Henderson and Leblanc have T10's, Ko wins Gainbridge LPGA .. final scoreboard

 LPGA: Gainbridge LPGA final leaderboard here.

With both players beginning another breezy cool day atT10 -3 after their 74's on Saturday, Brooke Henderson and Maude Aimee Leblanc teed off at 10.56 Sunday morning, chasing the leader Lydia Ko at -11 in the final round of the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Raton.

Henderson always positive said "let's make a couple of birdies early, and see what happens"... She admitted the conditions on Saturday were very difficult for her " I made it look really tough out there, but it was very difficult to judge the conditions, it was very cold this morning and extremely windy all day. Overall I thought we did a solid job, just made a couple of mistakes, hopefully we can fix them on Sunday"

****update   Brooke got off to that great start with 3 birdies and an eagle -5 through 8 holes and with Ko and Kang playing cautiously Brooke had narrowed the gap from 3 shots to two at the turn at -9 after a birdie at 10 and it looked like she was on a real roll, however a missed 3 footer resulted in bogey at 13 stalled her momentum, putts stopped falling and a final bogey at 18 meant -4 68 and a T6 -7 and a second week in the top 10 worth $62,545,

Maude made 2 birdie, all pars until her lone bogey at 18 for a 69 T8 -6 that was a great start for her return to the LPGA. She told us post round her putter saved her during the week, she feels there is room for improvement with her ball striking. She won $44,227.

The rest of the field all stalled over the last 6 holes and it became the Ko and Kang show with Lydia holing a long curling putt at the 15th to pull ahead for the win by a shot at -14 worth $300,000.

 FYI she is being coached these days by Canadian Sean Foley, our last analyst on my Fairways golf show.

This week is the third in a row in Florida at Fort Myers, a new one called the LPGA Drive On Championship, both Brooke and Maude are in the field. 

Bryan Angus

Viktor Hovland rallies to beat Richard Bland in a playoff at the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic.. final scoreboard..

 DP World Tour : Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic Results

Viktor Hovland won his first Rolex Series title as he completed a sensational finish with a play-off victory over Richard Bland at the 2022 Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic.

The Norwegian was barely in the picture when he missed a short putt and made a bogey on the 15th but he finished birdie-eagle-birdie to sign for a 66 and post the target at 12 under.

Bland joined him in the clubhouse with a birdie-birdie finish of his own in a 68, with two-time champion Rory McIlroy finding water on the last to fall out of the play-off.

Hovland made a two-putt birdie on the first trip back up the 18th and when Bland failed to get up and down after finding a tricky lie with his second, it was the 24-year-old who was left holding the trophy at Emirates Golf Club.

McIlroy signed for a 71 to finish at 11 under, three shots clear of South African pair Justin Harding and Erik van Rooyen, English duo Tyrrell Hatton and Sam Horsfield and Pole Adrian Meronk.

Hovland becomes the first Norwegian to win a Rolex Series event and adds this title to his maiden DP World Tour victory at the 2021 BMW International Open.

It is his third win in five starts after back-to-back victories in November and December at the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba and Hero World Challenge, and could move him up to third in the Official World Golf Ranking.

"This is pretty wild. I didn't really think this was possible going in today," said Hovland, who started the day six shots off the lead. "I knew I had to shoot a really low number but a lot of things had to go my way and I'm thankful that they did.

"I'm pumping right now. It's a little bit surreal and it's hard to kind of calm yourself a little bit but you've just got to rely on all the shots that you hit and just go back to what you know.

"I was fuming after the three-putt on 15 and thought that was it and I knew I just had to try to finish off well and get a nice position for the week. I rolled a really long one on 16 and then on 17 and, hey, we got a shot."

McIlroy found sand off the tee for a bogey at the first and while he was in the waste area down the right off the sixth tee, he managed to find the green and hole from 18 feet.

The Northern Irishman then made a 29-footer on the next to join the lead as Bland made a big move around the turn.

The Englishman had bogeyed the sixth but he holed a chip on the ninth, made an up-and-down from the sand on the tenth and then holed from the sand on the next for a hat-trick of gains to catapult himself within one.

