Golf, by TourMiss

… Dubai, UAE Stephen Gallacher boasts he’s just as excited returning to Dubai as he was twenty-three years in making his debut in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Gallacher, 48, is contesting a 625th Tour event this week thanks to a sponsor’s invitation and after losing full Tour status at the close of the 2022 season. He said: “It was nice to receive the invitation because it’s been a tournament dear to my heart, so delighted to be here. “I was working for SKY at the Hero Cup in ...

Scotland’s David Drysdale has brilliantly secured his 2023 Asian Tour card, holing a four-foot birdie putt at the 90th hole on day five and the final round of the Asian Tour Q-School. Drysdale entered qualifying after the disappointment of losing his DP World Tour card at the end of the 2022 season, and while he would have been afforded a limited number of starts this year, he and caddying wife, Vicky discussed the matter and decided to give the Asian Tour a shot. And after rounds 69, 69, ...

… Yas Links, Abu Dhabi Whether you’re a player, caddie, official or in my case, a journalist, being regularly out on tour is much akin to being among family members. Most everyone just gets on so well though I do find at the start of each new season it is always struggle to remember the names of the countless number of ‘cousins’ as most refer to each other. And this family theme was so evident this morning ahead of the third round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship when I bumped ...

…. Yas Links, Abu Dhabi Tour rookie Tom McKibbin left the course in darkness and will return early Saturday morning (Local time) in darkness to complete his closing two holes in the second round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. McKibbin teed-off in the last three-ball on day two at 3.35pm (Local time) Friday and had the feeling they would not finish. That was the scenario with the threesome called from the Yas Links e course around 6pm (Local time). A tied-looking McKibbin was sharing 43rd ...

... Yas Links, Abu Dhabi Padraig Harrington was pleased to ensure himself a first pay cheque of a new season despite the hiccup of an opening hole double on day two of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Harrington, and off the 10th tee at Yas Links, regrouped to birdie his second and fifth holes ahead of bogeys on 12 and 15 before picking-up a third birdie of his round at his 16th in a one-over-par 73. The Dubliner had finished late on Thursday with the sun very much in sunset mode whereas it was an ...

... Yas Links, Abu Dhabi Among all those I observed in heading to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship practice range for a first time on Tuesday  was the delight in seeing Scot Calum Hill. Golf fans will recall Hill was bitten by mosquitoes while contesting the 2021 late season Portugal Masters, withdrawing after the first round with a 76. A fortnight later, Hill teed-up in season-ending DP World Tour Championship but after one round, and walking for the most part noticeably uncomfortable, he signed ...

.… Yas Links, Abu Dhabi Seamus Power clearly benefited from having a scorecard in hand for a second tournament in three weeks, posting a superb six-under 66 to be lying fourth on day one of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. It did take Power nine holes before a first birdie but he then completed his inward nine in five-under, including back-to-back birdies at his 11th and 12th holes and then birdieing 14 and 15 ahead of a birdie at his 17th on the host Yas Links course. European Ryder Cup captain ...