Latest news with #BapcoEnergiesBahrainChampionship
Khaleej Times
31-01-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Tarren's stumbles after fast start, but patience pays off in Bahrain
Callum Tarren leads by two shots at the halfway stage of the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship after battling back from a slow start to get to 13 under par with a second round 67 on the DP World Tour.. The Englishman fired a bogey-free first round 64 at Royal Golf Club, but had to be patient in the early stages of Friday afternoon as he dropped a shot on the opening hole and made another bgey on the fourth to slip further off the pace set by Italy's Andrea Pavan. The 34 year-old bounced back in style, carding four birdies in his next five holes, and the birdies kept coming on the back nine. He picked up shots at the 11th, 13th and 14th to head into the weekend two ahead of Pavan - who held the early clubhouse lead after notching eight birdies and a single bogey - and fellow Englishman Dan Brown, who also carded a seven under 65. Pablo Larrazábal is a shot further back at ten under after making a memorable hole-in-one at the second in his round of 68. The Spaniard, who is chasing a 10th DP World Tour title, holed his tee-shot at the 192-yard par-three with a six iron to seal the sixth ace of his career. Finland's Tapio Pulkkanen is then at nine under, with overnight leader Brandon Robinson Thompson amongst the group of five players a shot further back after following up his course record 61 on Thursday with a three over 75. Tarren said on completing his round: "I got off to a shaky start today, but I knew I was playing good golf, so I just stayed patient. A few bounce-back birdies, and I played really solid again. So just more of that and see what happens.. "I misjudged the wind on one, got it riding the wind and hit it up against the fence. I could hit it, but it was against a rock so didn't want to risk that. I just said, ride this tough start, but plenty of chances out there. Managed to capitalise on a few good shots. "There were a couple in the middle of the round where I hit it to two feet and a foot with nine iron and a wedge:" he sadded. "A couple of good saves coming in, a couple of good putts. The par save on 16. That kept the momentum going. Shame about the last (missed birdie chance) but I'm ready to tackle the weekend. "Our first six, seven holes it was blowing but died off a bit, just tried to take advantage then and managed to do so. Just got to keep giving myself chances.. "I've got to keep the foot to the floor because the course will yield birdies to the guys behind me. Just keep doing what I'm doing, stay patient. I feel very relaxed this week for some reason, I don't know why. I just feel super chilled, so hopefully that's a good omen," Tarren concluded.
The National
31-01-2025
- Sport
- The National
‘There were only a few brown faces growing up': Aadam Syed hopes to become a role model for Pakistani golfers
Judged by his mellow on-course demeanor at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, it would be easy to think Aadam Syed was a seasoned tour pro. Either that, or he was just mates with everyone at the course. The Royal Golf Club in Riffa is unique in that many of the holes require players to get a lift. Between the 10th green and the 11th tee box, for example, volunteers in buggies are on hand to drive the players the sizeable distance, across terrain that includes pipelines which split the course in half. When Syed took his place in the passenger seat at the start of his first round on a crisp and damp Thursday morning, it was as if he was meeting up with old pals. He enquired as to how the buggy drivers were doing, and what they made of the cold weather. Seeing as he sealed entry to this event by winning the Bahrain Amateur Open around this same course, it might be assumed he knows the place well, and thus is on first-name terms with all the members. Not so. The 24-year-old British Pakistani only dropped in to that tournament because it fitted in with his schedule and he wanted to stay sharp ahead of more pressing challenges to follow. As it happens, he landed for his first visit to Bahrain and promptly won the tournament, the prize for which was being invited back to make his DP World Tour debut. 'I did know that was the prize, but I was going to Asian Tour Q School, and I just wanted to keep sharp and play tournaments,' Syed said. 'Logistically, this tournament was halfway between the UK and Thailand, so I signed up. It was my first time in Bahrain, luckily had a good week, and here I am today. 'It is playing a lot different this week because of the tournament. The rough is a lot bigger and it is a lot harder.' Qualification for the Bahrain Championship has meant sharing a range and putting green with some of the stars of the DP World Tour. 'I was definitely nervous, but I know that I play my best golf when I keep it as relaxed as possible,' he said. 'Having my dad on the bag helped keep it that way. We just had fun out there, and tried to keep it as relaxed as possible.' Another effect of winning that Bahrain Amateur Open has been to delay Syed's move into the ranks of professional golf. That might have happened far sooner, were it not for an untimely injury. He graduated from the University of Tampa in 2022, by which point he planned to go pro. His progress was stunted, though, by a broken wrist sustained in a scooter accident in his final year at college. The best part of three years later, he feels he is finally fit and ready to make the leap. After this week on the DP World Tour, he is eyeing opportunities on the Asian Development Tour and the Clutch Pro Tour in England. He is from Hayes in the UK, but represents Pakistan, where his family are from. His father, Syed Hussain, who has been on the bag in Bahrain, does live up to the Pakistani stereotype given that his first love was cricket. But it is he who is to thank for introducing his son to golf. 