3339 Volvo Press Ad DPS 326x235mm.indd 1 1/10/11 6:20 PM
3339 Volvo Press Ad DPS 326x235mm.indd 1 1/10/11 6:20 PM
Bahrain's premier golf & leisure destination
Create unrivalled memories at the Royal Golf Club when you experience our:
Check out the website or call us on +973 17 750777 for further information.
.
www.theroyalgolfclub.com
Bahrain’s PremierGolf & Leisure Destination
Welcome messages5. WelcomefromLeifJohansson7. WelcomefromStefanJacoby9. WelcomefromPerEricsson11. WelcomefromH.E.ShaikhMohammed13. WelcomefromH.E.ShaikhRashid15. WelcomefromGuyKinnings17. WelcomefromTheEuropeanTour
FeaTURe aRTicles20. VolvoinGolf–ALongTermPartnership22. GolfHasNeverLookedSoGood27. DuelFuelPowersVolvo’sSponsorshipDrive30. Beginners’GuidetoGolfWatching32. Bahrain:PearloftheMiddleEast37. H.E.ShaikhMohammedQ&A 38. 60TheMagicNumber40. VolvoRidesTandeminTourdeFrance42. VolvoTrucksonaRollintheMiddleEast44. Volvo’sUltimateChallenge45. TeamworktheTicketonSuperSaturday46. VolvoOceanRaceontheCrestofaWave49. GlassAct–theMakingoftheVolvoTrophy52. KeepingtheCourse–it’sEco-Logical56. FincaCortesin–ExclusivityandElegance58. QualitytheWatchwordattheVolvoGolfChampions78. Monty–ArchitectofHisOwnSuccess
inFoRmaTion19. SponsorsAcknowledgements 60. CourseMapandTentedVillageMap63. OrderofPlay/Prizemoney/QualificationCriteria65. Players’ListofEntries66. PlayerProfiles82. ColinMontgomerie’sHole-by-HoleGuide88. AcknowledgementsandOfficials
Contents
editor-in-chief:MikeGallemoreDesign Director:AlexGallemoreeditor:RichardBevanDeputy editor:ToddStaszkoDesign manager:MarkFrainProduction manager:RobertFlinnTechnical manager:MarkCollingePublisher:MikeGallemore
Printed by:Raidy, Dubai
Published by: Worldwide Sporting Publications54 Alderley Road, Wilmslow,Cheshire, England SK9 1NY
Tel:+44(0)1625535081; Fax: +44(0)1625 537487www.sportingpublications.com
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Technology
140-0110_7700_Hybrid_AD_163x235_VGCprogram.indd 1 10-12-23 11.02.31
leif JohanssonPresident & chief executive officerVolvo group
Welcome from leif Johansson, President & chief executive officer, Volvo group
ThankyouallforattendingthenewVolvoGolfChampionsandtheworldfinaloftheVolvoWorldGolfChallenge,twomajoreventstakingplaceintheKingdomofBahrainthisweek.
Volvoisoneofthemostactiveandlongestservingsupportersofworldgolf,withmorethan20yearsofexperienceinorganizingworld-classgolftournaments.TogetherwithVolvoCars,weshareauniqueandsuccessfulpromotionalplatformthroughourcommonbrand.ThesetwoeventsinBahrainmeanalottooursharedglobalsponsorshipactivitiesandprovideagoldenopportunityformarketingourbrandandproductsandformeetingupwithcustomersandprospects.
TheVolvoGolfChampionsisalsoVolvo’sfirstmajorgolfsponsorshipintheregionand, thanksto its location,BahraincanbedescribedasalinkbetweenourkeymarketsinEurope,Asia,AfricaandNorthAmerica.
Inotherwords, itservesasan importantplatformfor thebusinessareas intheVolvoGroup,whereour truckoperationsVolvoTrucks,RenaultTrucks,MackTrucks,UDTrucksandEicherconstitute thelargestpart,followedbyVolvoConstructionEquipment,VolvoBuses,VolvoFinancialServices,VolvoAeroandVolvoPenta.
IwouldalsoliketowelcometheCEOofVolvoCars,StefanJacoby,tohisfirstVolvoinGolfexperienceandtothanktheKingdomofBahrainandtheBahrainEconomicDevelopmentBoardfor theirhospitalityandvaluableinvestmentaspremiumpartnersoftheseevents.
AswithallofVolvo’ssponsorships,whetheritisouraward-winninggolf portfolio, the Volvo Ocean Race, the Gothenburg SymphonyOrchestra,theGothenburgOperaortheVolvoEnvironmentPrize,werelyonaconsiderablenumberofpeopletoassistusinourwork.
Theorganisersandofficials,aswellasthemanyvolunteerswhogivesofreelyandgenerouslyoftheirtime,playanimportantpartinthesuccessofoureventsand,onbehalfoftheVolvoGroup,wesalutethecontributionyoumakeonourbehalf.
Finally,itistheplayers,golfers,sailors,musiciansandenvironmentalistswho take centre stage and, for those professional golfers helpinguslaunchtheVolvoGolfChampionsandtheintrepidamateurswhohave joined us from all over the world, I say “play well and enjoyyourselves.”
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339 Volvo XC60 Press Ad 163x235mm FP.indd 1 1/10/11 6:21 PM
stefan JacobyPresident & chief executive officerVolvo car corporation
Welcome from stefan Jacoby, President & chief executive officer, Volvo car corporation
Itismygreatpleasuretowelcomeyouall–players,officials,spectatorsand members of the media – to the new Volvo Golf ChampionstournamentintheKingdomofBahrain.
Togetherwith theworldfinalof theVolvoWorldGolfChallenge, theVolvo Golf Champions represents my induction to the renownedVolvo inGolfportfolio.Thisnewprofessionalchampionship,and thecomplimentaryworldfinalforclubgolfers,coincidewithwhatpromisestobeanexcitingnewerafortheVolvoCarCorporation.
Of course, long before I took up my new role, I was aware of theforesightanddurabilitytheVolvobrandhasdemonstratedingolfforagenerationandmore.
Loyalty,longevityandleadershipandthisnew,prestigiouschampionshipnotonlyunderscoresVolvo’shistoryandheritageingolfbutalsoourcontinuingambitiongoingforward.
Being theonlyever-present title sponsor in themoderneraofTheEuropeanTour–first inEurope,thenAsiaandnowtheMiddleEast–Volvoisreinforcingitsstatusasakeyplayerinasportplayedandwatchedbymillionsworldwide.
With golf once again an Olympic sport from 2016, its reach willcertainlyextendontoatrulyglobalfootprint,reflectingtheworldwidescopeoftheVolvoCarscompass.
Safety and Environmental Care, as well as Quality and Innovationare key cornerstones onwhich the continued success of the VolvoCarCorporationhasbeenandcontinues tobebuilt.TheVolvoGolfChampionscertainlyemphasisesthelatter,anexcitingnewinnovativeeventfeaturingmanyoftheverybest,qualitygolfersintheworld.
Meanwhile,theVolvoWorldGolfChallengeistheperfectfoilforourprofessionalportfolio,providingadirectconduittoourcustomersandprospectsallovertheworld,manyofwhom,accordingtoouranalysis,shareVolvo’spassionforandcommitmenttogolf.
Assomeonefromaglobalsalesandmarketingbackground,Iunderstandandfullysupportthedynamicinfluenceofsportssponsorshipasakeycomponentinthemarketingmix,bothintermsofbrand-buildingandcustomerrelationshipmanagement.
Inclosing,IwouldliketothankmycolleaguesatVolvoGroupfortheircontinuedsupportandsaytoeveryoneassociatedwiththeVolvoGolfChampionsandtheVolvoWorldGolfChallenge–organisers,officials,volunteers, spectators, members of the media and especially theplayers in bothevents – ‘Good luck,’ and ‘Thank you for supportingVolvoinGolf.’
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volvo construction equipment
At Volvo Construction Equipment we have always put customer satisfaction at the heart of our business. And since quality is a prerequisite for customer satisfaction, we never compromise on quality. For us, true quality is about so much more than technical perfection. It’s about building premium machines that are suited to the needs and tasks of our customers. But don’t take our word for it, visit your local dealer and try one today. www.volvoce.com
Volvo stands for Quality
A.A. Bin Hindi B.S.C (c)BAHRAINTel: +973 17 703078E-mail: [email protected]
Abdelmassih TradingCompany - AmtracLEBANONTel: +961 1 88 76 60 / 61E-mail: [email protected]
Al Futtaim Auto & Machinery CoUAETel: +971 2 502 9100 +971 4 213 5100E-mail: [email protected]
Al Rehab Equipment andMachinery Co. Ltd.SAUDI ARABIATel: +966 2 680 4444E-mail: [email protected]
Al-Zabin International Group Co.For Heavy EquipmentKUWAITTel: +965 433 4721/6017 E-mail: [email protected]
Arabian Agencies Company WLLQATARTel: +974 44 500 925 E-mail: [email protected]
ASC Turk Makine Ltd.TURKEYTel: +90 216 581 80 00E-mail: ilkay.fi [email protected]
Copenhagen Group A/S /IM Jensen A/SAFGHANISTANTel: +45 3393 1989E-mail: [email protected]
Elaghil Trading Co.YEMENTel: +967 1 207 595E-mail: [email protected]
General EngineeringServices Est (GENSERV)OMANTel: +968 244 90 755E-mail: [email protected]
Nassib Saad Est.Trading & ImportSYRIATel: +963 11 222 5432E-mail: [email protected]
Parsian Pishro SanatIRANTel: +9821 88 77 44 99E-mail: [email protected]
Sardar Automobile andMachinery Trading Co.IRAQTel: +964 66 2574111E-mail: [email protected]
VPL LimitedPAKISTANTel: +92 42 111 875 875E-mail:[email protected]
ADVERT RANGE GPPE EN A4 2010-09 Quality regional indd 1 11/11/10 14:48
Per ericssonPresident, Volvo event management - golf
Welcome from Per ericsson, President, Volvo event management – golf
It ismygreatpleasuretowelcomeyoutothe inauguralVolvoGolfChampionshereintheKingdomofBahrain.
TheseareexcitingtimesforVolvoinGolf,theVolvoGolfChampionsbeing the 122nd title sponsorship in golf and we are extremelyproudofour recordasTheEuropeanTour’sonlyever-present titlesponsor.
Volvocontinuestosupportgolfnotonlybecausewehaveapassionforandacommitmenttothegame,butalsobecause,asabusinessproposition, golf continues towork for us, both at VolvoCars andVolvoGroup.
Thisseason’sVolvoGolfChampionsisafirstforBahrain,acelebrationofgreat championsover the years,whilst, next year, theeventwilllaunchThe2012EuropeanTourwithanall-starcastfeaturingonlythewinnersfromthe2011season.
TheVolvoGolfChampionsisalsouniqueinthatVolvoisstagingtheworldfinaloftheVolvoWorldGolfChallengeimmediatelyfollowingtheprofessionaleventandweareextremelyproudtobeintroducinganentirelynewconceptwhereouramateurswillenjoytheexperienceofalifetimeby‘PlayingwiththePros,’onSaturdayintheVolvoGolfChampionsAmateur-ProTeamCompetition.
Business Friendly Bahrain has certainly lived up to its name andreputation andVolvo inGolf is indebted to theBahrainEconomicDevelopment Board for its support, alongside our other partners,TheRoyalGolfClub,TheEuropeanTourandIMG,allofwhomhavesharedourvisionincreatingtheVolvoGolfChampions.
Inaddition,theinvestmentmadebyoursponsorsandofficialsuppliersisverymuchappreciated.
WiththeVolvoGolfChampionswebringanotherworld-classeventtoBahrainandtogetherwiththeFormula1GrandPrix,Bahrainhasnowfirmlyplaceditselfontheworldsportingmapasatrulydynamicand innovativedestination,with these twoseason-openingspecialeventsatmagnificentvenues.
Meanwhile,VolvoisalsodelightedtobeabletobringthetwosmallbutinfluentialKingdomsofBahrainandSwedenclosertogether.
All that remains forme to do is to echomy earlier, ‘Welcome,’ totheVolvoGolfChampions, tospectators,officials,membersof themedia,partnersandsponsors,ourinvaluableteamofvolunteersandespeciallytheplayersfromallaroundtheworld,thankyouforyoursupportandenjoyagreatweek.
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Welcome from shaikh mohammed bin essa al Khalifa, chief executive of the Bahrain economic Development Board
ItiswithgreatpleasurethatweinBahrainwelcometheinauguralVolvoGolfChampionstoourKingdom:officialsandvolunteers,partnersandsponsors,playersandfans.
Thisprestigiouseventmarksthelatestoccasioninourownlonggolfinghistory.Thegamewasintroducedtoourshoresintheearly1930s–anunexpectedbenefitofbeingthefirstintheregiontodiscoveroilandtheopportunitiesthiscreatedforthosefromoverseas.
Eightyyearsonfromthatdiscoveryandlikemillionstheworldoverwehavecometolovethissport.FacilitiessuchastheRoyalGolfClubaretestamenttoagrowingpassionsharedbyBahrainisandourexpatcommunity,todaydrawnnotbyoilbutbyourvision–orVision2030-tolookbeyondit.
ItisthisVisionandapproach,undertheguidanceofHisRoyalHighnessPrinceSalmanbinHamadAlKhalifa,CrownPrinceandChairmanoftheEconomicDevelopmentBoard,inwhichwehavechosentodrivetheprivatesectorasanengineforgrowth.AlongtermstrategyofdiversificationbringsopportunitiesnotonlyintheGulf’smostwellestablishedfinancialservicescentrebutinbusinessandprofessionalservices,manufacturing,logisticsandICT.
TheglobalpopularityofeventssuchasthisrepresentsanopportunitytoshowcaseallthatBusinessFriendlyBahrainhastoofferinternationalcompanieslookingtoaccessthetrilliondollarGulfmarket.And,ofcourse,sportinitsownrightcanbeacatalystforsustainablesocialandeconomicdevelopment.
SoaswemakeourdebutontheglobalgolfingstageinthiscelebrationofChampions,IcommendVolvoforstaginganexemplaryeventiniconicsurroundingsandwishtheplayerstheverybestofluck.Liketheotherfansherethisweek,Ilookforwardtoasuccessfulevent.
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shaikh mohammed bin essa al Khalifachief executiveBahrain economic Development Board (eDB)
“ahlan Wa sahlan” – Welcome from H.e. shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa, chairman of Bigcc and The Royal golf club
OnbehalfoftheentireteamattheRoyalGolfClubwewishyouawarmwelcometotheVolvoGolfChampionsandtotheKingdomofBahrain.
We look forward to extending our true sense of Arabichospitalitytoyouandyourfamilies,asyouenjoytheofferingsofoneofthesmallestcountrieswithintheArabianGulf.Anarchipelagomadeupof33 islands locatedbetweenSaudiArabia and Qatar, Bahrain has a fascinating history datingbackover500 years and is often referred to as the “Pearlin theGulf”basedon itshistoryofpearldiving in theearly1900s.
Thecountry isnaturallyproudof itsgolfingheritage,havingestablishedthegame in theGulf regionback in1937withtheopeningofthefirsteversandgolfcoursewhichstillexiststodayasthethrivingAwaliGolfClub.
In the mid-1990s Bahrain began to dominate the MiddleEast golf scene as the National Team claimed ten ArabGolf Championship titles from a possible 14, finishing notworsethansecondtothisdaysince1995.In1993theteamparticipated in the first GCC Golf Championship played inQatar,takingfirstplaceinwhatwasthestartofanastonishingrunof14straightvictories.
Through the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa AlKhalifa, Bahrain will finally be recognised on golf’s worldstage as one of The European Tour’s newest venues. WearehonouredthatundertheguidanceofVolvoandIMGwehave such an illustrious playing field ofGolfChampions tocelebratethecountry’sinauguralEuropeanTourevent.
OurthanksandgratitudeareextendedtoourcoursedesignerColin Montgomerie OBE who back in 2007 unveiled theplanstotransformtheformerRiffaGolfClubintoasignaturedesignedChampionshipCourse, plus a9holePar3 “WeeMonty”courseandastateoftheartacademyfacility.WiththesupportofColinandhisdesignteamtheyhavetrulyembracedthenaturalWadifeaturesandremodelledthelandscapeintoastunningblendof linksanddesertgolf, literally takingusfromOilwellstoEagles!
Golf events of this calibre are not possible without thesupport received from our members, schools and fellow
residentsofBahrain,whohavevolunteeredtheirservicestotheChampionship.Wetrustyouwillenjoythefollowingdaysinthecompanyoftheworld’sgolfinggreatsasyoumarshalthecourse,assistplayerswithtransportationorsupporttheofficialteamofscorers.
Iwouldpersonally like to take thisopportunity to thank themanagementandstaffwhohaveworkedsotirelesslytobringthecourseto itscurrentchampionship-levelandcreatethefriendlyatmospherethatmakestheRoyalGolfClubsuchasuperbvenue.TobeawardedtheillustriousfourthslotonTheTour’sDesertSwingisatrueaccoladeinpositioningtheclubasBahrain’spremiergolfandleisuredestination..Finally,wewishyou,theplayers,theverybestforthefourdaysthatlieahead.WelookforwardtoannouncingtheVolvoGolfChampion2011onSundayafternoon.
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H.e. shaikh Rashid Bin Khalifa al Khalifachairman of Bigcc and The Royal golf club
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VolvoGolfChampions_01_11.indd 1 10.01.11 14:13
guy Kinnings,Director img golf emea
Welcome from guy Kinnings,Director img golf emea
We are delighted to welcome you to the inaugural Volvo GolfChampions, the first European Tour event to be held in Bahrain.ThisexcitingnewtournamentisaverysuccessfulextensionofourpartnershipwithVolvo,oneofthemostprolificandlongestservingsponsors in golf. Volvo, our partners on the very successful VolvoWorld Match Play Championship, have again demonstrated theirvaluesof innovation in creating anoriginal newevent. They havedevised a unique qualification criteria guaranteed to ensure thistournamentstandsoutonTheEuropeanTourschedule.
IMGhavebeenlong-termsupportersofTheEuropeanTour,havingstagedmorethan250EuropeanToureventsoverthepast46years.CoupledwithVolvo’sexperienceandcommitmenttogolfduringthepast20-plusyears,weareproudtohavecollaboratedonthisnewtournamentandwiththeentryofsomanyoftheworld’sbestplayerswelookforwardtoanexcellentweekofworld-classgolf.
IMGhasworkedwiththeRoyalGolfClubformanyyears,includingon thedesignanddevelopmentof TheMontgomerieCourse, andhas shared their goal of hosting a European Tour event, so it isverysatisfyingtoseethathappenthisweek.TheClubhasworkedtirelesslyinpreparingthevenueforthetournamentandthecourseisinimmaculateconditionandwillprovideanexcitingstageformanyoftheworld’sbestplayerstodobattle.
WeareparticularlygratefulforthesupportoftheBahrainEconomicDevelopmentBoard,underthechairmanshipofHisRoyalHighnessPrinceSalmanbinHamadAlKhalifa,theCrownPrince,whosevisioninsupporting theChampionshipwasakey factoraswe lookedatselectingtherightvenue.TheEDBisadynamicpublicagencywithanoverallresponsibilityforformulatingandoverseeingtheeconomicdevelopmentstrategyofBahrainandforcreating therightclimateto attract direct investment into the Kingdom. Its enthusiasm andassistance in thebuild-up to theeventhasbeen invaluable toourpreparations andwe feel sure that the VolvoGolf Championswillprovide a very successful platform to showcase all the wonderfulfacilitiesthatBahrainhastooffertotheglobalgolfingaudience.
Wewouldalsoliketothankourexcellentco-sponsorsRolex,CNN,RiffaViews,theGregNormanCollection,KostaBoda,BahrainCityCentreMall,BIC,CocaCola,Titleist,andBAPCO.
Finally,thankstoyouthespectatorforcomingalongtobeapartofthefirstVolvoGolfChampions.Wehopeyouenjoytheexperienceand enjoy watching some wonderful golf. May I also take thisopportunitytowishallthegolferscompetingherethisweektheverybestofluck.
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george o’grady cBe,chief executive, The european Tour
Welcome from george o’grady cBe,chief executive, The european Tour
Welcome to the inaugural Volvo Golf Champions, an event thatrecognisesbothTheEuropeanTour’spast,throughafieldconsistingentirelyofformerTourwinners,andourfuture,withthisbeingoneofthreeneweventsonthe2011InternationalSchedule.
In Bahrain we are delighted to add another new destination toTheEuropeanTour’s ever-widening list of host countries andalsoto expand our early season ‘Desert Swing’ to four outstandingtournaments.
WhenmentioningTheEuropeanTour’sheritageand future legacyit is, of course, always fitting to note the role played by our titlesponsorherethisweek,Volvo,withwhomwehavealong-standingrelationship.
