Jordan Spieth warned for slow play

Current world number one Jordan Spieth had previously described the Olympics as the “fifth major” but, speaking ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which begins tomorrow, the American is unsure of the value a gold medal at the Games in Rio de Janeiro would have.

Former world number one Rory McIlroy said he was excited to start his new season in the company of the reigning world number one Jordan Spieth.

Keith Pelley, the European Tour’s recently-installed chief executive, has stated it is his mission to speed up the pace of the play and for that he should be applauded – five hour-plus rounds have become a blight on the sport.

Instead of being warned initially for slow play, players will be monitored by a referee.

McIlroy had insisted he was not concerned about laying down a marker to Spieth after being drawn with the world number one and Rickie Fowler, but the four-time major victor certainly made an impression with an opening 66.

I walked nine holes with the group and can declare categorically they were not slow.

Spieth shrugged off the controversy and displayed his renowned mental strength to birdie that concluding hole for a 68, which kept him within four of DeChambeau.

“It didn’t make sense”, he said. Rory and Rickie were very surprised. He had taken special permission from the Tour to let the players play with shorts.

“We’re exhausted of hearing about the changes that need to be made”, said Spieth of the American team, who have been on the losing end eight times in the last 10 Ryder Cups.

Later, officials told Spieth on the ninth tee that he took too much time on the eighth green. However, under a new policy which starts this week, players on watch have 40 seconds (bumped to 50 seconds if they’re first to play) to play a shot. “Sometimes I feel the refs have to use a bit of common sense, “.

“There’ve been times where it’s taken me at least four or five days to find the middle of the clubface (after a break) and there’ve been times where it’s taken me a couple of hours”, McIlroy said.

For some pre-tournament publicity, Spieth and McIlroy were among those taking part in a “Rider Cup” challenge that included riding motorized golf scooters – so-called GolfBoards – along a fairway on a local course in the gulf emirate.

“We will now be with the players, rather than informing them that they are out of position and leaving them to do it [catch up] by themselves”. After a shocking comeback victory at the BMW PGA Championship, he was able to carry his spectacular form into the summer and win the year’s last two majors, the third and fourth of his career.

“It was a great way to start the year – I could not be happier”, McIlroy said.

The airline and Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) have signed an agreement to extend the long-standing partnership with the annual European Tour event, which tees off at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club on Thursday.