood, a Walker Cup player at Merion in 2009 – having lost the Amateur Championship final a year earlier – turned pro in 2010 after winning the English and European Amateur titles in the same season.

The reputation of the Southport-born and bred pro has been building year-on-year over the last decade.

Yet ultimately Fleetwood’s eyes are firmly focused on adding another trophy to his cabinet, as he enters his 30th year – and 10 years on Tour – having accumulated five titles, including two Rolex Series victories.

American Bryson DeChambeau joins the world-class field as defending championship alongside the Green Jacket winners of 2016 and 2017 – Danny Willett and Sergio Garcia respectively.

The Masters champions both started their Major winning years with victory at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Meanwhile 2019 Open Champion Shane Lowry, who picked up the Abu Dhabi title six months before claiming the Claret Jug, is also in the field at the Emirates GC.

•Check for Thursday’s full first round tee times in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic by clicking here.

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Li Haotong (left) with Phil Mickelson at the 2019 World Golf Championship HSBC Champions at Sheshan International Golf Club. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

CHINA’S leading golfer Li Haotong has signed a worldwide management representaion deal with IMG covering all commercial activity.

Tiger Woods amassed the biggest fortune in golf during his 15 years as a client of IMG. Picture by David Mark from Pixabay

IMG – founded by lawyer Mark McCormack in the 1960s – revolutionised sports management in golf and tennis in particular.

The post IMG signs up Li Haotong as leading Chinese player looks for more success worldwide appeared first on Golf North.

European Tour Rookie of the Year Robert MacIntyre is one of young pretenders challenging for the 2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic cro

EUROPEAN Tour Rookie of the Year Robert MacIntyre has added his name to a world-class Omega Dubai Desert Classic field in January.

The Scotsman, who claimed the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Trophy in November, will be joined by Italy’s Guido Migliozzi and South Africans Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Erik van Rooyen, who all claimed maiden European Tour titles in 2019.

The crop of rising stars will be joined at Emirates Golf Club by Spaniard Adri Arnaus and Austrian Matthias Schwab, who themselves have both come close to a first victory this season, en route to finishing 41st and 17th on the 2019 Race to Dubai, respectively.

All six will arrive at Emirates Golf Club looking to emulate the success of defending champion Bryson DeChambeau.

The American, who has spent the last few months bulking up his physique, will return to Dubai.

The “Scientist” will be joined by past winners Rafa Cabrera Bello, Sergio Garcia, Haotong Li, Henrik Stenson and Danny Willett.

In addition, England’s Ryder Cup players Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood – along with Hertfordshire’s Matt Wallace – are all set to inject their own star quality into the 31^st edition of the event from January 23-26.

Following a stellar amateur career, MacIntyre has impressed since earning his card through the Challenge Tour rankings in 2018.

The left-hander came close to a maiden victory on several occasions – including runner-up finishes at both the British Masters and Made in Denmark.

McIntyre, who was beaten in the 2016 Amateur Championship final by Hampshire’s Scott Gregory, will be looking to rubber-stamp his rookie season with a first title early in 2020 – and the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic will be one of his first opportunities to do so in the New Year.

“This year really couldn’t have gone much better,” said the 23-year old MacIntyre, who finished in a tie for sixth on his first Major appearance at the Open Championship at Royal Portrush, in July.

“I’ve come close to winning on a few occasions, which has been a great experience,” said McIntyre, who hails from Oban.

“I learned a lot each time and feel it is just a matter of time until I put it all together and win,” said the 11th Scot to win the Rookie of the Year award since 1960.

“If that were to be in Dubai, it would be amazing. The Scots have a pretty good record there, so I’d love to follow on from Stephen Gallacher and Colin Montgomerie by putting my name on the trophy too.”

Much like MacIntyre in 2019, Van Rooyen had spent much of the previous 18 months knocking on the door of a first European Tour title.

Erik Van Rooyen recorded his first win on the European Tour at the Scandinavian Invitataion.

That maiden win subsequently came earlier this year at the Scandinavian Invitation.

As one of the Tour’s brightest young stars, the 29-year old backed that up with three runner-up finishes and seven more top-10s, resulting in a career-best 10^th place finish on the Race to Dubai.

“This has been a great year, but I hope it’s just the beginning,” said Van Rooyen, who graduated from the Challenge Tour in 2017.

“To win in Sweden was an amazing moment in my career, but I have been just as pleased with the consistency I have shown this year.

“I want to build on this in 2020 and a win in Dubai, following in the footsteps of Ernie Els, would be amazing.

“I grew up watching him win all over the world and it would be great to achieve even a fraction of that myself,” said van Rooyen.

Migliozzi, fresh from a highly impressive first European Tour campaign, burst onto the scene in 2019.