Thisisthe71steventsupportedbyVolvoovera23-yearperiodandwith twomore to come in2011– theVolvoChinaOpenand theVolvoWorldMatchPlayChampionship–webothlookforwardtoabrightandprosperousfuturetogether.
That future, of course, beginshereat TheRoyalGolfClub,whereourfieldofchampionswilltackletheMontgomerieCoursedesignedbyoneofmostprolificTourwinners,The2010RyderCupCaptain,ColinMontgomerie.
InadditiontothankingVolvofortheirbackingofanotherEuropeanTour event, we also acknowledge the important role played bypromoterIMGandtheBahrainEconomicDevelopmentBoard(EDB)instagingthisinauguraltournament.
Whilethepresenceofsomanygreatchampionsensuresafieldrichinquality,itisthecontributionofallourpartnersthatguaranteesatournamentofsuchhighstandardandprestigeandweareextremelygrateful toeveryone involved. Wehopeyouallenjoy theveryfirstVolvoGolfChampions.
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Southern Governorate...Worth the Visit
Volvo and img would like to thank the following companies and organisations for their fantastic support of the inaugural Volvo golf champions. We are truly appreciative of all that they have done for this year’s Tournament.
Volvo in golf – a long-term PartnershipVolvo has been a pioneer in golf for many years, successfully using
its high-profile events to position the premium brand and create sustainable business relationships with clients passionate about the sport. Thankstoeffectivemediaexposure,
millionsaroundtheworldhaveseenthewell-knownbluebrandonthetees,greensandfairwaysoftheworld.ThedatewasThursday,27thMay,
1988,thevenuetheWentworthClubnearLondon,theoccasion,theinauguralVolvoPGAChampionship,thedebutofasponsorthatiswidely-creditedwithchangingtheface–andthefortunes–ofEuropeangolf.Itwasnotonlytheglitteringarray
ofnewgolfchampionships,includingtheVolvoMasters,for21yearstheend-of-seasonTourChampionshiponwhichtheDubaiWorldChampionshipisbased,butalsotheVolvoOrderofMerit,towhichtheRacetoDubailooksremarkablysimilar.
increased Prize moneyVastlyincreasedprizemoneyadded
toinnovativeplayerservicessuchascourtesycars,world-classpracticefacilitiesandplayers’lounges,alltakenverymuchforgrantedtoday,benchmarksVolvo’scontributiontogolf.Backthen,aseven-monthseason
almostexclusivelyinEuropeofferedprizemoneyofUS$12million,thisseason,a49-week,52-eventseasonspanningtheglobewithprizemoneywellinexcessofUS$150millionandthreenewevents,boostedbytheVolvoGolfChampionsinBahrain.Saysthemanwhosenamewas
definitelylinkedwithVolvo’saward-winninggolfsponsorship,ColinMontgomerie,OBE,winningRyderCupCaptain,oneofthestarattractionsatthisyear’sVolvoGolfChampions:“We,TheEuropeanTourandtheplayersoweVolvoahugedebtofgratitudefortheircontributiontogolf,herenowintheMiddleEast,EuropeandalsoinAsia.”ContinuedtheScot,whodesigned
thecoursethatthisweek’seventinBahrainwillbeplayedover:“VolvogaveTheEuropeanTourstabilityandcredibilitythroughtheirmanyeventssuchastheVolvoPGAChampionshipandtogetherwiththeirbackingfortheVolvoOrderofMeritalsoattractedmanyotherblue-chipbrandsintooursport.”Bythemid-1990s,withVolvo’s
EuropeanTourenginerunningsmoothly,thebrandlookedeast,toAsiaingeneralandtoChinainparticular,becomingthefirstwesternbrandtoengagewithgolfintheMiddleKingdomandrollingoutapan-AsianprogrammetomirroritsEuropeaninitiative.The20thanniversaryVolvo
Masterswas,remarkably,Volvo’s100thstrokeplaysponsorship,whilsttheinauguralVolvoGolfChampionstakesthetotalnumberofprofessionalgolfeventsundertheSwedishbrand’saward-winningsponsorshipto122,andcounting,withtheiconicVolvoWorldMatchPlayChampionshipatFincaCortesíninMay,Volvo’sthirdeventofthe2011season,followingApril’sVolvoChinaOpen.“Volvoisproudtobetheonlyever-
presenttitlesponsoronTheEuropeanTour,”saysPerEricsson,President,VolvoEventManagement–Golf,adding,“Wecontinuallymonitorourreturnoninvestmentanditisclearthatgolfcontinues,evenafter22
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Volvo in golf – a long-term Partnership
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highly-successfulyears,todelivertheresultswerequire,whichiswhyweareaddingtheVolvoGolfChampionstoourportfolio.”
million PlayersButthereisasecondstringto
Volvo’sgolfingbow.For25years,ithasorganisedaworldwidegolfseriesforclubgolfers–formerlytheVolvoMastersAmateur,renamedfrom2011theVolvoWorldGolfChallenge–withalmostamillionplayersfrom30differentnationshavingtakenpart.“Thesituationregardingourglobal
golfprogramme,ourcustomersandourprospectsistrulyunique,”insistsPerEricsson,adding:“Volvoisthe
onlybigbrandthattiesitsamateurandprofessionaleventstogether,withtheworldfinalistsintheVolvoWorldGolfChallengeplayingwiththeprofessionalsontheSaturdayoftheVolvoGolfChampions,beforegoingontoplaytheirown‘worldchampionship’overthesameMontgomerieCourseoverwhichtheprofessionalchampionearnedhisprize–samepinpositions,fairwaywidths,championshiptees.”WithgolfnowanOlympicsport,
fromRiodeJaneiroin2016andbeyond,PerEricssonseessignificantopportunities,observing:“Golfisgrowing,incountriessuchasChina,whereVolvoisalreadytheleadinggolfsponsor,andinplacessuchasIndia,
RussiaandBrazil,andatVolvo,wecanmakebusinessthroughpeople’spassion,throughwatchingprofessionalgolfandparticipatinginasportplayedbyagreatmanyofourcustomersandprospects.”Bahrainmaybeanewdestination
forVolvoinGolfandTheEuropeanTourbutit’sbusinessasusual,rollingoutanotherworld-classgolfchampionshipforVolvo,TheTouranditsplayerstobeperenniallyproudof.n
volvogolfchampions.com volvoworldgolfchallenge.comvolvochinaopen.comvolvoworldmatchplay.comeuropeantour.com
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“my dad, Terry, was always a snappy dresser and a single-figure handicap golfer, my mom used to work in fashion – she used to run a retail store. so i guess the colour co-ordination thing came from her.” – ian Poulter
golf has never looked so good
WHen the game of golf was founded in scotland over 200 years ago, austere
men sporting full beards and three-piece suits drove, pitched and putted their way around the links using exotically-named, hickory-shafted clubs like the mashie niblick and the spoon, striking gutta Percha golf balls towards their target.But,graduallyovertime,through
anerathatsawplus-fours,Pringlesweatersandnefariousfashionfadscomeandgo,andoccasionallycomebackagain,themoderngameofgolfisascomfortableonthecatwalkandinHighStreetdesignerboutiquesasitisonthetees,fairwaysandgreensoftheworld’s70,000-plusgolfcourses.Lookingbackatold,grainysepia
imagesofStAndrewsinthe19th
century,fierce-lookingmenlikeWillieParkSeniorandOldTomMorriswinningTheOpenChampionshipintheirheydayintheirnativeScotland,itwasonlythehickory-shaftedgolfclubsthatconfirmedthesefine,upstandingfellowsasprofessionalgolfersandneithernotariesnorbankmanagers.Whilsttheequipmentmayhave
changedsomewhatbythetimegreatnamessuchasHarryVardon,WalterHagen,BobbyJones,HenryCottonandSamSneadweremakingacleansweepofthefour‘Majors,’inthe
firsthalfofthe20thcentury,ittookthearrivalofthe‘Big3,’GaryPlayer,ArnoldPalmerandJackNicklaus,managedbythemanwhooriginatedthesportsmarketingindustry,MarkH.McCormack,founderofIMG,beforefashionbecameawordingolf’scomplexlexicon.Eventhen,sweatersandslacks
weretheorderoftheday.The‘countryclub’look,smartbutcasual,withjacketandtieisstilltherequiredattireformostclubhousesaroundtheworld.NickFaldoiswidely-creditedfor
propellingthePringleofScotlandbrandintoaglobalgolfingicon,but,lookingbackjustageneration,thoseoutfitsofthedayremainedstaunchlyinthe‘passable,practicalandcomfortable’category.
Houte coutureFastforwardtothestartofthe
21stcenturyandallthatwasabouttochange.AcertainTigerWoodswasontheprowl,themarketingmightofNikebehindhimandwithintheblinkofaneye,golfwasmorehautecouturethanclubclass,theterm‘performancewear’enteringtheglossaryofgolf.GregNorman,akathe‘GreatWhite
Shark’createdhisowngolfapparelbrand,adivisionofReebok,butitwasthearrivalofgolf’sacknowledgedstyleguru,EnglishmanIanPoulterwhoputthepizzazzintotheRoyalandAncientgame.Poulter,whoisoneofthe
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starattractionshereattheVolvoGolfChampions,explainshowhispassionforfashioncameabout:“Mydad,Terry,wasalwaysasnappydresserandasingle-figurehandicapgolferandmymumusedtoworkinfashion-sheusedtorunaretailstore.SoIsupposethecolourco-ordinationthingcamefromher,”saysPoulter,whocreatedhisownfashionbrand,IJPDesignin2007.FewwillforgetsomeofPoulter’s
wilderfashionstatements–thepatrioticUnionJacktrousersatThe2004OpenChampionshipandhisClaretJugpantsthefollowingyear.TheBritishpressreferredtothecurrentWorldNumber11variouslyas,‘Anattention-seeker,’and,‘allmouthandtrousers.’
last laughBut,with11toptitlesworldwide
andcareerearnings(onlyonthegolfcourse)inexcessofUS$21million(BHD7,918,595),Poulterhashadthelastlaugh,hisbiggestvictorytodate,theWGC-AccentureMatchPlayChampionshipearninghimUS$1.3million(BHD490,197),won,appropriately,dressedinall-pink.“IbegansketchingdesignsasI
touredtheworld,onletterheadsandairlinecoasters,dreamingofthedayIcouldwearmyowncreations”reflectsPoulter,whoevensportedthejerseyofhisbelovedArsenalFConcourseattheAbuDhabiGolfChampionship
in2006,earninghimselfatickingofffromtournamentofficials.“Thedreamisnowreality.IJPbrand
philosophyisto‘leadwiththelegs’bydesigningthetrousersfirstandthenco-ordinatingtherestoftheoutfitaroundthem,”hesays.Heevenhashisowntartans,‘the
PoulterTartans’registeredwithandauthenticatedbytheScottishRegisterofTartans,althoughnoneofhis10EuropeanTourtitleshavebeenwon
northoftheborder,somethinghehopestorectify–perhapswinningTheOpenChampionshipwhenitreturnstoScotlandatMuirfieldin2013wouldbethecrowninggloryforthe‘peacockprince?’Meanwhile,Poultermighthave
apotentialrivalforthetitleofgolf’s‘KingofChic?ItalianprotégéMatteoManassero,whogoeshead-to-headwithPoulteratthisinauguralVolvoGolfChampions,becametheyoungest
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winnerinEuropeanTourhistorywhen,at17yearsand188daysold,hestormedtovictoryattheCASTELLÓMASTERSCostaAzaharlatelastseason,ironicallyovertakingIanPoulterDesignambassador,GaryBoyd,totakethetitle.TheyoungmanfromVeronasigned
adealpotentiallyworthmillionswiththeRLXbranchofglobalfashionhouseRalphLaurenlastyear,saying:“BeingItalian,wearealwaysassociatedwith
fashion.IhavealwayslovedtheRLXGolfbrandandfeelthattheapparelwilllendmethecomfortandtechnicaledgethatIneedtoperformmybestonthecourse.”Thebigfashionbrandsknowarising
starwiththecorrectattributeswhentheyseeone.DavidLauren,SeniorVicePresidentofAdvertising,MarketingandCorporateCommunicationsforRalphLaurensaid:“Matteoisquicklymakingafootprintinthegameofgolfonagloballevel.HeisanincrediblytalentedgolferandhisyouthfulnessandgreatstyleresonatewiththeRLXbrand.”Manaserro’sheroisnot,likethe
majorityofrookieprofessionalsthesedays,TigerWoods,butanotherlegendaryfigureinthegameofgolf,SeveBallesteros,stillrecoveringfromthebraintumourthathasconfinedhimtohisSpanishhomesince2008.Manasseroremembersmeetinghis
herowhentheSpanishlegendplayedtheItalianOpen.Ballesteroshandedhimawedgeandinvitedhimtohitashotontothepracticegreen.ManasseroremembersthatheholeditandthatSeveshookhisheadindisbelief.“Imet
SevewhenIwasjustfouryearsold,whichwasgreatforme,”recallstheyoungItalian.“Hewasnotjustoneofthegreatestplayers,heplayedanotherkindofgame.”Manassero,whorecentlybeatSeve’s
recordasthethenyoungestwinneronTheEuropeanTourat17yearsand200dayssetbackin1974,mirrorshishero’sroutineofalwayswearingSeve’strademarkgreenandwhitegarbonthefinaldaysoftournaments.“SeveismyherosoIfeelveryproud
towearhiscoloursonaSunday,”saidtheyoungItalian.“WhenIwonIreceivedaletterfromSeveanditwasalmostmoreexcitingthanwinningmyfirstprofessionaltournament!”Justpicturethescene,thisSunday
afternoon:thefinalpairing,golf’sfinestfashionistasPoulterandManassero,TheEuropeanTourRookiesoftheYearin2000and2010,respectively,goinghead-to-headnotjustfortheUS$283,330(BHD107,000)firstprize,butalsoforthetitleofBest-dressedDandyinBahrain.n
www.ijpdesign.com
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“seve is my hero so i feel very proud to wear his colours on a sunday. When i won i received a letter from seve and it was almost more exciting than winning my first professional tournament!” – matteo manassero
27735lg AD HSBC 2011 sponsr handbk A4_CNN_golf_AD HSBC 2011 spnsr hndbk 21/12/2010 10:48 Page 1
Duel Fuel Powers Volvo’s sponsorship Drive
For a dozen years the Volvo brand was the powerhouse, setting
the pace in professional golf, first in europe, and then adding asia in the mid-nineties.WithVolvoCarsownednowby
ChineseautomakerGeely,Volvo’sglobalsponsorshipactivity,whichincludesaburgeoninggolfportfolio,theVolvoOceanRaceandtheVolvoEnvironmentPrize,lookssettocontinueusingthistried-and-testedhybridformulainpartnershipwithVolvoGroup.Thatage-oldsaying,‘ifitisn’tbroke,
don’tfixit,’couldhavebeencoinedforSwedishbrandVolvoanditsaward-winningsponsorshipactivity.Volvo’strackrecordinsponsorshiprevealsitwasoneoftheearlypioneersin
adoptingsponsorshipaspartofthemarketingmix.1988sawVolvoembracethegame
ofgolf,becomingthefirstoverarchingsponsorofTheEuropeanTourbeforeaddingAsiaingeneralandChinainparticularinthemid-1990s.22-years-later,Volvoremains
attheheartofgolfinEurope,theMiddleEastandChina,andonemanwhohasbridgedwhathasbeena‘goldengeneration’forgolfis2010EuropeanRyderCupCaptainColinMontgomerieandheisinnodoubtastothevalueofVolvo’spartnershipwithprofessionalgolf.“ThecontributionVolvohasmadeto
golf,firstonTheEuropeanTour,theninAsiahasbeentrulyremarkable,”saysthecharismaticifoccasionally
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DiggingforVictory(top):USRyderCupCaptainCoreyPavin,China’sfirst-everwinnerofaEuropeanTourevent,Lian-weiZhang,andEurope’sRyderCupCaptain,ColinMontgomerie.
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controversialMontgomerie,adding,“VolvobroughttotheEuropeanTournotonlymuch-improvedprizemoneybuttheyalsosetthegoldstandardsomeoftheyoungerplayerstodaytakeforgranted–courtesycars,players’lounges,physiotherapyservices,firstclasspracticefacilitiestonamebutafew.“Volvo’sground-breaking
involvementinTheEuropeanToursince1988alsohelpedpersuadeotherblue-chipbrandstoinvestingolfsponsorship,basedonVolvo’squalityproductionvaluesandaprovenreturnoninvestment.”
expertise and enduranceBy1999,Montgomeriehad
completedarguablythemostremarkablefeatofexpertiseandenduranceinworldgolf,winninghisseventhsuccessiveVolvoOrderofMerittitle,theaccoladeawardedtothemostsuccessfulplayereachyear–firstamongstequals.Buttheyearalsosawadevelopment
thatcouldhavedissectedVolvo’saward-winningsponsorshipcampaigns;theFordMotorCompanyacquiredVolvoCars,VolvoGroup,theheavyautomotivesideoftheVolvobrand
goingitsownway,investingFord’svaluabledollarsinnewmachineryandmodels,buses,trucks,constructionequipment,aeroandmarineengines.However,sostrongwasthebond
betweenthenowautonomousbusinesses,sharedvaluesofQuality,SafetyandEnvironmentalCare,thatprovisionwasmadeintheconditionsofsalethatbothVolvoCarsandVolvoGroupwould,uniquelyinindustry,continuetojointly-promotethecherishedVolvonameanditsbrandvalues–thisdespitehavingentirelyindependentmanagementandshareholders.
Withthat,Volvo’sworld-classgolfprogrammecontinuedintoaseconddecadeandbeyond,asdidtheprestigiousVolvoEnvironmentPrize,knownasthe‘seventhunofficialNobelPrize,’whilsttheVolvoOceanRace,theworld’stoughest,roughestroundtheworldregatta,joinedthefamilyin2001.Inthedozenyearssincethe
divergence,Volvo’ssharedglobalsponsorshiphas,ifanything,growninstatureandstrength.LeifJohansson,President&CEOofVolvoGroupthroughoutthattimesaying,“ThetwoVolvosare,individuallyand
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“Volvo is a brand with over 80 years of rich history and
heritage, 72 of those years as one
corporate entity, rightly enjoying a global
reputation earned through core values
of Quality, safety and environmental care,”
– stefan JacobyPresident & chief executive officer
Volvo car corporation
collectivelystrongernowthanwhentheyseparated.VolvoCarshasamuchstrongerproductrangeandVolvoGroupisthreetimesbiggerthanitwasbackthen.”Meanwhile,VolvoCars,whichhas
remainedanchoredinVolvo’shomecityofGothenburg,Sweden,hasundergoneasubsequentchangeofownership,Chinesecar-makerGeelyAutomotiveacquiringVolvoCarslatelastyear,installingStefanJacobyatthehelm,partcounterpart,partcolleaguetoJohanssonatVolvoGroup.“Volvoisabrandwithover80years
ofrichhistoryandheritage,72ofthoseyearsasonecorporateentity,rightlyenjoyingaglobalreputationearnedthroughcorevaluesofQuality,SafetyandEnvironmentalCare.”ContinuedStefanJacoby:“When
youhavethatscaleandscopeofstandingacrossthespectrumofyourstakeholders,customers,employeesandbusinesspartners,andthereisanintuitiveleveloftrustandrespectbetweenbothpartsoftheVolvobrand,youwouldnotwillinglygiveupthecommercialmomentumandadvantageortheeconomiesofscalethatthesejointsponsorshipsdeliver.”Two
ScandinaviansareentrustedtodeliverthebenefitsthataccruefromtheVolvobrand’sflagshipssponsorships,NorwegianKnutFrostad,CEOoftheVolvoOceanRace,andPerEricsson,PresidentofVolvoEventManagement–Golf.“Havinglong-termsupportfromboth
partsofVolvo,twogreatadvocatesoftheVolvobrandwhoempathisewiththesportofsailingandunderstandthefullpotentialoftheVolvoOceanRace,isasremarkableasitisrefreshing,”saysex-round-the-worldskipperFrostad,whohasbroughtthespectacletotheMiddleEastforthefirsttimewithaground-breakingstopoverinAbuDhabiinearly2012.
