Champion McDowell defends Saudi International title against ‘Desert Swing’ winners as local hopefuls look to make their mark

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Graeme McDowell won the 2020 Saudi International. (Getty Images)
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Paul Casey is hoping to continue his fine form this week. (Getty Images)
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Tyrrell Hatton out for his practice round at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club. (Getty Images)
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Coach Jamie McConnell with Saud Alsharif and Faisal Salhab. (Supplied)
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Updated 03 February 2021
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Champion McDowell defends Saudi International title against ‘Desert Swing’ winners as local hopefuls look to make their mark

  • Third edition takes place at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club
  • Includes Masters winner Dustin Johnson and US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau

RIYADH: The wait for the third Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers is over and for the world’s top-ranked golfers, returning legends, and Saudi newcomers it is chance to kick-start the new year after the disruptions and cancellations of the 2020 campaign.

Among those hoping to blow the cobwebs away will be last year’s winner Graeme McDowell, who has had a disappointing start to 2021 so far.

Last year, the Northern Irishman had triumphed at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club by two shots over 2019 champion Dustin Johnson, finishing on 12-under-par, at the second hosting of the $3.5 million European Tour event.

The momentum gained from winning in Saudi was set to propel McDowell to a stellar season, particularly as it was Ryder Cup year too. But the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic put an end to his and many other plans.

He said: “It was a nice victory at the time. I felt like I was starting to get a little bit of a head of steam up and starting to create some nice momentum and move in the right direction. Obviously that momentum didn’t get a chance to last very long, unfortunately.

“Obviously that four-month break, it broke my momentum a little bit, and I didn’t respond well when we came back in the summer.

“But it’s nice to come back. Always nice to come back to a golf course where you have great memories. And like I say, I would love to get some of that momentum back again this week. That would be really, really awesome,” he added.

McDowell has missed the cut in the two European Tour events he has taken part in already this season – the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic – and he will be hoping a return to form in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) can kickstart his 2021 and his push for selection in this year’s European Ryder Cup team.

“(It was my) first time here last year. Nice, windy track. Good golf course. Great facilities here. It fit my eye pretty well and like I say, it was really important to me at the time. The win got me back in the top 50 in the world and got me in Augusta and opened a lot of doors for me,” McDowell said.

“So, I’d love to try and find something this week. It’s been a disappointing Middle East so far. I would dearly love to play well this week and get my season kicked off.”

The 41-year-old golfer can expect serious challenge for his title from two Englishmen who have enjoyed the “Desert Swing” so far; world No. 5 Tyrrell Hatton, winner in Abu Dhabi two weeks ago, and 27th-ranked Paul Casey, who claimed his 21st career win at Emirates Golf Course in Dubai last weekend.

And that is before the likes of Masters champion and world No. 1 Dustin Johnson and reigning US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau are factored in.

Hatton said: “This week we’ve got huge World Ranking points on offer. It’s an added incentive, I guess, a little bit more motivation. We’ve got Ryder Cup points to play for. So, there’s plenty of things this week that you’re motivated for, and it will certainly be a great event to have a really good week.”

Casey, a newcomer to the Saudi International, praised the strength of the field taking to the Red Sea coastal course.

He said: “Cracking-looking golf course. I’m here to try and play and beat an unbelievable field. Even today, learning about some of the guys who are here this week. I’m not one to necessarily look at entry lists to see who is playing week-in, week-out, but it’s stacked. We’re going to have huge World Ranking points. I’m excited to get stuck in.”

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia National Team coach Jamie McConnell has been weighing up the form and strengths of the three leading Saudi Arabian players competing at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.

Saud Al-Sharif

Form: Saud played the most competitive golf in 2020 out of the three before the first COVID-19 lockdown hit. He won the amateur prize in Bahrain on the MENA Tour, shooting a phenomenal 66 and also got into a playoff later on in the year in the Bahrain Amateur.

It has been really difficult coaching wise for all the national team with the restrictions, so I have been coaching him via Zoom and FaceTime remotely – sending video and training plans to keep him improving and on track.

Last week he arrived in Dubai to do a tournament prep week with us and we linked him up with a new caddie, Luke Joy. We pushed him hard to see how he would react, and he did brilliantly. I am excited to see what he does in the tournament.

Strengths: Ball and distance control are phenomenal. Solid ball striker.

Faisal Salhab

Form: Faisal had a really interesting year as he has been stuck in Saudi Arabia and been unable to travel and play. We got him a good golf coach from Abu Dhabi called Grant Smith, who joined the Saudi team in Riyadh. Grant’s really inspired him to work harder, practice harder, and focus.

