Dubai Desert Classic Report

[projamie]

Hello all,

 

Just got back from Dubai a few hours ago and thought i would share some things about this years tournement. I was at the course from the wednesday up till the sunday. As you all probably saw the fog was big trouble for the majority of the tournement and saw alot of the guys playing 2 rounds a day.

 

There was alot of R9s and FT-9s in play all week. The majority of players using the R9 seemed to have it set up so the shaft graphics where facing away from the target which im assuming is open? Alot of guys not contracted with either Callaway or Taylormade were playing both models and looked like they were all getting on well...

 

Spent the Pro-Am Day with Paul Lawrie who had the R9 in play, had his old driver in the bag too but didnt hit it once, just flushed the R9 all day... Got a chance to hit the FT-9 last night and i can say the hype is going to do this justice, i have never liked callaway woods but this thing is different and goes! I hit an 8.5* XX and still went well!

 

Shaft wise, Rombaxs where everywhere, Z series... a few Diamanas/Axiv cores/Accras/Oziks....

 

Putters, was only Odyssey, Rossa and Yes! there. Few interesting Rossas there, few from the Japanese market on show the rep said and Stenson spent alot of time with the Yes! guys using putting aids. Michael Lorenzo Vera tried out several Odyssey putters and settled on a Black series number 7 for the week having signed for Callaway not so long ago, and Ernie was chopping and changing all week...

 

Got to see pretty much everyone, some impressive golf and not so impressive golf. Mathew Turner was very impressive and have to congratulate his play, held up well under the preassure. Ignacia Garrido was someone whos ballstriking has gone unoticed in the past, very sold indeed.

 

Got to spend some time on the range with John Bickerton last night. Hit a few balls and watched him hit a few balls and went through his swing and a few bits and pieces. He said it was one of the most exciting finishes to a tournement in recent times and every player was happy for Rory...

 

Which leaves me to say a very well done to Rory Mcilroy, fantastic resilliance shown on the final day and thoroughly deserved win. Fantastic tournement overall, not bad considering its in the middle of a desert :rolleyes:

 

Jamie

[Simp]

Great report! Thanks for the info!

[floyd]

Nice report, thanks!

[slice_oftheday]

Awesome report, thanks for the read.

[tjoncas]

thank you ! .. any pics to post ?

[resist_hard.]

Great report jamie. Did you manage too get a couple of rounds in like you said? What courses did you play?

 

Sounds like you had a wicked time.

[projamie]

I did get a couple of pics on my phone but forgot my camera!

 

I got to play Arabian Ranches Nick, about 10 minutes from the Emerites, walked in and was absolutly stunning clubhouse, putting green was massive and about as perfect as ive ever putted on, grass range, perfect practice bunkers... I said to the guy i was with, this is a bit nice... He said this is one of the cheaper ones! To be fair Emerites was fantastic, i did have a free round organised for Sunday but unfortunatly had to fly back. Never mind!

 

 

 

Forgot to mention in the post, quite a few Javlns and Voodoos in play aswell. Lee westwood even had the "for PGA tour only" graphics voodoo in his driver. Darren Clarke was also sporting the Voodoo aswell as a few different colour schemes of his Stuburt Classics which i was jelous of... Have the green ones but wouldnt mind what he was wearing all week! Also alot of the Callaway guys had the new Diablo headcover with the horns which was rather disturbing!

 

 

 

Any questions shoot them and ill try to answer!

 

 

 

Jamie

[NotEvenJail26]

I don't know whether they have arrived with TM yet but Clarky has his own Voodoo graphics. Bottom half is standard voodoo graphics with DCC, top is plain black. XPP8 profile.

[projamie]

Come to think of it i think your right, i remember vaugly his shaft being slightly darker in colour... cant be certain though... And i wasnt expecting it to be VS profile either :rolleyes: