Archive of posts tagged DP World

Magic of Club de Golf Alcanada in Mallorca

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Alcanada

Alcanada is one of those courses that lingers in your memory. Not just for the view of the lighthouse or the perfectly manicured grass, but for that feeling you get when you're on a course truly designed for golf. I played it during my golf trip to Mallorca, and I can tell you it was a memorable experience.

Mallorca, news

The course is located in the northeast of the island, a few kilometers from Alcúdia, directly overlooking the Mediterranean. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the course unfolds naturally among hills, pine trees, olive trees, and picture-perfect sea views. But don't be fooled by its beauty: the layout is technical, requires precise choices, and changes depending on the wind.

A course that changes: up and down towards the sea
My experience began on the first nine holes, which unfold on hilly terrain. Here, the course rises and falls between natural slopes, narrow doglegs, and blind tee shots that force you to trust your shot. The surrounding vegetation gives you a sense of intimacy, but every now and then it opens up and allows a glimpse of the sea, foreshadowing what's to come.

The back nine are a different story. The course begins to curve toward the coast, and the protagonist becomes the Alcanada lighthouse, looming between the holes like a fixed landmark. The landscape opens up, the wind becomes more present, and each hole begins to interact with the Mediterranean.

It is precisely on these holes that important pages of European golf are written: since 2019, Alcanada has been the official host of the Challenge Tour Grand Final, the final event of the season. The best players on the circuit compete here, battling for promotion to the DP World Tour. It's a crucial stage, in a spectacular and challenging setting: fast greens, meticulously planned flag positions, and the pressure of those playing for their future.

Of all the holes, there are a few that have truly remained in my heart:

Hole 3 – A par 4 that seems easy, but isn't
A short par 4 that doesn't seem intimidating… but it doesn't take much to complicate your life. The tee shot is blind, and the fairway slopes slightly, with lateral bunkers ready to punish overshots. I tried to be conservative to leave a comfortable second shot, but the green is well-defended and unforgiving with hidden slopes. It's one of those holes where you need more brains than strength.

Hole 7 – The picture-perfect par 5
Here, I really slowed down to enjoy the view. From the tee, the view of the ocean and the lighthouse is breathtaking. The fairway slopes gently toward the green, squeezed between bunkers and Mediterranean scrub. The opening shot must be well-placed to avoid the bunker in the middle of the fairway, and the second shot—if you decide to attack—requires courage. The surrounding scenery is so captivating, you almost forget about your score.

Hole 11 – Pure Strategy
Another par 5, another story. This hole is long and tricky, with a narrow, sloping fairway. Every shot must be considered: the ball's position on the third shot greatly affects the entry to the green, which is well protected by a side bunker. The lighthouse in the background is an incredible constant on the back nine.

Hole 13 – The signature hole of Golf Alcanada
This is the course's signature hole, the one that alone is worth the trip. A downhill par 5, with the Alcanada lighthouse perfectly aligned before you and a breathtaking, open view of the blue Mediterranean. The tee shot is both spectacular and technical: I took the driver and managed to land in the center of the fairway, edging past the bunker placed right there to make you think twice.

From that point on, you enjoy a hole that embodies all the charm of this course: clean lines, nature as the protagonist, and a well-defended green that forces you to think until the very last shot. If there's one moment I'll take home from this experience, it's this tee shot.

Hole 17 – an Open-level par 3
Almost at the end of the round, Alcanada pulls off a masterstroke. The 17th is a 194-meter par 3 with the sea on the left and a green protected by well-placed bunkers. The wind, as often happens here, is unforgiving.

Biarritz Cup, Dubuisson wins in the playoffs

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2014 Ryder Cup

Frenchman Victor Dubuisson won the Biarritz Cup with a 188 (62, 65, 61, -19) stroke. This is one of Europe's oldest amateur events, founded in 1899, and for its 126th edition, it was organized in collaboration with the Alps Tour, which also included amateurs. After finishing tied with Spaniard Jorge Maicas (188 – 67, 61, 60), the Frenchman then overtook him with a birdie on the second playoff hole. Dubuisson, a 35-year-old from Cannes, was the undisputed favorite. He has played 226 matches on the DP World Tour, including two titles and a 2014 Ryder Cup appearance on the victorious Team Europe.

Biarritz Cup, results

On the par-69 Golf de Biarritz course in France, two Italians finished in the top ten: Matteo Cristoni, seventh with a 193 (63 63 67, -14) and Filippo Grossi, ninth with a 194 (69 61 64, -13).

Behind the two protagonists is Irishman Ronan Mullarney, leader after two rounds and third with a 189 (-18), knocked out by a bogey on the 17th hole. In fourth place with a 191 (-16) is Frenchman Quentin Debove, fifth with a 192 (-15), Spaniard Asier Aguirre Izcue and Frenchman Augustin Hole, while his compatriot Victor Veyret joined Matteo Cristoni.

Of the other Italians, Jacopo Vecchi Fossa finished 12th with a 195 (-12), and Alessandro Nardini and Manfredi Manica also cashed in, finishing 25th with a 200 (-7), Mattia Comotti, 33rd with a 201 (-6), and Luca Memeo and Andrea Romano, 40th with a 202 (-5).

In the third round, a hole in one was achieved by French amateur Gregoire Hoyeau (25th with Nardini and Manica) who hit the 171-metre par 3 7th hole directly from the tee using a 6-iron.

The rules of golf are relatively complicated compared to other sports because they are played outdoors, close to nature and animals. Respecting the rules is a fundamental element in the game of golf, which, almost always based on self-control and the free conscience of the players, often sees distorted results, sometimes consciously, but often unconsciously or through carelessness, due to the failure of many players to comply with the rules of the game. In addition to the rules, golf adheres to a code of conduct, known as etiquette, which generally means playing the game with due respect for the golf course and other players. Etiquette is an essential component of this sport.

Joaquin Niemann shares insights on Tom McKibbin’s game

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confident player

Joaquin Niemann is, for many, the main face of LIV Golf. After a great round at LIV Golf UK, where he holds the lead by six shots, Niemann received some interesting questions from reporters.

In addition to Niemann, LIV Golf consists of many quality golfers, with Tom McKibbin being one of them. 

The Northern Irish golfer did not cause positive reactions in the public by joining the Saudi-backed Tour. Despite this, the young golfer took an unpopular path, wanting to build a story in a slightly different way. 

There are many who believe that McKibbin is one of the greatest potentials on the golf scene. 

After the end of the second round, Niemann answered the reporter's question about what impresses him the most about the Northern Irish golfer. 

Niemann is convinced that McKibbin can write history at LIV Golf, although he wasn't as dominant as expected.

"Yeah, it was the first time that I played with Tom since he joined. I never played with him.

I enjoyed playing with him. I think he's a great golfer. Obviously he's had the results before. He was in the top 10 on DP World. He probably hasn't had the results he wants to on LIV so far, but I think he's going to be all right. He's really young. You can tell coming from Ireland, I think they build pretty good golfers there, and the way he controls the ball into the wind and his short game, yeah, he's going to be great.

It was good fun playing with him, and you can tell he's a confident player."- he said.

Tom McKibbin's path

It is difficult to give the right answer in which direction Tom McKibbin's career will go, but it is clear that he has a strong potential to do great things on the golf scene in the future.

Experience will certainly be the key to his success in the future, no doubt.