Woods’ Dubai course stalled;
oil sheik shaken by economy – The Memorial Tournament
DUBLIN, Ohio – Never mind rising oil prices. It seems the gold isn’t rolling as readily into oil-rich Dubai anymore, and that has stalled Tiger Woods’ first golf course design project. The opulent Al Ruwaya Golf Course in Dubai, scheduled to open this fall, has been put on hold for six months, Woods told the Associated Press at the Memorial Tournament Friday.
“It's going to be behind schedule,” Woods said. “Obviously, the economy has turned over there and they've slowed down construction because of it. The economy needs to turn around. If it gets stimulated, we can pick up to the point where we might open earlier, but who knows? It's out of my hands.”
“Tiger Woods Dubai,” the name of the project, includes a 360,000-square-foot clubhouse and golf academy, 22 palaces, 75 mansions and 100 villas, all developed by Tatweer, a division of Dubai Holding, which is owned by the emirate and its ruler, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
HOT START -- The hottest start of the morning wave Friday came from tour rookie Matt Bettencourt, who is playing on a sponsor’s exemption. Bettencourt, who won twice on the Nationwide Tour in 2008, birdied four of his first eight holes and shot a 3-under 69. His best finish of the year is a tie for 22nd at the Quail Hollow Championship.
Chris DiMarco is making the most of his sponsor exemption in round two. Following an opening-round, 1-over 73, he rebounded in round two with a 5-under 67 to put himself in good position headed into the weekend. DiMarco is competing in his eighth Memorial Tournament with a best finish being T24 in 2004.
Should Charley Hoffman hang on and make the cut, it would mark his 15 consecutive made cut this year. Overall, Hoffman has made 23 straight cuts, with his last miss coming at the 2008 John Deere Classic in July.
GOOD NEWS FOR FURYK, BYRD -- The second-round leader has gone on to win 12 times in the Memorial Tournament's history, which could brighten the outlook of Jim Furyk (70) and Jonathan Byrd (68), who are tied for the second-round lead at 7-under 137. The latest were Carl Pettersson (2006), Kenny Perry (2008, 2003, 1991) and Tiger Woods (2000, 1999).
STREAK STRUCK -- Steve Marino (72) saw his consecutive rounds in the 60s streak snapped at nine on Friday. He’s at 4-under 140.
INJURY REPORT -- Sean O’Hair withdrew after the first round due to a sore left forearm, and Scott Piercy withdrew in the middle of his second round due to a wrist injury.
PURSE REDUCTION – The PGA Tour has reduced the purse for the St. Jude Championship from $6.1 million to $5.6 million because of the loss of the title sponsor, Stanford Financial, which is under federal investigation for investment and securities fraud.
OAKMONT-BOUND – The 2016 U.S. Open will return to Oakmont Country Club for a record ninth time, said the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. It was last held there in 2007 and won by Angel Cabrera. The official U.S. Golf Association announcement would come during the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black on Long Island, N.Y., in two weeks.
Return to Tournament Notebook archives