The Dubai Desert Classic draw agonisingly failed to deliver the most prickly of Sunday pairings - but at least Tyrrell Hatton has a claim for being in the most awkward grouping of the year.
It was a crying shame for golf fans that Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed - both two back at eight-under after two rounds of this weather-delayed Rolex Series event in the desert - would not be meeting on the first tee.
A pairing between the two stars of Tee-Gate promised fireworks but McIlroy has avoided the media circus and can instead focus on breaking a curse by winning for the first time on his opening start of the year at the Emirates Club.
