After the briefest of brief sojourns with friends and family, The European Tour returns to Durban in early January for the Volvo Golf Champions at one of South Africa's premier courses, the Durban Country Club. A renowned British commentator (who for his own safety must remain nameless) doesn't rate it, calling it "The Durban Muni". It's a term designed particularly to wind up Denis Hutchinson and Dale Hayes, two stalwarts of South African golf who still revere the old masterpiece. As a wind-up it works rather well.
The Tour then heads north for the "Desert Swing", which starts in Abu Dhabi where the luminaries on show will include Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson, Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald, the three-time winner Martin Kaymer and defending champion Jamie Donaldson. 2013 Race to Dubai champ Henrik Stenson will also be there seeking a "Gulf Slam" having previously won the Qatar Masters in 2006 and the Dubai Desert Classic the following year, not to mention last November's DP World Tour Championship, also in Dubai. Abu Dhabi is missing only Tiger Woods who's playing instead in Dubai this year. Both he and McIlroy missed the cut in fairly ignominious circumstances 12 months ago, so perhaps he won't be too badly missed. It's always a top tournament on an increasingly demanding course that seems to bring the cream to the top. You will not find very long odds on Kaymer, one suspects, nor Stenson who has twice finished second there.
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