In the preview to this week's climax to the European Tour season at Jumeirah Golf Estates, Luke Donald revealed how he planned next year to chase down Rory McIlroy, golf's runaway leader.
However, yesterday the world No 2 was glancing at the only man above him in the rankings simply through his rear-view mirror, having opened his DP World Tour Championship account with a supreme seven-under par 65, heading the field by one shot.
Donald, who on Sunday passes to McIlroy the Race to Dubai crown he collected last season – the Northern Irishman secured the title two weeks ago in Singapore – signed off a blemish-free scorecard, with his young challenger providing the stardust in a trio one stroke behind.
Donald began the 2011 event “with a target on my back” having come into the week hunting both trophies, but attributed yesterday’s success to the change in circumstances.
“Definitely the feeling today was different on the first tee than a year ago,” the Englishman said. “There was a lot more at stake for me last season, so I felt a bit more pressure.
“The goal was the same: come here and try to win the tournament. So this week, it feels like I’m just playing for the tournament. It definitely feels a little bit easier.”
The sight of the world’s two best players at the top of the leaderboard will no doubt warm the hearts of the European Tour, who have dismissed the notion this week seems something of an anticlimax, because of McIlroy’s inconvenient mastery.
Donald did not choose to cast his mind towards Sunday's final round, but when he was asked how he would feel going head-to-head with the two-time major champion, it appeared to stoke his fires.
"I'd love the challenge," he said. "Rory is No 1 in the world, and it would be fun for us.
“It would be a great way to end the year, but it’s a long way to go. There’s no point thinking ahead to Sunday; just take it as it comes and hopefully I’ll continue to hit the ball as well as I am and make some putts like I did today.”
For McIlroy, a slow start preceded a back nine birdie blitz, the new European No 1 firing five from the 10th to post a six-under par 66.
He wanted to add a sixth on the par-five 18th to ensure he went out today alongside Donald but, having found water with his drive, scrambled to make par.
“There’s a lot of golf left to play but I’m off to a good start,” he said.
“Having [the Race to Dubai] wrapped up, I can go out there and play without thinking about it.
“It’s definitely a nice thing to not have that on your shoulders. But I’ve still got a lot of motivation. I want to try and finish what has been a great season in great style. I want to pick up two trophies – I’ve given myself a good chance after today.”
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Marc Warren join McIlroy in second place, although in the group one shot further back lurk some dangerous contenders.
Padraig Harrington, Martin Kaymer and Louis Oosthuizen – men sharing five major championship trophies – make up half the throng on five-under par, with Lee Westwood, the winner of both the inaugural Dubai World Championship and Race to Dubai, also carding a 67.
“I played well and gave myself a lot of chances,” said Westwood. “But I still missed maybe four putts I should have holed.
“I hit the ball close a lot and if you do that then you’re going to miss a few and take a few.
“But I did a good job pretty much all day and five-under is a good start.”
Harrington, whose expectations for this week were low following a few frustrating days of practice, said: “I shot 67 doing handstands. A lot of times this year I’ve been really confident going into the tournament and then nothing pleases me.
“Today I wasn’t very confident, so anything was going to keep me happy out there.
“I missed an awful lot of chances to still shoot five-under. It just matters that you’re still in the tournament, so I’m happy enough.”
Player Score Par
L Donald 65 -7
M Warren 66 -6
G Fdez-Castano 66 -6
R McIlroy 66 -6
F Andersson Hed 67 -5
P Harrington 67 -5
M Kaymer 67 -5
R Ramsay 67 -5
L Westwood 67 -5
L Oosthuizen 67 -5
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Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
Left Bank: Art, Passion and Rebirth of Paris 1940-1950
Agnes Poirer, Bloomsbury
Saturday's results
West Ham 2-3 Tottenham
Arsenal 2-2 Southampton
Bournemouth 1-2 Wolves
Brighton 0-2 Leicester City
Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Everton 0-2 Norwich City
Watford 0-3 Burnley
Manchester City v Chelsea, 9.30pm
More coverage from the Future Forum
How%20champions%20are%20made
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
The Laughing Apple
Yusuf/Cat Stevens
(Verve Decca Crossover)
Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Milkman by Anna Burns
Ordinary People by Diana Evans
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Circe by Madeline Miller
TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
PAKISTAN v SRI LANKA
Twenty20 International series
Thu Oct 26, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
Fri Oct 27, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
Sun Oct 29, 3rd T20I, Lahore
Tickets are available at www.q-tickets.com
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
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.
Specs
Price, base: Dhs850,000
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 591bhp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.3L / 100km
Gully Boy
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi
Rating: 4/5 stars
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
Day 5, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Given the problems Sri Lanka have had in recent times, it was apt the winning catch was taken by Dinesh Chandimal. He is one of seven different captains Sri Lanka have had in just the past two years. He leads in understated fashion, but by example. His century in the first innings of this series set the shock win in motion.
Stat of the day This was the ninth Test Pakistan have lost in their past 11 matches, a run that started when they lost the final match of their three-Test series against West Indies in Sharjah last year. They have not drawn a match in almost two years and 19 matches, since they were held by England at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi in 2015.
The verdict Mickey Arthur basically acknowledged he had erred by basing Pakistan’s gameplan around three seam bowlers and asking for pitches with plenty of grass in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Why would Pakistan want to change the method that has treated them so well on these grounds in the past 10 years? It is unlikely Misbah-ul-Haq would have made the same mistake.
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The%20specs
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
Specs
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