With the Christmas and New Year ‘break’ well and truly over, I thought it time to drop in on the world of professional golf. Most of the world’s best players have teed it up again in 2022, so here’s an update from the two main tours.
Congratulations to the magnificently named Hudson Swafford for his victory last week in The American Express tournament, held on the Pete Dye Course, La Quinta, California.
By the way…Hudson posted a back nine which included only one par.
From the 10th his card read:
birdie-birdie-birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey-eagle-birdie-par.
This Thursday the PGA Tour heads to Torrey Pines South in San Diego for the Farmers Insurance Open.
The course is boasting a yardage of 7802 from the championship (brown) tees. That’s a slight increase from last year and once again secures Torrey Pines South the position of being the longest course played on (either) professional tour.
And Torrey Pines South was of course the venue for the 2021 US Open – scene of (current World No#1) Jon Rahm’s maiden major victory.
The 2021 US Open also saw Richard Bland become the oldest player to hold a share of the halfway lead. Another notable highlight in Blandy’s ‘breakthrough’, ‘best ever’, year.
Golf101 wishes the best of luck to all teeing it up in California this week. Can defending champion Patrick Reed, retain the trophy?
(*The FedEx Cup Runs from September 2021 to August 2022
A big well done to Thomas Peters for claiming the 6th Tour win of his career at the Yas Links, Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, last week.
I was interested to learn that Peters was born on 27th January 1992 – making him exactly one day younger than my oldest son.
So, given that I am writing this on 26th January:
Happy 30th Birthday tomorrow Thomas!
and (far) more importantly:
‘Happy Birthday today Jakey!’.
This week the DP World Tour (aka Race to Dubai), remains in Dubai. The Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic will be played on the Emirates Golf Club Majlis Course.
Paul Casey debuted a new driver at the course last year and won by 4 shots. Enjoy your week as the defending champion Paul and good luck to all teeing it up in Dubai this Thursday.
Incidentally, the first player to strike a ball on the Majlis Golf Course was Nigel Mansell. In Dubai for a rally in the desert, the scratch golfer, and future F1 World Champion, was asked to strike some balls for promotional purposes off the 18th tee.
**The DP World Tour (aka Race to Dubai) runs from November 2021 to November 2022
How hard can it be?
…and if you want to get a sense of how your own game might transfer to the championship courses on the respective tours, I’ve included details of the course and slope ratings in play this week. Below I’ve used a 'UK average' Handicap Index of 16 for illustrative purposes.
Torrey Pines South
Course Rating of 78.8, Slope Rating of 148 and Par of 72
With a Handicap Index of 16 your Course Handicap would be: 28
In other words, playing off of the 'tiger tees' the average golfer would have to play better than average to break 100 at Torrey Pines South.
Majlis, Emirates Golf Club
Course Rating of 75.3, Slope Rating of 143 and Par of 72
With a Handicap Index of 16 your Course Handicap would be: 24
Use the following link if you want to see how your own handicap would translate to Torrey Pines South and Majlis (From a Handicap Index of 6.9 I'm playing off 12 at Majlis and 16 at Torrey Pines!):
Wherever your playing your golf this week, have a good one, and remember...
...'always play your provisional first'.
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