Guido Migliozzi is the latest talent to emerge from Italy with two European Tour wins in 2019

Claiming two victories in almost as many months – at the Magical Kenya Open and Belgian Knockout – he finished 40th on the Race to Dubai, having contended with MacIntyre for the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie title.

The Italian will arrive in the United Arab Emirates looking to kickstart his second season in style by adding another title to his burgeoning résume.

“I cannot wait to play at Emirates Golf Club,” said 22-year old Migliozzi, who will be bidding to become the first Italian to win the Omega Dubai Desert Classic title.

“It has been an incredible first season, but I’m not going to stop here.

“I want this to be the start of a long career and the more I play in tournaments of this stature, the better I will get.

“I have not played in this event before, but I have heard great things, so I can’t wait to get going in January.”

It has been a roller-coaster journey for Bezuidenhout to get to this point in his career, including a controversial two-year drugs ban as an amateur, after taking beta-blockers for his anxiety and a serious stutter.

Victory at the Andalucia Masters in June – five years after his ban at The Amateur Championship was reduced to nine months allowing him to turn pro in 2015 – was a great example of triumph over adversity.

His victory was no flash in the pan, however, as the South African racked up an additional five top-10 finishes and moved up to 90th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Rounding out the crop of emerging talent are Spain’s Adri Arnaus and Austria’s Matthias Schwab.

Austria’s Matthias Schwab

Spain’s Adri Arnaus

Arnaus posted six top-10 finishes in 2019, including runner-up finishes in Kenya and the Czech Republic, while Schwab narrowly lost out in a six-man play-off in Turkey – one of 10 top-10 results in just his second full season on the European Tour.

With Dubai’s four-day event set to be bigger and better than ever, offering an enhanced hospitality experience, contemporary food and beverage offers and a rejuvenated kids’ zone, in addition to a truly world-class field, you can book daily, season or terrace hospitality tickets with prices starting from AED75.

The inaugural Omega Dubai Desert Classic was played in 1989 and won by England’s Mark James, who went on to captain Europe in the Ryder Cup Battle of Brooline, in 1999.

Since then, the roll of honour has boasted some of the biggest names in golf over the past 30 years, including the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Fred Couples, Rory McIlroy, Colin Montgomerie and Tiger Woods.

•To purchase hospitality, season or daily tickets, click here. For more information on the Omega Dubai Desert Classic click here.

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Eurpoean captain Padraig Harrington will use his appearance at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic next month to make a check on the early front runners in the race for a Ryder Cup spot at Whistling Straits. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

EUROPEAN Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington will head to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in January, where he will be joined by his predecessor Thomas Bjørn and two-time winning assistant Miguel Ángel Jiménez.

The trio of European Tour legends join an already star-studded field, which sees the return of the tournament-record setting defending champion, Bryson DeChambeau.

Previous winners Rafa Cabrera Bello, Sergio Garcia, Haotong Li, Henrik Stenson and Danny Willett will also be in attendance, in addition to a string of other big names – including Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Ian Poulter, Matt Wallace and Lee Westwood.

The oldest tournament in the region and the longest running on the circuit outside of Europe will be played on the Majlis Course, at Emirates Golf Club.

The Majis was recently crowned the best in the Middle East by Golf Digest.

Harrington will make his eighth appearance at the Dubai Desert Classic next month, and will no doubt have a busy week assessing those in early contention for one of 12 Ryder Cup berths in September – a fact that does not escape the Irishman.

“The Omega Dubai Desert Classic is one of our most iconic events and one I cannot wait to return to,” said Harrington, who finished in a tie for second alongside Tiger Woods at this event in 2001, two shots adrift of Bjorn.

“There is a lot of golf to be played between now and Whistling Straits and, in that time, I hope to play with everyone who is in contention for the team.

“I can think of no better place to do so than Emirates Golf Club, so I’m looking forward it,” added the Irishman, who will arrive in the United Arab Emirates in search of his 16^th European Tour title.

Thomas Bjorn’s win in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, beating Tiger Woods down the stretch in 2001, is one of the tournament’s most famous wins. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Bjørn knows what it takes to triumph over Team USA, but with his experience in Paris behind him, 2020 provides a great opportunity for the “Great Dane” to demonstrate how he earned that moniker.

What better place than an event the 48-year old has tasted success at before having, some 18 years ago, played alongside Woods on all four days to deliver one of the event’s most iconic closing Sundays.

“I always love coming back to Dubai and the Desert Classic has so many great memories for me,” said Bjorn.

“To go toe-to-toe with Tiger and come out on top is not something many people can lay claim to, so it is a moment from my career that I will never forget.

“The Majlis Course is always in impeccable condition and it will be great to get out there again in January,” Bjorn added.

