The National's Sport cover for the Tuesday, January 13 issue, featuring John McAuley's extensive delve into the background behind Rory McIlroy and his rise to the undisuputed best golfer in the world.
McAuley goes to Holywood, McIlroy's hometown, talks to friends and family and visits his boyhood club as he traces the steps that took a young Northern Irish boy the pinnacle of the sport.
“While McIlroy’s allure is enduring, even as he strikes off another major or milestone, he does not show it,” writes McAuley.
“Ask anyone and the response rings familiar: despite the majors and the world ranking, it is the exact same Rory, feet planted firmly on the ground while his game goes stratospheric.”
“That’s the reason he’s so well-liked,” Ricky McCormick, the assitant pro at Holywood and a good friend of McIlroy’s, says. “He’s very honest, very level-headed and us – his friends and family – we keep him quite grounded. Nothing’s changed.”
McIlroy will begin his season on Thursday here for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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Company%20Profile
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
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