Who will take the Podium under the Great Falcon?

At the moment there is quite a chill in the air and there is every possibility that we could have a repeat of the hailstorm a few years ago that engulfed the greens on day 1 which forced play to be suspended until the greens were no longer a sheet of white hail and playable. No this is not a tall fairy tale, it is well documented and there are many photos taken at the time.
If it happens again, I am sure the players will take it in their stride, after all, don’t they keep on saying focus on what you can control and forget about what you can not? Last year, Robert Rock, a previously unknown teaching Pro, literally came from nowhere to win in magnificent fashion with Tiger breathing down his neck and certainly remains a contender this year to be in the mix. Let us not forget another ‘unknown’ who went on to win the Abu Dhabi Championship three times and very nearly a fourth time when he was chasing Paul Casey, I still believe if Martin Kaymer hadn’t taken the flag out when he chipped from the fringe on the 10th hole on the final day, then he would surely have won four titles. As Paul Casey was nervously adding up bogeys on the last 9, Martin was piling on the pressure by keeping his game sharp and at the end of the day, it was a single shot between the top position and runner up. If only Martin had kept the pin in, the ball would have hit the pin and dropped, instead of lipping out!

Alas, that is golf, and that is what keeps spectators on their toes!
When Martin Kaymer first came to Abu Dhabi, he was virtually unknown, and in a world full of sponsors his plain white cap was void any logos. But to the few spectators (you could count them on one hand) who were fortunate enough to see his early rounds, it was obvious he was a great ball striker and perhaps the best hitter of fairway woods in the world. Martin has made the 18th hole his own, it would take a very brave person to bet against Martin not getting a birdie or eagle on the 18th. I am sure Martin would like to dig up the 18th and take it home with him, the two are just inseparable! On all three occasions when he won the title, he has either got birdie or eagle and his second shot has been impeccable. Except on the last occasion when he was forced to use an iron out of the rough to lay up but still birdied! Anyone who saw Martin win on all three occasions, would not have been surprised in the manner he concluded his final round in the magnificent Ryder Cup victory last year. Martin the Ryder Cup hero is certainly not ‘unknown’ now!
This year we are lucky to have a rejuvenated Ernie Els on board and it will be great to see the world’s best jostling for a place on the podium. Let us hope Padraig Harrington is also amongst the leaders after his ridiculous disqualification two years ago based on a few dimples. He really did take his misfortune well and spent time doing clinics for juniors instead of flying away in a huff. We, the juniors of Abu Dhabi really did appreciate his time and efforts to bring the game to us in the HSBC Village.

Sana