Jimenez’s 26th start in Dubai Desert Classic

No stranger to the Dubai Desert Classic, Jiménez – nicknamed The Mechanic – will make his 26^th appearance at the 2020 event, none more impressive than his winning display nine years ago.

That year the Spaniard, who was assistant to Jose Maria Olazabal in 2012’s Miracle of Medinah and two years later helping Paul McGinley’s side at Gleneagles, beat Westwood in extra holes.

Victory came some five years after Jimenez narrowly lost out to three-time winner Ernie Els, as the South African eagled the 72^nd hole to win by a stroke in 2006.

“I first played in this event back in 1991, so it has been amazing to come back virtually every year and see how much the place has changed,” said the 55-year-old, who won the Senior Open at St Andrews, in 2018.

Jimenez has seven victories in the States since joining the Champions Tour in 2014, including last year’s Regions Tradition Major to go with his 21 European Tour victories between 1992 and 2014.

“I have some amazing memories from my visits to Dubai and my win here is a stand-out for me,” added Jimenez, who won 14 of those European Tour titles in 10 years after turning 40.

“I still enjoy coming out and proving I have what it takes to keep up with the young guys, so I’m looking forward to doing just that in a few weeks,” said Jimenez, who is the oldest player to have won on the European Tour at 50.

Miguel Angel Jimenez playing in the 2019 Omega Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates’ Majis Course. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

The inaugural Omega Dubai Desert Classic was won by Yorkshire’s Mark James.

It has gone on to establish a roll of honour boasting some of the biggest names in golf over the past 30 years – including the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Fred Couples, Rory McIlroy, Colin Montgomerie and Woods.

Next month’s event will boast an exciting new “Tournament Town,” which will offer a first-class culinary experience and the latest in family entertainment.

With the four-day event set to be bigger and better than ever, there is still time to book daily, season or Terrace Hospitality tickets, with prices starting from 75 dirham.

•To purchase hospitality, season or daily tickets, go to: https://www.omegadubaidesertclassic.com/buy-tickets/

For more information on the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, visit: https://www.omegadubaidesertclassic.com/

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Daniel Gaunt, who is attached to Burhill GC, in Surrey, was second on the 2019 Journey to Jordan, eaning starts on the Asian and Challenge Tours as well as the Dubai Desert Classic.

MENA Tour players will be able to earn invites to play on the Alps Tour in 2020 as well as having the opportunity to earn starts on the European and Asian Tours plus the Challenge Tour.

In addition to the invites to the European Tour’s 2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic in January, which are handed out to the leading two professionals on the 2019 Journey to Jordan Order of Merit – plus the top amateur – there are more incentives for MENA members in the New Year.

On top of a schedule which features 11 tournaments in five countries in the Middle East and North Africa region, there will be an extra place in the 2021 Omega Dubai Desert Classic for the professional finishing third on the 2020 MENA Order of Merit.

The Dubai event is the oldest European Tour event in the Middle East, dating from the early 1990s, in which time the views of the city skyline from the Emirates Course fairways have changed beyond all recognition.

The Journey to Jordan professional winner will also receive an Asian Tour country exemption card for the 2021 season, a full card on the 2020 Alps Tour and three Challenge Tour invites, as well as the Dubai Desert start.

The leading amateur will also receive an Alps Tour exemption for 2020 and at least one start on the European Challenge Tour.

The second-placed professional on the Journey to Jordan gets three starts on the Asian Tour, a full card on the 2020 Alps Tour and an exemption to the final stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School.

The third and fourth placed professionals on the Arena sponsored MENA Tour also receive full cards on the Alps Tour and a place in the final stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School.

The third-ranked player also gets an Omega Dubai Desert Classic spot and two starts on the Challenge Tour.

The winner of the Ghala Open, which is to be held from February 16-19 at Ghala Golf Club, in Muscat, Oman, will receive a spot at the European Tour’s $1.75 million Oman Open at Al Mouj Golf the following week.

MENA Tour strategic adviser David Spencer said: “One of the biggest objectives for us is to provide our members with pathways to some of the main tours and increase their playing opportunities.

“Our announcement today will definitely excite the players. There are a few more invitations which we will reveal in due course.

“We are thankful to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, the Asian Tour and our new partners Alps Tour in helping us create these wonderful opportunities for them.”

The MENA Tour was established in the United Arab Emirates in 2011 and has grown over the years to become one of the most exciting development tours in the world.

With a minimum prize fund of $75,000 and Official World Golf Ranking points, it offers excellent growth opportunities for professionals and the top amateurs.

The 2020 season starts with the qualifying school at Ayla Golf Club in Aqaba, Jordan, from January 20 onwards, when the next generation of MENA Tour players will start their professional careers.

Registration for the qualifying schools are now being accepted online at www.menatour.golf

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