For those who have been around the ranks of the game’s elite players for the past decade or so, the results will come as no surprise.
Bubba Watson has long been one of the most mercurial and maddening players in the game.
The two-time Masters champion is defending his most recent major title this week at Augusta National, where he again ranks among a handful of favourites. He already won a distinction of another sort this week, however. In a poll of 103 PGA Tour players, he was effectively named the man least likely to win a popularity contest.
That fits more like a lead life vest than a green jacket.
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The website polled players on a variety of issues, ranging from serious to flippant, and asked for respondents to name the player they would least likely defend in the event of a fight in the car park.
It was the wrong kind of leader board. Watson received 23 votes, more than double the amount of cocky Patrick Reed (11) and abrasive Rory Sabbatini (nine) in the next two positions.
It was not an overwhelming win in terms of gross numbers or percentages, but disappointing nonetheless.
There’s one key difference between the trio, though.
Unlike Reed and Sabbatini, Watson cares greatly about his image, which is why he has apologised several times, via social media, for his multiple spiked-foot-in-mouth faux pas over the years.
Watson has always been an odd duck. One day, he is affable and outgoing; the next, he passes the same people in the hallway without a word or glance.
He refers to himself in the third person, which is practically unheard of in golf and rubs many the wrong way.
One day, he is as dialled in and engaged as anybody in the field, and the next, he’s barking at long-suffering caddie Ted Scott or complaining within range of TV microphones about the same weather conditions that everybody else is facing.
Watson is a big kid at heart who ad-libs and carves his way through rounds like Phil Mickelson and Arnold Palmer, though without their seemingly limitless levels of charisma.
The pity is, the game is screaming for colourful characters, and Watson has the toolbox to entertain, when he is not being insufferable.
At age 36, perhaps being bashed in a poll of his peers will serve as a brusque wake-up call.
Just as likely, in keeping with his unpredictable nature, he is just as likely to retreat in the other direction.
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Info
What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship
When: December 27-29, 2018
Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sukuk explained
Sukuk are Sharia-compliant financial certificates issued by governments, corporates and other entities. While as an asset class they resemble conventional bonds, there are some significant differences. As interest is prohibited under Sharia, sukuk must contain an underlying transaction, for example a leaseback agreement, and the income that is paid to investors is generated by the underlying asset. Investors must also be prepared to share in both the profits and losses of an enterprise. Nevertheless, sukuk are similar to conventional bonds in that they provide regular payments, and are considered less risky than equities. Most investors would not buy sukuk directly due to high minimum subscriptions, but invest via funds.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
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Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 2
Mane 51', Salah 53'
Chelsea 0
Man of the Match: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Specs
Engine: 2-litre
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 255hp
Torque: 273Nm
Price: Dh240,000
Emirates Cricket Board Women’s T10
ECB Hawks v ECB Falcons
Monday, April 6, 7.30pm, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
The match will be broadcast live on the My Sports Eye Facebook page
Hawks
Coach: Chaitrali Kalgutkar
Squad: Chaya Mughal (captain), Archara Supriya, Chamani Senevirathne, Chathurika Anand, Geethika Jyothis, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kashish Loungani, Khushi Sharma, Khushi Tanwar, Rinitha Rajith, Siddhi Pagarani, Siya Gokhale, Subha Srinivasan, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish
Falcons
Coach: Najeeb Amar
Squad: Kavisha Kumari (captain), Almaseera Jahangir, Annika Shivpuri, Archisha Mukherjee, Judit Cleetus, Ishani Senavirathne, Lavanya Keny, Mahika Gaur, Malavika Unnithan, Rishitha Rajith, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Shashini Kaluarachchi, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Vaishnave Mahesh