JON RAHM NEVER IMAGINED HE’D BE DEFENDING THE DUBAI DUTY FREE IRISH OPEN AS EUROPE’S HIGHEST-RANKED PLAYER. OTHER LEGENDS AREN’T SURPRISED AT ALL.
PHIL MICKELSON OPENLY TOUTED JON RAHM for greatness, Johnny Miller too. ▶ “He doesn’t have any weaknesses,” Lefty said after the Spaniard rode five birdies and two eagles to a closing 65 and a recordsetting six-shot victory at last year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Portstewart in Londonderry. “Every part of his game is a strength.” ▶ Given Rahm’s manager is Mickelson’s younger brother and caddy Tim, you could dismiss those comments as hyperbole topped with lashings of nepotism. ▶ But Miller clearly agreed with the Mickelson boys, the twotime major winning Hall of Famer turned TV analyst saying Rahm has future No.1 “written all over his head.” ▶ ▶ ▶
Fast-forward 12 months and Rahm is living up to the heady billing. Victory at the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in November has quickly snowballed into a second PGA Tour triumph at the CareerBuilder Challenge in January and a third European Tour title at his home Open de Espana in April, a week after he’d finished solo fourth at The Masters.
Denne historien er fra June 2018-utgaven av Golf Digest Middle East.
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Denne historien er fra June 2018-utgaven av Golf Digest Middle East.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Tempting Entrée
INDUSTRY IDENTITIES AND A FORMER SIX NATIONS STAR AMONG THE BIG NAMES ROLLED OUT FOR THE EAGL’S SUMMER DRESS-REHEARSAL
Year of the Comeback
Tour pros of all ages are rediscovering their mojo
THE GOLF STAYCATION PERFECTED
Golf Digest Middle East’s inaugural Play & Stay is coming to Radisson Dubai DAMAC Hills and Trump Dubai
THE GENIUS OF JORDAN
HE WANTED A CONFIDENT, RELIABLE SWING. HE FOUND IT IN A CLEVER WAY
The Starter
The Nairn Golf Club
Undercover Caddie
Think you could carry a 40-pound bag for a living?
DRIVE BLAST PUTT
THREE WAYS TO RAISE YOUR GAME
Get Set - Ball-striking success starts at address
AMATEURS OFTEN STAND OVER THE BALL with their feet too wide apart. I understand the appeal—they want to feel more stable throughout the swing, and a wider stance seems a logical way to achieve that.
Take 5
It’s hot but that’s no excuse not to warm-up before every round and range session
Classic Closer
Our monthly guide to taming the region’s stroke index 1 holes has gone off-piste. Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club professional Matthew Brookes heads to arguably the toughest finishing hole in Middle East golf