McIlroy holed a clutch putt for bogey on the tenth after taking a drop in the waste area but hit back from 24 feet on the next and led alone as overnight leader Harding found sand twice, played a second poor bunker shot and then failed to get up and down in racking up a triple-bogey.

He would soon have company, however, as Hovland picked up four shots in his last three holes to surge up the leaderboard.

He had put an approach to six feet at the first and made a two-putt birdie on the par-five third but bogeyed the fourth before hitting a smart approach into the next and holing a 25-footer on the eighth to turn in 32.

His chances looked to have gone when he three-putted the 15th but he holed from 35 feet on the next and then drove the 17th and made a 33-footer for eagle to tie the lead.

McIlroy played a poor second on the 13th but got up and down from the bank for a birdie to edge back ahead, with Hovland completing a two-putt birdie on the par-five last to join him and set the target.

Bland was not done yet, however, and after getting up and down for par on the 15th and 16th, he did it again for birdie on the 17th and 18th.

McIlroy needed a birdie over the gettable final two holes but he had to make a remarkable par from the bushes at the 17th and found water on the last for a bogey that sent Bland and Hovland back up the last.

Harding signed for a closing 76, Meronk - who had also held the lead in the early stages of day four - carded a 72 which was matched by Hatton, Van Rooyen finished with a 73 and Horsfield recorded a 67.

Luke List gets 1st PGA Tour win in a playoff at Farmers Insurance.. Saturday leaderboard...

 PGA Tour : Farmers Insurance leaderboard.. here.

There are 12 players within 3 shots of the Will Zalatoris -15 lead at 540pm est at the Farmers Insurance, 5 hours later there were 14 players within 3 shots, only this time  Zalatoris was joined by Luke List in a playoff, and a whole lot of drama had occurred in between, after a thoroughly enjoyable Saturday  afternoon of golf around the spectacular San Diego cliffs, home of Torrey Pines south at this Farmers Insurance.

Jason Day, Cameron Tringale and odds on favourite Jon Rahm had all had their chances before falling a shot shy at -14. Five more including a brilliant PGA Tour debut by England's Aaron Rai and a resurgent Justin Rose were at -13, and another five led by Billy Horschel were at -12.

The sun had already dipped into the Pacific when Zalatoris last years Rookie of the Year and a native Californian had missed a 8 footer for the win in regulation to his astonishment,

 

Donald Miralle

List, at 37 had never won in 7 years and 203 PGA Tour outings was killing time for 2 hours between his wife and 2 children and the practice range.

As they dashed to the tee, not at all interested in a Sunday finish, List hit a 360 yard bomb down the 18th, then in the gathering dark, hit the wedge of his career, 110 yards, past the yellow flag. where it bit, spun back, caught the slope and ended up 8" from the hole.

Minutes later Zalatoris missed his 18 footer and List was tossing his daughter in the air, a huge monkey off his back. Posing for the camera's later with his arm around his wife and the 2  youngsters he said, " Getting the win, the trophy and the money is great, but this is what it's all about for me right here" !

All that was left was for them to walk off into the sunset, but that had already happened half an hour before.

Bryan Angus 

Henderson, LeBlanc lose ground on a windy moving day at Gainbridge LPGA... full scoreboard

LPGA: Gainbridge LPGA leaderboard here.

On a breezy, cool Florida day (60*f) at this Gainbridge LPGA in Boca Raton, par turned out to be a great score, the lowest round of the day a -3 69 by the French women Celine Boutier who is 3rd -8.

Lydia Ko made 16 pars, a birdie and a bogey for 72, and that has her atop the leaderboard, still at -11. Danielle Kang who started the day tied with Ko fell back on the inward nine with 3 bogey's and is now 2nd at -9.

Brooke Henderson began her day brightly with 2 birdies in her first 5 holes, then from the 7th to the 14th she dropped 5 shots with 3 bogey's and a double. Although she had several birdie attempts it wasn't until the final 2 holes that she made them. Her 74 sees her -3 at  T10.

Maude-Aimee Leblanc also had a 74, a birdie and 2 bogey's out in 37, and 8 pars with just 1 bogey coming home T10 also -3.