Promote the BrandMeanwhile,Ericssonpresidesnot
onlyoverVolvo’slegacyof120-pluseliteprofessionalgolfchampionshipssponsoredbytheVolvobrand,butisalso,likehiscolleagueFrostad,takingVolvointoanewMiddleEastmarketwiththismonth’sVolvoGolfChampionsinBahrain.“Volvoremainsingolfforthesimple
reasonthatitisagameplayedandrespectedbyourcustomersand
prospects,notonlyinthelargelyretailB2CsectoraddressedbyVolvoCars,butalsoinaB2BenvironmentforthebenefitofVolvoGroupanditscomponentbusinessareas,”saysSwedeEricsson,adding,“ThetwoaspectsofVolvosharingintheirglobalsponsorshipendeavoursensurethatthewholeisgreaterthanthesumoftheparts.”“OurtaskatVolvoEventManagement
–GolfistoactivelyanddynamicallypromotetheVolvobrandanditscorevaluesthroughgolfandtoprovidepremiumplatformsonwhichmarketersatVolvoCarsandVolvoGroupcanleveragebothbrandawarenessandcustomercommunicationsusingtheuniqueandexclusiveopportunitiesthatgolfoffers.”WiththeboardsofVolvoEvent
Management–GolfandtheVolvoOceanRaceenjoyingequalrepresentationfromVolvoCarsandVolvoGroup,thisunique,pragmaticarrangement,whichhasenduredtwochangesofownershipandaglobalrecessionofepicproportions,lookssettocontinuetoputthewindinthesailsoftheVolvobrandandensurethatareturnoninvestmentremainsparforthecourse.n
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getting startedlUponarrivalattheRoyalGolfClub,pick-upaProgrammeandaDailyDrawSheetandfamiliariseyourselfwiththegenerallayoutofthearea.l TheDailyDrawSheetprovidesthenames,startingtimesandteesofeachandeveryplayer,soyoucanfollowyourfavouritesroundthecourse.l Foranup-close-and-personalviewoftheplayers,werecommendyouheadforthePracticeRangeandPracticePuttingGreen.
Watching Briefl Therearetwowaysofwatchingamajorgolfchampionship:eitherpickagroupofplayersandfollowthemroundthegolfcourse,or,alternatively,selectagoodvantagepointandwatchalltheplayerscomethrough.l Keenspectatorsmay‘mix-and-match,’followsomefavouritesforawhilebeforetakingabreakandwatchingoneparticularhole–Par-3smakeforespeciallygoodviewing.l Youcanfollowthescoresofeachmatchontheportablescoreboardscarriedwitheachgroup,whilsttheoverallstate-of-playcanbefoundontheleaderboardslocatedaroundthecourse.
l Towardstheendofeachday’splay,the18thgreenmakesforanexcellentandatmosphericvantagepointastheplayerscompletetheirrounds.l TakeabreakandcatchalltheactionoverlunchbyviewingonthegiantscreeninthePublicVillage.
elementary etiquettel Professionalplayersperformattheirbestwhentherearenodisturbancestodistractthem,sopleaseswitch-offallmobilephonesandavoidtalkingandcheeringbeforeandduringaplayer’sroutine.Feelfreetocheeroncethegolferhasplayedhisshot.l Pleaseremainoutsidetheroped-offareasandfollowtheguidanceoftheStewardsandMarshals.l Takingphotographs/shootingvideousingcamerasormobilephonesisrestrictedtothePracticerangeandPracticePuttingGreens.Mostplayersarehappytoposeforphotographswithspectators,butonlyaftertheirroundisfinished.l Pleasedonotpickuportouchaplayer’sgolfballonthecourse;itcouldcosthimpenaltyshots–andmoney.l ChildrenarewelcomeattheVolvoGolfChampions,butonlywhen
accompaniedbyadults,whoarerequestedtokeepkidsundercontrol.l Whendisposingofrubbish,pleaseusetherecyclingbinsprovided.l Playersarenormallyhappytosignautographs,normallywhentheycomeoffthe18thgreenattheendoftheirroundbutneverbeforeandduringaround.
Handy Hintsl Itissuggestedthatgolfshoes,walkingshoesortrainersarewornwhenwalkingaroundthegolfcourse.l PleasewearasunhatanduseaproprietarysuncreamsuitablefortheMiddleEast,SPF15orabove.l AlthoughBahrainattheendofJanuaryislikelytobesunnyandwarm,bringawarmoutergarment,justincase.l Thegolfersensuretheyarewellhydratedthroughouttheirround,andsoshouldyoube–don’tforgettotakeabottleofwateroutonthecoursewithyou.l Youmayfindusingapairofbinocularshelpfulinwatchingyourfavouriteplayersclose-up.l FoodandbeveragesareavailableintheVolvoGolfChampionsVillagebutyouareatlibertytobringyourown.
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The Volvo golf champions is the first european Tour event to be staged in Bahrain, and, whilst many of our spectators may be regular players and/or watchers of golf, others may be new to the sport.
The following Beginner’s guide to golf Watching is designed to keep you on course with some helpful hints that will maximise the experience and enjoyment of visiting the Volvo golf champions.
Beginner’s guide to golf Watching
Bahrain: Pearl of the middle east Bahrain is defined by two
central characteristics, a rich and colourful history and an
enduring relationship with water. Witnessthecountry’sname,
Mamlakatal-Bahrayn,literallytranslatedas,‘TwoSeas’inArabic.Thefocusisnottheisland’sminimalistlandmass,butonthewaterthatsurroundsitsshores.ThenewBahrainFinancial
HarbourofManama,currentlyrisinglikeNeptunefromreclaimedland,anditsproudbuildings,suchastheDualTowers,appeartobeholdingbackthesea.Whilstlandreclamationisnow
commonplacethroughouttheGulfregion,onlyBahraincanclaimatrulyintegralconnectionbetweenfreshandsaltwaters:thesweet-waterspringsthatbubbledoff-shore
helpedbringabout4,000yearsofsettlement,thelayersofwhichareexposedinricharchaeologicalsitesaroundtheisland.Thespringsalsoencouragedthe
mostlustrousofpearls–thetradeinwhichhelpedbuildtheisland’searlyfortunes.Indeed,Bahrainhaslongbeenthecentreofthepearl-tradingworld.LuminarieslikeJacquesCartierwasaregularvisitor,attractedbythefinestexamplesofpearls,whichheusedinhisiconicjewellerydesigns.Justlikeopeninganoyster
shell,exploringBahrainrevealsacornucopiaoftreasures,historicandcontemporary.Fromtheexcellent,evocativeNationalMuseuminManama,andthetraditionalhousesofMuharraqtotheextraordinaryburialmoundsatA’ali,therearemany
significantsitestovisit,richinhistoryandheritage.Moremodernpearls,suchasthe
spectacularBahrainWorldTradeCentre,theKingFahdCausewayandthenewDurratAl-BahrainprojectatthesoutherntiplinkBahrain’svibrantpresentandexcitingfuturetoitsmemorablepast.TheKingdomofBahrainis
anarchipelagoconsistingof33islandsintheArabianGulf,itsonlyconnectionwiththemainland,theman-madeKingFahdCauseway,25km/16mwhichhaslinkedBahrainwithSaudiArabiasinceitsopeninginNovember,1986,whilstplansareatanadvancedstageforasecondcausewaylinkingBahrainwithQatar.Thecommercial,governmentaland
culturalcapitalisManama,athrivingandvibrantcity.Now,theKingdomof
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Bahrainiscarvinganameforitselfinthesportingsphere.Itsstate-of-the-artBahrainInternationalCircuitwillsoonbehostingtheopeningFormula1GrandPrixoftheseasonfortheeighthsuccessiveseason,closetothelocationwherethefirstoilfindoftheMiddleEastwasmadein1932–afascinatinghistoricaljuxtapositionandautomotiveconnection.ThenewEuropeanTourflagshipevent,theVolvoGolfChampions,willmirrortheFormula1GrandPrix,astheprestigiousseason-openingeventfromnextyear.Forthoseofanarchaeological
persuasion,thetombsofSaar,BouriandA’Ali,thedistinctivehoneycombtombsofSaarandtheextraordinarytownofA’Ali,wherehundredsofancientburialmoundslumpandbumpthelandscape,areamust-see,asisthelesshistoricbutequallyemotiveBeital-Jasra,thebirthplaceofthefatherofBahrain’srulerandawonderfulexampleoftraditionalBahrainiarchitecture,constructedwithexquisiteexternalsimplicity,builtfromlocalmaterialssuchascoralstoneaswellasimporteditemssuchasIndiantimberusedtoconstructmanyofBahrain’smagnificentdoors.AsistheBahrainFort,Qala’at
al-Bahrain,aPortuguese-eyedviewoftheseafromthestrategicBahrainFort,builtinthe16thcenturyandrecentlyrestoredtoitsformergrandeur,oneofUNESCO’smostcherishedWorldHeritageSites.
Meanwhile,atrektofindtracesofDilmun,Bahrain’sancient,powerfulcivilization,whoseinfluencelastedbetween3200and330BCistheultimateintimetravel.Duringthe19thcenturyBahrain
cameundertheinfluenceoftheBritishinthe‘Trucial’system–aseriesoftreatiessignedwithBritainagainstpiracy,arelationshipthatdevelopedintoaprotectorateagreement,themoderndayresultofwhichisastrongtiebetweentheBritishandthepeopleofBahrain.Bahrainregainedfull
independencein1971andin2002,Bahrainbecameaconstitutionalmonarchywithafully-electedparliamentinwhichbothmenandwomenareeligibletovoteandstandforoffice.Thereisalsoasysteminplaceto
ensuretransparencyofgovernment
finances,akeyfactorinBahrainbecomingtheregion’sleadingoffshorebankingandcommercialhub,fortwo-scoreyearsaproventrackrecordofintegrityandprobity.BeingapredominantlyIslamic
country,Bahrainisrichinreligiousiconography,includingtheAl-FatehGrandMosque.OfficiallyopenedinJune,1988,itcoversanareaof150,000squaremetersandcanaccommodateupto7,000worshippers.Itslargedomeis16metreshigh
and22metreswideandisinternallyilluminatedby12ornatestainedglasswindows,withtwominaretseach70metresinheight.TheAl-FatehGrandMosquealso
housestheReligiousInstituteforIslamicAffairs,whilsttheoldestmosqueinBahrain,theAl-KhamisMosque,wasbuiltinthe8thcenturyandexpandedovertime.Itstwominaretswerelateradditions,builtsometimebetweenthe13thand15thcenturies.Meanwhile,theBeitAlQur’anis
anIslamicmuseuminHoora,builttoaccommodateacomprehensiveandvaluablecollectionoftheQur’anandraremanuscripts,thecomplexcomprisingamosque,alibrary,anauditorium,aschool,andmuseumconsistingoftenexhibitionhalls.Thisgreatinstitutionandits
museumhouseaninternationallycelebratedcollectionofhistoricQuranicmanuscriptsfromvariouspartsoftheIslamicworld,fromChinaintheEasttoSpainintheWest,representingaprogressionofcalligraphictraditionsfromthe
firstcenturyoftheIslamiceratothepresentday.VisitorstoBahrain’smagnificent
mosquesarereadilywelcomed,althoughcareshouldbetakentorespectthefacttheyareprimarilyplacesofworshipandnottouristattractions.Modern-dayBahrainisa
contemporaryKingdom,embracingliberalvaluesalongsideitsownculturalheritage,ahavenforshoppingandeating-out,localandinternational.Notsurprisingly,givenBahrain’s
history,pearlsaretheprincipalhome-grownproductstotakehomeasmementoes,oftenusedinhand-craftedgoldjewellery,whilstindigenousredclaypotteryisavailable
fromthevillageofA’alialongsidehand-wovenclothfromBaniJamrahandtextilesfromAl-Jasra.Bahrain’scapitalcity,Manamais
anatmosphericmagnetfornightshopping.JuststrollthroughthelabyrinthinestreetsofSouqAl-ManamabehindBabal-Bahraintodiscoverhowlocalsspendtheireveningsbarteringwiththemanytradersoverclothes,textilesandgoldproducts.Meanwhile,thoseshoppingfor
luxurygoodswillnotbedisappointed.ThroughouttheKingdom’smanymalls,especiallySeefMall,A’aliMall,BahrainCityCentreMallandtheModaMallatBahrain’sWorldTradeCenter,globalbrandsproliferateand
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thepricesarekeen.Withinthecapitalcity‘nightlife’generallyreferstoeatingoutwithfriendsinsomeofthecity’sexcellentrestaurants,particularlyintheAdliyadistrict,withmanyethnicflavoursandfoodsonoffer.LocalBahrainispecialitiessuchas
Machboos,thenationaldish(aricebasewithchickenaccompaniedbyseveralspices,including‘Baharat,’Coriander,Cardamom,TurmericandtheuseofRoseWaterinfinishingthedishisadelicateadditionthatsomehowbindsallthespicestogether)takesconsiderabledetectiveworktolocate.Whilstalcoholisfreelyavailablein
internationalhotelsandrestaurants,localestablishmentsserverose-water
andpomegranatejuiceinsteadofwinesandChampagne,bothperfectlypalatablealternatives.InkeepingwithmostMiddleEast
destinations,thebesttimetovisitBahrainisbetweenOctoberandAprilwhentheskyisfreefromheathaze,andtheweatherissunnywithoutbeingundulyoppressiveduetoapleasant,coolingbreeze.Mid-summertemperaturessoarfar
beyondthoseconsideredcomfortable,routinely40ºC,occasionallytopping50ºC.Hotels,restaurants,visitorattractionsandshoppingmallsareinvariablyair-conditioned,buttheBahraini‘winter’rarelyrequiresmuchmorethanalightcover-upfortemperateeveningtemperatures.
TherecanbefewbetterdestinationsthanBahrainforthequantityandqualityofhotels,withmostofthemajorgroupsalongsideindigenousofferings,withsomethingtosuiteverybudget.Bahrainmaynotbethemost
high-profileoftheGulfstates,largelybecauseitdoesnotindulgeissuchhigh-profilepromotionalcampaigns,buttheKingdomisnonetheworseforthat,thehiddenpearloftheMiddleEast,warm,welcoming,withanauraembracingpast,presentandfuture.Butdon’ttelleveryone.Thesecret
gemthatisBahrainisjustperfectthewayitis.
www.bahraintourism.com
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Q: What difference does the economic Development Board make to Bahrain’s growth?a:TheEDBisadynamicpublicagencywithanoverallresponsibilityforformulatingandoverseeingtheeconomicdevelopmentstrategyofBahrain,andforcreatingtherightclimatetoattractdirectinvestmentintotheKingdom.OneofourkeyrolesistosmooththepathofbusinessesmovingtoBahrain,ensuringthattheeconomicenvironmentisattractive,andhelpingcompaniestohandletheirprocedureswithmaximumspeedandefficiency.Ourmindsetistolistenandlearnfromwhatcompanies
tellus.Ifpartoftheprocessisnotworkingaswellasitshould,wecaninterveneandputitright.Whilstsimilarinmindset,theCentralBankalsohasasteadyandconservativeapproachwhenitcomestofinancialregulation.Onereasonwhyourregulationsworkbetterthanmostisthatwewelcomepracticalcommentsfrombusinessesoperatinginthemarket,beforewefinalisenewlawsornewrules.Thatway,weknowourregulationsworkinpracticeaswellasintheoryandcanbeappliedfirmlyaswellasfairly.
Q: Bahrain is known as a Financial services hub for the region – will this continue to be a focus, and in what other sectors do you anticipate growth?
a:AsthefirstGulfstatetomoveawayfromdependenceonoil,wehavebecometheGulf’smostdiversifiedeconomy.BahrainisalsoaveryefficientstrategiclocationforglobalbusinesseswishingtoaccessthistrilliondollarGCCmarket.Wecan’taffordtositbackandsoweworkhardtoensurethatweofferthebestvaluepropositions,revolvingaroundanumberofthings,includingastrongfocusonthequalityofregulation,lowoperatingcostsandaccesstoapoolofskilledlocaltalent.AlloftheseareasfallunderBahrain’sNationalEconomic
Strategy,whichistheroadmapfortransformingtheKingdom’sEconomicVision2030intoreality.ThisapproachhashelpedusbuildupastrongFinancialServicessector,butothersectorswhereweseeBahrainhavingastrongofferingincludeICT,highvalue-addedmanufacturingandlogistics.
Q: How do you see the Volvo golf champions, and other sporting events such as the Formula 1 race, supporting the eDB’s strategy to attract international businesses to Bahrain? a: AttractingeventssuchastheVolvoGolfChampionsandtheF1isacentralpartoftheEDB’sremittoraisethe
profileofBahrainasabusinesslocationandcreatetherightclimatetoattractforeigninvestment.ClearlytheBahrainFormulaOneGrandPrix,thefirstF1
eventintheMiddleEast,hashadahugelypositiveimpactontheBahrainieconomysince2004anditcontinuestogroweveryyear,withthe2010racebeingtheseventhforBahrain.TheracehashelpedlifttheprofileofBahrain,withanestimatedworldwidetelevisionaudienceof500millionaswellasnearly100,000spectatorsattendinginperson.Wealsohavealonggolfinghistory.TheAwaliGolfClub
wasestablishedin1938–makingitthefirstgolfcourseinBahrainandtheGCC–andwillcelebrateits48thBahrainOpenthisseason.BahrainhaswonthePanArabGolfChampionship12times,includingsixback-to-backtitlesfrom1997to2002,andhaswontheGCCChampionship14times.Withgolfhavingsuchastrongglobalpresence,andasaprovenbusinesstool,webelievetheVolvoGolfChampionswillalsobringgreatbenefitstoBahrainbyhelpingtoraisetheprofileoftheKingdomontheinternationalstage.n
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Q&a with He shaikh mohammed bin essa al Khalifa, chief executive of the Bahrain economic Development Board (eDB)
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60 – The magic numberPar-for-the-course at the Royal golf club’s
montgomerie course may be 72, but many of the leading golfers present at the Volvo golf
champions will be shooting lower than that, with some even hoping for the magic number of 60, a feat that has been achieved on only 14 occasions on The european Tour.VolvoCarsissettoboastthree60sofitsownwith
therecentlaunchofthebrandnew,award-winningVolvoS60,thearrivallaterthisyearofachampion-in-waiting,theVolvoV60,addingtothealreadycrownedVolvoXC60whichhasbeenplayingtothegallerieseversinceitwasunveiledin2008.Thedrivingrangeisoneofthebestplacestowatch
theleadingprofessionalsup-close-and-personal,butVolvoCarshasanewstarofitsown,thebrandnewVolvoS60,whichcanbeseenintheVolvoVillageorinVolvodealershipsworldwide.
extrovert attitudeSaidtopossesanextrovertattitudeneverbefore
seeninVolvoshowrooms,theVolvoS60isalso,withoutquestion,themostdynamiccarmodelVolvohasevercreated,itsPedestrianDetectionSystemwithfullautobrakeatrulygroundbreakingsafetyfeaturefortheautomotiveindustry,CitySafetystandardacrosstheVolvoS60range.Styledandsculptedinthemostcontemporary
fashion,whilstretainingthehallmarkandcoolhandofScandinaviandesign,theVolvoS60isagenuinefour-door
coupe,withoutcompromise,availablein16coloursfromtheunderstatedIceWhiteandBlackStone,throughtheever-popularMetallicSilvertothevibrantElectrumGolfandPassionRed.Volvo’sdesignteamtooktheirinspirationfromtheracingtrackastheypursuedtheuncompromisinglinesdefinedbymotorsportfortheall-newS60.Thegraphiccharacteroftheracingtrackisclearly
apparentintheinstrumentpanelandembeddedinthedoors,everydetailpoetryinmotion.Theinstrumentsandcentrestackareangledtowards
thedrivertocreateasensationoffocusandcontrol,thenewdynamicthree-spokesteeringwheelandnewsportsseatswithextrasidesupportscomeasstandardinwhatmaylookandfeellikeacoupe,butcanalsoactasanauthenticfive-seatfamilycar.
sheep in Wolf’s clothingThreethingsaboutthenewVolvoS60remainjust
astheyhavebeenineachandeveryVolvocareverconstructed:EnvironmentalCare–emissionsareamongstthelowestinitsclassandanewDRIVeversioncomesonlinelaterthisyear;Safety–DriverAlertControl,auniquetechnologytodetectandalerttiredanddistracteddriversthroughtheBlindSpotInformationSystem,whichhelpsdetectvehiclesintheoffsetrearblindspotonbothsidesofthecar;LaneDepartureWarningtechnology,whichalertsthedriverifthecarrunsacrossthelanemarkerswithouttheturnindicatorbeingused.Thesearejustafewoftheinnovativesafetyfeaturespackedintotheclass-leading,standard-settingVolvoS60,whilstthethirdcorevalue,Quality,exudesthroughouttheVolvoS60range.TheVolvoS60hasanoldercousin,theVolvoXC60,
thefirstmid-sizedfamilycartoadoptarugged4x4personality,thedefinitivesheepinwolf’sclothing,whilstlaterthisyear,Volvo’s60sfamilywillbecompletewiththearrivaloftheVolvoV60,insideandoutthemostversatileandvoguishmid-sizedestatecarontheroad,withattitudeandappearance.Whetheranyofthechampiongolferstakingpartin
theVolvoGolfChampionscanmatchthemagicnumberof60foracompetitiveroundonTheEuropeanTour,orevenmakehistorywiththefirst-ever59,onlytimewilltell,buttwotopproswillgohomehappy.ThewinnersoftheVolvoGolfChampionsAmateurProCompetitionon‘SuperSaturday,’willeachbepresentedwithoneofthecarsthatarealreadyattheverytopoftheleaderboard.nwww.volvocars.com
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sky’s the limit as Volvo Rides in Tandem at Tour de France
Whether the Tour de France or The european Tour presents professional cyclists and golfers respectively the greater test of
endurance is open to debate, but when the sKY PRo cycling team required world-class coaching and trucking to transport its team the length and breadth of europe and beyond, they turned to Volvo to ensure its star riders travelled stylishly, safely and sustainably.WithelitecyclingstarssuchastripleOlympicgold
medallistBradleyWigginsandsuperSwedeThomasLöfkvisttogetherwithkeypersonnelsuchasSportsDirector,anotherSwede,MarcusLjungqvistonboard,aworld-classtransportpartnerwasrequiredtoworkintandemwiththeteam.That’swhereVolvoBusesandVolvoTruckscamein.
