Why opening tee shots in DP World Tour finale were being hit under a roof in Dubai

The giant circular canopy, which was installed overnight for the first round of the circuit’s season finale but had been in the pipeline since last year’s event, created a feeling of players hitting their opening drive indoors.

“Yeah, it was certainly different,” admitted Grant Forrest, one of five Scots in the field for the $10 million Rolex Series event. “It actually made me jump when I hit it as the echo made it feel like a tennis court, which was a bit strange. I’d never experienced that before.

“It wasn’t covered for the practice rounds and that echo was different. It’s almost like at Carnoustie, where you hear the guns firing (on the Barry Buddon range).”

At an event where improvements are made every single year, the first tee arena was transformed for the 2024 edition and the addition of a roof for this year’s event was mainly to make it a bit more bearable for the later starters heading out in the midday sunshine.

“You know what, I didn’t notice until I hit my shot and was like ‘what was that noise?’” said Connor Syme at the end of his round. “There was such an echo. It was like playing indoors, which was so weird. But I hit a good tee shot, thankfully.

‘It was weird with the noise - but pretty cool’

“I saw it last week when it was getting built, but it was still uncovered yesterday and, to be honest, when I got to the tee today I didn’t even think to look up, so I didn’t know it was covered. It was weird with the noise, but it is pretty cool.”

Before each player was announced on the tee by the tour’s official starter Alastair Scott, a first tee host welcomed all 52 players in the field and picked out career highlights for the benefit of the crowd.

“Unbelievable,” said local resident Ewen Ferguson of the overall experience. “I saw it getting built and thought it might be for music this week. But it was one of the coolest things I have experienced. We were actually saying that we need that at the Dunhill to keep the rain off us (laughing).

“The noise when I hit my drive was incredible and I felt I hit it way further as well. It was so much fun and fair play to the tour as they just make this event better every year.”

One of the warmest welcomes on the first tee was afforded to Scottish No 1 Bob MacIntyre, one of nine players from Europe’s Ryder Cup-winning team in New York playing in the event.