His invite was quite last minute, and he was really working toward 2022 – but we were delighted with the news of his inclusion and he has really ramped up his preparation since. He has been at Royal Greens well in advance of the tournament, preparing and building strong momentum for a good showing.

Strengths: Without a doubt it’s his power. He has a huge amount of swing speed and if he can keep it in play, he will make it a very short golf course indeed.

Othman Almulla 

Form: Othman remains the only professional player still in the Kingdom. Like the other guys he has been working remotely for the year. He went back to Saudi Arabia before the last lockdown and has stayed there since.

The last couple of months he has been working hard to make a couple of swing changes which seem to be settling in just in time ahead of this week where his preparation has been really solid.

He seems really excited for his career going forward and where he might take his game. Hopefully, this week will give him some momentum for a good year which will pay off in the long run.

Strengths: An ability to get the ball ‘around’ the course, plays the conditions well, and can make a score. He is very steady and not much phases him out there.


Barca shred Valencia to restore La Liga shine

Updated 27 January 2025
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Barca shred Valencia to restore La Liga shine

BARCELONA: Barcelona blew away a miserable Valencia 7-1 on Sunday to get back on track in La Liga with a ruthless victory.
Fermin Lopez struck twice for the Catalans in the first half, along with goals from Frenkie de Jong, Ferran Torres and Raphinha which gave Barcelona a commanding five-goal lead at the break.
Hugo Duro pulled one back early in the second half before Robert Lewandowski pounced for Barca, followed by a Cesar Tarrega own goal, with the third-placed hosts earning just their second win in their last nine league matches.
Hansi Flick’s side trail La Liga leaders Real Madrid by seven points and second-placed Atletico Madrid by three.
Flick shuffled his pack against Valencia in order to spark a response given the club’s poor domestic form.
The coach began with Lewandowski and Ronald Araujo on the bench, while Pedri was absent because of a stomach bug, leading to De Jong, Ferran Torres and the superb Lopez all starting.
It took just three minutes for De Jong to open the scoring, with teenage star Lamine Yamal crossing for him in the area virtually unmarked, and he fired home.
Barcelona soon had their second, with Torres tucking home from Alejandro Balde’s cross, in similar fashion to the first goal but from the opposite flank.
The hosts moved three goals ahead in the 14th minute when Lopez clipped a fine ball over the top for Raphinha to run onto.
The Brazilian winger rounded Giorgi Mamardashvili and rolled home for his 12th league goal of the season.
Valencia, without the suspended Cristhian Mosquera, were struggling badly in defense and Barcelona broke in seemingly at will.
Lopez collected a perfectly measured Pau Cubarsi long pass for the fourth and although it was initially ruled offside, the decision was corrected by VAR.
Valencia thought they had won a penalty when Wojciech Szczesny brought down Hugo Duro but play was eventually brought back for a foul on Jules Kounde after another video review.
Lopez rattled home the fifth on the volley before half-time when Raphinha’s effort hit the post and fell nicely for him with the goalkeeper stranded.
Hugo Duro pulled one back for Valencia early in the second half from Diego Lopez’s low cross and Flick responded by sending on La Liga’s top goalscorer Lewandowski.
The Polish forward finished clinically for his 17th league goal of the season after being sent through by Lopez for Barca’s sixth on the night.
Barcelona netted their seventh when Torres’s hammered cross was deflected into his own net by Tarrega.
Seven goals did not flatter Barcelona by any means and the thrashing is a setback for Carlos Corberan’s Valencia, 19th and four points from safety.
Earlier Athletic Bilbao, fourth, could only produce a 0-0 draw at home against Leganes, and now trail Barcelona by two points.
Relegation-battling Getafe earned an impressive 3-0 win at Real Sociedad to climb to 14th, while Rayo Vallecano came from behind to beat Girona 2-1.


Ronaldo on target again as Al-Nassr win to go 3rd in Saudi Pro League

Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after the Al-Nassr v Al-Fateh match on January 26, 2025. (Reuters)
Updated 26 January 2025
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Ronaldo on target again as Al-Nassr win to go 3rd in Saudi Pro League

  • Late strike lifts Portuguese star’s goal tally to 14 — and saves goalkeeper’s blushes

RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo’s fine goalscoring form continued in the Saudi Pro League on Sunday as he helped Al-Nassr defeat Al-Fateh 3-1 to move back into third place. 

A late strike made it three goals in two games for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner as he moved clear at the top of the goalscoring standings with 14 for the season so far.

The deadlock was only broken four minutes before the break when Marwane Saadane put into his own net from close range after Angelo drove a low ball across the face of goal. Angelo was the provider of the second just before the hour, swinging over a free-kick for French defender Mohamed Simakan to head home his first goal for Al-Nassr.

