DUBAI // A day around a pristine Majlis course, playing alongside one of your golfing heroes and even outscoring him, and in contention for a second European Tour title weeks after landing your first: life is not bad for Haydn Porteous.
The South African, 21, has enjoyed a rapid rise this season, having delivered a firm endorsement of his ability by winning last month’s Joburg Open and is regularly name-checked as a star of the future.
The good times have continued at this week's Omega Dubai Desert Classic, with Porteous carding a third-round 66 to move to 12-under par and four shots off leader Danny Willett with 18 holes to play.
That he did that with Henrik Stenson close at hand was a rather nice bonus, too.
Read more: Rory McIlroy fighting through 'weird' play at Dubai Desert Classic
“Henrik is one of my favourites,” Porteous said. “I remember following him at Sun City when he made it look like a mashie course with a 3-wood, 2-wood. It was just a dream come true to play with someone like that, and actually experience what sort of guy he was. No complaints, really good guy.”
In fact, Stenson took four shots more to get through the round. Yet as the current world No 6, the 2013 Race to Dubai and FedEx Cup champion, and a former winner of the Desert Classic, there remains much to admire about the Swede.
Porteous is therefore understandably a fan, and not simply because of the impressive roll of honour. It is everything that comes with it.
“Just that little bit of swagger to him,” Porteous said. “He hits it a long way and he’s just a cool cat, isn’t he?”
Porteous’s game is starting to show a significant strut, as well.
“I’m trying. I’m trying,” he said. “I don’t know if I’m keeping up with Henrik, but I’m trying and I think that’s all that counts.”
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Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
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Artist: Coldplay
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'The Ice Road'
Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
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Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