'When I was born, my dad had just started playing golf, having played cricket when he was growing up,' Syed said. 'Cricket is his sport, but when I was younger I was quite chubby, so he didn't bother putting me into cricket. I went to the golf course and guess I had a talent for it. I have stuck with it. 'I played cricket at school. The problem with that was, because I played a lot of golf early [in my life] and was playing competitions at a national level and an early age. But batting is so bad for your golf swing. 'I was also pretty fat, so I wasn't fast at bowling, so dad put me out of that.' While some things don't change – he retains an interest in cricket, but golf has remained his primary love – others are vastly different. Syed's lithe frame bears no reminders of the chubbiness to which he refers. He is treading a scarcely used path as a Pakistani golfer. Ahmed Baig, a 26-year-old from Lahore, is another tour player from there, but Syed acknowledges there have not been many. 'When I was growing up there was only a few brown faces,' Syed said. 'There was Jeev Milkha Singh and a lot of good Indian players, but not many Arab players or Pakistani players. 'In a dream scenario I would be one of those role models for this generation.' Given he is just at the start of his journey, he does not have any stated grand ambitions. But when the idea of perhaps one day representing Pakistan in golf at an Olympics is put to him, he likes the sound of it. 'It is every sportsperson's dream to play in the Olympics. I have not thought that far ahead, but hopefully that could be on the cards if I continue to improve and get better at golf. 'Those appearances will come as long as you get better, that is how I look at it.' More appearances among the household names of the tour might also serve to settle some of the nerves he has felt in Bahrain. 'I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about whether you belong at this level,' Syed said. 'But throughout the week whenever I was on the range I was thinking to myself, 'They are just human beings, too. They hit bad shots on the range, they hit bad shots on the course.' 'I never felt out of place, and I took confidence from that, and also, the guys I was playing with [China's Zihao Jin and Denmark's Jacob Skov Olesen] are the same age as me. 'Even though they are pros, I backed myself. I think you have to.'
Daily Tribune
31-01-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Robinson Thompson leads on day one
Brandon Robinson Thompson hailed yesterday's 61 as one of his best-ever rounds after smashing the course record and raising hopes of a 59 on a memorable first day of the 2025 Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship. Early starter Robinson Thompson flew out of the blocks, making the most of benign morning conditions to fire a front-nine 29 that contained two eagles and three birdies. And when he reeled off four successive birdies from the 12th to get to 11 under par, the prospect of Robinson Thomp-son entering the record books as only the second player to shoot a sub-60 round in DP World Tour history was on eve-ryone's lips. Although his birdie run was broken at the 16th as his superb birdie try from 30 feet somehow stayed above ground, the 32-year-old birdied the 17th from long range to move to 12 under and within touching distance of a 59. But, needing a birdie on the par-four last to achieve the feat, the HotelPlanner Tour graduate finished with his only bogey of the day after going long with his approach from a fairway bunker. With the wind getting stronger in the afternoon, Robinson Thompson's 11-under-par total saw him lead by three shots at the end of round one, with fellow morning starter and countryman Callum Tarren his closest challenger on eight under. Spain's Pablo Larrazábal, France's Martin Couvra, Scot Richie Ramsay and Finn Tapio Pulkkanen were in a tie for third another two shots further back. Rookie Robinson Thompson beat the previous course record of 64 posted by France's Tom Vaillant last year by three shots, and he was taking plenty of positives from the day despite the disappointment of missing out on a 59. He said: 'I think it's my lowest round as a professional, let alone on the DP World Tour. 'It has to be up there with a Sunday to close out a HotelPlanner Tour event last year. I know it's the first round but 61, that has to be first or second, surely.' Robinson Thompson's round clicked into gear with an eagle at the par-five third, before he backed it up immediately with a birdie on the 443-yard fourth. Further gains followed at the sixth and eighth, before he closed out his front nine by rolling in an eagle putt from 28 feet. A run of four birdies in a row from the 12th through to the 15th followed to put everyone on 59 watch, and he lipped out for five in a row from distance at the parthree 16th. His chance at history was back on though when his putter delivered again at the 17th, before his dropped shot at the last. Asked when he first became aware of the possibility of a 59, Robinson Thompson said: 'After about nine holes! 'And then I hit it to about four feet on ten, and I was like, 'oh'… Unfortunately I missed that one. 'It was just an accumulation of a lot of good decision making and execution. 'I didn't really picture it this morning when it was raining and there were forecasts of super-strong winds. Very happy to get off to the start I did. Little bit of a sour taste in my mouth, but I holed my fair share.' Of the Bahraini players, Khalifa Alkaabi coped best with the tough conditions, shooting 3-over 75.
