RABAT: World-class international golf tees off in Morocco next month with the Asian Tour’s groundbreaking International Series making its debut in North Africa.
The International Series Morocco will be hosted at the historic Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, in Rabat, from Nov. 3 to 6, with free admission.
With prize money of $1.5 million up for grabs, the event plays a key role in determining the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, as well as the International Series money list winner.
The International Series was launched earlier this year thanks to a new landmark partnership between the Asian Tour and LIV Golf to raise the profile of the game in Asia and the Middle East.
“This has been an unprecedented season and we were delighted to be able to announce exciting news about the Asian Tour’s first visit to North Africa in Morocco — with its illustrious golfing heritage,” said Cho Minn Thant, commissioner and CEO, Asian Tour.
The inaugural International Series has had four events to date in 2022; with local star Taehoon Ok (International Series Korea) and Nitithorn Thippong (International Series Singapore) the winners back in August.
The International Series Thailand kicked off in March and was won by emerging American star Sihwan Kim at Black Mountain Golf Club. Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent claimed the International Series England in June.
Alongside Asia’s stars, the field will include eight of the best homegrown Moroccan players who will be announced at a later date.
“After three years of shutdown due to COVID-19, we are delighted to once again host a top-notch international professional competition,” said Abderrahim Bouftas, president of the golf venue.
“It’s hugely exciting for Morocco to play host to the new International Series and a chance for us to see the very best and emerging talents from the Asian Tour and Moroccan golf. We are proud of our tradition and its prestigious history of Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. It’s a huge opportunity for the passionate Moroccan fan base here to see world-class golf on the jewel in our crown here, the Red Course.”
Designed by Robert Trent Jones, the course was commissioned by King Hassan II in the late 1960s and is situated in the capital Rabat.
The venue has hosted many events of the European Tour, Ladies European Tour and PGA Champions series in recent times.
Hicham Berdaii, director of the venue, said: “This is another important historic milestone for Royal Golf Dar Es Salam as we host the inaugural International Series Morocco tournament. We are hugely looking forward to opening our doors for all with admission free for spectators. We want to inspire even more people locally to get into golf and for the world to see what incredible courses Morocco has on offer. With a new purpose-built spectator village at the venue, we look to hosting families, friends, golf fans and our members to enjoy an exciting new event on the golfing calendar.”
After Morocco, the International Series Egypt takes place the following week at Madinaty Golf Club in Cairo from Nov. 10 to 13.
Morocco to host first Asian golf tour event in North Africa
https://arab.news/2tgrw
Morocco to host first Asian golf tour event in North Africa
- $1.5m free event to feature local and international stars from Nov. 3-6
- The inaugural International Series has had four events to date in 2022
Police probe abuse of Havertz’s wife after Arsenal star’s woes
- Havertz missed a penalty in Arsenal’s shootout defeat against Manchester United in the FA Cup
- The Germany international’s wife, Sophia, reposted two abusive messages she had received on Instagramhavertz
LONDON: Police have launched an investigation into social media abuse aimed at Arsenal forward Kai Havertz’s wife after his latest poor performance.
Havertz missed a penalty in Arsenal’s shootout defeat against Manchester United in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.
Following Arsenal’s second successive loss, the Germany international’s wife, Sophia, reposted two abusive messages she had received on Instagram.
A police spokesman told Britain’s Press Association: “Officers have received a report of malicious communications toward a Hertfordshire resident on Sunday 12 January. Enquiries are under way.”
Speaking on Tuesday, on the eve of Arsenal’s Premier League match against Tottenham, Gunners manager Mikel Arteta flagged the “terrible consequences” of online abuse.
“It’s something that we really have to eradicate from the game, because it’s so cynical as well,” he said.
Havertz has scored 12 goals in 27 matches for Arsenal this season.
But his woeful finishing in the United game and the preceeding 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle in the League Cup semifinal first leg has reopened criticism of the German.
Havertz, who scored the Champions League final winner for Chelsea in 2021, has endured an erratic spell with Arsenal since moving across London in 2023.
But Arteta said there is no excuse for the abuse, saying: “We can accept it and say ‘that’s our job’, but there are certain limits and the line has to be drawn. It cannot happen. That’s it.”
Lyon dumped out of French cup by fifth-tier Bourgoin-Jallieu
- The hometown hero was Mehdi Moujetzky
BOURGOIN-JALLIEU, France: Seven-time French champions Lyon were sent crashing out of the French Cup when they were beaten 4-2 on penalties by fifth-tier Bourgoin-Jallieu in their last-32 tie on Wednesday.
The hometown hero was Mehdi Moujetzky, who scored both goals for Bourgoin-Jallieu in normal time as the game ended 2-2.
He put his side ahead after 20 minutes and scored his second in the 69th to level the scores after Nemanja Matic and Georges Mikautadze appeared to have put Lyon, who are sixth in Ligue 1, en route for the last 16.
Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso both missed penalties in the shoot-out to send Bourgoin-Jallieu through.
There was another upset when Ligue 2 side Troyes beat Ligue 1’s Rennes 1-0.