Volvoinitiallysuppliedtwoidentical42-seaterVolvo9700coachesandapairofVolvoFH500Globetrottertrucks,whichwerecustomisedforthepurposeofcarryingandconditioningridersandtheirextremelyexpensiveracebikes.
‘extremely accommodating’HeadofSpecialProjectsfortheSKYPROCycling
team,GwilymEvans,explainedhowarecommendationledtothemspecifyingVolvoforthejob,“DHLareaclosepartnerandtheyputinanextremelygoodrecommendation,sowecontactedVolvo,whowereextremelyaccommodatingandworkedhardandfasttoprovideuswiththevehicles.”Thecoaches,whichhavethreeaxlesandnine
specially-designed,fully-recliningEstabanseats,toprovideoptimalrelaxationfortheriders,withother
specialfeaturesonboardtherevolutionarynewvehicleincludingafittedkitchen,withmicrowaveandfridge,twoshowerunitsandtoiletfacilities,whilstthebackofficeareacanbeturnedintoamassagesuiteforrelaxingandrepairingtiredandbrokenbodies.Thecoachalsohasaninbuiltradiomastandfull
internetaccesswithWi-Ficonnections,astate-of-the-artHi-FisystemtogetherwithTVscreenstunednotonlytoSKYTVbutalsotoreceivechannelsfrommultiplecountries.
Perfectly suited environmentMoodlightingandahighefficiencyairconditioning
unitensurethattheenvironmentisperfectlysuitedtoriderrecovery,whilstthefloorofthecoachisreinforcedtocopewiththeincreasedload.Alsosupportingthe25ridersand37staff,
combining13nationalities,isVolvoTruckswhoprovidethevehiclestotransportthecyclesthemselves,markingadynamicdoubleachievementfortheVolvobrand,beingassociatedwiththetransportationoftheridersandtheirbikes.Thetwoleft-hand-drive–forthetechnically-minded,
both6x2rear-steerrigids–truckswiththeworldfamousGlobetrottercabs,renownedfordrivercomfortandsafety,eachhavetelescopictrailers,expandingtheworkshopspacetogiveTeamSkythemostspacioustechnicalfacilitiesontheTourdeFrance.
‘Vehicles Raise the Bar’Offeringtheprivacyrequiredtofine-tunethe
Pinarellofp1Tiagra,whichcostasmuchahigh-specificationVolvoC30,thecustom-builttrailersaremorelikeasciencelabthanatypicalworkshop,whilstSKYPROCycling’strucksandbusesareamongstthemostecologicalontheTour.“Webelievethatthesevehiclesraisethebarinthe
cyclingworld–theyarestate-of-the-artandquiterevolutionary,”continuedGwilymEvans.Headded:“Havingtherightsortofenvironmentforourridersgivesthemthebestchanceofsuccess.”TheSKYPROCyclingteamtakespartintheTour
ofQatarfrom7th-12thFebruaryandtheTourofOmanfrom14th-19thFebruary2011,andintheTourdeFrancefrom3rd-25thJuly2011.nwww.volvo.com / www.volvotrucks.comwww.volvobuses.com / www.teamsky.com
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Volvo Trucks on a Roll in the middle east
The latin word ‘Volvo,’ translated means ‘i Roll, conjugated from volvere,’ in relation to the ball bearing, and, as the Volvo golf champions
gear-up and get their own bearings for action in Bahrain, Volvo Trucks is already on a roll across the middle east region.JustbeforeBahrain’sNationalDayHoliday,Volvo
TruckandmachinerysupplierAl-FuttaimAutoandMachineryCompany(Famco)officiallylaunchedVolvo’snewruggedFMXtruckintheUAE,toconsiderableindustryacclaim.TheFMXtruck,builtforheavyconstruction
activities,wasfirstunveiledattheBaumaInternationalTradeFairinAprilandisnowbeingrolledoutacrosstheglobe.PaulFloyd,ManagingDirector,Famcosaid:“TheFM
isaprovenchassisbuttheFMXisspecificallyaimedattheconstructionsegment.It’salittlemoreheavyduty,andstrongerandsaferwhenitgoesoff-road.”
‘exciting new Product’Theendof2010hasseenaflurryofnewmachines
hittheGCCmarketandFloydisoptimisticforthemarketandFamco’sprospectsin2011.“It’snicetocomeoutofthedoldrumsofthelast18monthsandputsomeexcitingnewproductinfrontofthecustomers–andwe’relookingtohavesuccesswithit.”Meanwhile,ZahidTractor,VolvoTrucksdistributorin
SaudiArabia,andAlAyuniInvestment&ContractingCo.recentlysignedalandmarkdealfor350trucks,themajorityofthetrucksbeingthenewVolvoFMX,tobedeployedthroughoutSaudiArabiaforavarietyofprojects–fromroadconstructiontorailroadprojects.ThenewVolvoFMX,equippedwiththeVolvo
uniqueI-shifttransmission,willreplaceagingunitsofdifferentbrands.ThetrucksstartedrollingoutoftheJeddah-basedVolvoTrucksassemblyplant,ArabianVehiclesIndustries(AVI),ajointventurebetweenZahidTractorandVolvoTrucksCorporationinNovemberlastyear.“WeareverypleasedtopartnerwithAlAyuni
andsupplythemwiththislargequantityoftrucks,”saidNasserJ.Bayram,ManagingDirectorofZahidTractor’sCommercialVehiclesDivision,adding,“Our
fieldserviceandtherestoftheafter-salesteam,withVolvoTrucksCorporation’stechnicalsupport,willfocusonensuringthebesttruckup-timeAlAyunihaseverwanted”.TheselectionofVolvo’sstate-of-the-artnew
constructiontruckFMXcameafteraseriesofqualificationsandassessmentsthathavesafetyandqualityascoreandfundamentalelements,
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demonstratingthatthenewVolvoFMXisreadyforthetoughestoftasksasthevehiclestandsuptoheavyloads,poorroadsandchallenginginclines.EngineerAbdulKarimAlAyuni,DeputyChairmanoftheAlAyuniBoardandBoardMemberdesignate,emphasisedthatthedealgoeshandinhandwiththeapproachandmethodologythattheAlAyuniGroupworksunder.“VolvoTruckshasalong-standing,rocksolidposition
intheSaudimarketandZahidTractorhasbeenanimportantpartnerofVolvofordecades,”explainsBjornIngemanson,PresidentofVolvoTrucksInternationalDivision,adding,“ItisveryencouragingthatAlAyunihasplacedthishighlysignificantorderandwearehappytobepartofcompletingtheimportantinfrastructuralandconstructionprojectsthatareunderwayintheKingdomofSaudiArabia.” n
Volvo’s Ultimate challenge
even before Volvo entered the world of professional golf – and certainly ever since – amateur
golf has played a major part in promoting the brand.InsomeVolvomarkets,mostnotably
Sweden,JapanandtheUK,theVolvoMastersAmateurwasup-and-runningevenbeforethegroundbreakingdaysoftheVolvoPGAChampionship,theVolvoMastersandnow,theVolvoGolfChampions,theVolvoChinaOpenandtheiconicVolvoWorldMatchPlayChampionship.AsVolvo’sprofilebecame
synonymouswithgolf,moreandmorecountriessawtheopportunitiespresentedbygolf,eachandeverycontinentintheworldinvolved,almostamillionclubgolferstakingpartacross30differentcountriesoverthepast25years.Thisyear,around50,000golfers
haveplayedover100,000roundsofgolf,struckalmost10milliongolfshotswithonesimpleaiminmind–toqualifyfortheWorldFinalinBahrainthisweek.“Volvo’sprofessionalgolfportfolio
providesaglobalshopwindowfortheVolvobrandanditsrangeofproducts,”explainsPerEricsson,President,VolvoEventManagement–Golf,adding,“Butourworldwideprogrammeforclubgolfersiswherethebusinessisdone,buildinglastingrelationshipswithcustomersandprospectsthroughtheuniversallanguageofgolf.”
‘World-class experience’Mostmajorpremiumbrands
utilisegolfasaconduitthroughwhichtotalktotheircustomers,butwithVolvo,itistrulyunique,usingoneofitsprestigiousprofessionalchampionshipsasthebackdropfortheWorldFinaloftheVolvoWorldGolfChallenge.“Linkingthetwostrandsofour
golfportfoliogivesusauniquedimensionandenablesustoaffordourcustomersandprospectsatrulyworld-classexperience,”explainsPerEricsson.Headds:“Theywillplaytheirfinal
overthesameMontgomeriecourse
astheprofessionalsplayedonSunday.”Amongstthosecountries
representedatthisyear’sGrandFinaleoftheVolvoWorldGolfChallengeareAustria,Belgium,Bulgaria,Chile,CzechRepublic,Denmark,Finland,France,Ireland,Italy,Japan,Korea,Poland,Qatar,SaudiArabia,Spain,Sweden,Switzerland,theUnitedKingdomandtheUnitedStates.Pastchampion,ArgentineanMaria
PazToranzoAldunate,whobecamethefirstwomantobecrownedworldchampionwhenshetookthetitleatValderramasaid:“Foraclubgolfer,thishasbeenthemostamazingexperience,bothonthegolfcoursebutalsobymeetingfellowgolfersfromsomanydifferentcountriesandcultures.”TheWorldFinaloftheVolvo
WorldGolfChallengetakesplaceonMonday31stJanuaryandTuesday1stFebruary2011.n
www.volvoworldgolfchallenge.com
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Teamwork the Ticket on super saturday
apart from events like The Ryder cup and The President’s cup, professional golf is invariably an
individual game. ButtheinauguralVolvoGolf
Championshasauniquedimensionasthetopprosjoinforceswiththeamateurs,whoareinBahrainfortheworldfinaloftheVolvoWorldGolfChallenge,theuniqueVolvoGolfChampionsAmateur-ProTeamCompetitiononwhatpromisestobeatruly‘SuperSaturday.’“Volvoisingolfsponsorshipbecause
alargepercentageofourcustomersplaygolfandtheVolvoGolfChampionsAmateur-ProTeamCompetitiondemonstratesthatwecarejustasmuchaboutourgolfingcustomersaswedoabouttheworldeliteofprofessionalplayers,bringingthemalltogetherinaninnovativeway,”saysPerEricsson,President,VolvoEventManagement–Golf,continuing,“TheAmateur-ProTeamCompetitionnurturesthedreamabouttheprospectofplayingwiththepros,fromeveryplayerineverylocalVolvoWorldGolfChallengedealer
eventaroundtheworld.Over50clubgolfersfromallovertheworld,whohavebattledtheirwaydownfrom50,000whosetoutintheVolvoWorldGolfChallenge,areinBahrainfortheWorldFinal,with30ofthemhavingtheopportunitytoqualifytomakeaonce-in-a-lifetimeappearanceonTheEuropeanTour.Eventhequalifyingprocessoffers
anexcitingprospectaseveryonegetstoplayonthepersonalgolfcourseofHisMajestytheKingHamadbinIsaAlKhalifa.
stakes are HighOntheSaturday,oneamateur
willbepairedwithtwoprofessionals,whoseindividualstrokeplayscoreswillnotonlybeaggregatedandcounttowardstheTeamCompetition,buttheirindividualscoreswillalsocountwithintheVolvoGolfChampions,whilsttheamateur’snettscorewillcount,thetwobestballsgoingtowardseachteam’saggregate.Thestakesarehigh,fortheclub
golfersinBahrainfortheWorldFinal
oftheVolvoWorldGolfChallenge,thethrillandhonourofjoiningathree-ballonTheEuropeanTour,fortheprofessionals,aVolvoS60isawardedtotheprofessionalpaironthewinningteam.14-handicapper,WedgeLouison,
whowontheVolvoWorldGolfChallengeNationalFinalinQatartoqualifyfortheWorldFinalinBahrainsays:“IamextremelyhappywithmyvictoryinQatar.I’dlovetorepresentQatarintheVolvoWorldGolfChallengeandIhopeIcanbeoneoftheluckyplayerstoplaywiththeprofessionalsintheVolvoGolfChampionsEuropeanTourevent.”Thequalifyingeventtakesplaceon
HisMajesty’sPrivateCourseatSafriyaPalace,Bahrain,onFriday28thJanuary,withtheVolvoGolfChampionsAmateur-ProTeamCompetitionplayedovertheMontgomerieCourseattheRoyalGolfClubonSaturday29thJanuary2011.n
www.volvogolfchampions.comwww.volvoworldgolfchallenge.com
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Volvo ocean Race on the crest of a Wave
Volvo’s trademark blue has been a colourful constant running
through the Dna of european and asian golf for more than a generation, but that is only part of the story of Volvo in sponsorship with the Volvo ocean Race, the flagship of the fleet making a ground-breaking middle east stopover with the leading yacht due to dock on 1st January, 2012.Foralmost40years,Volvohas
beeninthevanguardofsponsorship,anearlypioneerinrealisingtheimportanceofthemediuminthemarketingmix–firstthroughtennisandequestriansport,famouslyingolfandnowthroughsailing,Volvoisridingthecrestofawave.Havingtakenovertheailing
WhitbreadRaceasthenewMillenniumdawned,threeepicround-the-worldraceslater,theVolvoOceanRaceisnowpreparingforitsfourthcircumnavigation,in2011-2012,and,liketheVolvobranditself,theraceisnowtrulyglobal.Forthefirsttimeinthe40-year
historyofthetoughest,roughestraceonearth,therewillbeaMiddleEaststopoverand,anotherfirst,anentryfromoneoftheGulfStates,TeamAbuDhabi,whichwillraceabrandnew,state-of-the-artVolvoOpen70racingyacht,whichwillbeskipperedbyround-the-worldveteran,EnglishmanIanWalker.10portsspanningeachandevery
continentoftheworld,crossingtheequatornofewerthanfourtimes,fromtheflatcalmandbakingtemperaturesoftheDoldrumstothemountainous
seas,howlinggales,dodgingtheicebergsthatcanspellcatastrophewithhelpoftenmorethanaweekaway,skill,endurance,courageandteamworkarethekeycomponentsofaVolvoOceanRacecampaign.“TheVolvoOceanRaceismentally
andphysicallyexhausting.Thewholeprojectisquitedaunting,butitiseasiertocomprehendhavingdonetheracebefore.Ihavehugerespectfortheyachtsandtherace,”saysskipperWalker,whotriedhishandatgolfatthe2009VolvoWorldMatchPlayChampionship,teaming-upwithPUMAOceanRacingskipperKenRead,SwedishsailinglegendMagnusOlssonandRyderCupcaptainColinMontgomerie.
showcases core ValuesTheVolvoOceanRaceshowcases
thebrand’sthreecorevalues,Safety–notasingleseriousinjuryin2.5millionman-milessailedin2008/2009;Quality–thisistheworld’spremieroceanrace;andEnvironmentalCare–the‘Formula1machines’ofsailinggettingroundtheworldonwindandwavepoweralone,37,000milestothegallon!Withtemperaturesrangingfrom+
40ºCaroundtheequatorto–10ºCdeepdownintheSouthernOceanwherethewavescanreach15minheight,racingflat-outat35knotsinpitchdarknesswiththesafetycarnowhereinsight,itissmallwondertheVolvoOceanRaceisviewedasmoreMountEverestthanFormula1.“Itmayappearglamorous,”says
PUMAOceanRacingskipper,AmericanKenRead,keentogoonebetterthanlasttimewhenhefinishedrunner-uptoEricsson4.“Whenyouareonwatchinhurricane-forcewindsinthemiddleofthenight,wonderingwhetheranicebergorastrayseacontainermightfinishyourrace–andputyouandyourguysinharm’sway–withthe20thfreeze-driedbreakfastinsuccessionstillhoursaway,itisfarfromthat.‘But,”insistsRead,“itistheultimate
adventure,anamazingchallengeandafantasticexerciseinfriendshipandcamaraderie,notonlywithyourownteam-matesbutalsowithyourrivals,too.”Aroundeightworld-classteams
underthestewardshipofsomeofthebestprofessionalskippersintheworldareexpectedonthestartlinewhentheVolvoOceanRaceactiongetsunderwayinAlicante,Spainon5thNovember,2011,arrivinginCapeTown,SouthAfrica,on25thNovemberbeforemakingitsmaidenMiddleEaststopoverinAbuDhabion1stJanuary2012.FollowinganIn-portRaceand
Pro-am,theVolvoOceanRacefleetwillsetsailfromAbuDhabion14thJanuaryenroutetotheChineseportofSanya,stoppingoverinAuckland(NewZealand),Itajai(Brazil),Miami(USA),Lisbon(Portugal),Lorient(France)andfinishingintheIrishportofGalwayonthewestcoastofIrelandon7thJuly2012.
www.volvooceanrace.com
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Titleist, St Ives, Cambs PE27 3LU. Sign up to In The Swing, our free e-newsletter, at intheswing.info Source: Darrell Survey, Sports Marketing Surveys Ltd. Based upon results through 13/12/10 on the U.S. PGA, U.S. LPGA, Champions, Nationwide, South African, Asian, Korean, OneAsia, Australasian, Japan, Canadian PGA and PGA European Tours.
THE #1 BALL AROUND THE WORLD.
titleist.co.uk
Zach Johnson
Luke Donald
Steve Stricker
Rory McIlroy
Matteo Manassero
1 9, 8 0 9Nearest Competitor 3, 4 3 0
#1 IN WORLDWIDE PLAYERS
Padraig HarringtonRobert Karlsson
Adam Scott
1 4 9
2 5
OVERWHELMING
TRUST.
