Rory McIlroy, the Northern Ireland teenager who has become one of the UAE's adopted sons, is convinced the heartbreaking experience he endured on Sunday will stand him in good stead as he pursues his professional career.
McIlroy, 19, spoke about the pain of missing a five-foot putt on the final hole of the European Masters in Switzerland which would have secured a maiden victory on the European tour.
He lost the ensuing play-off at the second extra hole to France's Jean-Francois Luquin.
"Sometimes you have to learn how to lose before you can win," he said.
"It was a tough loss to take because I had led the tournament from start to finish and I thought I played some good golf coming down the home stretch.
"I didn't rush my shots like some people have suggested."
He was one putt away from becoming the third youngest winner of a European tour event, but is convinced his big day will not be long in coming.
"Winning my first tournament by the end of the year would be nice," he said.
"I know I had a glorious opportunity to win and let it slip through my fingers. A sand iron taking a big bounce and going a couple of yards too far and rolling off the green made all the difference.
"Even then I thought I would still win. My chip from the edge of the green was a good one.
"It almost went in and it left me a straight putt of five feet which I was convinced I would make. I just pulled it. That happens in golf."
McIlroy is hoping to have bought a house in Dubai, the base of his sponsors Jumeirah Hotels, by the time the Race to Dubai reaches its conclusion at Greg Norman's Earth Course on Jumeirah Golf Estates in November next year.
"Dubai has the perfect climate for practising in the winter and it is perfectly situated from a professional golfer's viewpoint," he said.
"I'm really looking forward to playing on the Earth Course next year, providing I qualify.
"I need to be in the top 60 and I'm ranked 45 at the moment. I have climbed 150 places in the rankings this year and I feel I am playing well enough to go even higher, so I am hopeful of being a contender when Race to Dubai takes place next year."
McIlroy has enjoyed the Jumeirah sponsorship since turning professional a year ago and is pleased with how things have worked.
"Their backing has helped me to settle in as a professional," said McIlroy who possessed a remarkable handicap of plus six when he took the plunge into the paid ranks of the sport.
"Comparatively speaking I have found it easier than most switching codes from amateur to professional.
"Justin Rose for instance missed 21 cuts in a row before making his mark. I feel I have already made my mark in my first season as a pro and I'm improving all the time."
@Email:wjohnson@thenational.ae
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
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AS%20WE%20EXIST
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Kill%20
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20Profile
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The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
If you go
The flights
Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco from Dh5,760 return including taxes.
The car
Etihad Guest members get a 10 per cent worldwide discount when booking with Hertz, as well as earning miles on their rentals. A week's car hire costs from Dh1,500 including taxes.
The hotels
Along the route, Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) offers good value and comfort, with rooms from $55 (Dh202) per night including taxes. In Portland, the Jupiter Hotel (https://jupiterhotel.com/) has rooms from $165 (Dh606) per night including taxes. The Society Hotel https://thesocietyhotel.com/ has rooms from $130 (Dh478) per night including taxes.
More info
To keep up with constant developments in Portland, visit www.travelportland.com. Good guidebooks include the Lonely Planet guides to Northern California and Washington, Oregon & the Pacific Northwest.
The%C2%A0specs%20
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ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
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SPECS
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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The specs: 2018 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Cabriolet
Price, base: Dh429,090
Engine 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Power 510hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 700Nm @ 1,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.2L / 100km
Frida%20
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Islamic%20Architecture%3A%20A%20World%20History
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Company%20Profile
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RESULTS
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner AF Nashrah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Mutaqadim, Riccardo Iacopini, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
6pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Hameem, Jose Santiago, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner AF Almomayaz, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Dalil Al Carrere, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash.
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Lahmoom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Jayide Al Boraq, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.