Tiger Woods is back, but how well can he compete?
After the hype and the hullabaloo of the past week at Augusta National, finally came the confirmation. Woods, age 46 and not even 14 months since a terrifying car crash threatened to take his right leg, will be playing in the Masters – provided Wednesday’s final nine holes of practice go well.
The 15-time major champion announced at Tuesday’s pre-tournament press conference that he was set to compete, marking his return to competitive golf for the first time since the final round of the 2020 Masters, held in November that year. As if the golf world was not whipped into enough of a frenzy following Woods’ arrival in Augusta last week.
Now, though, attention turns to what sort of performance we can expect from a man with a penchant for the phenomenal. True to form, Woods says he is gunning for Green Jacket No 6 this week and, while that seems somewhat fanciful, he can never really be written off.
Of course, he knows the track better than most, and arguably no one in the history of the game has displayed as much drive and determination. Yet four rounds of competitive golf across Augusta National’s rolling hills will clearly test his leg, and stamina.
Can Rory McIlroy, at eighth time of asking, complete the major set?
When McIlroy landed the Open in 2014, the career grand slam seemed a cert. The Northern Irishman had won three of golf’s four majors, meaning he required only the Masters to become the sixth male in history to have completed the set (the others being Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Woods).
From the outset, the Masters always felt his surest path to major glory: McIlroy’s game is undoubtedly suited to Augusta, as was evidenced as early as 2011, when he held a four-shot lead heading into the final round but collapsed to finish tied-15th.
However, since claiming the Claret Jug almost eight years ago, McIlroy has had seven attempts to take the final piece of the major jigsaw. In that time, he has finished fourth and tied-5th twice. Yet, last year, McIlroy missed the cut for only the second time at the tournament. Last week, he suffered the same fate at the Valero Texas Open after choosing to skip the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
Clearly, he is still searching for answers coming into Augusta. The former world No 1 wasted golden opportunities to win in Dubai earlier this year, and late last year, so questions will remain should he get into contention this week. And his first-round record at the majors since 2015 - 34-over - portrays where the problem lies.
What will the self-professed below-par Bryson DeChambeau offer?
In a Masters brim-full with juicy storylines, DeChambeau represents one of the most captivating – of course. The marmite American is never too far from the fray, with his 2022 thus far pockmarked by injury and a continued mistrust of the media. On Monday, DeChambeau said he was enjoying a slightly more lowkey presence at Augusta – Woods has, predictably, dominated – but he did cause a stir when claiming he had ignored the advice of his doctor and taken a “huge risk” to play.
Gauging that he was only “around 80 per cent” fit, DeChambeau was sidelined for six weeks with hip and wrist injuries sustained in Saudi Arabia before returning at the recent WGC Match Play and last week's Valero Texas Open. In the former, he won half a point, while in the latter he missed the cut.
The Masters, meanwhile, has not been too kind recently: in 2020, DeChambeau failed to live up to his own billing after describing Augusta as a par-67 for himself – he finished tied-34th – while last year he came home 15 shots off winner Hideki Matsuyama. In fact, the 2020 US Open champion’s best Masters performance arrived on debut, with the T21 in 2016. However he plays, DeChambeau will for sure share some of the spotlight.
How will new world No 1 Scottie Scheffler wear the crown?
Without doubt, Scheffler is the hottest player in men’s golf right now. The American has won on three of his past five starts – a remarkable streak considering the first broke his PGA Tour duck - with last week’s victory at the WGC Match Play lifting him to world No 1 for the first time.
At 25, and having really only come to the fore the past two years, Scheffler has limited experience at Augusta; that said, he finished a more than respectable tied-19th on debut in 2020 and then a spot better off upon his return 12 months ago. Following that T18, Scheffler went T8, T7 and T8 in the season’s other three majors and, when factoring in his 4&3 singles success against then world No 1 Jon Rahm at the Ryder Cup in October, he clearly enjoys the marquee events.
However, this week represents fresh territory: new to him, Scheffler arrives at a tournament as the game’s lead light. How he handles that added attention, at the Masters of all places, will be one to keep an eye on, especially since many before him have struggled with their place at the rankings summit.
Even in absentia, has Phil Mickelson cast a shadow on Augusta?
For the first time in almost three decades, Mickelson will not be teeing it up at the Masters. The three-time champion, who last year became the oldest major winner in history by prevailing at the US PGA Championship aged 50, is currently taking a break from the professional game following controversial comments regarding the PGA Tour and the proposed Saudi Arabia-backed breakaway circuit.
Since, rumour has swirled amid a number of blue-chip sponsors distancing themselves from Mickelson: has he in fact been banned by the PGA Tour (the circuit does not, disappointingly, publicise disciplinary measures) or is it really a self-imposed hiatus? There is speculation, too, that the American was encouraged by Masters officials not to compete this week for fear it would provide too much of a distraction from the season’s first major.
Which makes chairman Fred Ridley’s annual press conference on Wednesday all the more intriguing. Either way, Mickelson’s absence - the first time he has missed the Masters in 28 years - has cast a shadow upon the tournament although, as so often has been the case through his Hall of Fame career, he is still playing second fiddle to Woods this week.
Predictions
Predicted winners for final round of games before play-offs:
- Friday: Delhi v Chennai - Chennai
- Saturday: Rajasthan v Bangalore - Bangalore
- Saturday: Hyderabad v Kolkata - Hyderabad
- Sunday: Delhi v Mumbai - Mumbai
- Sunday - Chennai v Punjab - Chennai
Final top-four (who will make play-offs): Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm
Torque: 353Nm from 1,450-4,700rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Top speed: 250kph
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: Dh146,999
Match info
Manchester City 3 (Jesus 22', 50', Sterling 69')
Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 65')
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Mobile phone packages comparison
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
MATCH INFO
Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
Honeymoonish
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elie%20El%20Samaan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENour%20Al%20Ghandour%2C%20Mahmoud%20Boushahri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'Moonshot'
Director: Chris Winterbauer
Stars: Lana Condor and Cole Sprouse
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
RESULTS
West Asia Premiership
Thursday
Jebel Ali Dragons 13-34 Dubai Exiles
Friday
Dubai Knights Eagles 16-27 Dubai Tigers
What is an ETF?
An exchange traded fund is a type of investment fund that can be traded quickly and easily, just like stocks and shares. They come with no upfront costs aside from your brokerage's dealing charges and annual fees, which are far lower than on traditional mutual investment funds. Charges are as low as 0.03 per cent on one of the very cheapest (and most popular), Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, with the maximum around 0.75 per cent.
There is no fund manager deciding which stocks and other assets to invest in, instead they passively track their chosen index, country, region or commodity, regardless of whether it goes up or down.
The first ETF was launched as recently as 1993, but the sector boasted $5.78 billion in assets under management at the end of September as inflows hit record highs, according to the latest figures from ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five largest providers BlackRock’s iShares, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisers, Deutsche Bank X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
While the best-known track major indices such as MSCI World, the S&P 500 and FTSE 100, you can also invest in specific countries or regions, large, medium or small companies, government bonds, gold, crude oil, cocoa, water, carbon, cattle, corn futures, currency shifts or even a stock market crash.
match info
Maratha Arabians 138-2
C Lynn 91*, A Lyth 20, B Laughlin 1-15
Team Abu Dhabi 114-3
L Wright 40*, L Malinga 0-13, M McClenaghan 1-17
Maratha Arabians won by 24 runs
