World Golf News - 14 February 2011

The European Tour’s Middle Eastern leg culminated in the Dubai Desert Classic at the weekend, a tournament that has come to be regarded as the Major of the Arab world played in the striking backdrop of the modern city of Dubai. With the outcome of this year’s tournament uncertain, an action packed final round resulted in victory for Spain’s Alvaro Quiros.

After starting the final round in great form and establishing a comfortable lead, the Spaniard ran into trouble at the eighth hole with a triple bogey that threatened to take him out of contention. The young champion weathered this obstacle however, and with a hole-in-one at the eleventh he was back in business. Second place went to James Kingston of South Africa and Anders Hansen of Denmark who tied a shot behind Quiros.

On the US PGA Tour, an entertaining four rounds of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am saw DA Points of the United States lifting the trophy alongside a well-known playing partner from the entertainment world. Golf fans gathered to watch Points tee up with actor Bill Murray of “Caddy Shack” fame, who provided his usual brand of entertainment throughout the tournament. Points gained notoriety himself for a convincing two-stroke victory at Pebble Beach. For Murray, who has caused many a laugh over the years at the pro-am, including throwing a senior citizen in a bunker one year this tournament was extra special as his name is now engraved at the first tee.

In women’s golf, Yani Tseng of Taiwan has been crowned world number one following her win at the Australian Ladies’ Masters. Following her win last week at the Australian Open, Tseng pulled off a two-in-a-row spectacular to shoot through the world rankings. Tseng is now leading the pack, with Jiyai Shin of South Korea and South Africa’s Lee-Ann Pace hot on her heels.