Future of golf is in great hands, says Norman

Race to Dubai leader McIlroy, 20, is also in the running for the Dubai World Championship, whose last round will be played on the Earth Course today, while 18-year-old Ishikawa has been making sporting headlines in his native Japan.

Norman, the two-time Major winner, feels golf has never been devoid of emerging talent. In his words, McIlroy has been "phenomenal" for the European Tour, while Ishikawa's arrival is more like a "breath of fresh air" for Asia.

"I think their performance is just indicative of the way golf's been over the generations gone by," Norman, 54, said.

"What Rory has been doing over the last 12 months has been phenomenal to say the least. He looks like he's way experienced; beyond his years, and his future, you can almost say, is cast in stone in a lot of ways.

"As for Ishikawa, he's been a breath of fresh air, especially for the Asian part of the world. You see the KJ Chois and YE Yangs coming out and winning Major championships; that's ignited Asian golf. And what Ishikawa is doing is he's giving Japan that fresh shot in the arm. Ishikawa has that mindset of focusing in on playing here he wants to play, which is the United States, which is a great thing at that young age. So the health of the game is great."

Norman said a 12 to 15-year gap between the current and future stars has been the norm over the years.

"I've grown up over the last 30, 35 years in the game and there's always been like a 12, 15-year gap between the wave of really good players and right now I think we are seeing just the tip of that new wave coming through.

"And these kids 20 and 18 will excite kids who are 14, 15 and 16, because kids at that age can relate to someone 18, 20, instead of somebody 34 or 40 or whatever, so I think you'll see a tremendous stimulation of good, young players coming out, not just out of America, but I think more on a global basis."

Rise in membership

Nakheel Leisure has reported strong interest in golf memberships for Jumeirah Golf Estates, which is hosting the Dubai World Championship presented by Dubai World this week. The company has been offering a limited number of private memberships for the first time this month. By the end of day two of the Championship, it had sold more than 50 memberships.

Sales were helped by an introductory offer during the Championship. Annual memberships were available for Dh 32,000 per year (against the Dh45,000 full price) as well as a special rate on debenture memberships.