MILWAUKEE // Tiger Woods remained No 1 in the world rankings this week, though not even close to that on two lists that matter much more at the moment - the Ryder Cup and FedEx Cup.
Woods failed to qualify for the US Ryder Cup team for the first time - he had led the standings every other time since 1997 - and now will only make the team if Corey Pavin, the US captain, uses one of four wild-card picks on him.
In a hotel conference room on Monday, Pavin sat at the head table between two poster boards, each showing the final standings for the eight American qualifiers. Woods' name was nowhere to be found between Phil Mickelson at No 1 and Matt Kuchar at No 8.
Pavin would only say that Woods is "high on my list" and will be a "big consideration" when he announces his selections on September 7.
"I'm looking at him in essence like any other player. He isn't ... but he is," Pavin said. "I'm certainly not going to disrespect other players by considering him different from other players. I have to look at the way he's playing, the way he played, and I have to look at his body of work as well. If anyone can turn it around quickly, it's him."
Despite the shockingly low ratings for Woods' name, Pavin came away from the PGA Championship encouraged as much by what he heard from Woods as what he saw from him. Woods said at the start of the week that he wants to play in the Ryder Cup and would accept a captain's pick. Even after he closed with a one-over 73 to tie for 28th at Whistling Straits, he joked that he could still help out in singles. His Ryder Cup record is 10-13-2, including 3-1-2 in singles.
"I feel my game is a lot better than it was obviously last week, and given a little bit more time, it's starting to head in the right direction now, which is good," Woods said. "And I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully, Corey will pick me on the team."
Woods tied for fourth in the Masters and US Open. He missed the cut at Quail Hollow with the highest 36-hole total of his career, and only a week before the final major, he had the worst tournament of his career when he shot 18-over par at Firestone.
Pavin was asked about the pros and cons of taking Woods, and he could think only of the positives.
"He's the No 1 player in the world - that's a pretty good 'pro'," Pavin said. "Obviously, I'm considering him highly, no doubt about it. He's playing better. I think we have all seen that. And he wants to play - he wants to be part of the team. But it's going to be my judgement whether I pick him or not."
Mickelson led the points table for the first time followed by Hunter Mahan, PGA runner-up Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jeff Overton and Matt Kuchar. Four of them - Watson, Johnson, Overton and Kuchar - have never played a Ryder Cup. Stricker and Mahan played the first time two years ago at Valhalla. Overton became the first American to qualify for the Ryder Cup without having won on the PGA Tour.
* Agencies
United States (top 8 qualified)
1. Phil Mickelson 6,095
2. Hunter Mahan 4,095
3. Bubba Watson 3,894
4. Jim Furyk 3,763
5. Steve Stricker 3,697
6. Dustin Johnson 3,573
7. Jeff Overton 3,533
8. Matt Kuchar 3,415
9. Anthony Kim 3,274
10. Lucas Glover 3,052
Europe - World Points
1. Lee Westwood (Eng) 422.01
2. Rory McIlroy (NIr) 316.95
3. Martin Kaymer (Ger) 285.42
4. Graeme McDowell (NIr) 249.35
5. Luke Donald (Eng) 231.16
6. Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 218.41
7. Ian Poulter (Eng) 211.24
8. Padraig Harrington (Irl) 204.97
9. Justin Rose (Eng) 195.74
10. Francesco Molinari (Ita) 172.51
European Points
1. Lee Westwood (Eng) 3,446,137
2. Martin Kaymer (Ger) 2,638,282
3. Rory McIlroy (NIr) 2,368,205
4. Graeme McDowell (NIr) 2,307,041
5. Ian Poulter (Eng) 2,238,874
6. Ross Fisher (Eng) 1,708,614
7. Francesco Molinari (Ita) 1,612,747
8. Miguel Angel Jimenez (Esp) 1,499,775
9. Paul Casey (Eng) 1,487,776
10. Padraig Harrington (Irl) 1,486,529
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
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The language of diplomacy in 1853
Treaty of Peace in Perpetuity Agreed Upon by the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast on Behalf of Themselves, Their Heirs and Successors Under the Mediation of the Resident of the Persian Gulf, 1853
(This treaty gave the region the name “Trucial States”.)
We, whose seals are hereunto affixed, Sheikh Sultan bin Suggar, Chief of Rassool-Kheimah, Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboo Dhebbee, Sheikh Saeed bin Buyte, Chief of Debay, Sheikh Hamid bin Rashed, Chief of Ejman, Sheikh Abdoola bin Rashed, Chief of Umm-ool-Keiweyn, having experienced for a series of years the benefits and advantages resulting from a maritime truce contracted amongst ourselves under the mediation of the Resident in the Persian Gulf and renewed from time to time up to the present period, and being fully impressed, therefore, with a sense of evil consequence formerly arising, from the prosecution of our feuds at sea, whereby our subjects and dependants were prevented from carrying on the pearl fishery in security, and were exposed to interruption and molestation when passing on their lawful occasions, accordingly, we, as aforesaid have determined, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, to conclude together a lasting and inviolable peace from this time forth in perpetuity.
Taken from Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925-1939: the Imperial Oasis, by Clive Leatherdale
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
Director: Paul Weitz
Stars: Kevin Hart
3/5 stars
The%20Roundup
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If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Automatic
Power: 530bhp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh535,000
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
