Australian golf great Greg Norman. AFP
Australian golf great Greg Norman. AFP
Australian golf great Greg Norman. AFP
Australian golf great Greg Norman. AFP

Golf

Hall of Fame golfer Greg Norman battles Covid-19

The Normans took part in the PNC Championship in Florida last weekend

The National

December 26, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Golf Hall of Famer Greg Norman shared photos on social media suggesting he has been hospitalised with Covid-19.

The 65-year-old Australian posted a video on Instagram saying he was experiencing coronavirus symptoms, then posted photos on Friday showing himself in a hospital bed.

“This sums it all up,” he wrote. “My Christmas Day.”

Norman’s son, Greg Norman Jr, also said on social media that he and his wife, Michelle, have tested positive. The Normans played in the father-son PNC Championship in Orlando, Florida, last weekend.

The elder Norman said on Thursday that he had flu-like symptoms, including a mild fever, a cough, aches and pains, and a mild headache. He said he took a virus test on Tuesday that came back negative, but he was in self-quarantine anyway.

He was apparently admitted to a hospital on Friday, sharing a photo of himself in a hospital bed and another of a medical professional in head-to-toe personal protective equipment.

“It’s been an ugly one,” Norman said. “I for one am looking forward to getting out of this quarantine and looking forward to building whatever the great future is for 2021 and beyond.”

  • Tiger Woods and son Charlie hug on the 18th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
    Tiger Woods and son Charlie hug on the 18th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
  • Tiger Woods and son Charlie fist bump on the 15th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
    Tiger Woods and son Charlie fist bump on the 15th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
  • Charlie Woods putts on the 15th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
    Charlie Woods putts on the 15th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
  • Charlie Woods line up a putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
    Charlie Woods line up a putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
  • Tiger Woods and son Charlie wait to hit their approach shot with caddie Joe LaCava during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
    Tiger Woods and son Charlie wait to hit their approach shot with caddie Joe LaCava during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
  • Tiger Woods and son Charlie practice putting on the 14th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
    Tiger Woods and son Charlie practice putting on the 14th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
  • Charlie Woods lines up a putt with caddie Joe LaCava Jr. on the 15th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
    Charlie Woods lines up a putt with caddie Joe LaCava Jr. on the 15th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
  • Tiger Woods and son Charlie line up a putt on the 15th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
    Tiger Woods and son Charlie line up a putt on the 15th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
  • Charlie Woods hits his tee shot on the 16th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
    Charlie Woods hits his tee shot on the 16th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
  • Charlie Woods hits his approach shot on the 15th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
    Charlie Woods hits his approach shot on the 15th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
  • Tiger Woods hits his tee shot on the 15th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
    Tiger Woods hits his tee shot on the 15th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
  • Tiger Woods hits his tee shot on the 16th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
    Tiger Woods hits his tee shot on the 16th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
  • Tiger Woods and son Charlie fist bump on the 18th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
    Tiger Woods and son Charlie fist bump on the 18th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. AFP
  • Tiger Woods and son Charlie hug during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. AFP
    Tiger Woods and son Charlie hug during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. AFP
Essentials

The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours 
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.

Museum of the Future in numbers
  •  78 metres is the height of the museum
  •  30,000 square metres is its total area
  •  17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
  •  14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
  •  1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior 
  •  7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
  •  2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
  •  100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
  •  Dh145 is the price of a ticket

Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)

Nancy Ajram

(In2Musica)

Related
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 specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)

The Breadwinner

Director: Nora Twomey

Starring: Saara Chaudry,  Soma Chhaya,  Laara Sadiq 

Three stars

Roll of honour 2019-2020

Dubai Rugby Sevens

Winners: Dubai Hurricanes

Runners up: Bahrain

 

West Asia Premiership

Winners: Bahrain

Runners up: UAE Premiership

 

UAE Premiership

Winners: Dubai Exiles

Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes

 

UAE Division One

Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens

Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II

 

UAE Division Two

Winners: Barrelhouse

Runners up: RAK Rugby

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E680hp%20at%206%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E800Nm%20at%202%2C750-6%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERear-mounted%20eight-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E13.6L%2F100km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Orderbook%20open%3B%20deliveries%20start%20end%20of%20year%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh970%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sinopharm vaccine explained

The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades. 

“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.

"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."

This is then injected into the body.

"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.

"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."

The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.

Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.

“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.

Dhadak

Director: Shashank Khaitan

Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana

Stars: 3

Bharat

Director: Ali Abbas Zafar

Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

CoronavirusGolf