#1 IN WORLDWIDE WINS
Nearest Competitor
Lee Westwood Louis Oosthuizen
402474 TITLEIST WORLDWIDE WRAP UP 2010 A4:Layout 1 13/12/10 16:42 Page 1
glass act
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4
in keeping with the Volvo china open and
the Volvo World match Play championship, the all new Volvo golf champions has turned to another iconic swedish brand, Kosta Boda, for the trophy that will be cherished by champions. award-winning designer ludvig löfgren explains the creative process that results in sheer class in glass:
Swedishstyle,Scandinaviandesign,aretwoofthehallmarksoftheVolvobrand,sowhenanewtrophyisrequiredtobecreatedfortheVolvoWorldMatchPlayChampionship,theyturnedtoanothergreatnameinSwedishcraftsmanship,Orrefors/KostaBoda,andtotheaward-winningglassartistIngegerdRåman,whoforgedaniconicnewpiecethatwasliftedwithgreatpridebyEnglishmanRossFisher.Soitwasnosurprisethatitwas
toKostaBodathatVolvoturnedoncemoreforthenewVolvoGolfChampionsTrophy,thistimetoLudwigLöfgren,whoseartisticexpressionisyouthfulandfullofattitude,whilst,atthesametime,brutallyconscious.Itwashisconstantsearchfora
challenge–oftenresultinginhoursofexperimenting,bothinthestudioandinthehotshop–thatbroughttherockmusic-inspiredgraduateoftheworld-renownedUniversityCollegeofArts,CraftsandDesignintheSwedishcapital,Stockholm,tothefore.Havingpreviouslyworkedasaglassblower,theexperiencegavehimbothperspectiveandanunderstandingofglass.
atmosphereOnhisapproachtohisart,the
Swedesays:“Myapproachtoglassissensitive,passionateandpatient.Idescribeatmosphere,depictmoodsthroughreferencesbothtohistoryandthepresentday.“Moltenglassenablesmeto
workwithsculptureandpicturessimultaneously.Glasscanbeseductive,beautiful,softandcomplianttoworkwith,”heexplains,butcautions,“butatthesametimeitcanscaryouforlife.”Thecommissionforthebrandnew
VolvoGolfChampionstrophyisoutoftheordinary,anewchallengeforthemanwhohasrecentlyreturnedtohisnativeSmålandfromthemetropolitancreativecentreofStockholm.“Mybriefwasthatitwasa
prestigiouscommissionforthenewVolvoGolfChampionsinBahrain,andtheclientallowedmethefreedomto
interpretanddeciphertheconcept,”saysthemanwhoadmitstoneverhavingplayedgolf.Heexplains:“Ineverhadthetimeforit,butitseemsveryinterestingandchallenging,althoughI’mafraidifItriedIwouldbestuck.”Themanwhoseworkwillbe
exhibitedthissummerinthegardenoftheSwedishRoyalFamily’ssummercastle,Solliden,adds:“Mymaininfluencesarearthistory,musicandpulpfiction–youcanfindtracesofallofthatinmydesignsbutIstudied
thegameofgolfanditstrophiesbeforeembarkingontheVolvoGolfChampionscommission.”Hecontinues:“Myprocessalways
startswithsketchingandafterthatIgointothehotshoptoexperimentwithmyinitialideadirectlyinhotglass,”adding,“Iwaspleased–Ihadquiteafreehandandthepiecereflectsmydesignideas,suchascolourandahandmadecraftedexpression.”Hisearlierworkasaglassblower
isadvantageousincreatingbespoke
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piecessuchastheVolvoGolfChampionstrophy,explaining:“Mybeliefisthatitgivesmefreedom.Iknowhowthematerialworksandthatletsmebalancerightontheveryedgeofwhatispossible.“InmyworkforKostaBodaI
producebothIndustrial,art-industrialanduniquepiecesandthetrophyismoreofauniqueartglasspiece,”hesays.Hedescribestheproductionprocess
as‘teamwork,’explaining:“Iworked
withmyglassblowingteamtocreatetheleafandtocasttheplate,whilstthemechanicdidthemetalstandandthecarpenterhelpedmewiththebox.“Thetrophyisputtogetherbyboth
castglasswith12kgoldcolourandfreehandsculptedglassleafmountedonahandcraftedmetalstand,”hesays.“Theglassisheatedtoatemperatureofaround1100ºC.Whenyouworkwithitafterthatithastocooldownslowlyinacoolingovenfor12hoursandonlyafterthatcanyougrinditonadiamond
grinderoracutter.”Withthefinishedpieceaboutto
beshippedwithgreatcaretoBahraintoawaitthewinneroftheinauguralVolvoGolfChampions,howcloseishiscreationinrealitytohisinitialvision?“Itisquiteclosetomyoriginalvision
actually.OnlysmalldetailsIrealisedIhadtochangewhenIsawitinfullscale,togetthebalanceabsolutelyright.”Whicheverofthestar-studdedcast
ofworld-classgolfersisfortunateenoughtoliftLudvigLöfgren’shandcraftedcreationintriumphinBahrainonSunday30thJanuary,theartisthimselfsays:“IhopeitwillbeviewedandappreciatedasacontemporaryanduniquepieceofglassartandovertimebecomeatrulyiconictrophyinwhichtheplayerandIcansharegreatprideinourrespectiveachievements.”nwww.volvogolfchampions.comwww.kostaboda.com
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“my process always starts with sketching and after that i go into the hotshop to experiment with my initial idea directly in hot glass. i was pleased – i had quite a free hand and the piece reflects my design ideas, such as colour and a handmade crafted expression,” – ludvig löfgren
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Keeping the course – it’s eco-logicalgetting – and keeping - the
montgomerie course in shape for the inaugural Volvo golf champions has been a team effort between the green-keeping staff at the Royal golf club and The european Tour’s senior greenkeeping consultant eddie adams, with a watchful eye on the environment.Havingre-openedfollowingColin
Montgomerie’smajorre-designofthegolfcoursethatnowbearshisnameattheRoyalGolfClubinBahrain,everythinghasbeengeared-uptohavingtheMontgomerieCourseintip-topcondition,playingfastandtrue,achallengetothestar-studdedline-upofchampionsseekingtowintheEuropeanTour’snewestevent.Whilstagolfcoursemayappear
challengingandmanicuredtoperfectiontotheRoyalGolfClubmembersanditsmanyvisitors,itisadifferentmatterforthearistocracyofTheEuropeanTourastheyline-uptotestMontgomerie’screation.
“EversinceweweretoldthatTheEuropeanTourwastocomecalling,withwhatpromisestobeafantasticVolvoGolfChampionsevent,oureffortshavebeendividedbetweenensuringmembersandvisitorscontinuetoenjoytheMontgomerieCoursewhilstpreparingthetrackforsomeofthebestgolfersontheplanet,”explainsRoyalGolfClubDirectorofAgronomy,MarkHooker.Inaddition,specialistgolfcourse
shaperTrevorDormerwasonsiteattheRoyalGolfClubfrommid-November,workingonmodificationstotheMontgomeriechampionshipcourse,whichincludedthe14thfairwaybunkers,theshapingofthedesertareasonthe4th,6thand13thandthereshapingofthebunkersonthe1st,4thand18thholes.“Weareexactlywherewewantto
berightnow,”saidEddieAdamsonthelastofseveralvisitstotheRoyalGolfClub,adding,“Iamespeciallypleasedwiththeworktheteamhascompletedonthebunkers,asthis 4
willhelpidentifytheplayingareamoreclearly.Ourpriorityistosetthecourseuptofitinwiththelocalweatherconditionsandensureafullday’splayduringthefourdaysofthetournament.”AdamsworkedcloselywithMark
HookeronotherkeyaspectsofensuringthecoursewasfullyprimedforitsbigEuropeanTourtest.Theylookedatthelengthofthe
rough,thewidthofthefairwaysandthespeedandconsistencyofthegreens,whichshouldruntomorethan12ontheStimpMeter,considerablyfasterthanclubgolfersnormallyface.“Thesummergrassonthecourse
wasbeginningtoslowitsgrowthastemperaturesstartedtodrop,sowintergrassseedwassownonthefairwaysandgreens,”explainsHooker,adding,“Wehadtwoteamsworking12-hourshiftswhomanagedtoreseedthewholecourseinjustfourdays.Theover-seedinghasgonewellandwearehappywithwhereweare,”beforeTournamentDirectorMikaelEricssonandcoursedesignerMontgomeriearriveonsite.
EnvironmentalconsiderationsaretopofthelistforanycoursehostingaVolvo-sponsoredtournament,asPerEricsson,President,VolvoEventManagement–Golf,explains:“EnvironmentalcareisoneofVolvo’sthreecorevalues,alongwithQualityandSafety,soitisvitallyimportantthatwetakeourtournamentstogolfcourseswheresustainabilityconsiderationsareatthetopoftheagenda.“ColinMontgomerieisequally
passionateabouttheenvironmentalimpactofthecourseshedesigns,
sowestartedwithbestpractice,butbetweentheagronomydepartmentsoftheRoyalGolfClubandTheEuropeanTour,importantconsiderationssuchasrecycling,waterandenergyuseandtheuseoforganicmaterialshaveallbeenimplemented.”So,asmanyoftheworld’sbest
golferspreparetoplaytheinauguralVolvoGolfChampionsontheMontgomerieCourseatBahrain’sRoyalGolfClub,theycanbeassuredthatthecoursewillbetough,butfair.Afterall,it’ssimplyeco-logical.n
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“environmental care is one of Volvo’s three core values, along with Quality and safety, so it is vitally important that we take our tournaments to golf courses where sustainability considerations are at the top of the agenda,” – Per ericsson, President, Volvo event management – golf.
The World match Play championship was inaugurated by
the late mark H. mccormack back in 1964, played over the famous West course, the notorious ‘Burma Road,’ at Wentworth club in surrey and, as the world’s most enduring and evocative match play championship evolved, the Roll of Honour began to read like a Who’s Who of world golf.EyebrowswereraisedwhenVolvo
tookupthebatonofaneventwithgenuinelyglobalappealandthehallmarkofexcellence,thenannouncedthattheVolvoWorldMatchPlayChampionshipwouldberelocatedtoSouthernSpain,toAndalucíaandtheluxurious,discreetFincaCortesín.Withitsspectaculargolfcourse,
bespokeboutiquehotel,voluptuousvillas,it’sahavenoftranquillitysetbetweentheMediterraneanSeaandthetinybrightwhite,picture-postcardhilltopvillageofCasares,whichdatesbacktoMedievaltimes.Whenthemulti-millionaireelite
ofworldgolfenteredthecool,calmcloisteredconfinesofFincaCortesín
forthe2009VolvoWorldMatchPlayChampionship,thecommendationsweresoonincoming.“Magnificent,”saidSpanishheroSergioGarcía;“Unbelievable,”utteredWorldNo.1LeeWestwood;“Withoutdoubt,thebesthotelIhaveeverstayedin,”accordingto2006WorldMatchPlayChampionshipwinnerPaulCasey.
simply superlativeAtafractionunder7,500-yards,
Par-72,thefocalpointofFincaCortesínistheCabellRobinson-designedgolfcourse,describedby2009championgolferRossFisheras,“Challenging,physicallyandmentallydemandingandinperfectcondition.”But,ifthegolfcourseissublime,
whichitmostcertainlyis,completewithitsstate-of-the-artJackNicklausAcademyandacomprehensive,commandingclubhouse,thentheHotelCortesínissimplysuperlative.Walkthroughthechalk-white
archwaywith‘HotelCortesín’above,crossthethresholdintotheimposingreceptionhallandit’slikeleavingthe
outsideworldbehind–nobig,bolddesignstatementssuchaschandeliersandmarble-toppedreceptiondeskthelengthofacricketpitch.Asimple,restrained,aesthetically-
pleasingreceptionintheAndalucíanstyle,flagstonesfromancientmonasterieslongsincedeserted,awelcomefromconfident,discerning,well-trainedstaff,intoanatriumofmonumentalproportions,bespokeinteriordesigncreatinganambiencethatisrelaxed,reserved,coolineverysenseoftheword.Itisnotuntilsettlingintooneof
FincaCortesín’s67suites,rangingforthespaciousJuniorSuitesthroughtotheextensiveExecutiveandpositivelypalatialPoolSuitestothecapaciousCortesínSuiteoroneofsevenuniqueprivatevillas,thatthetrueeleganceandgrandeuroftheexperiencetrulycomestobear.Eachindividuallydesignedand
decorated,oldfashionedwordssuchas‘handsome’and‘elegant’cometomind,forGranHotelCortesíntakesyoubacktoabygoneeraofstyleandsubstance,
56
Finca cortesín – exclusivity and elegance
57
butwiththeaddedadvantagesofstate-of-the-art,high-techelectronicstokeepintouchwiththeoutsideworldseeminglyfarbeyondFincaCortesín’scocoon.USOpenChampionshipwinner,
GraemeMcDowell–themanwhoholedthewinningputtinEurope’sepicRyderCupvictoryovertheUSA-basedhimselfinoneofFincaCortesín’sprivatevillasenroutetowinningtheinauguralValderramaAndalucíaMasters.McDowellisamanwhocanafford
theverybestwhereverhestaysaroundtheworld,andyetevenhehadhis,“BreathtakenawaybythesheerqualityofFincaCortesín,”adding,“It’sabeautifulsetting,fantasticstaff,wonderfulviews,greatfacilities–gym,pool,everythingweneed–theverybestofeverything.”TheSpaatFincaCortesínis
sensational,anareadedicatedtorelaxation,beauty,physicalandemotionalwellbeing,indoorandoutdoorpools,athermalsuitewithFinnishsauna,ice-coldplungepools,notto
mentionSpain’sonlysnowcaveandthemostextensiverangeoftreatmentsonoffer.Gastronomically,FincaCortesín
trulygoestotown,frombreakfast,lunchordinnerinElJardín,indoorsoralfresco,theinformalbutimpressiveDonGiovanni,thealluringBlueBarandtheClubhouse,wherethefoodisasgoodasmostup-marketeatingestablishments.
Fusion of FlavoursButthebestissaveduntillastwith
Schilo’s,theeponymousrestaurantofDutchmasterchefSchiloVanCoevorden,anelegantepicureanexperience,afusionofflavours,colours,scents,tastesandtexturesfromAsia,Arabia,AfricaandEurope,backed-upbyoneofthefinestwinecellarsintheAndalucíaregion.Inkeepingwiththeworld’sfinestgolf
resorts,thereisarealestatedimensiontoFincaCortesín,notthatyouwouldknowit.Discreetlysetbackfromgolfcourseandneighbouringproperties,TheReserveoffersspacious,luxurious
livingwithinaprivateneighbourhoodofjust16villas,thefive-starservicefromHotelCortesínalwaysonhand.TheVillas,builtinthestyleof
traditionalAndalucíanarchitecturebutwithcutting-edgefeaturesandthecomplimentarydesignthatrunsthroughoutFincaCortesín,thesearehomesforcontemporaryliving,individualitybuilttolastforgenerations.Meanwhile,theAltosofCortesín
apartments,whichenjoystunningpanoramicviewsofthegolfcourseandMediterraneanSeaofferablendofconvenienceandluxury,sharingthesamedesignvalues,one,twoandthree-bedroomapartments,eachcarefullycraftedwithspaciousterracesandmanicuredprivategardens.Summing-upFincaCortesínis
nomeanfeat,formerewordsandphotographscanhardlydojusticetothisjewelintheSpanishcrown,butrestassured,thisisnoordinarygolfresortbutonewhereluxuryisverymuchparforthecourse.nwww.fincacortesin.com www.volvoworldmatchplay.com
58
When Volvo was setting out on its inexorable automotive
journey in gothenburg, sweden in 1927, Rolex, founded 22-years-earlier, made its debut in sport when a swimmer, mercedes gleitze, swam across the english channel wearing a Rolex oyster, the first truly waterproof watch.In1967,thethenworld’sbest
andmostalluringgolfer,ArnoldPalmer,waspresentedwithaRolexinrecognitionofhisachievementsonthegolfcourse,signallingthestartofalongandillustriousassociationwiththegameofgolf,whichendurestothisday.Indeed,Rolexhasbeenanever-
presentatTheOpenChampionshipfortwogenerationsandmore,withtheUSOpen,TheRyderCup,theUSPGAChampionshipalsopartofitscrownjewels,alongwithworld-classambassadors,householdnameslikePhilMickelson,MartinKaymerandAnnikaSorenstam.
on TimeBut,thereisanotherequally
important,iflesshigh-profilestringtotheRolexbow,IvorRobson,theOfficialStarteratTheOpenChampionshipsince1975,makinghisdebutinBahrainthisweek–courtesyofRolex–atthisweek’sVolvoGolfChampions.Infact,IvorRobson’sbaritoneScots
brogueisoneofworldgolf’smostrecognisableandreassuringsounds,theveteranofmorethanathousandEuropeanTourevents,themanwhoischargedwithgettingeverythingandeveryoneoffontime.IvorRobsonisold-school,his
gun-metalgreyhaircuttoperfection,hisbackasstraightasamilitary
guardsmanonparade,hisvoiceclearandresonant,‘Ladiesandgentlemen,welcometodayoneoftheVolvoGolfChampions,ontheteefrom…….”Alwaysinpositionafull90minutes
beforethefirsttee-offtime–whichcansometimesbeasearlyassix-o’clockinthemorning–Robsonhastoensurethathisrunningorderis
complete,hispronunciationwordperfectandthatthesupplyoftees,pinplacementdiagrams,nottomentionfreshfruitandwaterfortheplayersandtheircaddiesarealltohand.Lettherebenodoubtaboutit,
thefirstteeatanyRolex-supportedchampionshipisemphatically
Quality the Watchword at the Volvo golf champions
underIvorRobson’sjurisdiction,commandingthespaceandtherespectofplayerschecking-inontimewithhimbeforetheirround.“It’sthebestjobintheworld,”he
insists,despitealmost100flightseachyear,takinghimallovertheglobeandlong,protracteddaysspentonthefirstteesofgolfcoursesonthefivecontinentsoftheworld,adding,“ThedayscanbelongandIhaveexperiencedalmosteverykindofweather,butIwouldnotexchangeitforanything.”Robson’sprinciplepurposeis
sportingratherthanpublicrelations,announcingeachandeveryplayerontothefirstteeontheMontgomerieCourseattheRoyalGolfClubinBahraindonewithoutfussorfanfare,ensuringasfaraspossible,thatplayersreporttohimandtee-offonschedule.
Harsh Penalties“ThereareRolexclocksinthe
clubhouse,onthepracticerangeandputtinggreen,sotheplayersshouldalwaysbeawareoftheirtee-timeandtheirownroutineleadinguptothat,”saystheScotsgrandfather,adding,“Itreateachandeveryplayerequallyastheyarriveonthefirsttee,beit6.30amor2.30pm.”But,eachseason,someone
invariablyfallsfouloftheRolexclocktickingrelentlesslyonthefirsttee,andwithharshpenaltiesasIvorRobsonexplains.“Anyplayerreportinguptofive
minuteslatewillbepenalisedtwostrokes,beyondfiveminutes,itisdisqualification,”hesays,adding,“It’snotamistaketheytendtomakemore
thanonce.”However,evenonceeachgroupofplayershasbeensentontheirwaywiththemilitaryprecisionofex-clubprofessionalRobson,theyarenotyetoutofthewoodswhenitcomestopayingattentiontotime.‘OntheClock,’arethreewordsmost
professionalgolfersfearthemost;attheVolvoGolfChampionsandTournamentDirectorMikaelErikssonwillbekeepingawatchfuleyeoneachgroup.Iftheyfallbehindthecarefullycomputedtimeallowedandfailtomakeuptime,theremaybetroubleahead.Denmark’sMadsVibe-Hastrupwas
finedUS$3,240(Approx.BHD1,220)andgivenaone-shotpenaltyforslowplayatthe2009BarclaysScottishOpen,the2007MadridOpenchampiontwiceincurring‘badtimes,’athird-round70turnedintoa71afterbeinginformedofhispunishmentbyEuropeanTourChiefRefereeJohnParamor.TheDanehadtaken74secondsto
playhisteeshotattheeighthholeontheSaturday,theallowedtimebeing55secondsbeforetakingafurther59secondstostrikehisfirstblowonthe17thtee.Morerecently,RolexAmbassador
PhilMickelsonalsofellfouloftheRulesattherecentBarclaysSingaporeOpen,incurringatwo-shotpenaltyforbeinglate.“Iwashappytoacceptthepenaltyandnottobedisqualified,”saidMickelson.HisRyderCupteam-mateJim
Furyk,receivedtheultimatesanction–disqualificationfromTheBarclaysinNewYork,thefirsteventofthefour-tournamentPGATourPlay-offsfortheFedExCup.Hissinwasmissinghis7.30amteetimeforTheBarclaysPro-Ambecausehisalarmclockfailedandhesleptin.Minisculemargins,theharshest
ofpenalties,butwithliveTV,mediadeadlines,therestofthefieldandtheprospectoffacingIvorRobsononthefirstteethenextmorning,don’texpectanyofthosechasingthetrophyattheinauguralVolvoGolfChampionseithertobelateonthefirstteeortobeput,‘OntheClock,’because,astheoldadagegoes,‘Timeismoney.’n
www.rolex.comwww.europeantour.com
59
“There are Rolex clocks in the clubhouse, on the practice range and putting green, so the players should always be aware of their tee-time and their own routine leading up to that,” – ivor Robson
CLUBHOUSE
PUTTING GREEN
PUTTING GREEN
KEY
LEADERBOARD
PUBLIC TOILETS
PUBLIC CATERING
GRANDSTAND
DRIVINGRANGE
SPECTATORVILLAGE
TVCOMPOUND
TOPUBLIC
CAR PARK
CADDY HQ
WEE MONTYCOURSE
FIRST AID
ENTRY GATE
TRANSPORTATIONPICK UP / DROP OFF
CHAMPIONS CLUBHOSPITALITY
MAJLISHOSPITALITY
VOLUNTEER HQ
DRIVINGRANGE
CADDYHQ
18THGREEN
10THTEE
PUTTINGGREEN
CLUBHOUSE
16
19
1514
23
22
13
12
12
12
12
9
8
2011
21
25
24
17
7
101
2
26
4 5
6
3
18
1 Champions Club Hospitality2 Public Grandstand3 Recorders4 Majlis Hospitality5 19th Hole6 Media Centre7 Prayer Tent8 Main Scoreboard9 Score Control
10 Programmes & Drawsheets11 Jumbo TV Screen12 Spectator Refreshments13 Toilets14 Coca Cola15 Bahrain City Centre16 Kosta Boda17 Entrance Tent18 Riffa Views Suites19 Volvo Car / Construction
Equipment Display20 Volvo Pedestrian Detection21 Medical HQ22 The Royal Golf Club & Greg
Norman Official Merchandise23 Golf Tuition24 Volvo Long Putt Competition25 Entrance Archway26 Bag Store
CLUBHOUSE
PUTTING GREEN
PUTTING GREEN
KEY
LEADERBOARD
PUBLIC TOILETS
PUBLIC CATERING
GRANDSTAND
DRIVINGRANGE
SPECTATORVILLAGE
TVCOMPOUND
TOPUBLIC
CAR PARK
CADDY HQ
WEE MONTYCOURSE
FIRST AID
ENTRY GATE
TRANSPORTATIONPICK UP / DROP OFF
CHAMPIONS CLUBHOSPITALITY
MAJLISHOSPITALITY
VOLUNTEER HQ
DRIVINGRANGE
CADDYHQ
18THGREEN
10THTEE
PUTTINGGREEN
CLUBHOUSE
16
19
1514
23
22
13
12
12
12
12
9
8
2011
21
25
24
17
7
101
2
26
4 5
6
3
18
1 Champions Club Hospitality2 Public Grandstand3 Recorders4 Majlis Hospitality5 19th Hole6 Media Centre7 Prayer Tent8 Main Scoreboard9 Score Control
10 Programmes & Drawsheets11 Jumbo TV Screen12 Spectator Refreshments13 Toilets14 Coca Cola15 Bahrain City Centre16 Kosta Boda17 Entrance Tent18 Riffa Views Suites19 Volvo Car / Construction
Equipment Display20 Volvo Pedestrian Detection21 Medical HQ22 The Royal Golf Club & Greg
Norman Official Merchandise23 Golf Tuition24 Volvo Long Putt Competition25 Entrance Archway26 Bag Store
63
Prize money Breakdown1€283,330.002 188,760.003 106,420.004 85,000.005 72,080.006 59,500.007 51,000.008 42,500.009 37,910.0010 34,000.0011 31,280.0012 29,240.0013 27,370.0014 26,010.0015 24,990.0016 23,970.0017 22,950.0018 21,930.0019 21,080.0020 20,400.0021 19,890.0022 19,380.0023 18,870.0024 18,360.0025 17,850.0026 17,340.0027 16,830.0028 16,320.0029 15,810.0030 15,300.0031 14,790.0032 14,280.0033 13,940.0034 13,600.0035 13,260.0036 12,920.0037 12,580.0038 12,240.0039 11,900.0040 11,560.0041 11,220.0042 10,880.0043 10,540.0044 10,200.0045 9,860.0046 9,520.0047 9,180.0048 8,840.0049 8,500.0050 8,160.0051 7,820.0052 7,480.0053 7,140.0054 6,800.0055 6,460.0056 6,120.0057 5,780.0058 5,440.0059 5,270.0060 5,100.0061 4,930.0062 4,760.0063 4,590.0064 4,420.0065 4,250.00
Total €1,700,000
QUaliFicaTion cRiTeRiaThe championship will be open to players who have taken up 2011 european Tour membership and who are eligible under the following categories:1.Winnersofthefollowingfrom2001onwards:OpenChampionship,ETOrderofMerit/RacetoDubai,USMasters,USOpenChampionshipandUSPGAChampionship.
