Bubba Watson was so moved by Rory McIlroy’s sensational Hero Dubai Desert Classic triumph on Monday, he immediately shot a message to the world No 1.
The two-time Masters champion is yet to receive a reply from the Northern Irishman, but Watson says he has a pretty good idea for the delay.
“He’s probably partying a little bit longer. That was a big win,” said Watson as he prepares to make a comeback in the $5 million Saudi International, the season-opening event on the Asian Tour, after nearly eight months away from competitive golf because of a torn meniscus in his knee.
“I mean, any win is big, but you know, with all that heated stuff going on, it’s a big one for him. I didn’t see it because I was coming here, but I know that there was a real battle coming down the stretch. I texted McIlroy after the win. I just said, ‘Man, great putt on the last hole’.”
McIlroy has led the PGA Tour from the front in its battle against LIV Golf, where Watson is one of the contracted players. During the Dubai Desert Classic, there was a much-publicised showdown between McIlroy and Patrick Reed, who eventually finished one-two when the weather-delayed event finished on Monday.
The world No 1 needed to make a nerve-racking birdie putt from 15 feet on the 18th to beat his American and LIV Golf rival by one shot.
Watson, who is the captain of Niblicks on LIV Golf, was equally impressed by Reed, who is part of Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces team.
“Gosh, every time there’s some heat around Patrick’s name, he just seems to get better at golf. Maybe, he should have been on my team. I would have kept him fired up all the time. But now that he is not, I’m going to be nice to him. He’s such a grinder. That’s his whole mentality,” the 44-year-old southpaw added.
As for the now famous ‘teegate’ controversy involving the two players in Dubai, Watson defended Reed, before adding he understood why McIlroy was trying to avoid any conversation.
“Without a shadow of a doubt, I don't believe that Patrick threw a tee at McIlroy. I’ve thrown tees at people before just for fun,” said the man from Bagdad, California.
“I don’t look at media, so I didn’t know that there was a subpoena given to McIlroy on Christmas Eve. So yes, I 100 per cent agree with him that if you give me a subpoena, I’m probably not going to talk to you either. A subpoena is like you’re saying I did something. And I don’t believe Rory has done anything wrong in his career or his life.
“And maybe, Patrick was just trying to say, ‘Hey, I'm sorry’. Who knows? I don’t think he was being mean. I’m still going to be friends with both of them, until he gives me a subpoena, that is.”
Watson will be at the Masters this year, after Augusta National announced it would let all players who have qualified, participate in this year’s tournament.
McIlroy is one major short of winning a career Grand Slam. The tournament that has been evading him is the Masters, and Watson would love him to get into a Green Jacket.
“I hope so. He’s such a great person for the game. He’s one away from the Grand Slam, and just the Masters and if it happens this year, it would be great,” added Watson.
“But if it’s me and him coming down the stretch, I hope he has to wait one more year!”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
THE DRAFT
The final phase of player recruitment for the T10 League has taken place, with UAE and Indian players being drafted to each of the eight teams.
Bengal Tigers
UAE players: Chirag Suri, Mohammed Usman
Indian: Zaheer Khan
Karachians
UAE players: Ahmed Raza, Ghulam Shabber
Indian: Pravin Tambe
Kerala Kings
UAE players: Mohammed Naveed, Abdul Shakoor
Indian: RS Sodhi
Maratha Arabians
UAE players: Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat
Indian: S Badrinath
Northern Warriors
UAE players: Imran Haider, Rahul Bhatia
Indian: Amitoze Singh
Pakhtoons
UAE players: Hafiz Kaleem, Sheer Walli
Indian: RP Singh
Punjabi Legends
UAE players: Shaiman Anwar, Sandy Singh
Indian: Praveen Kumar
Rajputs
UAE players: Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed
Indian: Munaf Patel
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
THE SPECS
Jaguar F-Pace SVR
Engine: 5-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 680Nm
Price: Dh465,071