They may be paired together tomorrow, as I expect they will be sent off split tees in threesomes.

The weather is expected to be the same on Sunday

Bryan Angus

Steady Harding leads , McIlroy just 2 shots behind heading into Sunday, Dubai Desert Classic... full scoreboard

 DP World Tour : Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic Leaderboard

Justin Harding will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the 2022 Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic but he will have to hold off a host of Ryder Cup stars if he is to win a first Rolex Series title at Emirates Golf Club.

While many of those around him endured roller coaster rounds, the South African plotted his way to an impressive 71 to get to 12 under and lead the way from four-time Major Champion Rory McIlroy, who carded a 69 -10 as he also looks for a first Rolex Series win.

McIlroy's Ryder Cup team-mate Tommy Fleetwood was then at nine under alongside South African Erik van Rooyen, a shot clear of three more members of Europe's 2020 team in Paul Casey, Tyrrell Hatton and Bernd Wiesberger, England's Richard Bland, Pole Adrian Meronk and Paraguayan Fabrizio Zanotti.

European captain at Whistling Straits Pádraig Harrington and another team member in Lee Westwood then completed a top 12 that has seven Major titles and ten Rolex Series wins between them.

Harding has plenty of wins of his own, however, with two victories on the DP World Tour to go with seven on the Sunshine Tour and two on the Asian Tour, with six of those victories coming in the last four years.

He has also proven he can go low on a Sunday at Emirates Golf Club, carding a 63 en route to a top-ten finish in 2019, and he was not daunted by the challenge facing him.

"At the end of the day, I've just got to go out and keep doing what I'm doing and make a couple of birdies and shoot 70, 69, something like that," he said. "Make them shoot five or six under par and credit to them.

"I'm quite happy with it and go again tomorrow.

"I thought I played quite solid. It was a difficult day to be fair, some tough flags to get at. There were times when I didn't quite put the ball in play and I couldn't really go anywhere near them."

Lee Westwood was going great, he had recovered from a bogey at the first with birdies on the second, third, fifth, sixth, seventh and tenth but it was to all change on the back nine.

Westwood bogeyed the 14th and made a triple on the last after hitting a poor tee-shot and then finding the water, while Hatton bogeyed the 12th and 14th and registered a double on the next to also fall back.

Henderson and LeBlanc T10 at Gainbridge LPGA....Kang and Ko lead by 4 shots.. full scoreboard

LPGA: Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Raton.. scoreboard here.

Danielle Kang and Lydia Ko have set up a Match Play Saturday of the 1st full field LPGA event of the 2022 year.

Both Kang 65 68 and Ko 63 70 are at -11 four shots clear of all the rest at -7....they have the place to themselves beginning play on Saturday where a cold windy weather system has moved in which will make scoring at a premium. 

As for the Canadians..Maude-Aimee Leblanc was -2 at the turn after 3 birdies and a bogey, then all pars on her back nine until a wayward drive at 18 led to a double bogey for 72 T10 -5

Brooke started on the back nine, 2 birdies, 2 bogey's E 36,, 2 more birdies and a bogey for 35 for -1 71 T10 at -5. She had one of those day's where she had a lot of good looks that just didn't drop.

I think Lydia and Danielle are going to come back to the field with this windy weather coming in if anyone is going to catch them.

By the way, if I hear anymore about Danielle Kang going out on cool nights in Las Vegas to get used to playing in the cold weather so she can play better at the AIG British Women's Open I may be sick....Somebody buy her a sweater..

Bryan Angus

Mac Hughes honesty misses cut, 4 Canadians chasing Rahm. Thomas, on the weekend...Live scoreboard

 PGA Tour: Farmers Golf Insurance leaderboard  here.

Pro golf can be wonderfully rewarding, but as we all know can be cruel at times, After making an honest mistake on Wednesday by playing the wrong ball on his final hole at Torrey Pines in this edition of the Farmers Insurance, Mac Hughes called the penalty on himself and incurred a two shot penalty, finally signing for a -2 70. 