2. Winnersofthefollowingfrom2006onwards:PGAChampionship,TPCofEurope,EuropeanOpen(uptoandincluding2008),DubaiWorldChampionshipandVolvoMasters.
3.Winnersof2008onwardsWorldGolfChampionshipeventsand2009onwards:EuropeanOpen,FrenchOpenandScottishOpentournaments.
4. Winnersof2009onwards:EuropeanTourRacetoDubaitournamentswithaprizefundof€1.5mandhigher.5.Winnersof2010onwards:EuropeanTourRacetoDubaitournamentswithprizefundofbelow€1.5m.6.Uptosixsponsorinvitations.7.MembersofthelastnamedRyderCupTeamandwhohavepreviouslywonaEuropeanTourRacetoDubai/OrderofMerittournament.
8. MemberswhoareeligibleforCategory8inthe2011EuropeanTourexemptioncategorybreakdownandwhohavepreviouslywonaEuropeanTourRacetoDubai/OrderofMerittournament.
9. Playersfinishingwithinpositions1-40onthe2010careermoneylistandwhohavepreviouslywonaEuropeanTourRacetoDubai/OrderofMerittournament.
10.ThewinnerofthelastplayedKingHamadTrophy.
VolVo golF cHamPions scHeDUle oF eVenTsMonday PracticeDayTuesday PracticeDay
Wednesday ProAm;Limitedafternoonpractice Courseopenfrom 0700–1600 Approx.firstteetime:0700 Approx.endofplay: 1700
Thursday Round1oftheVolvoGolfChampions Courseopenfrom 0600–1800 Threeballsoff1st&10thtees Approx.firstteetime:0700 Approx.endofplay: 1700
Friday Round2oftheVolvoGolfChampions Courseopenfrom 0600–1800 Threeballsoff1st&10thtees Approx.firstteetime:0700 Approx.endofplay: 1700
Afterthefirsttworoundsthefieldwillbecuttotheleading60Professionalsandthosetiedfor60thplace.Onlytheseplayerswillcompeteoverthe3rdandfinalroundsoftheVolvoGolfChampions.
Saturday Round3oftheVolvoGolfChampions,includingtheVolvoGolfChampionsAmateur- ProTeamCompetition Courseopenfrom 0600–1800 Threeballsoff1st&10thtees Approx.firstteetime:0700 Approx.endofplay: 1700 Sunday FinalRoundoftheVolvoGolfChampions Courseopenfrom 0600–1800 Twoorthreeballsoff1sttee Approx.firstteetime:0800 Approx.endofplay: 1700
Greg Norman Collection - “The Grove”, near the Ice Rink, Dubai Mall, Tel (+9714 339 8117)Greg Norman Collection apparel now available at our flagship store in Dubai Mall and our on course partners & retail specialists :Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, Emirates Golf Club, The Els Club, Golf House, Go Sports, Dubai Duty Free and Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
EntriesinCategory0a.WinnerofthelastplayedKingHamadTrophy1 AndrewMARSHALL Green17 ENG
EntriesinCategory1.WinnersofMajors/EuropeanTourOrderofMerit(RaceToDubai)2 PadraigHARRINGTON IRL3 ToddHAMILTON USA4 RobertKARLSSON SWE5 ColinMONTGOMERIE ElizabethMontgomerieFdnSCO6 MichaelCAMPBELL NZL
EntriesinCategory2.WinnersPGAChampionshipfrom1997/TPCofEurope/VolvoMasters/DubaiWorldChampionship7 SimonKHAN BlackMountainGC ENG8 PaulCASEY ENG9 MiguelAngelJIMÉNEZ ESP10 AndersHANSEN DEN11 DavidHOWELL ENG12 StephenDODD WAL13 SørenKJELDSEN DEN14 JeevMilkhaSINGH JumeirahGolfEstatesIND
EntriesinCategory2b.WinnersofWorldGolfChampionships/EuropeanOpen/FrenchOpen;ScottishOpen(from2009onwards)15 FrancescoMOLINARI CircoloGolfTorino ITA16 IanPOULTER WoburnG&CC ENG17 EdoardoMOLINARI CircoloGolfTorino ITA18 ChristianCÉVAËR GolfCourtAcademy FRA
EntriesinCategory3.EuropeanTourOrderofMeritTournamentWinners2008-2010inclusive19 MatteoMANASSERO ITA20 RichardGREEN AUS21 PeterHANSON SWE22 DavidHORSEY StyalGC ENG23 AlvaroQUIROS ESP24 MarcusFRASER KingswoodGC AUS25 AndrewDODT AUS26 GrégoryBOURDY GolfBordelais FRA27 MichaelJONZON SWE28 RossMcGOWAN ENG29 SimonDYSON AlandaGroup,Spain ENG30 JamesKINGSTON RustenburgGC RSA31 AlexanderNOREN HaningeGK SWE32 PeterHEDBLOM SWE33 OskarHENNINGSSON SWE34 NickDOUGHERTY ShawHillG&CC ENG35 JeppeHULDAHL AaskovGK DEN36 ThomasLEVET FRA37 ThongchaiJAIDEE RaimonLandThailandTHA38 ScottSTRANGE AUS39 DannyLEE NZL40 AnthonyKANG USA41 SergioGARCIA ClubdeGolfDelMed.ESP
EntriesinCategory3a.MedicalExtension42 JohnBICKERTON ENG
EntriesinCategory3b.WinnersofdualrankingEuropean/ChallengeToureventsandfrom2009onwards,winnersofRacetoDubaieventswithaprizefundbelow€1.5million43 PabloMARTIN ESP44 JohnPARRY HarrogateGC ENG45 JoséManuelLARA ESP
46 MartinWIEGELE GCErzherzogJohannAUT47 ThomasBJÖRN GolfinDubai DEN48 FredrikANDERSSONHED LaholmGK SWE49 JamesMORRISON StGeorgesHill ENG50 RhysDAVIES WAL51 Seung-yulNOH KOR52 RichieRAMSAY SCO
EntriesinCategory3c.Winnersinthree2010ChallengeTourevents53 RichardSTERNE RSA
EntriesinCategory8.Playersfinishingwithinpositions1-117from2010RaceToDubai54 StephenGALLACHER KingsfieldGolfCentreSCO55 GrégoryHAVRET FRA56 DarrenCLARKE NIR57 GonzaloFDEZ-CASTAÑO GFCGolf&Business ESP58 PeterLAWRIE CastleknockGC IRL59 AlejandroCAÑIZARES ValderramaGC ESP60 RaphaëlJACQUELIN TerreBlancheGC FRA61 DamienMcGRANE OliveGroup IRL62 IgnacioGARRIDO ESP63 BrettRUMFORD RoyalPerth AUS64 Robert-JanDERKSEN HetRykGolfBanen NED65 JohanEDFORS BlackMtGC,HuaHinSWE66 SørenHANSEN DEN67 BradleyDREDGE AlAinEq.S&GC WAL68 RichardFINCH B.YeardleyCont.Ltd. ENG69 MikkoILONEN BlackMtGC,HuaHinFIN70 PaulLAWRIE CarrickonLochLomondSCO71 ChristianNILSSON KarlstadGK SWE72 AnthonyWALL ENG73 RafaelCABRERA-BELLO LOPESANGroup ESP74 MarcelSIEM CountrySportsSiem GER75 GraemeSTORM Champions(UK)PLC ENG76 DavidLYNN ENG77 PabloLARRAZÁBAL ESP78 MichaelHOEY NIR79 MarkFOSTER ClubSBM ENG80 SteveWEBSTER AlNaboodahGroup ENG81 MaartenLAFEBER LakeNona NED82 TanoGOYA ElPotrerillodeL.R&CCARG83 PhillipPRICE WAL84 MarkBROWN ShandonGC NZL85 NiclasFASTH SWE86 KennethFERRIE ENG87 HennieOTTO MaggersfonteinMem.GERSA88 DavidDIXON ENG89 RicardoGONZALEZ HandicapCeroGA ARG90 FelipeAGUILAR MarbellaChileCC CHI
EntriesinCategory8a.MedicalExtension91 GaryORR HelensburghGC SCO92 PaulBROADHURST ENG
EntriesinCategory9.Top402010CareerMoneyList93 JoséMariaOLAZÁBAL ESP94 BarryLANE ENG
EntriesinCategory99.Amateursincludedinthefield95 NasserYACOOBSALEH(AM) BRNAtcloseofentriesafieldsizeof95isconfirmed.Thefieldcouldbeincreasedto103withsixsponsorsinvitesandpotentiallytwonewEuropeanTourwinners(Cat97).
PlaYeRs lisT oF enTRies
66
PaulCasey
PaUl casey is one of the finest european golfers of his generation having won ten times on The
european Tour, including the 2006 Volvo china open and a double success in the middle east with victory in the abu Dhabi golf championship in 2007 and 2009.TheArizona-basedEnglishmanmade
hisbigbreakthroughontheUSPGATourin2009,winningtheShellHoustonOpen,butlostoutintheall-Englishfinalofthe2010WGC-AccentureMatchPlayChampionshiptoIanPoulter.CaseywascrownedtheSirHenry
CottonRookieoftheYearin2001afterhisimpressivedebutseason,thehighlightofwhichwasavictoryattheJohnnieWalkerChampionshipatGleneagles.In2006Caseyresurrectedhiscareer
bywinningtheVolvoChinaOpeninShenzhen,defeatingcompatriotOliver
Wilsoninaplay-off,beforegoingontoclaimtheJohnnieWalkerChampionshipatGleneaglesforthesecondtime.The33-year-oldplayedastarringrole
inthe2006EuropeanRyderCuptriumphatTheKClub,hissecondsuccessiveappearanceonasuccessfulEuropeanteam,thehighlightofwhichwasasensationalhole-in-oneatthe14thondaytwooftheevent.Caseycappedtheyearwitha
comprehensive10and8winoverShaunMicheelintheWorldMatchPlayChampionshipatWentworth,endingtheseasonsecondontheOrderofMerit.Caseyenjoyedaglitteringamateur
priortoturningprofessional.HewasamemberofthevictoriousWalkerCupteamin1999andfollowedthatayearlaterbywinningtheprestigiousStAndrewsTrophy.
Turnedprofessional:2000
EuropeanTourWins:10
CareerVictories:13
2010RacetoDubaiRanking:12
OfficialWorldGolfRanking:8
Date of Birth: July 21, 1977 Height: 5’ 10” Born: cheltenham, england
67
PeterHanson
PeTeR Hanson had an exceptional season on The european Tour
last year with two wins which saw him finish 17th on The Race to Dubai and secured him a debut berth in The RyderCupatCelticManorinOctober.TheSwedewonhisthirdEuropean
TourtitleattheIberdrolaOpenCalaMillorMallorcainMay,whichputhimoncuspoftheautomaticqualificationforTheRyderCup.Top-tenfinishesfollowedatthe
AlstomOpendeFranceandtheWGC-BridgestoneInvitationaland,knowingheneededtowinagaintosecurehisplace,heclinchedtheCzechOpeninathree-wayplay-offagainstGaryBoydandPeterLawrieinlateAugust.His2010seasonwasHanson’smost
successfultodate,earningUS$1.75million(Approx.BHD660,000)to
takehiscareerprizemoneytooverUS$9million(Approx.BHD3.4million).HansonplayedhispartforEurope
atTheRyderCupinWales,scoringonepoint–acrucial2upvictoryoverAmericansBubbaWatsonandJeffOvertonalongsideMiguelAngelJiménezinthefourballsinSession3.In2008Hansonbecamethe
firstSwedetowinhisnationalopentournament–theSASMasters–intenyearsafterhedefeatedcompatriotPelleEdbergandEngland’sNickDoughertybyoneshotandtakehomethechequeforUS$356,000(Approx.BHD134,000).Thesoft-spokenSwedepicked
uphismaidenEuropeanTourtitlein2005attheJazztelOpendeEspañaafterdefeatingfellowSwedePeterGustafssoninaplay-off.
TurnedProfessional:1998
EuropeanTourWins:4
CareerVictories:9
2010FinalRacetoDubaiRanking:17
OfficialWorldGolfRanking:41
Date of Birth: october 4, 1977 Height: 6’ 3” Born: svedala, sweden
68
MiguelAngelJiménez
migUel angel Jiménez enjoyed a successful season last year with three victories on The
european Tour and a fourth Ryder cup appearance at celtic manor in october.Jiménezbeganhiscampaignby
defeatingLeeWestwoodinaplay-offattheOmegaDubaiDesertClassicbeforegoingontowintheFrenchOpen,thistimedefeatingItalianFrancescoMolinariandcompatriotAlejandroCañizaresinanotherplay-off.TheJiménezhat-trickcameatthe
OmegaEuropeanMasterswheretheSpaniardputinadazzlingperformance,shooting21underpartowinbythreefromtheotherMolinaribrother,Edoardo.Jiménezwasininspirationalformat
CelticManor,earningtwopointsfromthreematches,includingacrucialsinglesvictoryoverBubbaWatsononthefinal
dayasEuropetriumphed14½–13½.Oneofsevenbrothers,Jiménez
workedasacaddiebeforetakingupthegameat15,joiningtheEuropeanTourin1988andsecuringhismaidentitlein1992.Nicknamed‘ElMechanico’,because
ofhisloveoffastcarsandneverhappierthanwhenunderthehoodofhisbelovedFerrari,Jiménez,whowontheVolvoMastersin1999,isinstantlyrecognisableonthecoursewithhistrademarkponytailandHavanacigars.TheSpanishveteran,who,justlike
hisfavouriteRioja,seemstogetbetterwithage,isoneofthegame’smostcolourfulcharactersandthe47-year-oldhasaplaqueinhishonouronthe17thteeatValderramatocommemoratearemarkablealbatrosstwoononeofworldgolf’smostnotoriouslydifficultholes.
Turnedprofessional:1982
EuropeanTourwins:18
Careervictories:21
Final2010RacetoDubaiRanking:9
OfficialWorldGolfRanking:24
Date of Birth: January 5, 1964 Height: 5’ 10” Born: malaga, spain
69
RobertKarlsson
RoBeRT Karlsson book-ended 2010 with victories in the middle
east as he ended his campaign in sixth place on The Race to Dubai with a fraction over Us$3million (approx. BHD1.1million) in season earnings.Hebegantheseasonwithathree-
strokewinoverdefendingchampionAlvaroQuirosattheCommercialbankQatarMastersandthenendeditwithaplay-offvictoryoverIanPoulterattheDubaiWorldChampionship.In2008Karlssonbecamethefirst
SwedetotoptheOrderofMeritaftertwovictoriesandtentop-tenfinishesinasensationalseason.Hisfirstwincameatthe
Mercedes-BenzChampionshipinGermanyinSeptemberandhethenmadehissecondappearanceforEuropeinTheRyderCupwhere
heearnedtwopointsfromfourmatches.BackonTheEuropeanTourKarlssonwontheAlfredDunhillLinksChampionshipinOctoberafteraplay-offvictoryoverMartinKaymerandRossFisher.HewentontoclaimtheHarry
VardonTrophyfortoppingtheOrderofMeritwithUS$3.7million(Approx.BHD1.4million)inearningsandthencappedagreatyearbyteamingupwithHenrikStensontowintheOmegaMissionHillsWorldCupforSweden.In2009Karlssonhadafrustrating
timeonTheEuropeanTour,playingjust13eventsaftersufferingadebilitatingeyeinjuryinMay,thencontractingglandularfeverinthespringof2010,butthegiantSwedelookstobebacktohisbestintimefortheVolvoGolfChampionsandthedefenceofhisQatarcrown.
TurnedProfessional:1989
EuropeanTourWins: 11CareerVictories:11
Final2010RacetoDubaiRanking:6
OfficialWorldGolfRanking:17
Date of Birth: september 3,1969 Height: 6’ 5” Born: Katrineholm, sweden
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MatteoManassero
Teenage protégé matteo manassero became the youngest winner in european Tour history
when he captured the casTellÓ masTeRs costa azahar in october 2010 at just 17 years and 188 days, his first big pay cheque worth Us$445,000 (approx. BHD168,000).TheyoungsterfromVeronafollowed
thatwitharunner-upspotintheprestigiousUBSHongKongOpenandwastheunanimouschoiceas2010EuropeanTourRookieoftheYear,followinginthefootstepsoffellowVolvoGolfChampionscompetitorsIanPoulter(2000),ThomasBjörn(1996),ColinMontgomerie(1988)andJoséMariaOlazábal,whowontheaccoladein1986.Afterbecomingtheyoungest–and
thefirstItalian–winneroftheAmateurChampionshipinJune2009,he
wentonlaterthatyeartobecometheyoungestrecipientoftheR&ASilverMedalawardedtotheleadingamateurinTheOpenChampionshipatTurnberry.Manasserobrokeanotherrecord
inApril2010whenhebecametheyoungestplayertomakethecutattheMastersTournament,wherehefinishedinatiefor36thplaceinwhatwasthebestperformancebyaEuropeanamateurfor73years.Manasserotookupgolfattheage
offour,oneofhisfirstmemorieswasofmeetinghishero,SeverianoBallesteros,whowastakenbytheyoungItalian’schippingability.Today,Manasseroalwaysdresses
inSeve’strademarkwhiteshirtandgreentrousersonthefinaldayofanytournament,anditwasfittinghismaidenvictorywasonSpanishsoil,awinhededicatedtoBallesteros.
