Awkwardly good

U. S. GOLF’S BRIGHTEST young star meets an angry golfer in faux therapy, the European Tour’s very own “awkward and shy” and awfully impressive major champion in waiting.

- KENT GRAY

Even the “Major of the Middle East”, the darling of the Desert Swing, needs a fresh narrative every now and then and the 32nd OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic suddenly has one courtesy of Collin Morikawa’s desire to be a world player and Tyrrell Hatton’s reinforced ability to be exactly the same.

With Morikawa locked in as the event’s marquee signing, ODDC Tournament Director Simon Corkill couldn’t have wished for a better result on the eve of the $3.25 million event than that delivered by Hatton 105km down Sheikh Zayed Road.

Not that Rory McIlroy will agree. Sunday at Abu Dhabi Golf Club shaped as the Northern Irishman’s time. Finally. The chance to get that bogey off his back and that elusive Falcon trophy in his hands in a European Tour season-opener going exactly to script. Surely he’d served his apprenticeship with four bridesmaid finishes and three other third placings? Tick off Abu Dhabi and move on to that equally evasive green jacket.