At 2-0 the game seemed done and dusted, but with 18 minutes remaining, Al-Fateh, in last place in the standings, reduced the arrears thanks to Mourad Batna, who pounced after goalkeeper Bento spent too long on the ball inside his own area and was caught in possession.

Ronaldo spared Bento’s blushes with three minutes of normal time remaining, just as the visitors were threatening to take a surprising point.

It was so simple. Sadio Mane broke free down the left, passed to the far post, and there was the Portuguese star to sweep home with the minimum of fuss.

Ronaldo had the ball in the back of the net once more deep into injury time, smashing home spectacularly from the right side of the area, only for the strike to be ruled out for offside.

Al-Nassr now have 35 points from 17 games, eight behind Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad, who have a game in hand. 

Earlier in the day, Al-Ahli made it seven wins from the last eight in the league with a 5-0 thrashing of Al-Riyadh.

Two goals from England striker Ivan Toney and one each from Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez, and Ziyad Al-Johani made the difference as the Jeddah club stay in fifth, three points behind Al-Nassr.


Jannik Sinner beats Alexander Zverev in 3 sets for his second Australian Open title in a row

Updated 26 January 2025
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Jannik Sinner beats Alexander Zverev in 3 sets for his second Australian Open title in a row

  • Jannik Sinner is the youngest man to leave Melbourne Park with the trophy two years in a row since Jim Courier in 1992-1993

MELBOURNE: Jannik Sinner claimed his second consecutive Australian Open championship on Sunday, never facing a single break point and using his complete game to outplay and frustrate Alexander Zverev for a 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory in the final.
Sinner, a 23-year-old Italian, is the youngest man to leave Melbourne Park with the trophy two years in a row since Jim Courier in 1992-93.
Sinner rose to No. 1 last June, remaining there for every week since, and the gap between him and No. 2-ranked Zverev was pronounced as can be in Rod Laver Arena. This was the first Australian Open final between the men at No. 1 and No. 2 since 2019, when No. 1 Novak Djokovic defeated No. 2 Rafael Nadal – also in straight sets.
Here’s how dominant Sinner has been since the start of last season: He has won three of the five major tournaments, including the US Open in September, and his record in that span is 80-6 with a total of nine tournament titles. His current unbeaten run covers 21 matches, dating to last year.
The only thing that’s clouded the past 12 months for Sinner, it seems, is a doping case in which he was cleared by a ruling that was appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency. He tested positive for a trace amount of an anabolic steroid twice last March but blamed it on an accidental exposure involving two members of his team who have since been fired. Sinner initially was exonerated in August; a hearing in the WADA appeal is scheduled for April.
While Sinner became the eighth man in the Open era (which began in 1968) to start his career 3-0 in Grand Slam finals, Zverev is the seventh to be 0-3, adding this loss to those at the 2020 US Open and the 2024 French Open.
Those earlier setbacks both came in five sets. This contest was not that close. Not at all.
There truly was only one moment that felt as if it contained a hint of tension. It was late in the second set, which Zverev was two points from owning when he led 5-4 and got to love-30 on Sinner’s serve. But a break point – and a set point – never arrived there.
Zverev not got closer, dropping the next four points, making it 5-all. Sinner then emerged with the ensuing tiebreaker. No surprise there: He went 4-0 in those set-deciders over the past two weeks and has grabbed 16 of his past 18.
A year ago, Sinner went through a lot more trouble to earn his first Slam, needing to get past Novak Djokovic – who quit one set into his semifinal against Zverev on Friday because of a torn hamstring – first, before erasing a two-set deficit in the final against 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev.
Beating Zverev allowed Sinner to become the first man since Nadal at the French Open in 2005 and 2006 to follow up his first Grand Slam title by repeating as the champion at the same tournament a year later.


Usman Nurmagomedov retains Bellator lightweight world title after epic win over Paul Hughes

Updated 26 January 2025
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Usman Nurmagomedov retains Bellator lightweight world title after epic win over Paul Hughes

  • Defending champion says he would welcome a rematch in Belfast

DUBAI: Usman Nurmagomedov beat Paul Hughes on Saturday night to retain his Bellator lightweight world title at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.

The main event at the PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series produced a 25-minute battle between the prides of Dagestan and Northern Ireland, with Nurmagomedov staying unbeaten after receiving the nod from two of the three judges sitting outside the SmartCage (47-47, 48-46, 48-46). After the majority decision win, Nurmagomedov had nothing but respect for his opponent.

“This is for you guys, Paul Hughes, you are the man, brother you’re tough, I underestimated this guy,” Nurmagomedov said. “But I’m still undefeated, undisputed Bellator lightweight champion.”