TurnedProfessional:2010
EuropeanTourWins:1
CareerVictories:1
Final2010RacetoDubaiRanking:31
OfficialWorldGolfRanking:62
Date of Birth: april 19, 1993 Height: 5’ 11” Born: negar, Verona, italy
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EdoardoMolinari
eDoaRDo molinari burst into the limelight on The european Tour
last year with two sensational victories on scottish soil, impressing colin montgomerie, who gave him a wildcard pick for The Ryder cup.MolinariwonhisfirstEuropeanTour
titleatTheBarclaysScottishOpeninJulywithathree-shotvictoryoverDarrenClarkeafterfinishingon12underpar,winningthebiggestprizeofhiscareertodate,US$803,000(Approx.BHD303,000).OnemonthlatertheItalianclaimed
theJohnnieWalkerChampionshipatGleneagles,storminghomewiththreeconsecutivebirdies,defeatingAustralianBrettRumfordbyonestroke.Molinarisecuredonepointfromthree
matchesforMontgomerie’sEuropeanRyderCupteam,includingacrucialhalfpointinthesinglesagainstyoung
AmericanRickieFowler.HeandhisyoungerbrotherFrancescowerethefirstbrotherstoplayinthesameEuropeanteam(BernardandJeffHuntplayedintheGreatBritainandIrelandteamtogetherin1963).Thepairhadteamed-upinlate2009
towintheWorldCupforItalyforthefirsttimeinthecountry’shistoryOmegaMissionHillsWorldCupjustafewdaysaftercapturingJapan’srichestevent,theDunlopPhoenix.EdoardojoinedTheEuropeanTourafterarecord-breakingseasonontheChallengeTourin2009,whentwowinsandninefurthertop-tenfinishessawhimtoptheChallengeTourrankingswithrecordearningsofUS$325,000(Approx.BHD123,000.)PriortoturningprofessionalMolinari
hadanexceptionalamateurcareer,becomingthefirstEuropeantowintheUSAmateurfor94yearsbackin2005.
TurnedProfessional:2006
EuropeanTourWins:2
CareerVictories:9
Final2010RacetoDubaiRanking:11
OfficialWorldGolfRanking:18
Date of Birth: February 11, 1981 Height: 5’ 11” Born: Turin, italy
FrancescoMolinari
iTalian Francesco molinari wrapped up the biggest win of his career
last november with a stunning one-stroke victory over World number one lee Westwood at the World golf championships-HsBc champions in shanghai. TheyoungerofthetwoMolinari
brothersenteredthefinalroundwithaone-strokeleadandheldofftheEnglishmanwitha67forawire-to-wirevictoryandachequeforUS$1.15million(Approx.BHD435,000).IncludinghisWGCwin,Francescomade25cutsin26consecutivestartsandinaremarkablerunofconsistency,recordedtentop-tenfinishesin2011.In2009Molinaricametoprominence
alongsidehisbrotherEdoardowhentheywontheOmegaMissionHillsWorldCupforItalyandinOctoberlastyeartheybothmadetheirRyderCupdebutsfor
EuropeatCelticManor,playingtogethertwice.Francescoearnedhalfapointoutof
threematchesasEuropesecuredtheclosestfoughtRyderCupsince1999.FrancescosecuredhisplaceinColin
Montgomerie’ssideaftersomesuperbperformancesonTheEuropeanTour,whichincludedarunner-upfinishattheAlstomOpendeFrancewherehewasedged-outbyMiguelAngelJiménezinaplay-off.MolinarijoinedTheEuropeanTourin
2005andwonhisfirsttitleayearlateronhomesoilattheTelecomItaliaOpenbycardingasuperbfinalround65towinbyfourstrokesfromAndersHansenandJarmoSandelin.Familyfootballrivalriesareassured
asthebrothers,FrancescoandEdoardo,supportarch-rivalsInterMilanandJuventusrespectively.
TurnedProfessional:2004
EuropeanTourWins:2
CareerVictories:3
Final2010RacetoDubaiRanking:5
OfficialWorldGolfRanking:16
Date of Birth: november 8, 1982 Height: 5’ 8” Born: Turin, italy
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ColinMontgomerie,OBE
colin montgomerie’s playing schedule took a back seat in 2010 as he prepared to
fulfil a life-long dream of captaining the european Ryder cup team at celtic manor in october, where he led europe to a narrow 14.5–13.5 victory over the Usa to regain the trophy. AsaplayerMontgomeriehas
representedEuropeineightRyderCupsandin2006hebecamethesecondplayertoplayinfivesuccessiveRyderCupteams.Montgomerieisunbeateninhis
eightsinglesmatchesandin2004atOaklandHillshehadthehonourofholingthewinningputt.Montgomerieholdstherecordforthe
mostEuropeanTourtitlesbyaBritishgolferafterheeclipsedNickFaldo’shaulof30withvictoryatTheEuropeanOpenatTheKClubin2007.Hethen
cappedtheyearinfinestylewithvictoryforScotlandintheOmegaMissionHillsWorldCupalongsideMarcWarren.TheScotspentanunprecedented
sevenconsecutiveyearsatthetopoftheVolvoOrderofMeritfrom1993to1999,andtoppeditagainin2005,andwithcareerearningsofoverUS$32million(Approx.BHD16million)hesitsinsecondplaceontheEuropeanTourOfficialCareerEarningstablebehindErnieEls.Montgomerieclearlyenjoysplaying
eventssponsoredbyVolvo,havingwontitlesundertheVolvobannerninetimes,includingthreeVolvoPGAChampionshipsinsuccession1998,1999and2000.The47-year-olddesignedthe
MontgomerieCourseoverwhichthisweek’sVolvoGolfChampionswillbeplayed.
TurnedProfessional:1987
EuropeanTourWins:34
CareerVictories:40
Final2010RacetoDubaiRanking:129
OfficialWorldGolfRanking:420
Date of Birth: June 23, 1963 Height: 6’ 2” Born: glasgow, scotland
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74
JoséMariaOlazábal
JosÉ maria olazábal is one of the finest golfers ever to play on The european Tour, having won 23 times
on the circuit, including the masters Tournament in 1994 and again in 1999.Olazábalhasalsowonfourfurther
timesontheUSPGATour,includingtheNECWorldSeriesofGolfontwooccasions,thefirstin1990byarecord-winningmarginof12shots.Olazábalenjoyedaglitteringamateur
career,winningtheBritishBoys,YouthsandAmateurtitles,defeatingColinMontgomerieinthefinalofthe1994AmateurChampionshipatFormbyGolfClub.HewontheVolvoBelgianOpen
in1988,followedbytheVolvoPGAChampionshipatWentworthin1994,havingjustwonthatfirsttheGreenJacketatAugustaNational.Olazábalmissedalmosttwowhole
seasonsin1995and1996duetorheumatoidpolyarthritisinbothfeet,butbattledbacktowinhissecondGreenJacketin1999.HeforgedagreatRyderCup
partnershipwithhiscompatriotSeveBallesteros,makinghisdebutagedjust21.ThepairholdtherecordasthemostformidablepairinginRyderCuphistory,winning11matches,halvingtwoandlosingjusttwooftheir15matchestogether.OlazábalalsoledSpaintovictoryin
theAlfredDunhillCupin1999atStAndrewsinthecompanyofayoungSergioGarcíaandhisclosefriendandcompatriotMiguelAngelJiménez,beforespearheadingasuccessfultitledefencethefollowingyearintheevent’sfinalouting.The44-year-oldisonceagainonthecomebacktrailafteraninjury-blightedseasonlastyear.
TurnedProfessional:1987
EuropeanTourWins23
CareerVictories:30
Final2010RacetoDubaiRanking:n/a
OfficialWorldGolfRanking:570
Date of Birth: February 5, 1966 Height: 5’ 10” Born: Fuenterrabia, spain
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IanPoulter
ian Poulter won twice on The european Tour last year – including the biggest victory of his career – and
the biggest pay-day at Us$1.4million (approx. BHD530,000) at the World golf championships-accenture match Play championship – on his way to finishing fourth on The Race to Dubai with just over Us$4million (approx. BHD1.5million) in prize money.HissecondwincameinNovember
attheUBSHongKongOpen,thepenultimateeventoftheseason,whenhedefeatedItalianyoungsterMatteoManasseroandSimonDysonbyonestroke.Thefollowingweekhewasedged-
outbyRobertKarlssoninaplay-offattheDubaiWorldChampionshipafterheincurredaone-shotpenaltyforinadvertentlymovinghisballmarkeron
thegreen.PoulterqualifiedforhisthirdRyderCupatCelticManorlastyearandtastedsuccessforthesecondtime,helpingEuropetoanarrowvictoryafterhescoredthreepointsfromfourincludingasuperb5and4victoryoverMattKucharinthesingles.Sinceturningprofessionalin1994
Poulter,whowasEuropeanTourRookieoftheYearin2000,haswontentimesonTheEuropeanTourincludingthe2004VolvoMastersatValderramaandin2007hewontheprestigiousDunlopPhoenixOpeninJapan.Renownedforhisdebonairdress
sense,thecolourfulEnglishman,whoisanavidArsenalFCfan,hashisowngolfandleisurewearlabel.Hehasaccumulatedover
US$21million(Approx.BHD8million)incareerearnings.
TurnedProfessional:1994
EuropeanTourWins:10
CareerVictories:11
Final2010RacetoDubaiRanking:4
OfficialWorldGolfRanking:10
Date of Birth: January 10, 1976 Height: 6’ 1” Born: Hitchin, england
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NasserYacoobSaleh
nasseR Yacoob saleh makes history by becoming the first Bahraini golfer to appear in a
european Tour event on home soil. Thefather-of-fouralmostmadeitinto
theprestigiousVolvoGolfChampionsatthefirsttimeofaskingthroughtheKingHamadTrophy,buttheBahrainiamateuracemadenomistakeatthesecondattempt,winningtheBahrainGolfAssociationTeamQualifierthreeweekstothedaybeforeteeing-offinthebiggesteventofhiscareertodate.HavingrepresentedBahrainin
variousamateureventsacrosstheMiddleEastregion,theBahrain
DefenceForceemployeeknowstheMontgomerieCourselikethebackofhishandandhasevenplayedthecourseagainstitsdesignerColinMontgomerie.Saleh,whosegolfingfavouritesare
LeeWestwoodandIanPoulter,hasenjoyedthegamesincetheageof16havingplayedmuchofhisearlygolfonthesandcourseattheAwaliGolfClibhereinBahrain.Salehisexcitedbytheprospect
ofmixingitwithsomeofthetopprofessionalsonTheEuropeanTour.Hisambitionisto,“Playwell,giveitmybestshotandtrytomakethehalfwaycut.”
Status:amateur
CareerVictories:3 (am)
Final2010RacetoDubaiRanking:n/a
OfficialWorldGolfRanking:n/a
Date of Birth: January 1, 1962 Height: 6’ 0” Born: Bahrain
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JeevMilkhaSingh
JeeV milkha singh is india’s most successful golfer ever, the first player to challenge the supremacy of the
country’s cricketers as a national sporting icon.SinghwonfivetimesinAsiainthe
earlypartofhisprofessionalcareerbeforeaseven-yeardroughtsawhimalmostgiveupthegameforgood.Hebouncedbackinstylein2006,
winningtheVolvoChinaOpenfollowedbytheprestigiousVolvoMasters–aresultthatputAsiangolffirmlyontheworldmap–tofinishtheseason15thontheOrderofMerit.TwicethewinneroftheAsianTour
OrderofMerit,SinghhasalsobeenprolificontheJapaneseTour,wherehehaswonfourtimes.HeclaimedtheprestigiousBarclaysSingaporeOpenin
2008,oneofthreevictoriesworldwideinhismostsuccessfulseasonever.ThesonofIndianOlympicathlete
MilkhaSingh,Singhfollowedinhisfather’sfootstepswhenhewasawardedIndia’shighestcivilianhonour,thePadmaShriin2007.Hereachedacareer-highpointof35thintheOfficialWorldGolfRankingin2008andisaimingforthetop50onceagainafteraninjury-plagued2010.SinghbecamethefirstIndiantoplay
theMastersTournamentin2007andthefollowingyearpostedatop-tenfinishintheUSPGAChampionship.Heismarriedtohischildhood
sweetheartKudrat,whopresentedhimwithason,Harjai,whowillcelebratehisfirstbirthdayduringtheVolvoGolfChampions.
TurnedProfessional:1993
EuropeanTourWins:3
CareerVictories:13
Final2010RacetoDubaiRanking:74
OfficialWorldGolfRanking:170
Date of Birth: December 15, 1971 Height: 6’ 0” Born: chandigarh, india
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monty – architect of His own success?
Winning Ryder cup captain colin montgomerie is forging a burgeoning
reputation as a course designer with a natural feel for the game and an empathy with professional and amateur players alike, and his eponymous golf course at the Royal golf club in Bahrain looks set to test the best at this week’s Volvo golf champions.Thereceivedwisdomisthat,‘golf
isagameforlife,’andneverwasthattruismmoreappropriatethaninthecaseofoneColinStuartMontgomerie,OBE.Themantheycall‘Monty’mayhave
startedlateinmakingmoneyfromthegame,turningprofessionalaged24,butasthebig50approaches,he’smakingupforlosttime.
ProfessionalismHison-courseearningsof
overUS$30million(Approx.BHD11.5million)havecomecourtesyof40-plusprofessionalwins–hewonatleastonceeveryyearbetween1993and2007–whilst,awayfromthegolfcourse,Montyhasareputationas‘sponsors’sweetheart.’TheScotisascomfortableinthe
boardroomasheisinthelockerroomandthefirstpickinthepro-am,hisafterdinnerspeaking,golfclinicsandcompanydaysaretheepitomeofprofessionalism.However,itis
inthefieldofcoursedesignthatMontgomerieismakinghislatestmark.Selectiveratherthanprolific,
fromhisearlycreation,TheAddressMontgomerie,DubaitoRowallanCastleinhisnativeScotlandandnowtheMontgomerieCourseattheRoyalGolfClubinBahrain,whichthisweekhostsitsfirstEuropeanTourevent,theVolvoGolfChampions,qualityisthewatchwordifitistobearthename–andthehallmark–ofthemostsuccessfulEuropeangolferofalltime.“Ifsomethingiscarryingyourname,
youpersonallyensurethatyougiveityourfullattention,believeme,”insiststheScot.“Youwantittobesomethingspecial,notjustforyourselfbutforallgolferswhogiveuptheirtimetoplayyourcreation–and,hopefullyitleavesthemwithalonglastingimpression.”Theeight-timeEuropeanTour
OrderofMeritwinner,whobecamethefirstmantoputhisnamedownforBahrain’sfirst-everEuropeanToureventcontinues:“Itakegreatprideinbothandcertainlygetakickoutofboth(playinganddesigning)andalthoughtheyareverydifferent.Ialwaysaimforperfectioninmyjob,whetherit’splayingatournamentordesigningagolfcourse,Ialwaysgiveitmybestefforts.”Montgomerieisalsosmart,
smartenoughtoleavethedetaileddesignandconstructionworktohiscolleaguesatEuropeanGolfDesign,
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4
whocollaboratewithhiminEuropeandIMGDesign,hispartnersinAsiaandtheMiddleEast.MontgomeireworkedontheBahrain
projectwiththeleaddesignerfromEuropeanGolfDesign,RobinHiseman,whosays,“Theprojectencouragedustouseourcreativity,bringintoplaywhatnaturalfeatureswereavailabletoussuchasthewadionthefrontnineandtheendresultis,IbelieveagolfcoursethatwillchallengetheleadingEuropeanTourplayersatthesametimeasenablingmembersandvisitorstoenjoytheirexperiencetothefullaswell.”
HandiworkHosting–andplayingin–a
big-moneyEuropeanToureventissomethingofachallengeforthemanwhowasfirsttoputhisnameintheframefortheinauguralVolvoGolfChampions,sohowwilltheScotfeelabouthavinghishandiworkjudgedbyhisfellowprofessionalsinBahrainthisweek?“Quitenervous,”saysMontgomerie.
“UndernormalcircumstancesIwouldbeabitworriedaboutfacingmycritics.ButthisisnotanormalgolfcourseandIdon’tthinkIwillhaveonecriticoutthere.“ItisabrilliantgolfcourseandIlook
forwardtoseeingwhatEurope’sbestcando.WhetherIplaypoorlyorwhetherIplaywell,IamgoingtoenjoytheweekandIlookforwardtotalkingtotheotherplayersaboutthecourseandseeingwhattheyfeelaboutit.“TheMontgomerieatTheRoyal
GolfClub,isverypersonaltome,”hecontinues.“IhavehadthegoodfortunetospendagreatdealofmytimeoutsidemyplayingschedulehereinBahrain,whichI’vededicatedtothisproject.“TheRoyalGolfClubcourseisonly
thefourthofmysignaturecourses,makingitveryspecialindeed.”Montgomeriebelievesthatrather
thanhavinga‘definitivedesignstyle’itisimportantforacoursearchitecttoworkwiththelocallandscapeandconditionsinordertogetthebestresults.
“Mydesignbeliefs,Ifeel,havegrownwithmethroughoutmycareerandIliketothinktheyarenotonlyanextensionofmebutalsoattheveryedgeofthelatestdesignconceptsandcuttingedgetechnology,”hesays.“Golfcoursedesignisafusionofthedesigner’svisionandhisexperiencesbutisalsodrivenbythelocaltopography,climateand,orcoursetheclient’sbrief.”Headds:“Wehavedefinitelygota
veryinterestinganduniquelayout.“ThisisalandscapeIadoreandfeel
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comfortablewith.TheScottishstyleofdeepbunkeringisamarkIalwaysliketocarrywithmeinmydesignwork.“Thehazardsarehazardsandare
meanttobeachallenge,waterandstreamsshouldcomeintoplay(and)it’simportantthatgolfshouldbechallenging,andthegolfer,whatevertheirstandard,shouldhavetoworkforeveryshotinhisorherround.“Paramounttomybeliefisthat
golfshouldalwaysbeenjoyable.Itdoesn’tmatterifit’syourleisuretime
orbusiness,youshouldleaveacoursefeelingchallengedyetsatisfied.Itshouldbesomewherethateagerlyencouragesyoutocomeback–atotalgolfexperience.”WithoutaEuropeanTourvictory
sincethe2007IrishOpen,mightMontgomerieusehisinsideknowledgeofthecoursecarryinghisnametogetbackintothewinner’senclosureattheVolvoGolfChampions?Onlytimewilltell,butifanymancan,
Montycan.
www.theroyalgolfclub.com www.volvogolfchampions.com www.colinmontgomerie.com www.egd.com
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“it is a brilliant golf course and i look forward to seeing what europe’s best can do. Whether i play poorly or whether i play well, i am going to enjoy the week and i look forward to talking to the other players about the course and seeing what they feel about it.” –colin montgomerie
From the back tee sitting high on a narrow wadi ridge, a wonderful panorama of the front nine holes spreads out before you. This is a big, galloping par 5 that swings and sways its way gently to the right over and around dune like undulations to a green site nudged against the base of a steep escarpment. The dominant feature is the massive waste bunker that eats into the entire right flank of the hole. The multitude of ridges, swales, humps and hollows give this hole a distinct links character and this hole embraces the low, running shot in equal measure to the high, floating approach.
Quite simply, one of the most spectacular short holes in the World. The new championship tee offers a heroic Ô all or nothingÕ shot to the green perched precariously above the vertical wadi walls. This hole offers a challenge reminiscent of the famous 16th hole at Cypress Point and is sure to attract a lot of attention and comment. A wide selection of teeing areas make the test a little more manageable for mere mortals.
Straight into the action with the first of many holes where risk must be weighed against reward. Cutting the corner of the diagonally aligned fairway offers the shortest route from tee to green, but the best approach angle to the unusual fall-away green is found by driving over the large hump across the fairway. Drive too far left and the approach is totally blind over the ridge in front of the green. The green setting is unique, nestling in a narrow cleft between steep wadi slopes. Gathering slopes will feed the ball towards the green, but hidden bunkers and swales lurk in the shadows.
Straightintotheactionwiththefirstofmanyholeswhereriskmustbeweighedagainstreward.Cuttingthecornerofthediagonallyalignedfairwayofferstheshortestroutefromteetogreen,butthebestapproachangletotheunusualfall-awaygreenisfoundbydrivingoverthelargehumpacrossthefairway.Drivetoofarleftandtheapproachistotallyblindovertheridgeinfrontofthegreen.Thegreensettingisunique,nestlinginanarrowcleftbetweensteepwadislopes.Gatheringslopesfeedtheballtowardsthegreen,buthiddenbunkersandswaleslurkintheshadows.
Hole 1424 YaRDsPaR 4
Thisis,quitesimply,oneofthemostspectacularshortholesintheworld.Thenewchampionshipteeoffersaheroic‘allornothing’shottothegreenperchedprecariouslyabovetheverticalwadiwalls.Thisholeoffersachallengereminiscentofthefamous16thatCypressPoint,California,USA,andissuretoattractalotofattentionandcomment.Awideselectionofteeingareasmakethetestalittlemoremanageableformeremortals.
Hole 2213 YaRDsPaR 3
Fromthebackteesittinghighonanarrowwadiridge,awonderfulpanoramaofthefrontnineholesspreadsoutbeforeyou.Thisisabig,gallopingpar5thatswingsandswaysitswaygentlytotherightoverandarounddune-likeundulationstoagreensitenudgedagainstthebaseofasteepescarpment.Thedominantfeatureisthemassivewastebunkerthateatsintotheentirerightflankofthehole.Themultitudeofridges,swales,humpsandhollowsgivethisholeadistinctlinkscharacterandtheholeembracesthelow,runningshotinequalmeasuretothehigh,floatingapproach.
