Tournament: Ras Al Khaimah Championship
Race to Dubai: Tournament 9 of 44 events
The International Swing: Tournament 3 of 8 events
Venue: Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras Al Khaimah United Arab Emirates
Prize Fund: $2,500,000
Tournament Preview
Daniel Gavins hopes that returning to a happy hunting ground can lead to an upturn in form as he prepares to defend his Ras Al Khaimah Championship title at Al Hamra Golf Club.
The Englishman claimed his second DP World Tour victory in dramatic circumstances last year as he found the water twice on the 72nd hole, and then made a double-bogey putt from nearly 27 feet to win by one stroke from Alexander Björk and Zander Lombard.
He faces stiff competition this week from a field which includes a resurgent Li Haotong, who has started his 2024 Race to Dubai campaign in fine fashion with a T14 finish at the Dubai Invitational and a share of seventh place at last week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
The Chinese believes that hard work during the winter break has paid dividends and he will go in search of a fourth DP World Tour victory this week. The 28-year-old also has fond memories of Al Hamra after finishing T3 at this tournament’s first edition in 2022.
Also teeing it up is Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard, who is looking to join his twin brother Nicolai on this event’s roll of honour after Nicolai claimed the title in 2022. Rasmus finished the 2023 season with an 11th placed finish at the DP World Tour Championship and he has matched that result at each of his two starts at the start of 2024, with a share of 11th at both events held in Dubai.
Player Quotes
Daniel Gavins: “I knew I had a 27-foot putt. It was uphill, a nice right-to-left putt and it just went straight in the middle. I was putting well all week, the birdies were flying in. When I got on the green I was confident and I managed to roll it in. I’m looking forward to playing here, the course is in good condition again so it’ll be nice to get out there.
“(Arriving here) it was a little bit mixed because I’m coming in not feeling overly happy with my game. But I got back here, played a few holes and I started hitting it quite nicely, so it’s great to be back.”
Li Haotong: “Definitely from those two weeks (in Dubai) I gained a lot of confidence. And now I’m just making myself more and more comfortable. Looking forward to playing this week, I have great memories from two years ago, I finished third here. It’s going to be good.
“I was trying super hard, I played every single day during the winter time. So many people behind me, parents, friends, telling me how good I am, reminding me I can do this. I’ve been thinking that if I had worked this hard and still couldn’t make anything I would find something else to do. But the results tell me I can keep going. It’s good to be here and playing golf, it’s such a nice thing to do.”
Rasmus Højgaard: “I love being here. It’s always nice to start the season here, we’ve done it for a few years now. Travelling out early, just before New Year or just after and spending ten days in a practice camp before the events start so you feel like your game is ready for when the tournaments start. It’s nice to be out here, the golf courses are good and the weather is a big positive compared to what it’s like at home at the moment. I always enjoy being here.
“I have been putting very good, that obviously helps a lot. I haven’t been as good tee to green as I showed at the end of last season. But it’s nice to get going, you figure out what you need to sharpen up. I’m in a lot better place this year than I was last year, especially being injury free. The last two weeks have been good. Playing some good golf. Two quiet Sundays, but the game is trending and I’m looking forward to this week.”