Yesterday he posted an E par 72 for a two round total of 142 -2 and as luck would have it, after all 156 of the field's scores were tallied the cut fell at -3. As a result Mac will miss the weekend as will his Canadian colleagues Corey Conners, Adam Hadwin, Jared du Toit and Max Sear. They are not alone as stars like Rickie Fowler, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth all found out !!

Taylor Pendrith (Mike Kovally credit)

Chasing the leaders Adam Schenk, Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas all at -13 are Nick Taylor and Taylor Pendrith at T23 -6, Adam Svensson and Michael Gligic T59 at -3.

The field will all play the South course for the last 2 rounds, remember this event wraps up on Saturday evening, to avoid the TV coverage of the NFL Championship games.

Bryan Angus

Justin Harding leads star studded field into the weekend at Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic... full scoreboard

 DP World Tour : Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic Leaderboard

Justin Harding made a spectacular eagle to light up a "grinding" 68 as he took a two-shot lead into the weekend at the 2022 Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic.

The South African had to return to complete his opening round on day two and birdied the last to take a share of the 18-hole lead before a hole-out from 183 yards on the par-four sixth in round two helped him hit the front at 11 under, two clear of four-time Rolex Series champion Tyrrell Hatton.

South African Erik van Rooyen and Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti were then at eight under, one ahead of Ryder Cup team-mates Viktor Hovland and Rory McIlroy, England's Richard Bland, Dane Joachim B. Hansen and Pole Adrian Meronk.

Harding is a two-time winner on the DP World Tour but is yet to star in a Rolex Series event, with last week's tie for 25th at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship matching his best finish.

The 35-year-old has proven he can go low at Emirates Golf Club, carding a 63 en route to a top-ten finish in 2019, and is hoping he can recreate that magic after falling away over the weekend last season.

"I've played this golf course well over the years," he said. "Had a good final round a couple of years back and was in contention last year and played badly on the Sunday.

"The game seems to be close. It's just a matter of, if I can control the putter and make some putts, we are always going to be there and thereabouts, which is nice."

He added: "I made some putts, to be fair. I've driven the ball well - I didn't drive it that great yesterday. I hit it in the sand rather than the rough and that makes it a bit easier.

"I rolled the ball pretty good and, for the most part, kept bogeys off the card. Hit the fairway on the longer, tougher par fours. Ultimately just grinding. It was a grind of a day today, to be fair, just a bonus there on six."

Hatton started his round with a bogey but he then reeled off four birdies in a row: playing a stunning flop shot on the second, getting up and down from the sand on the next, putting a tee-shot to seven feet at the fourth and an approach to similar range at the fifth.

Another excellent up-and-down from the sand at the tenth was followed by a two-putt birdie at the 13th and when the Englishman pitched in at the next he was the nearest challenger after a 66.

Northern Ireland's McIlroy put his approach to six feet on the first and while he missed an opportunity after driving the green at the par-four second, he holed a long putt for birdie from the fringe at the fourth.

The four-time Major Champion then dined out on the par fives on the back nine, getting up and down on the tenth, chipping in for eagle on the 13th and holing an 18-footer for birdie on the last in a 66.

Bland had led alone before he dropped three shots in his final two holes in a 68, while Hansen had also been in top spot early in the day but bogeyed his last two in a 72.

Norway's Hovland raced up the leaderboard as he turned in 33 from the tenth but had to settle for a 69, while Meronk eagled the tenth and added four birdies and two bogeys in a 68.

Defending champion Paul Casey was then in an all-English group at six under alongside Marcus Armitage, Tommy Fleetwood, Sam Horsfield and Lee Westwood.

Joachim B Hansen leads Dubai Desert Classic at darkness delayed 1st round....Live scoreboard

 DP World Tour: Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic Leaderboard

Joachim B. Hansen continued his remarkable run of form in Dubai as he fired an opening 65 to lead by one shot after day one of the 2022 Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic.

The Dane won the AVIV Dubai Championship in November and the following week achieved his second top ten in a Rolex Series event at the DP World Tour Championship.

