The beautiful Augusta course has been lengthened considerably to its present 7,435 yards.
The beautiful Augusta course has been lengthened considerably to its present 7,435 yards.

National treasure goes the distance



The Augusta National Golf Club is the most magical place in the sport, and the course dreamt up by Bobby Jones to provide the game's ultimate challenge has stood the test of time. Always a huge focal point as the year's first Major Championship, it is a course that has staged more majors than any other in the world.

The Augusta National has led the way throughout its 77-year Major Championship history, not least in finding new ways to protect its magnificently manicured condition against the elements. An undersoil heating system, which ensures the greens maintain a healthy growth during months of frost, has been working overtime this winter, the third coldest in 100 years in Georgia. Five weeks ago, the course was covered with snow, and just as modern technology has kept the legendary putting surfaces in prime condition, special lights and heating has had to be used to get the rhododendrons and magnolias in full bloom.

Once again, the picture that greets players and spectators alike is unmatched in golf, but beneath the beauty of Augusta lurks danger. Over the past four years, to combat the effects of modern equipment on the distances players are now able to hit the ball, the par 72 course has been lengthened considerably to its present 7,435 yards. While some golfers complain, the reality is that they are now using more or less the same clubs to hit into greens as I remember we did when I played in the 1984 Masters. Mode players are not used to using long irons for approach shots, although they are justified in feeling the Augusta test has been toughened by the planting of more pine trees to narrow the fairways and the introduction of rough.

It is not the kind of punishing rough found at other Tour events, but it adds an extra degree of difficulty when you are hitting shots into golf's most difficult greens. While some of the most severe slopes have been shaved a little, the greens still seem to get quicker each year and are still incredibly challenging. The course has only three straight holes, the third, seventh and 17th, although each of these par fours have sloping fairways and the changes in elevation at Augusta, something television does not show, can catch players out.

Recent course alternations have put an extra premium on driving accuracy. This s proven by the fact that both Zach Johnson and Trevor Immelman, winners in 2007 and 2008, are great drivers of the golf ball. But to win at Augusta you need every aspect of your game to be in good shape, and this helps to explain why Tiger Woods has not donned the Green Jacket since 2005. Before the changes Tiger also won in 1997, 2001 and 2002.

Tiger is a great iron player and the best putter and chipper in the game, which is the most important thing to get right around this course, but his driving can often be wayward and the punishment at Augusta is a lot tougher now. Even so, in three of the past four Masters, Woods has gone into the last round with a chance of winning. This time, after five months without competing, it will be interesting to see how he handles his game and the challenges Augusta sets. Back when I played it was a regular thing in the winter not to compete for four or five months.

I do not see it as a problem mentally for Tiger, even with what has happened in his personal life, as he is the toughest competitor I have ever seen. Five months ago, Tiger was the undisputed world No 1, and nothing since then has changed that fact, especially as he has been preparing for the last month specifically for The Masters with frequent practice rounds there. When Tiger does have a driving problem, it occurs when he slashes at the ball and loses control of his swing, most times the ball sails off to the right. If he swings at 85 per cent of his power, he still hits the ball further than 90 per cent of the field and keeps it under control.

If he can resist the temptation to blast away over the next four days, he will be my favourite to win, although Ernie Els probably feels he is playing better than anyone in the world right now. It is exciting for golf that Els has found his form again. Along with Mickleson he has the length off the tee and the talent to match Tiger, although they need to be at their best to beat him. For a number of years Ernie struggled with his putting stroke because of an over-exaggerated shoulder movement, something I felt so strongly about that I had to mention it to his coach, David Leadbetter, during the British Open at Turnberry last year. Now his stroke looks nice and calm, with a lot more feel involved, there is still a little work to do but hopefully he will have confidence on the greens.

The swing is as good as I have ever seen it, and the rhythm is classic Els. Big hitters like Ernie still have a huge advantage, as Angel Cabrera proved with his victory last year, and Paul Casey, who showed with his win in Houston last year that he can cope with some of the world's fastest greens, could capitalise. He is among the biggest hopes for Europe, who enjoyed 11 Masters triumphs in the 1980s and 1990s.

Lee Westwood has shown over the past two years he is a major expert, has the game to win the Masters and is without doubt the most consistent performer out of the European players. In 1999, he was in a position to win the Masters on the back nine on the Sunday, if he is in the same situation this year, I will not be surprised to see him win. Henrik Stenson, Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald are all good enough to win, but it all boils down to whether they believe it, just like Lee in 1999, they will not know until they put themselves into contention.

That will not be a problem for Ian Poulter, who has always had incredible confidence in his ability. He is putting brilliantly at the moment and I cannot wait to see him in action on Augusta's greens. Dustin Johnson could surprise a few people this week. He is a 25-year-old American who has already won three PGA Tour events and is one of the most exciting players to watch right now. He hits it 30 to 40 yards further than Woods, Mickleson or Els.

If he gets it all together this week, he could be the one walking away with the green jacket. Former European and US Tour player Philip Parkin (www.philparkin.com) is a member of the TV golf commentary team for the BBC in the UK and Golf Channel in the US. @Email:sports@thenational.ae

Joker: Folie a Deux

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson

Director: Todd Phillips 

Rating: 2/5

The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo

Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000

Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm

Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km

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Lowest Test scores

26 - New Zealand v England at Auckland, March 1955

30 - South Africa v England at Port Elizabeth, Feb 1896

30 - South Africa v England at Birmingham, June 1924

35 - South Africa v England at Cape Town, April 1899

36 - South Africa v Australia at Melbourne, Feb. 1932

36 - Australia v England at Birmingham, May 1902

36 - India v Australia at Adelaide, Dec. 2020

38 - Ireland v England at Lord's, July 2019

42 - New Zealand v Australia in Wellington, March 1946

42 - Australia v England in Sydney, Feb. 1888

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Director: Laila Abbas

Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum

Rating: 4/5

Sinopharm vaccine explained

The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades. 

“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.

"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."

This is then injected into the body.

"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.

"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."

The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.

Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.

“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

Aldar Properties Abu Dhabi T10

*November 15 to November 24

*Venue: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi

*Tickets: Start at Dh10, from ttensports.com

*TV: Ten Sports

*Streaming: Jio Live

*2017 winners: Kerala Kings

*2018 winners: Northern Warriors

THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

Scoreline:

Barcelona 2

Suarez 85', Messi 86'

Atletico Madrid 0

Red card: Diego Costa 28' (Atletico)

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Jewel of the Expo 2020

252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome

13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas

550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome

724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses

Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa

Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site

The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants

Al Wasl means connection in Arabic

World’s largest 360-degree projection surface

APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

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Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID

Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight

In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

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UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

THE BIO:

Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.

Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.

Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.

Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.

Thor: Ragnarok

Dir: Taika Waititi

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson

Four stars

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The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
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Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
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Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
SPECS

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Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
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Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4