ABU DHABI // South Africa might have an ancient and sworn rivalry with New Zealand on the rugby field, but two of the country’s golfers have had an All Black great supporting them at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship this week.
Zinzan Brooke, the former New Zealand No 8, is in the capital this week providing rugby tuition as a guest of Middle East Touch.
The trip from his home in the UK has allowed him to indulge one of his other sporting passions, too.
Brooke plays off a handicap of eight, and he won the week’s Pro-Am on the eve of the championship in a group with Branden Grace, the world No 16 from South Africa.
He is clearly on form. “What capped it off was I went over to the chipping range in the village, and I got a hole-in-one,” Brooke said, early on Day 3.
“When I arrived first thing this morning, there was no one around so I asked the guys if I could have a go, and they said yes. The first shot I had went straight in, so that was a good start to the day.”
His Pro-Am success won him a new golf bag, and a new pal. He also has a pre-existing friendship with Ernie Els, Grace’s compatriot and Brooke’s neighbour at Berkshire in
England.
Els missed the cut after shooting 5-over for the opening two rounds at the National Course, but Grace has been his usual consistent self, in contention at 4 under when the halfway cut came.
“What a great guy,” Brooke said of Grace. “I was pleased for him on the first day, he got to
6 under, although he dropped [in Round 2].
“You just need one strong day, to have the confidence. This game is all in the head and all about confidence.”
pradley@thenational.ae
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