The Earth Course, host of the DP World Tour Championship, has got a real character. And that has plenty to do with pushing the pros to the brink. In case you forgot, Matt Wallace lost his mind in anger and destroyed the fairway last year. Check out the moment here. 

While he is not in the field this year, the elements that gnawed at him are right there. This Greg Norman-designed track is a par-72 at a commanding 7,706 yards, one of the longest on the DPWT. Tree-lined waste areas frame the fairways, while oversized bunkers guard the landing areas like sentinels.

Bermuda grass blankets the course, even on the colossal, lightning-fast greens. These greens bite back with both subtle and bold breaks, ringed by plenty of run-off zones. No wonder they ranked ninth in putting difficulty and 14th in scrambling last year.

Bombers have an advantage here, but approach play is no less important. So, while Rory McIlroy is a hot favorite, don’t rule out Tommy Fleetwood. He is sixth in SG: Approach on the PGA Tour. The Englishman is fresh off two wins and a solo second last week at Yas Links.

On the other hand, McIlroy ranked 2nd in approach and 1st in reaching greens in regulation when he dominated the Earth Course for the third time last year. But Marco Penge won’t make it easy for him this time. A poor finish from Rory and a top performance from Penge will upset McIlroy’s shot at the seventh Harry Vardon Trophy.

An exciting week awaits in Dubai.

It’s rare to see a pro-am pulsate with the kind of raw energy that the Annika driven by Gainbridge has witnessed lately. But here we are, with the spotlight blazing brighter than the Florida sun, thanks to stars like Caitlin Clark’s presence. Among other reasons.

Clark was a livewire last year, teaming up with Nelly Korda and Annika Sorenstam, sending ticket sales through the roof. The Golf Channel even added a walk-and-talk that had fans binge-watching. Reportedly, it was the LPGA’s most-watched non-competitive round ever.

It’s a win for the game that Clark actually enjoys golf and has the clout to bring it to basketball fans, kids, and anyone who’s just plain curious. Last year, the autograph alley — meant for kids — was teeming with grown-ups. Guess the ingenious way the LPGA has decided to separate the wheat (kids) from the chaff (adults) this time? This will actually make you laugh in admiration.

Golf Channel, meanwhile, decided to double down on the fun and brought back live coverage. Well, if you are still cynical about Clark’s impact, you MUST listen to the roar when she nailed this long-range putt from the fringe.

It was exactly the scene tournament organizers envisioned. Let's admit, there is also a morbid pleasure in watching ‘pros’ hit shanks and (almost) take down spectators. No, we are not talking about the Caitlin Clark incident from last year. Her teammate and yesterday’s caddie, Sophie Cunningham, did one better this year. Check out the hilarious moment here.

What more do you want on a Wednesday?

While Scottie & Rory garnered all the spotlight, these five pros proved they’re the real deal and made quiet moves to the top.

1. Tyrrell Hatton: Yes, he’s known for his colorful outbursts. Yes, he did call his driver the C-word on live TV. But Hatton started the year with the Dubai Desert Classic title. He went on to net six top-tens, including a T4 at the U.S. Open. Oh, he’s now a three-time Ryder Cup winner as well.

2. Michael Kim: He finished 2024 at 147 in the world and 117 in the FedEx Cup. Now? 36th in the OWGR and 31st in the FedEx Cup. Kim also snapped a 7-year title drought by conquering the FedEx Open de France. Safe to say he went all the way this year, including dipping his toes into the mud. Watch the moment below. 

3. Marco Penge: Kicked off the year with a T20, then stormed to his first DPWT title at the Hainan Classic. Two more titles and a bunch of top tens later, Penge jumped from 416 to 29 in OWGR. And guess what? He might just snatch the distance king crown from Rory, as this 190 mph ball speed clearly shows.

4. Chris Gotterup: The American rocketed from 191 to 27 in the OWGR this season. He also won the Genesis Scottish Open, earning a pat on the back from the man he bested, Rory McIlroy. And also punched a ticket to The Open. In his first major, Gotterup bagged a solo third.

5. Garrick Higgo: Played only fifteen events due to health setbacks, yet he still snagged a win at the Corales Puntacana Championship. One more runner-up, five Top Tens, 11 cuts made. If that wasn’t eventful enough, look at this unique situation he encountered in a bunker with two balls placed like eggs on a nest.

Our lower backs take a beating from those powerful swings. In fact, the lumbar spine’s limited twisting capacity and compression from daily golf swings can lead to lower back pain. But instead of ditching golf just yet, try strengthening your legs with this simple exercise.

Make sure the spine is straight to avoid putting stress on the lower back. Complete three sets of 8-10 repetitions on each leg. Then, follow up with these other exercises.