South Africa’s injured Nortje ruled out of Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy
- Nortje has played in 19 Tests, 22 one-day internationals and 42 T20 internationals for South Africa
- Replacement for Nortje, named in South Africa’s 15-man squad on Tuesday, will be announced soon
JOHANNESBURG: Fast bowler Anrich Nortje was on Tuesday ruled out of the Champions Trophy because of a back injury.
The latest injury setback for the 31-year-old was announced by Cricket South Africa a day after he was named in his country’s 15-man squad for the tournament in Pakistan next month.
Nortje, at his peak the fastest bowler in international cricket, underwent a scan on Monday, according to a statement by CSA, “which revealed the extent of the injury.”
The statement did not specify the exact nature of the injury.
Nortje, who has played in 19 Tests, 22 one-day internationals and 42 T20 internationals, has not played any international cricket since the final of the T20 World Cup in Barbados last June.
He had been in line to make a comeback against Pakistan last month but suffered a broken toe while batting in the nets.
Nortje was also ruled out of the ongoing SA20 franchise competition in which he was due to play for Pretoria Capitals.
CSA said a replacement would be named later.
Lebanese sensation Hady Habib’s historic journey comes to an end at Australian Open
- The 26-year-old Houston-born player lost to Frenchman Ugo Humbert in three straight sets (3-6, 4-6, 4-6)
- A large crowd from the Lebanese community in Australia were present to cheer on Habib
BEIRUT: The journey of Lebanon’s tennis sensation Hady Habib, who on Sunday became the first Lebanese to ever win a Grand Slam match, ended at the Australian Open after he lost to France’s Ugo Humbert on Wednesday.
In front of a large Lebanese audience in Melbourne that enthusiastically supported Habib, the 26-year-old Houston-born player ended what has been portrayed as a historic journey in the Australian Open tournament after losing three straight sets (3-6, 4-6, 4-6) in the second round.
On Sunday, Habib, who is 216th in the ATP singles ranking, made history after defeating in the first round 22-year-old Chinese player Bu Yunchaokete, ranked 65th in the world, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (6) to reach the second round, becoming the first Lebanese to win a Grand Slam main draw singles match in the Open Era.
A large crowd from the Lebanese community in Australia were present to cheer on Habib as he challenged an elite player, Humbert, ranked 14th in the world. The clear and obvious difference in experience eventually leaned in favor of the Frenchman.
Habib became the first Lebanese to qualify for one of the four major tennis tournaments, after achieving three consecutive victories in the preliminary rounds by defeating American Patrick Kipson (6-4, 7-6), Taiwan’s Chun-Hsin Tseng (6-4, 7-6) and Frenchman Clement Chedekh (6-4, 3-6, 7-6).
Habib represented Lebanon in the Olympic Games, and lost at Roland Garros to Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz in the first round. He also lost the doubles match with Benjamin Hassan to the Australian duo Matthew Ebden and John Peers.
“It’s absolutely incredible,” he told Arab News earlier this week after his first-round triumph.
“I’m so grateful for their support. I think the Lebanese community, I sort of brought everyone together, and it was really special to win in front of them. Every time I’m playing, there’s a larger and larger crowd. So, yeah, it’s just been amazing,” the 26-year-old said.
BBC’s Match of the Day unveils new hosts to replace Lineker
- Kelly Cates, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman will share presenting duties on the iconic show
- Cates, Dalglish’s 49-year-old daughter, is part of Sky Sports’ presenting team and will continue in that job alongside her new Match of the Day role
LONDON: Match of the Day, the BBC’s flagship Premier League highlights program, has unveiled three new hosts to replace Gary Lineker, including the daughter of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish.
Kelly Cates, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman will share presenting duties on the iconic show, which celebrated its 60th anniversary last year, when current host Lineker steps down at the end of this season.
Cates, Dalglish’s 49-year-old daughter, is part of Sky Sports’ presenting team and will continue in that job alongside her new Match of the Day role.
“Once I sit in that chair and the theme music starts, I just know that’s going to be a really incredible moment,” she said.
“I’ve worked with a lot of the pundits before and they’re all fantastic, so I’m just looking forward to getting started.”
Former Tottenham, Barcelona and England striker Lineker is the BBC’s highest-paid presenter, earning £1.35 million ($1.65 million) a year, and has been the face of Match of the Day for 26 years.
Lineker, 64, will remain on the BBC’s coverage of the FA Cup next season and is also set to present shows during the 2026 World Cup.
In August 2016, Lineker made good on a promise to present Match of the Day in his underpants after his boyhood club Leicester won the Premier League.
But he was briefly taken off air by bosses in Match 2023 after comparing the language used to launch a British government asylum policy to the rhetoric of Nazi-era Germany on social media.
In solidarity with Lineker, a number of fellow presenters and pundits including Alan Shearer and Ian Wright refused to appear on the program.
An episode was reduced to 20 minutes and aired without its host, pundits and commentary before Lineker was reinstated just over a week later.
“Gary has done a phenomenal job at Match of the Day for the last 26 years, he’ll be missed greatly and we all still get to enjoy him on our screens across some of football’s greatest tournaments,” the BBC’s director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski said.
Match of the Day, which was first broadcast in 1964, averages around four million viewers each week during the Premier League season.
For decades, the show with the memorable theme tune was a Saturday night institution, but audiences have dropped significantly from its peak in the 1970s and 1980s.
