Gulf News caught up with 29 year-old Dubai based Adrian Meronk (Poland) to review his 2022 season.
Adrian turned professional in 2016 after representing Poland in the Eisenhower Trophy. From then his rise in the ranks was impressive for someone who grew up in a country with 40 million people, but only 10,000 of those were active golfers and only 25 golf courses in Poland.
Making his way onto the Challenge Tour in 2017 he was runner-up in the 2017 Ras Al Khaimah Challenge played at Al Hamra Golf Club, UAE, and eventually finishing 30th in the then Road to Oman Rankings.
Continuing his trade on the Challenge Tour for the following two season, in 2019 he finished 5th in the season long Road to Mallorca Rankings, including a win in the Open de Portugal to gain his playing rights on the 2020 DP World Tour (European Tour).
In his maiden season in 2020 he finished 84th in the Race to Dubai and improved in 2021 to 39th.
Things would only get better for Adrian, in July 2022 he won the $6 million Horizon Irish Open at Mount Juliet Golf and Spa Hotel by beating Ryan Fox from New Zealand by three shots. Then only a couple of weeks later go onto represent Poland in the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
In the recent $10 million DP World Tour Championship held on Earth course, Jumeirah Golf Estates, he finished tied seventh on 12 under par.
Overall Adrian finished eighth in the DP World Tour Rankings and has already competed in the first event of the 2023 season on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex. A tie for 34th at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship as this week he travels to Melbourne to compete in the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
An early Christmas present for Adrian is the fact he has just been selected for the Hero Cup to represent Team Continental Europe as they take on Team Great Britain and Ireland at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in January.
Gulf News: How do you assess your 2022 year?
Adrian: Last year was the best of my career to date. It was very consistent from the start of the year, until the end. I reached a lot of my goals that I set at the start of the year which is very pleasing. I now feel that I am in a good position to take my game even further.
Gulf News: What was the impact of your win in the Horizon Irish Open?
Adrian: The win in Ireland gave me a lot of confidence and belief in myself and I was very proud of that.
Gulf News: What are your plans for the rest of 2022?
Adrian: I am currently in Australia playing in the first two DP World Tour events on the new season. I will be back in Dubai for a couple of weeks and then spend Christmas at home.
Gulf News: What are your goals for 2023?
Adrian: My goals for 2023 are threefold. Be part of The Ryder Cup Team Europe, get into the top 30 of the Official World Golf Ranking, and gain my PGA Tour Card.
