DUBAI // As two titans of the European Tour battled for top honours at Emirates Golf Club, a player from the nether reaches of the world rankings was on a startling charge up the leaderboard.
Lasse Jensen’s seven-under 65 was the lowest score on Sunday at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, a late charge that gave him a share of third at the end of the tournament.
He rather stood out amongst illustrious company. Having missed the cut in his last four starts on tour, including last month’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the Dane is ranked No 382 in the world.
By close of play at the Majlis Course, he was just behind Sergio Garcia, who is world ranked 15, Henrik Stenson, No 4, and was tied with Tyrrell Hatton, No 23, a stroke ahead of Matt Fitzpatrick, No 31.
Not bad, given Jensen had been recovering from illness before he arrived here.
__________________________________
Read more
■ Rayhan Thomas: Takes 'step in right direction' at Desert Classic
■ Sergio Garcia: Flawless Spaniard wins Dubai Desert Classic
■ John McAuley: On the long road ahead for Tiger Woods
__________________________________
“In Abu Dhabi, I had a fever, and then last week I was trying to recover,” said Jensen, who picked up €138,576 (Dh549,000) for his week’s work in Dubai.
“And then everything just clicked this week. Maybe it was a bit surprising that I actually played that well this week because I feel like my game was getting where I want it to be.
“I thought it would take a bit more time to get out of winter and get the rust out of the system.”
In contrast, Hatton’s tie for third was the latest in a fine run of form, in particular in events taking place in the UAE. The Englishman has now finished tied-third, second, eighth and 13th in his past four trips to Dubai.
“It’s been an incredible eight months for me,” said Hatton, whose lone win on tour to date was at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in the UK last October.
“I’m really happy with how this season started, and hopefully I can continue the good form.”
pradley@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
The Vines - In Miracle Land
Two stars
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
Details
Through Her Lens: The stories behind the photography of Eva Sereny
Forewords by Jacqueline Bisset and Charlotte Rampling, ACC Art Books
Saturday's schedule at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 race, 12:30pm
Formula 1 final practice, 2pm
Formula 1 qualifying, 5pm
Formula 2 race, 6:40pm
Performance: Sam Smith
2.0
Director: S Shankar
Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
The lowdown
Bohemian Rhapsody
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee
Rating: 3/5
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club race card
5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
6pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed; Dh180,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap; Dh70,000; 2,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh100,000; 2,400m
TICKETS
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
The UAE's journey to space
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs: 2018 Bentley Bentayga V8
Price, base: Dh853,226
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 550hp @ 6,000pm
Torque: 770Nm @ 1,960rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.4L / 100km
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