Hughes also made it clear he would love a rematch in Belfast.

“It played out how I expected, I’m so gutted and disappointed I lost. I thought I won the fight, I probably left some in the tank, I need to leave everything behind next time. I really thought I was going to win,” Hughes said. “The PFL believed in me and I believe in the PFL. We have to do the rematch in Belfast, it has to be in Belfast, I think I’ve earned this.”

The PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series is the inaugural “Road to Dubai” event after the signing of a groundbreaking multi-year partnership between the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai Sports Council and the Professional Fighters League.

The first-of-its-kind partnership will allow MMA world champions and the sport’s biggest stars from the PFL to compete in title fights as Dubai becomes a marquee destination for the best of MMA.

All other Champions Series events will now be co-branded as “Road to Dubai” events, with each show building to the finale, set in the new fight capital. As part of the PFL’s commitment to developing the sport of MMA in Dubai, rising Emirati star fighters will now have a pathway to become future PFL champions.

In the heavyweight co-main event of the evening, former Bellator light heavyweight world champion Vadim Nemkov (19-2) made quick work of Tim Johnson (18-11), needing only 3:08 to submit the former Minnesota National Guardsman. Originally scheduled to face Corey Anderson in a rematch, Johnson took the bout on short notice and brought the fight to Nemkov, but a rear-naked choke brought the bout to an end. Nemkov now has 14 straight wins under his belt.

Dagestan’s Akhmed Magomedov (11-1) submitted Ireland’s Nathan Kelly (11-3) via rear-naked choke in Round 2 in a featherweight main card bout on Saturday. Magomedov, who had not fought in almost two years, quickly shook off any rust. With the win, Dagestan moved to 2-0 against Ireland with the main event remaining.

England’s Ibragim Ibragimov improved to 9-0 after a unanimous decision victory (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) against Kenny Mokhonoana (5-2). Ibragimov’s third win under the PFL banner shows that he is not only one of the best rising prospects on the European MMA scene, but globally as well.

The opening main card bout of the PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series featured Russia’s Renat Khavalov (9-0) against Brazil’s Cleiver Fernandes (9-2) at bantamweight. With Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov in his corner, Khavalov cruised to a unanimous (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) decision in his PFL debut.

Preliminary card results

Ahmed Samy (12-4) beat Tarek Suleiman (13-9) via TKO at 5:00 in Round 1

Mirafzal Akhtamov (8-0-1) beat Mike Thompson (7-3) via technical submission (head and arm choke) at 2:50 of Round 2

Hadi Omar Al Hussaini (6-1-1) beat Ruel Panales (5-3) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

John Mitchell (10-2) beat Souhil Tairi (7-6-1) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Haider Khan (9-1) beat Mostafa Nada (9-4) via TKO at 3:18 of Round 1

Talal Alqallaf (3-0 AM.) beat Saeed Alhosani (4-3 AM.) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-27)


LIV Golf set for first-ever night event at 2025 season opener in Riyadh

Updated 26 January 2025
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LIV Golf set for first-ever night event at 2025 season opener in Riyadh

  • After three years of hosting the event in Jeddah, LIV Golf will debut at Riyadh Golf Club from Feb. 6-8
  • Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, and many of golf’s biggest stars set to compete

RIYADH: Following three years of hosting events at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club near Jeddah, LIV Golf will make its debut this season at the Riyadh Golf Club from Feb. 6-8 in what will be its first-ever night event.

The event will feature a strong line-up of players including LIV Golf 2024 individual champion Jon Rahm (Legion XIII), LIV Golf Jeddah 2024 winner Joaquin Niemann (Torque GC), as well as international golfing stars such as World Golf Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson (HyFlyers GC), five-time major winner Brooks Koepka (Smash GC), 2024 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau (Crushers GC), and many more.

Ross Hallett, LIV Golf executive vice president and head of events, shared his excitement, saying, “LIV Golf Riyadh is going to be a can’t-miss event featuring world-class competition and entertainment for fans of all ages. Hosting the tournament at night is another example of our commitment to innovation and presenting new ways to enjoy the sport at its highest level.

“We encourage all fans to arrive early to enjoy the fan village, food festival, fun fair and on-course treasure hunt amongst the many family activities happening around the golf course as we deliver an unforgettable experience at Riyadh Golf Club starting on the 6th of February,” he added.

The 2025 season opener will also mark the debut of Lee Cheih-po, winner of the LIV Golf Promotions 2024 event at Riyadh Golf Club. The Chinese-Taipei star secured the sole spot to join the league’s prestigious 54-player field after a thrilling final day at the Riyadh Golf Club in December.