Golf’s weekend warriors can relate to the plight of Ken Weyand.
It’s been a making an attempt couple of days for Weyand, who sits lifeless final within the Dubai Invitational at a whopping 27-over par, 37 photographs behind chief Rory McIlroy after two rounds.
However who’s Weyand?
The 54-year-old is a buddy and worker of basketball legend Michael Jordan and is enjoying as certainly one of two sponsor’s invitations within the 60-man event.
Weyand is the director of golf at Jordan’s unique Floridian course Grove XXIII and acquired an invitation as a result of the Bulls nice wished to play within the event earlier than subsequently pulling out.
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Weyand doesn’t have a world rating, nor has he performed in a DP Tour occasion earlier than, so his entry into the season-opening Dubai Invitational was certain to boost some eyebrows – particularly contemplating it’s an unique occasion.
A number of Tour winner Eddie Pepperell expressed his frustration on social media web site X, posting:
“Restricted area of solely 60 execs, and outdated Ken Weyand will get an invitation after which does this. I don’t care if he’s Ken from Barbie – it shouldn’t occur.”
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A breakdown of Weyand’s spherical is kind of jarring to learn.
Via 36 holes, Weyand recorded 11 bogeys, seven double-bogeys and even a triple-bogey.
His enjoying companion Richard Mansell, who sits within the prime 20 at three-under par mentioned it was “distracting”.
“Yeah, it’s been a difficult few days and I’d be mendacity if I mentioned that it wasn’t distracting,” Mansell mentioned, per The Telegraph.
“Look, I noticed what Eddie posted and I’ve learn a number of extra feedback and I can perceive the place they’re coming from. However the best way I have a look at it’s that with out the sponsor, this event doesn’t occur.
“So for his or her particular two invitations, or no matter they acquired this week, they’ll invite who they need, I suppose.”
MCILROY FIGHTS BACK TO MAINTAIN THE LEAD
At 10-under, McIlroy leads the event by two photographs over Yannick Paul and Jeff Winther (each -8).
The world quantity two made a flying begin with a gap nine-under-par 62 and stretched additional clear early within the second spherical with birdies on the third and fourth holes.
However he hit two balls into the water on the par-three eighth en path to a probably ruinous seven.
Nevertheless McIlroy, who has gained 5 European Tour titles in Dubai, restored his benefit with three extra birdies on the again 9 to card a one-under 70 for a 10-under complete.
“I believe if I have a look at the opposite 17 holes that I performed, I performed very, very effectively once more,” mentioned the four-time main champion.
“Hit some good iron photographs.
“Performed not too dissimilarly to the best way I performed yesterday. I possibly holed a pair extra putts yesterday however the circumstances have been getting slightly trickier.”
McIlroy made headlines earlier this week when he claimed a “world tour” was his “dream situation” for golf as talks geared toward ending the break up within the sport attributable to breakaway circuit LIV Golf proceed.
German Yannik Paul remained two strokes behind regardless of a run of three bogeys in 5 holes in his spherical of 70.
Dane Jeff Winther fired a joint-best spherical of the day with a 66 to hitch Paul in a tie for second place, with Tommy Fleetwood certainly one of 5 gamers a shot additional again.
— AFP