Darren Clarke to see action in Dubai Creek Open

Darren Clarke

DUBAI: Darren Clarke, the 2016 European Ryder Cup captain, has confirmed his participation in next week’s Dubai Creek Open in a major boost for the MENA Tour event.
Clarke, who is also the MENA Tour patron, will join defending champion and Dubai Creek prodigy Rayhan Thomas in a strong starting lineup, blazing with the ranks for 15 winners on the tour at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club where the popular Ulsterman jointly holds the course record of 63 with Lee Westwood and Australia’s Benjamin Eccles.
It may be Clarke’s second appearance in a MENA Tour event after the 2015 RAK Classic where he finished in a tie for second, but his regular inputs have been instrumental in putting the tour on a trajectory for growth.
The final outcome of the Dubai Creek Open, now in its sixth year, notwithstanding, the mere presence of Clarke, who won the Open Championship in 2011, will stoke the fire of motivation in a field that includes the English duo of Zane Scotland and Lee Corfield who between them share 14 MENA Tour victories.
Potential storylines will be aplenty with English veteran Andrew Marshall, Jake Shepherd and the 2016 MENA Tour Order of Merit winner Craig Hinton also confirming their participation, but none would be more compelling than young Thomas, who last year became the first amateur to win a MENA Tour event.
Since that history-making victory, the 17-year-old Dubai-based Indian has rapidly risen to 50th in the world amateur rankings and should he successfully defend his title he will become the second player after Scotland to win the Dubai Creek on two occasions.
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but it would be great to give myself another chance and hopefully do it. It’s my home course and it’s where I learned to golf. The game’s feeling good and I am hoping to ride on the good momentum coming into the week,” said Thomas, who is the top qualifier for Trevor Immelman’s International team ahead of the inaugural Junior President’s Cup later this month.
“With legendary Darrern Clarke in the field, I am sure every player will be charged up to give off his best. It will be great fun,” said Thomas, whose recent notable achievements include the Scottish Boys’ title and a memorable run to the semifinals of this year’s US Junior Amateur in addition to making the cut at the 2017 Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
Saudi Arabia’s Othman Al-Mulla, who won last year’s Sheikh Maktoum Golf Foundation award for being the best amateur in the region, will be hoping to keep the good work going in his division which attracted the likes of Azaan Al-Rumhy of Oman and UAE’s Ahmed Al-Musharrekh among other top draws.
“I have really worked hard on my game and it’s trending in the right direction. Like every player in the field, my goal is to win the tournament. It’s my home course and so, hopefully, local knowledge will come in handy,” said Al-Musharrekh, who turned professional in September 2012.
A full field of 120 players, including 21 amateurs, will tee it up next Monday, promising an absorbing contest in expectedly hot and humid conditions.