Now back in Dubai at Emirates Golf Club for a third consecutive Rolex Series start, the two-time DP World Tour winner was blemish-free in getting to seven under to lead by one from South Africa's Justin Harding, who was on the 18th when play was ended for the day due to darkness.

Former champion Sergio Garcia and countryman Pablo Larrazábal were then at five under alongside 2017 European Number One Tommy Fleetwood, veteran Thai Thongchai Jaidee and Italy's Andrea Pavan.

Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti was stood on the 18th tee at five under when the hooter sounded, and his group along with Harding's make up the six players who will have to complete their rounds on day two.

Reigning European Number One Collin Morikawa was at four under alongside World Number Five Viktor Hovland, Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Spaniard Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez, Finn Kalle Samooja and South African Brandon Stone but the day belonged to Hansen, who holed out in the twilight on the last.

Already a two-time European Challenge Tour graduate as he tried to establish himself on the European Tour, Hansen topped those Rankings in 2018 and has not looked back, finishing in the top 50 on the DP World Tour Rankings every season since and claiming those first two victories.

"A bit of a shame there wasn't anymore tournaments at the end of last year I but try to keep it going," he said.

"I'm a bit more relaxed, have bit more belief in myself. But I still have to play pretty good golf to play here in 2023. So I'm just trying to do my best.

"I kept the ball in play. I didn't drive it that well but putted fantastic."

Garcia had set the target in the morning, holing from 16 feet on the 12th, making a birdie from the sand on the next and putting an approach to five feet on the 17th.

An exquisite second at the second set up another gain before a towering iron to five feet at the fifth put him at five under, where he was joined by his fast-finishing countryman.

Larrazábal made three birdies and two bogeys to turn in 34 but added two-putt gains on the tenth and 13th before putting a beautiful approach to four feet at the 17th and getting up and down at the last.

World #2 Collin Morikawa had led by three at seven under but dropped three shots in his last four holes to sit a shot ahead of a group including former World Number Ones Adam Scott and Lee Westwood.

Brooke Henderson shoots -4 68, Maude-Aimee Leblanc makes 2022 debut today at Gainsbridge LPGA.. LIVE scoreboard

 LPGA: Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Raton. live 

• LEADERBOARD

The LPGA has moved 200 miles down Florida to Boca Raton for this week's Gainbridge LPGA.

Brooke Henderson who played "steady eddie" at the TOC last week to finish 2nd has already finished her round. Out, bogey free with 3 birdies in 33, she made 6 straight pars, 2 more birdies at 16 and 17, but then had her 1 bogey of the day at 18, finishing -4 68. Today I was happy to see her birdie 3 of the 4 par 5's. The clubhouse leader is a familiar foe, Danielle Kang, who shot -7 65.

Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que., 

This week Canadian golf fans will enjoy watching Maude- Aimee LeBlanc as she returns to the LPGA after a spectacular season on the Symetra Tour last year with 14/17 cuts made and 9 top 10 finishes, finishing 6th on the Race for the Money list to qualify for LPGA this year.

Maude, from Sherbrooke, Quebec is 31 now, she  first made it to the LPGA in 2012 after a college career at Purdue. She took some time away from the game in 2019/20. At 6'1" she is consistently amongst the longest drivers in the women's game. She and her wife Stephanie live with a dog and 2 cats.

She tees off at 1.02 today off the 10th tee. So how did she do ?

Birdie at her first the 10th, and 2 more at 11th and 15th for -3 33 then at the turn 3 birdies coming home with a bogey at the 3rd for -5 67 and a great debut T4 -5 to the leader Lydia Ko -9 63

Bryan Angus

Mac Hughes explains why he was penalized 2 shots at Farmers Insurance... live Thursday leaderboard

 PGA Tour: Farmers Insurance leaderboard here

Since I didn't see it on TV, I think all of us were surprised when we found out why Mac Hughes went from a possible 4 to a 7 on the par 5 9th on Wednesday at the Farmers Insurance. Mac had gone out off the 10th with a bogey free, 3 birdie -3 33, then he had a bogey at the 4th, but birdies at 5th and 7th, so was at -4 until the 9th. Here's what Mac posted to us all on twitter.

