Tour wants second Desert Swing: Bjorn Tuesday, 07 February 2012 23:33

DUBAI: European Tour officials are keen to launch a second ‘Desert Swing’ in the future, tournament committee chairman Thomas Bjorn said yesterday.    

This week’s Dubai Desert Classic represents the final leg of the tour’s annual three-week stint in the Middle East that also takes in the Abu Dhabi Championship and the Qatar Masters.    

Bjorn said in an interview that senior officials also wanted to branch out to other Gulf states in the coming years.    

“We hope places like Oman and Kuwait and maybe Saudi Arabia can also be hosts of European Tour events,” said the 40-year-old Dane.    

“That would be the tour’s dream, that we could have an extended tour in the Middle East maybe two times a year ... preferably have a swing at the beginning of the year and a swing at the end of the year.”    

The Dubai Classic is the oldest of the three existing tournaments, having started in 1989.    

“Abu Dhabi at the moment probably gets the strongest field but this event in Dubai has the history,” said Bjorn.     

“They are all fantastic events, with great golf courses and facilities. From a players’ point of view that’s what we look for.     

“We accept that not everything can be perfect but this is as close to perfect as it comes. I think that’s why it’s so popular with the players - it’s a great start to the season.” Bjorn said he was delighted to see world number two Rory McIlroy, third-ranked Lee Westwood and number four Martin Kaymer in this week’s field.    

“When you look at the entry list here it’s strong,” he added.      

Mum tells Westwood to say sorry for swearing

DUBAI: Lee Westwood was forced to apologise after his mum caught him swearing on live television at last week’s Qatar Masters, the world number three said yesterday.    

The incident occurred during the 38-year-old Briton’s closing 69 on Sunday, a round that left him in a tie for 12th place behind tournament winner Paul Lawrie who finished on 15-under-par.    

“My mum was the first person on the phone and she said you might want to apologise,” Westwood told reporters ahead of this week’s Dubai Desert Classic.    

“I didn’t think that down at four-under-par I would be on TV. It’s amazing how sensitive these microphones are.”    

After the conversation with his mum, Westwood issued an immediate apology on his Twitter account.    

“Sorry about swearing on the 16th tee. Came off like a rocket and thought it was going further! Wash my mouth out! Perils of live tv!”, he wrote. Westwood, who also finished in a tie for 17th at the Abu Dhabi Championship two weeks ago, said he had mixed feelings about his early-season form.    

“If I was making an appraisal of the first couple of weeks, I’ve hit it a lot better than I normally do,” he explained. REUTERS

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