Back at the scene of last year’s hard-earned victory, Thomas Pieters was happy on Wednesday to reminisce about that first Rolex Series success.
And anyway, he really couldn’t avoid it, not that he would want to.
“They definitely remind me that I've won here; my face is on every building,” Pieters said at Yas Links, a day out from the beginning of his title defence at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. “I've never had that before. It's such a strange feeling.
“But playing the back nine yesterday was kind of special. It was my first Rolex Series, and to relive those shots with my caddie was, I'm not going to say emotional, but was very special.”
Twelve months ago, Pieters began the final round in tied for second, one shot behind Scott Jamieson, and by the time there were only four holes to play, he shared the lead with Rafa Cabrera-Bello.
However, Pieters stayed strong though Yas Links' difficult closing stretch, parring every hole to seal a one-shot win over Cabrera-Bello and Subhankar Sharma.
A sixth DP World Tour triumph, though, most probably took root during the Friday, when 30mph winds blew away the majority of the field’s chances of capturing the Falcon Trophy.
Pieters held in there, shooting a two-over par 74 to remain in the top 10 and allow the weekend surge.
“That was the key to setting myself up to win,” Pieters said. “And then there's a guy shooting 10-over par that day – it was brutal. It was one of the toughest the days I've had on the golf course, just because greens are that slow and balls are just flying off everywhere.
“To keep your composure is really important, and it's going to be the same this week. Got to hit good golf shots here.”
Thankfully for the defending champion, and the rest of a field that includes Irish debutant Seamus Power and former champions Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry and Tyrrell Hatton, the weather this week is likely to be a little more forgiving.
Although, the wind is welcome.
“It needs a lot of breeze,” Pieters said. “I think tomorrow we'll have some breeze and then it calms down during the weekend. Again, the more wind, the better players are going to come out on top, especially on this course."
No matter what, at least Yas Links is in fine shape. Just ask Power, the current leader of the FedEx Cup standings on the PGA Tour, who seems to be really enjoying his trip to the UAE.
“If it's not the best-conditioned course I've ever seen it's definitely close,” Power said as he prepares to compete for the $9 million purse. “Beautiful setting. My first time on Yas Island.
"I didn't realise what I was coming to. It's gorgeous. That whole set-up is top-notch. It's been great.”
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
A German university was a good fit for the family budget
Annual fees for the Technical University of Munich - £600
Shared rental accommodation per month depending on the location ranges between £200-600
The family had budgeted for food, books, travel, living expenses - £20,000 annually
Overall costs in Germany are lower than the family estimated
As proof that the student has the ability to take care of expenses, international students must open a blocked account with about £8,640
Students are permitted to withdraw £720 per month
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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
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
More on Quran memorisation:
Scores in brief:
Boost Defenders 205-5 in 20 overs
(Colin Ingram 84 not out, Cameron Delport 36, William Somerville 2-28)
bt Auckland Aces 170 for 5 in 20 overs
(Rob O’Donnell 67 not out, Kyle Abbott 3-21).
'Midnights'
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Past winners of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
2016 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2014 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2012 Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2011 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2010 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2009 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