Mackenzie Hughes

@MacHughesGolf

Well I hit my second shot on the par 5 9th short left of the green. I went to where it was marked with a flag and hit my chip to 6 feet. When I marked it I realized it wasn’t my ball. Turns out it was about 8 feet from where the flag was. Went from maybe 4 to 7 pretty quick.

So remember he was in the rough so the marking on his ball may not have been clear, so assuming the marker was correct he went ahead. Many pros play the same ball, that's why they all personalize their own.

As a result he incurred a 2 shot penalty and with his -2 70 on the North Course, he begins play today (Thursday) T53 instead of T9 -5.

Meanwhile Michael Gligic and Taylor Pendrith are off to solid starts on the easier North course with -5 67 T9, four shots off the pace.

The leader is globe trotter Billy Horschel who also played the North with a -9 63. 

Other Canadian scores: Adam Svensson (SC) T96 E, Adam Hadwin (NC) T113 +1,73, Nick Taylor (SC) T113, +1 73, Corey Connors (SC) +3 75 T136, Jared du Toit (SC) +5 77 T145, Maxwell Sear (SC) +7 79 T152

Bryan Angus 

LPGA Symetra Tour has a new sponsor...details

 The LPGA Symetra Tour has a brand new sponsor. Here are all the details :

BOCA RATON, Fla., and LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. (Jan. 26, 2022) – The LPGA Tour and Epson America, Inc., today announced a five-year agreement to kick off the technology leader’s title sponsorship of exclusive naming rights to the Official Qualifying Tour of the LPGA. The newly named Epson Tour enters its 42nd year of structured competition in 2022 and is the most established women’s qualifying tour in the world as the one “Road to the LPGA.” The LPGA and Epson brands come together in this global initiative to celebrate women in the spirit of competition.

Nelly Korda Epson Tour graduate (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Image

The Epson Tour sponsorship takes effect immediately and extends through the 2026 calendar year. The Epson Tour will award LPGA Tour membership to the top-10 players on the Race for the Card money list at the end of each season. Epson America’s parent company, Seiko Epson Corporation (TSE: 6724, “Epson”), also becomes an Official Partner of the LPGA Tour and the Epson Tour.

“We are delighted to welcome Epson to the LPGA Tour family. This ground-breaking partnership will provide expanded opportunities for the future stars of the game from around the globe to test their talent and take one step closer to realizing their dreams,” said LPGA Tour commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan. “We are grateful that Epson shares our commitment to supporting young female athletes as they grow and develop and to playing an active role in the growth and equity in women’s sports. The ‘Road to the LPGA’ has never been better.”

Epson and the LPGA commit to enhancing player experiences and events by focusing on the support and empowerment of all Epson Tour members, throughout their time on Tour and upon graduation to the LPGA. The combination of each organization’s global platform will demonstrate an ongoing commitment to diversity, while achieving Epson’s aspirational goals of sustainability and enriching communities

The yearly Epson Tour Ambassador Program will officially begin in 2022 and extend $10,000 to each of the 2021 Epson Tour graduates, providing financial assistance to jumpstart the beginning of their new LPGA Tour journey. In addition, Epson is increasing the standard tournament purse size to $200,000.

“It’s really incredible to see the impact that Epson is making right from the start of their partnership with the LPGA. They aren’t just putting their name on the Epson Tour, but truly walking the walk and backing women’s futures,” said Fatima Fernandez Cano, an Epson Tour graduate in 2020 and 2021, and the first representative of the Epson Tour Ambassador Program. “I can’t thank Epson enough for believing in me. When I came to America from Spain to play college golf at Troy, these types of moments were a dream. Now it’s reality and I’m in a better position because of Epson.”

Underscoring Epson’s commitment to advancing the careers of talented female golfers, the partnership includes contribution of funds to initially lower entry fees by 10% per tournament for each player throughout the season, amounting to as much as $1,000 per individual over the course of the year. Part of this initiative is the creation of the Epson Tour DEI Partnership, as Epson and the LPGA are challenging at least four other companies to join them in elevating the competitive drive and dedication of Epson Tour members by working together to cut player-entry fees in half, from $500 to $250. Participating organizations will receive Pro-Am teams and signage at every Epson Tour tournament.