Khaleej Times
30-01-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Robinson-Thompson shoots course record, flirts with history in Bahrain Championship
Since 1972, only Oliver Fisher has shot a 59, with the Briton coming close with a stunning eight-birdie 61 Brandon Robinson Thompson carded a course-record 61 to take a three-shot lead after round one of the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, as he came agonisingly close to add his name to the DP World Tour history books. Only Oliver Fisher has carded a 59 since the formation of the DP World Tour in 1972, but fellow Englishman Robinson Thompson had that magic number in his sights when he recorded eight birdies and two eagles through his opening 17 holes. However, the HotelPlanner Tour graduate finished with his only bogey of the day after going long with his approach from a fairway bunker to end the opening day at 11 under -and better the previous Royal Golf Club course record by three shots - with countryman Callum Tarren his nearest challenger at eight under. Robinson Thompson clicked into gear with an eagle at the par-five third, before backing it up immediately with a birdie at the 443-yard fourth. Further gains followed at the sixth and eighth, before the 32-year-old closed out his front nine by rolling in an eagle putt from 28 feet at the ninth. He missed a short birdie effort at the tenth, but a run of four consecutive birdies from the 12th through to the 15th put everyone on 59 watches before he lipped out for five in a row from distance at the par-three 16th. His chance at history was back on though when his putter delivered again at the 17 th, before his dropped shot at the last. Tarren shot eight birdies in his bogey-free round of 64 to sit three shots off the lead, with Pablo Larrazábal recorded the lowest round of the afternoon with his round of 66 as the the wind picked up around Royal Golf Club. The Spaniard is in a tie for third at six under par alongside Frenchman Martin Couvra, Scott Richie Ramsay and Tapio Pulkkanen of Finland. Robinson Thompson told the media post round, 'I didn't picture it this morning when it was raining and there were forecasts of super-strong winds. Very happy to get off to the start I did. A little bit of a sour taste in my mouth (bogeying the last), but I holed my fair share.' "I was aware I was on #59Watch after about nine holes! And then I hit it to about four feet. on 10, unfortunately, I missed that one. It was just an accumulation of a lot of good decision-making and execution. "I wouldn't say it was perfect by a long way, but I was smart when I had to be and I hit a couple of shots to 25, 30 and 35 feet. Luckily made a couple of those. It was good decision-making, good golf shots, and I made a lot of putts. "I think it's my lowest round as a professional, let alone on the DP World Tour. It has to be up there with a Sunday to close out a Challenge Tour event last year. I know it's the first round but 61, that's up there." Spain's Rafa Cabrera Bello, a Dubai Golden VISA Awardee found some form with a five-under-par 67 to be tied sixth. First Round Leading Scores B. Robinson Thompson (Eng) 61. C. Tarren (Eng) 64. P. Larrazabal (Spain) 66. M. Couvra (Fr) 66. R. Ramsay (Scot) 66. T. Pulkkanen (Fin) 66. R. Cabrera Bello (Spain) 67. R. Fisher (Eng) 67. J. Lagergren (Swe) 67
The National
30-01-2025
- Climate
- The National
Brandon Robinson Thompson just misses historic 59 after last-hole bogey in stunning opening round in Bahrain
With LIV Golf taking a starry field to India, plus Rory McIlroy and many of the rest of the sport's most gilded names heading for Pebble Beach, the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship is battling for airtime this week. And yet for the majority of Thursday morning it appeared as though a journeyman from the Isle of Wight was going to grab all the limelight on the fairways of the Royal Golf Club in Riffa. The DP World Tour – formerly the European Tour – is in its 53rd year. More than 10,200 players have played on it. Only once has any of them ever broken 60. Oliver Fisher became the first to shoot 59 in the tour's history, back in 2018. And, because of a bogey at the final hole of the opening round in Bahrain for Brandon Robinson-Thompson, he remains the only man