Road accident deaths drop by 50% in Saudi Arabia    SR 3.95 million fines for 3 employees of a company and 6-month jail for one for violating Capital Market Law    Qassim emir launches 52 health projects costing a total of SR456 million    BD and INS partner to elevate standards of infusion care in MENAT    Dubai Design Week launches its 10th edition, celebrating creativity and innovation    GASTAT: Passengers of public transport bus and train soar 176% and 33% respectively in 2023    Fakeeh Care Group reports 9M-2024 net profit of SR195.3 million, up 49% y-o-y driven by solid revenue growth and robust profitability    Italy's 'Libra' to arrive in Albania with just eight migrants on board    South Africa shuts border crossing with Mozambique over poll unrest    French families sue TikTok over harmful content that allegedly led to suicides    Harris tells supporters 'never give up' and urges peaceful transfer of power    HRT does not impact life expectancy — UK health body    Liam Payne's body to be flown back to the UK    Suspect arrested for banking fraud totaling SR493 million as Nazaha pursues corruption charges    Arab leaders and heads of state congratulate US President-elect Donald Trump    Neymar suffers muscle tear, out for 4-6 weeks    Crown Prince hails Saudi medical team that performed world's first fully robotic heart transplant    Al Nassr secures 5-1 victory over Al Ain to edge closer to knockout stage    Al Ahli extends perfect start with 5-1 victory over Al Shorta    Mitrovic's hat-trick leads Al Hilal to 3-0 victory over Esteghlal    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



McIlroy to line up in South African Open
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 11 - 01 - 2017

Rory McIlroy will be keeping a promise to fellow major champion Ernie Els when he lines up in the South African Open this week as the European Tour begins a new calendar year.
Els is player-host of the second oldest national Open championship in world golf and extracted the commitment when he played in the 2014 Irish Open, which is hosted by McIlroy's Foundation.
"Rory was very serious about coming to South Africa when I told him he ‘owed me one' at the Irish Open," said Els.
"He'll be the man to beat. Rory is by far the class player in the field when you look at the world rankings,' he told reporters as golfers tested out the course at Glendower Country Club before Thursday's start.
"He's the guy everyone will be looking up at to beat. There's so much excitement among everyone that he's here."
The 27-year-old McIlroy, ranked second in the world, played the tournament once before in 2008, not long after turning professional, and shared third spot with Els.
Nick Faldo, now 59, makes a return to the Tour after a lay-off of more than two years.
But South Africa's three top ranked golfers - Branden Grace, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen - have all elected to skip the event.
"Naturally I'm disappointed they are not here, I think we all are. I think they still want to spend more time with their families and I understand that," Els added.
"But I hope we can persuade them to play next year because the spectators are crazy about them and want to see them play."
McIlroy unlikely to play at 2020 Games
"Conflicted" Northern Irish golf star Rory McIlroy is highly unlikely to compete at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo because he would have to choose between representing Ireland or Team GB.
The 27-year-old world No. 2 didn't go to Rio and was heavily criticized in some quarters for dismissively saying he would watch other sports at the Games but not golf, even as it made its return to the Olympics after a more than 100-year absence.
McIlroy told the BBC Tuesday that having to make a choice between Ireland and Britain was too tough given the sensitive feelings that still exist in Northern Ireland about representing either country.
"I'm a very conflicted person and not a lot of people understand that," said McIlroy, a four-time major winner.
"Maybe it's just the way I feel. Most people think it's wrong, but I can't really help it.
"More likely than not I won't be going to the Games. Not because of my personal feelings towards the Games, as they're great and golf in the Games is fantastic.
"It's just something I don't want to get into. It's a personal choice and I hope people respect that decision."


Clic here to read the story from its source.