During the 2021 LPGA Tour season, nine former graduates or Epson Tour alumnae claimed 12 LPGA Tour wins led by Rolex Rankings No. 1 Nelly Korda, who captured four titles and a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Other notable LPGA players who got their start on the Epson Tour include major champions Inbee Park from the Republic of Korea, Lorena Ochoa of Mexico, and Australia’s Hannah Green. These individuals exemplify the international draw of the Epson Tour, which annually attracts players from more than 40 countries and has graduated 65 players from 21 nations in the last seven years”

The 2022 Epson Tour schedule will be announced during the week February 7, but the season is set to open in Winter Haven, Fla., with the return of the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic at the Country Club of Winter Haven from March 4-6. Epson will also assume sponsorship of the Epson Tour Championship, which concludes the season in Daytona Beach, Fla., from Oct. 6-9 at LPGA International.

From Abu Dhabi to Dubai for this weeks Dubai Desert Classic.... TEE TIMES

 DP World Tour : Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic Thursday Tee Times

Thomas Peiters didn't have far to carry his trophy from Abu Dhabi along the Persian Gulf to Dubai , 140 kilometers or about 1hr 30min to be exact. That's how far the field has moved for this week's Dubai Desert Classic 

On the other hand, Miguel Jimenez with his Mitsubishi Electric trophy has just flown the 22 hours from Honolulu to Dubai, with enough cash for one of those Emirates 1st class flights with your own bed and breakfast.

The Slync.Io Dubai Desert Classic, which is the oldest DP World Tour tournament in the Middle East and the longest-running outside of Europe, returns this week to Emirates Golf Club for its 33rd edition - and first as a Rolex Series event.

First played in 1989, the tournament has been hosted at Emirates Golf Club on all but two occasions (Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club in 1999 and 2000). It is the third event on the 2022 schedule and is the second of five Rolex Series events set to be played this year, following Thomas Pieters’ first Rolex Series triumph in Abu Dhabi last week.

The tournament has been won by some of golf’s greatest names, including Major Champions Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson and Danny Willett – who are all in the field this week – Seve Ballesteros, Ernie Els, Fred Couples, José Maria Olazábal, Mark O’Meara, Tiger Woods, and Bryson DeChambeau.

Paul Casey returns this week to defend the title he won by four shots last year, which saw him earn a milestone 15th European Tour title.

The Englishman already boasted an excellent record in the United Arab Emirates with victories in Abu Dhabi in 2007 and 2009, and was emotional after joining the prestigious list of former champions following his desert hat-trick at Emirates Golf Club.

This may be the 31st time that this particular tournament has been played at Emirates Golf Club, but a new challenge awaits on the greens of the Majlis course in 2022.

All 18 greens have been recreated following the 2021 event, which have seen a substantial increases in size that is more like their original composition. On average, it equates to roughly a 33 percent increase, with the biggest of those at the first, and the result is a variety of new options for pin positions.

A star-studded field of Rolex Series Champions heads to Emirates Golf Club this week for the second Rolex Series of the year, including current DP World Tour Number One Collin Morikawa, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry and Lee Westwood.

An in-form Rory McIlroy is one of several former champions who are heading to Dubai this week following a strong performance in Abu Dhabi. The two-time champion, who is making his first start in this event since a runner-up finish in 2018, hasn’t finished outside of the top ten here since his victory in 2009. He finished in a tie for 12th last week.

Another player in form is 2012 champion Rafa Cabrera Bello. The man who also finished as the runner-up in this event in 2016 hasn’t had as much success in recent years, but he’ll be hoping to bring momentum over from Abu Dhabi after ending the week in a tie for second place.

Meanwhile, Thomas Pieters comes fresh from his second victory in his last three starts on the DP World Tour, aiming to do the double in the UAE. He’s joined by new World Number Five Viktor Hovland, who has also claimed two victories in his last four starts, and heads to Dubai after a fourth place finish in Abu Dhabi.

Bryan Angus

(europeantour.com)