DUBAI // Whisper it, but Henrik Stenson is heading the DP World Tour Championship apparently running at little more than half speed.
The Swede holds the midway lead following a second-round 66 on Friday, made all the more impressive given he was low on fuel for much of the back nine.
Asked to rate his day’s production, which keeps Rory McIlroy and two others a couple back in second place, Stenson’s response was pretty surprising.
Day 3 tee times.
After all, seven birdies, including one at the final hole, seemed a more-than-decent return, although he reckons there is still much room for improvement. Six out of 10 was the defending champion’s assessment, seven at a push.
“There’s still more there, but don’t tell the other guys,” Stenson said. “Tell them I’m 10 out of 10, haven’t missed a shot.”
Bar a bogey at the fourth, for much of the second round it appeared he had not. Stenson began the day two shots behind McIlroy and Shane Lowry, but a red-hot putter proved key to his burst out in front.
In truth, he was always going to be there or thereabouts. Just 12 months ago, Stenson scorched the Earth course to set a tournament-record total of 25-under, so he obviously knows the blueprint for success. His past six rounds around Jumeirah Golf Estates read a remarkable 35-under gross.
Second to McIlroy in the Race to Dubai coming into this week, should he win, Stenson stands to bank US$2 million (Dh7.34m) on Sunday. If those digits are mind-boggling, pitching a potential winning score proved just as difficult to comprehend.
“It’s hard to give a number,” Stenson said. “But I have a strong game plan in the way I want to play this course and executed it really well last year. So I didn’t see much point in changing it. So I’m sticking to the same plan – tee to green it’s been solid. But there’s still a lot of golf to play.”
Hence, he will be thankful of the late lie-in on Saturday. Stenson admitted to feeling all out of energy by the time he had reached the 12th hole, a by-product of the sticky conditions and a long season that has yet to yield a victory.
“I just felt like I hit the wall, really,” he said. “It was difficult mentally from there on, so I had to really focus hard and drag myself over the finish line.”
McIlroy’s presence could slow down Stenson, too. The world No 1, who wrapped up the season-long title even before a ball was struck this week, struggled for much of his second round, eventually posting a 2-under 70 that included two bogeys on the back nine.
Picking up shots at 14 and 15 appeared to set him up for a grandstand finish, but the 2012 champion three-putted the next to give one back. After dunking his drive in the water on 18, McIlroy saved par to keep Stenson well within sight. It certainly helped lift the mood.
“I just found it hard to gain any sort of momentum going out there,” McIlroy said. “I definitely didn’t have it like I did yesterday. I had to dig in a little bit.”
McIlroy was reminded he has been in worse positions before, and won, so he was far from unhappy with his first two competitive rounds in six weeks. However, an in-form Stenson casts a long shadow, both physically and figuratively.
“Yeah, he’s pretty comfortable on this golf course, obviously,” McIlroy said. “I can’t let him get too far ahead tomorrow. I have to get off to a fast start, like I managed to do yesterday, and try to put a bit of pressure on him. Hopefully I can do that.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Company%20Profile
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Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
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)
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
Normal People
Sally Rooney, Faber & Faber
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match details
Wales v Hungary
Cardiff City Stadium, kick-off 11.45pm
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School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
RESULT
Fifth ODI, at Headingley
England 351/9
Pakistan 297
England win by 54 runs (win series 4-0)
Results
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COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Race card for Super Saturday
4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$250,000 (Dh918,125) (Dirt) 1,900m.
4.35pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m.
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Conditions $200,000 (Turf) 1,200m.
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,600m.
6.20pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 $300,000 (T) 1,800m.
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 $400,000 (D) 2,000m.
7.30pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 $250,000 (T) 2,410m.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
