The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship week at Yas Links is now over!
I am already back home in Dubai and I cannot believe how quick the week has gone!
Today (Sunday), I played with Ryan Fox (New Zealand) and JB Hansen (Denmark). Ryan shot 76 and JB 77, so it was good to beat them both on the day with my 75.
On the front nine I made two mistakes, but still made the turn in level. On the back nine I dropped shots on holes 15, 16 and 18.
The emotion as I walked off the 72nd green was of some disappointment with my finish.
On reflection after the drive home I feel so proud of what I have achieved, this was new territory for me after I made the cut.
My unofficial target for the week was to make the cut, but I never thought of it like that, as it is too black and white!
It was great to see a lot of members from my home club in Dubai, Trump International Golf Club, walking around the course today.
Tomorrow (Monday) I plan to register at Emirates Golf Club for next week’s Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic.
Then I will walk the golf course with perhaps a putter and a couple of wedges to get a feel for the course, without putting any pressure on my game.
I will FaceTime my coach Rob Watts in England and show him what I am doing. He is excited with my showing in Abu Dhabi.
On Tuesday and Wednesday I expect to play nine holes on each day, if I feel OK with that, but my next few days are somewhat fluid and it depends if there is any reaction, physically or emotionally, I am not sure if I am running on adrenalin or am I my usual self?
Main mantra
I will look at my stats for the Abu Dhabi week tomorrow. As we speak I am unsure of what were my strengths and weaknesses as I was just thinking of the next shot, which was always my mantra.
I will have to refocus for another week in Dubai. Let’s see my reaction and other people’s (friends and family) reaction to my tied 58th position this last week.
Others on the same score as me: Thomas Bjorn (Den) and Victor Perez (Fr) earned €21,534.63 each for their week, but I have always realised that playing for a living is so very different to playing as an amateur. I have no illusions in that space.
Two final thoughts at the end of the week. Firstly, I would love to meet Collin Morikawa face to face. I am hoping my contacts can do this next week in Dubai.
Finally, a big thank you to my Mum. She has now recovered from Covid. She has isolated from us all and we are all negative in the family and my caddie at the moment. Fingers crossed it stays that way. My Mum would normally attend these weeks, she could not attend Abu Dhabi, but she will be in Dubai. Mum is so supportive but also a little nervous when I play. Thank you Mum for everything and to Dad, who drove up and down to Abu Dhabi from Dubai every day.
I am now watching my team Arsenal versus Burnley in the Premier League.
COYG! A win for the Gunners would be a decent end to the week!
Goodnight all.