He’s baaaaack — yes, everyone’s favorite Mad Scientist returns — and we’re talking about golf ball-crushing, rules-arguing, U.S. Open-winning, Kyle Berkshire-admiring, cameraman-abusing, frontal-lobe straining, distance-obsessed Bryson DeChambeau. BAD (his initials) is your co-feature competitor this week along with world’s No. 1 Dustin Johnson at the latest Middle East stop for the European Tour.
The event is the third on the Middle East swing, the Saudi International. Those big fat Saudi appearance fees are a thing of beauty if you can demand them and both Bryson and D.J. were on the Saudis’ Pay-Them-Whatever-They-Want list for this week’s venture into the Kingdom’s latest “sport-washing” event.
The Fountain Of Fat Fees is a thing of beauty. The European Tour allows them. Tiger Woods used to command as much at $3,000,000 to show up in his prime and he showed up often. As Greg Norman’s guy, Bart Collins used to say “You can always use an extra million” or in the case of Tiger, an extra three or so.
No doubt D.J.’s getting seven figures, maybe Bryson as well. Good pay to tee it up at the Royal Greens Golf Club there in King Abdullah Economic City in the heart of Saudi-Land.
But they are just two of a pretty large American contingent that has foregone the happenings at this week’s Phoenix Open in favor of the Crown Prince — Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Say that 10 times really fast. Typically he simply goes by “Your Majesty.” He’s the force behind this event and other sporting events in The Kingdom to distract from the country’s abysmal human-rights record.
Yes, golf is the perfect tool.
Joining Bryson The Bomber and D.J. The Reserved are Tony Finau and Viktor Hovland, two of the many who finished second last week at Torrey Pines. Even Phil Mickelson’s going to be there and perhaps he can be more competitive on the European Tour than he is on the PGA Tour. Kevin Na and Jason Kokrak are playing as is Abraham Ancer. For the record, it’s Na’s first trip to The Kingdom.
Oh yes, one other American — sand-swiping, rules-bending, Masters-winning Patrick Reed has made the 17-hour flight from San Diego. Note to Reed — there’s plenty of sand for you to mess with in The Kingdom.
The European Tour has some of its stalwarts — Paul Casey, last week’s winner in Dubai, Tyrrell Hatton, winner in Abu Dhabi along with Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Justin Rose. Did we mention Sergio pissed off the Saudis here two years ago and got himself disqualified from the tournament when he went on a bad-behavior rampage and damaged several greens. Royal Greens is a relatively new course and it takes times for greens to mature and evidently back then, Sergio was quite irritated by their condition. He’s back and has promised to be on his best behavior lest the Saudis ask for return of Garcia’s appearance fee.
Last year’s winner was a surprise of sort, short-hitting Graeme McDowell found the desert to his liking and took the title.
D.J. will play in the feature group for rounds one and two with Westwood and Hatton while DeChambeau will be in the group in front of them with Matt Wallace and Rose.
This is a great one for night owls and early risers as the festivities are on The Golf Channel in the wee hours starting Wednesday morning at 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. then 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. You can tune in Saturday and Sunday starting at 4:30 a.m. with things wrapping up around 9 a.m.
Saudi International Thursday-Friday Pairings and Tee Times:
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