to do it. Robinson Thompson acknowledged he was aware history could be beckoning from the ninth hole onwards. By that stage, he had made just 29 blows and had two eagles on his card. With just the par-4 18th to play, he was on 12-under par. The adrenalin was clearly pulsing as he chased the birdie he needed for history, as he proceeded to push his drive into the waste ground to the left of the fairway. He had hit 16 of the 17 previous greens in regulation, but his approach to the last went long into the rough. It took him three to get down from there, meaning he signed for a 61. No mean feat, and good enough for a three-stroke lead at the end of the day. But, still, he acknowledged it was tinged with a little feeling of what might have been. 'I didn't really picture it this morning when it was raining and there were forecasts of super-strong winds,' Robinson Thompson said. 'I'm very happy to get off to the start I did. [There is a] little bit of a sour taste in my mouth, but I holed my fair share. 'It was just an accumulation of a lot of good decision-making and execution. I wouldn't say it was perfect by a long way, but I was smart when I had to be and I hit a couple of shots to 25, 30, 35 feet. Luckily, I made a couple of those.' The majority of Robinson Thompson's career to date has been played in professional golf's margins, including stints on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica and the Mena Tour. The 32-year-old Englishman is probably not used to having his every moved tracked, but his back nine was suddenly under the scanner as '59-watch' gripped. The broadcasters were in place to see his putt at the 16th, which would have given him a fifth successive birdie, lip out. 'It looked in the whole way,' he said. 'I can't complain. Walking off the green one of the cameramen said, 'That was an opportunity, just make the next one'. Then I made a 40-footer on the next hole. Shout out to the camera guy. 'I think it's my lowest round as a professional, let alone on the DP World Tour. It has to be up there with a Sunday to close out a Challenge Tour event last year. 'I know it's the first round but 61, that's up there. Everyone keeps saying [it's tough to follow a low round] but I'll just keep doing the same stuff.' The chasing pack contains some other players who have also had a good look around during their careers. Callum Tarren, who shot an eight-under 64 and is in second place, likened the Royal Golf Club's 'crazy greens' to his time playing in China. The 34-year-old Englishman says he is trying to consolidate his career after a tough time in the United States last year. At one point in 2024, he missed the cut in seven tournaments out of eight on the PGA Tour. 'Last season wasn't great for me, I had a pretty poor year,' Tarren said. 'Having status out here from the PGA Tour last year was like a bonus. 'I'm just trying to take advantage of the starts I get and get back. It's going to be windy tomorrow, the wind picked up considerably towards the end.' Local golfers reckon the main defence the course has against tour pros is the weather, which is usually blustery. The course was designed by Colin Montgomerie in 2008, and it has plenty of quirks. The layout is adjacent to a water treatment plant, and there are earthworks within the perimeter of the course. The plot is split almost exactly in half by pipes running over ground. At points where the course skirts the neighbouring villas, there are signs saying 'no resident buggies' are permitted. Presumably that is lest they get mistaken for the fleet of club buggies that are in action during the competition. That includes at a number of points where volunteers are employed to ferry the players from one green to the next tee box. Given the large spaces between many of the holes, the walk is a lot longer than the 7,302 yards the course itself plays. According to Richie Ramsay, whose six-under 66 was good enough for a share of third, the wind provides the biggest test. 'There are some accessible pins out there, the fairways are a bit wider and the rough isn't as thick as in previous years, but the wind isn't easy,' Ramsay said. 'It gusts at points out there and the greens can be slopey, so, if you get on the wrong side of them in the wind, it can be quite tricky.'