Hole 3578 YaRDsPaR 5
colin monTgomeRie’s coURse gUiDe
The wadi ravine continues its influence, as it must be carried with the tee shot and continues to run the entire length of the hole to the right. A series of small rock pools and cascades will be created along this valley, to give the attractive aural accompaniment of softly running water. The 6th features an enormous green that pitches and rolls like a heavy ocean swell and as a result this hole again rewards the well played running approach shot. A natural cliff face will be retained in the landing area, serving to split the driving zone into two distinct levels. A long tee shot can be played to the left of this cliff, but this leaves an approach faced off by two menacing pot bunkers.
Dare you take the direct route to the green over the canyon with your tee shot, or will you avoid the risk of plunging into the chasm and play instead to the wide, flat fairway? The reward for success is a straightforward pitch and run shot into the tumbling green, whilst the price of caution is the aerial only approach shot over the deep, wadi canyon. This classic risk-andÐ reward option is a tempting proposition from each of the tee sets.
An early candidate for the toughest hole, the 4th contrasts with the 3rd in that it will generally demand an aerial approach over an enormous natural sand hazard to find the green in two. Another downhill tee shot, this time through a shallow valley to a wide fairway plain, offers a dramatic view of the distant green, perched on an angled ridge. Tee shots that hug the left of the fairway will minimise the carry over sand, but with a back left hole location this seemingly crafty play will leave you with a very awkward approach angle. Big dunes pinch the fairway along its left edge and a curious hillock directly in the middle of the lay-up area complicates pitching.
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Acandidateforthetoughesthole,thefourthcontrastswiththethirdinthatitwillgenerallydemandanaerialapproachoveranenormousnaturalsandhazardtofindthegreenintwo.Anotherdownhillteeshot,thistimethroughashallowvalleytoawidefairway,offersadramaticviewofthedistantgreen,perchedonanangledridge.Teeshotsthathugtheleftofthefairwaywillminimisethecarryoversand,butwithabackleftholelocationthisseeminglycraftyplaywillleaveyouwithaveryawkwardapproachangle.Bigdunespinchthefairwayalongitsleftedgeandacurioushillockdirectlyinthemiddleofthelay-upareacomplicatespitching.
Hole 4487 YaRDsPaR 4
Thebravecantakethedirectroutetothegreenoverthecanyonwiththeirteeshot.Themoretimidmayavoidtheriskofplungingintothechasmandplayinsteadtothewide,flatfairway.Therewardforsuccessisastraightforwardpitch-and-runshotintothetumblinggreen,whilstthepriceofcautionistheaerialonlyapproachshotoverthedeep,wadicanyon.Thisclassicrisk-and–rewardoptionisatemptingpropositionfromeachoftheteeboxes.
Hole 5408 YaRDsPaR 4
Thewadiravinecontinuesitsinfluence,asitmustbecarriedwiththeteeshotandcontinuestoruntheentirelengthoftheholetotheright.Aseriesofsmallrockpoolsandcascadesaredottedalongalongthisvalley,togivetheattractiveauralaccompanimentofsoftlyrunningwater.Thesixthfeaturesanenormousgreenthatpitchesandrollslikeaheavyoceanswellandasaresultthisholeagainrewardsthewell-playedrunningapproachshot.Anaturalclifffacewillberetainedinthelandingarea,servingtosplitthedrivingzoneintotwodistinctlevels.Alongteeshotcanbeplayedtotheleftofthiscliff,butthisleavesanapproachfacedoffbytwomenacingpotbunkers.
Hole 6402 YaRDsPaR 4
The first half of the hole is basically the old 5th retained exactly as it was. It is a beautiful tee shot, so has been preserved. The only difference is that the fairway has been brought back down into the wadi to offer shorter hitters some relief. The big changes come with the second half of the hole, which has been radically overhauled. A wide desert rift splits the fairway in two, placing added tension on getting a good tee shot away to make the subsequent carry over the sand much easier. Beyond the wide lay up area the fairway contracts to a narrow neck feeding into the left half of the green. Keeping to the left side of the hole throughout gives more approach shot choices.
Once again, a tee location has been selected to offer golfers a wonderful panoramic view. The message to be read is that Ô left is bad!Õ The deep, desert wadi first encountered on the 3rd returns as a menacing influence, having seemingly devoured the entire left side of the fairway. The tee shot needs to be right of centre to avoid having to approach the green over any sand. However, the green contouring creates a few special hole locations which can only be best approached from the very left edge of the fairway, so remember to take a good look at the hole location here as you walk to the 3rd tee.
This short hole concludes the sequence of three consecutive holes that meander their way through the dramatic wadi landscape. GolfersÕ attention will be drawn immediately to the angled green perched precariously on a peninsula outcrop, with a vertical drop down to the right into the narrow, wadi cleft, through which a tumbling, rocky stream flows. The tees are scattered around the head of the canyon, offering many varied lengths and angles from which to attack the perilous target. Playing safely away from the canyon may bring into play the naturally found humps and hollows to the left of the green. DonÕ t go long either, as a further vertical drop awaits.
Thisshortholeconcludesthesequenceofthreeconsecutiveholesthatmeandertheirwaythroughthedramaticwadilandscape.Thegolfer’sattentionisdrawnimmediatelytotheangledgreenperchedprecariouslyonapeninsulaoutcrop,withaverticaldropdowntotherightintothenarrow,wadicleft,throughwhichatumbling,rockystreamflows.Theteesarescatteredaroundtheheadofthecanyon,offeringmanyvariedlengthsandanglesfromwhichtoattacktheperiloustarget.Playingsafelyawayfromthecanyonmaybringintoplaythenaturallyfoundhumpsandhollowstotheleftofthegreen.Don’tgolongeither,asafurtherverticaldropawaits.
Hole 7174 YaRDsPaR 3
Onceagain,theteelocationshavebeenselectedtooffergolfersawonderfulpanoramicview.Themessagetobereadisthat‘leftisbad!’.Thedeep,desertwadifirstencounteredonthethirdreturnsasamenacinginfluence,havingseeminglydevouredtheentireleftsideofthefairway.Theteeshotneedstoberightofcentretoavoidhavingtoapproachthegreenoveranysand.Thegreencontouringcreatesafewspecialholelocationswhichcanonlybebestapproachedfromtheveryleftedgeofthefairway,soremembertotakeagoodlookattheholelocationhereasyouwalktothethirdtee.
Hole 8461 YaRDsPaR 4
Thefirsthalfoftheholeisbasicallytheoldfifthretainedexactlyasitwas.Itisabeautifulteeshot,sohasbeenpreserved.Theonlydifferenceisthatthefairwayhasbeenbroughtbackdownintothewaditooffershorterhitterssomerelief.Thebigchangescomewiththesecondhalfofthehole,whichhasbeenradicallyoverhauled.Awidedesertriftsplitsthefairwayintwo,placingaddedtensionongettingagoodteeshotawaytomakethesubsequentcarryoverthesandmucheasier.Beyondthewidelay-upareathefairwaycontractstoanarrowneck,feedingintothelefthalfofthegreen.Keepingtotheleftsideoftheholethroughoutgivesmoreapproachshotchoices.
Hole 9541 YaRDsPaR 5
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Riffa Views very own Ô Postage StampÕ hole; a tiny par 3 where accuracy counts for everything. The smallest green on the course rests upon an undulating knoll entirely surrounded by waste bunkers and desert grass festooned dunes. What the hole lacks in length it amply compensates for with its physical hazards, though arguably the most effective defence is the seed of doubt it plants in the golferÕ s brain when presenting them with a seemingly easy hole. Petite, but perplexing, this hole can nip at your score like a terrier snapping at your ankles.
Reminiscent of the wild Scottish links of Montrose or Cruden Bay, the 11th fairway lies as crumpled and folded as an unmade bed, with dips, swales, hillocks and plateaus a plenty. An ever heightening range of sand hills marches down the left side of the fairway and perched upon the final spur of these hills sits the gently elevated green. Deep, gnarled bunkers protect the close cut, sloping flanks and again work in tandem with the hole location in determining which side of the fairway is best for the easiest approach angle. Not a long hole, but full of discrete strategic intrigue.
The back nine opens with a deliciously sporty short par 4, where the retained landforms of the old 6th and 7th holes play a key strategic role. To gain the best approach angle the tee shot must be held close to left of the fairway, from where it will hopefully skip down a steep hillside within the fairway to offer a relatively straightforward short pitch into another gentle fall away green. Long hitters may even get all the way to the green if they can shape their tee shot from left to right and feed off the gathering contours in the approach. The hole bares its teeth to the shot hit to the right where steep contours and plentiful sand await.
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Thebacknineopenswithadeliciouslysportyshortpar4,wheretheretainedlandformsoftheoldsixthandseventhholesplayakeystrategicrole.Togainthebestapproachangletheteeshotmustbeheldclosetotheleftofthefairway,fromwhereitwillhopefullyskipdownasteephillsidewithinthefairwaytoofferarelativelystraightforwardshortpitchintoanothergentlefall-awaygreen.Longhittersmayevengetallthewaytothegreeniftheycanshapetheirteeshotfromlefttorightandfeedoffthegatheringcontoursintheapproach.Theholebaresitsteethtotheshothittotherightwheresteepcontoursandplentifulsandawait.
Hole 10323 YaRDsPaR 4
ReminiscentofthewildScottishlinksofMontroseorCrudenBay,the11thfairwayliesascrumpledandfoldedasanunmadebed,withdips,swales,hillocksandplateauxaplenty.Aneverheighteningrangeofsandhillsmarchesdowntheleftsideofthefairwayandpercheduponthefinalspurofthesehillssitsthegentlyelevatedgreen.Deep,gnarledbunkersprotecttheclosecut,slopingflanksandagainworkintandemwiththeholelocationindeterminingwhichsideofthefairwayisbestfortheeasiestapproachangle.Notalonghole,butfullofdiscretestrategicintrigue.
Hole 11353 YaRDsPaR 4
TheMontgomerieCourse’sveryown‘PostageStamp’hole–atinypar3whereaccuracycountsforeverything.Thesmallestgreenonthecourserestsuponanundulatingknollentirelysurroundedbywastebunkersanddesertgrass-festooneddunes.Whattheholelacksinlengthitamplycompensatesforwithitsphysicalhazards,thougharguablythemosteffectivedefenceistheseedofdoubtitplantsinthegolfer’sbrainwhenpresentingthemwithaseeminglyeasyhole.Petite,butperplexing,thisholecannipatyourscorelikeaterriersnappingatyourankles.
Hole 12146 YaRDsPaR 3
Turning away from home for the last time the course encounters the first significant water hazard and a demanding, long par 4. With the introduction of water, the influence of sand recedes in compensation. The strategy is again set up by the hole location, so on one day you would want to flirt with the water for the best angle of approach, whilst on another you may need to drive it to the crest of the hill to the right of the fairway for a good look at the flag and a clear approach path. A retained belt of desert trees play a part here and can block out your view of the hole if you make a strategic misjudgement.
Doubling back down the super wide fairway, the player immediately encounters many of the same landforms in reverse. You have to stick to the right of the hole to get up in two, so it is no surprise that the most caustic hazards defend this direct route. The lay up fairway for the second shot is truly vast, sharing the full width of the 13th hole, but within this expanse of short grass the ideal hitting zone is actually quite small. The green defences are angled to progressively complicate approach shots from the further left they are played. These two par 5Õ s are inspired by the similarly conjoined twin par 5Õ s of the 5th and 14th holes of the Old Course in St. Andrews, the latter of which is celebrated as being arguably the most strategic par 5Õ s ever created.
The first of back-to-back par 5Õ s and a feast of strategic choices await. Big hitters will need to knock it over the large dune that stares them down if they are to have a chance of getting up in two. Beyond this menacing dune, with its cavernous guardian bunker lies a wide fairway plain that will kick the ball onwards to within possible range. Mere mortals will have to wind their way around the major hazards, with the cautious being well advised to make use of the full width of the double fairway. The green is perched up on a narrow ridge, and rather like the Ô Road HoleÕ green at St. Andrews, is guarded by a single, deep pot bunker. The best approach angle will depend upon the hole location, but it will always be best to miss the green to the right; there is plenty of safe ground down there.
Thefirstofback-to-backpar5sandafeastofstrategicchoicesawait.Bighitterswillneedtoknockitoverthelargedunethatstaresthemdowniftheyaretohaveachanceofgettingonintwo.Beyondthismenacingdune,withitscavernousguardianbunkerliesawidefairwayplainthatwillkicktheballonwardstowithinpossiblerange.Meremortalswillhavetowindtheirwayaroundthemajorhazards,withthecautiousbeingwelladvisedtomakeuseofthefullwidthofthedoublefairway.Thegreenispercheduponanarrowridge,andratherlikethe‘RoadHole’greenatStAndrews,isguardedbyasingle,deeppotbunker.Thebestapproachangledependsupontheholelocation,butitwillalwaysbebesttomissthegreentotheright–thereisplentyofsafegrounddownthere.
Hole 13587 YaRDsPaR 5
Doublingbackdownthesuper-widefairway,theplayerimmediatelyencountersmanyofthesamelandformsinreverse.Youhavetosticktotherightoftheholetogetupintwo,soitisnosurprisethatthemostcaustichazardsdefendthisdirectroute.Thelayupfairwayforthesecondshotistrulyvast,sharingthefullwidthofthe13thhole,butwithinthisexpanseofshortgrasstheidealhittingzoneisactuallyquitesmall.Thegreendefencesareangledtocomplicateapproachshotsfromthefurtherlefttheyareplayed.Thesetwopar5sareinspiredbythesimilarlyco-joinedtwinpar5softhefifthand14thholesoftheOldCourseatStAndrews,thelatterofwhichisarguablythemoststrategicpar5evercreated.
Hole 14586 YaRDsPaR 5
Turningawayfromhomeforthelasttime,thecourseencountersthefirstsignificantwaterhazardandademanding,longpar4.Withtheintroductionofwater,theinfluenceofsandrecedesincompensation.Thestrategyisagainsetupbytheholelocation,soononedayyouwouldwanttoflirtwiththewaterforthebestangleofapproach,whilstonanotheryoumayneedtodriveittothecrestofthehilltotherightofthefairwayforagoodlookattheflagandaclearapproachpath.Aretainedbeltofdeserttreesplaysaparthereandcanblockoutyourviewoftheholeifyoumakeastrategicmisjudgement.
Hole 15474 YaRDsPaR 4
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Hang onto your hat for the grand finale, running straight back towards the clubhouse. Whereas the course has generally given a high degree of latitude with the direction in which the tee shot can be played, for the final examination the test is one of straight hitting and a steady nerve. Miss left and the narrow, snaking wadi awaits; miss right and it gets very soggy. A huge, wide green, nestling in a spectator-friendly arena, awaits the final spectacular approach shot either over or around the sparkling sand fronted lake. The final hole is not overly long, but is perfectly set up to encourage bold, attacking golf and regardless of success or failure, will be a memorable and enticing climax to a course that rewards intelligent strategic play from first shot to last.
There may only be eighteen holes on the course, but this is effectively two holes within one, so radically different are its strategies depending upon the hole location. The key is the tremendously wide green, which is effectively two greens within one to either side of a central spine of bunkers. Hole locations to the right of the green reside perilously close to the lake, whilst those to the left are defended by bunkers. Choose your driving line carefully to leave the most open approach to the flagÉ and try to ignore the enormous lake!
The final short hole, where water and sand collaborate to form a dramatic and beautiful test. From the championship tee, jutting out into the lake, the shot to the green is almost entirely over water. As the tees move forward the influence of the water lessens, so that by the time the novice tee is reached the lake is merely an attractive backdrop. The short approach fairway is set on a diagonal, affording golfers the option of playing away from the lake, but two bunkers set short of the green will likely ensnare the overly cautious. A feature of the hole is the green contouring, which includes an interesting low, central section, with higher hole location areas to the front and rear of the green. Merely reaching the green will not be enough to secure a par; one must also find the correct portion.
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Thefinalshorthole,wherewaterandsandcollaboratetoformadramaticandbeautifultest.Fromthechampionshiptee,juttingoutintothelake,theshottothegreenisalmostentirelyoverwater.Astheteesmoveforwardtheinfluenceofwaterlessens,sothatbythetimethenoviceteeisreachedthelakeismerelyanattractivebackdrop.Theshortapproachfairwayissetonadiagonal,affordinggolferstheoptionofplayingawayfromthelake,buttwobunkerssetshortofthegreenwilllikelyensnaretheoverlycautious.Afeatureoftheholeisthegreencontouring,whichincludesaninterestinglow,centralsection,withhigherholelocationareastothefrontandrearofthegreen.Merelyreachingthegreenwillnotbeenoughtosecureapar.
Hole 16229 YaRDsPaR 3
Theremayonlybe18holesonthecourse,butthisiseffectivelytwoholeswithinone,soradicallydifferentareitsstrategiesdependinguponthepinlocation.Thekeyisthetremendouslywidegreen,whichiseffectivelytwogreensinonetoeithersideofacentralspineofbunkers.Holelocationstotherightofthegreenareperilouslyclosetothelake,whilstthosetotheleftaredefendedbybunkers.Chooseyourdrivinglinecarefullytoleavethemostopenapproachtotheflagandtrytoignoretheenormouslake!
Hole 17429 YaRDsPaR 4
Hangontoyourhatforthegrandfinale,runningstraightbacktowardstheclubhouse.Forthefinalexaminationthetestisoneofstraighthittingandasteadynerve.Missleftandthenarrow,snakingwadiawaits,missrightanditgetsverysoggy.Ahuge,widegreen,nestlinginaspectator-friendlyarena,awaitsthefinalspectacularapproachshoteitheroveroraroundthesand-frontedlake.Thefinalholeisnotoverlylong,butisperfectlysetuptoencouragebold,attackinggolfandregardlessofsuccessorfailure,willbeamemorableandenticingclimaxtoacoursethatrewardsintelligentstrategicplayfromfirstshottolast.
Hole 18429 YaRDsPaR 4
acknowledgements and officialsVolVo
championship executive DirectorPerEricsson
championship DirectorTobiasWinsnes
communications manager AnnaHafströmKovats
championship manager JuliaRyding
VolVo WoRlD golF cHallenge TeamProject Director JanSidemo
Project manager – World Final JonasOgvall
img
championship Director RossHallett
championship manager GeorgieSangster,BenFreeman
championship administrators RosieFarrell,AlexBensusan,RobertO’Siochain,HelenMerry
championship accountant JonMcIntosh
chief marshal ClausHansen
chief scorer EdwardDaly
THe RoYal golF clUB
general manager SusanStevenson
Director of golf PhilJones
Director of sales LouiseDaly
Director of agronomy MarkHooker
Marketing&PRManagerSueAddison
F&B Director EricDeladiennee
consultant MichaelBraidwood
eURoPean ToUR
Tournament Director MikaelErikson
chief Referee AndyMcFee
secretary CarmelTreacy
RefereesMatsLaner,ThomasWaldenstedt,NealBriggs,GaryTait
mobile Weather CraigMrockzameDia cenTReeT media officer ScottCrockett
Volvo media Team AnnaHafströmKovats
img media/PR manager MicheleMair
img media /PR assistant RobinSpring
PR /marketing OgilvyMatherTheorganiserswouldalsoliketothankourParnters,theOfficialSponsorsandSuppliersoftheVolvoGolfChampions.
oFFicial PaRTneRs BahrainEconomicDevelopmentBoard
oFFicial sPonsoRs Timepiece Rolex
media CNN
Property RiffaViewsBahrainInternationalCircuit
oFFicial sUPPlieRsPractice BallTitleist
shopping centre BahrainCityCentre
Trophy Designers & suppliers KostaBoda
Water /soft drinks CocaCola
clothing GregNormanCollection
car ParkBAPCO/AwaliPlastics
Theorganiserswould also like to thank thefollowing people and organisations withoutwhosehelpanddedicationtheChampionshipcouldnottakeplace:
TheChiefMarshal,ClausHansenandtheChiefScorer,EdwardDalyfororganisingthemarshalsandscoringteamsandallthepeoplewhovolunteeredtheirservices.
ThefollowingsupplierswhohavesupportedtheeventandworkedsohardtodelivertheChampionship:AggrekoAMG,AwalPlasticsBAPCO,Batelco,BIGCLandscapingBMMI,ByrneCityNeonCreativeTechnologiesDorlings,GettyImages,GulfHotelGulfHouseMarketsGulfShowPowerJawad,KeyCleaning,Limousina,LiongatePavingNassScafformOwenBrownProtectSecurityServicesReddoorEventsRimScaffolding,SES,SmithSumnerDesignSouthernGovernement.BahrainInternationalShipping,WorldwideSportingPublications
ThemembersofthePress,TVandRadiofortheircoverageoftheChampionship.
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