Joshua Grenville-Wood, the UAE’s No.1 professional golfer, says his hard work is paying off despite a disappointing final 36 holes at the Irish Challenge.
The 26-year-old was well and truly in the hunt for a first win on the Challenge Tour at the K Club after opening with a 70 before firing a second round 68 at the 2006 Ryder Cup venue.
But after dropping four shots in his final three holes in the third round, when he was in a share of fifth, the Dubai-based star effectively put to bed his chances of winning.
His frustration was shown the following day with a three over par 75 in the final round, which saw him finish tied 27th as he slipped outside the top 50 of the Road to Mallorca Rankings.
“The highs and lows of this crazy game,” said Grenville-Wood.
“Felt king of the world on Friday after finally feeling like my game is coming back together to feeling the lowest of lows and so far away from it after Sunday.
“Two weeks in a row I put myself in great positions going into the weekend only to shoot over par both weekends. T27 this week, 70,68,72,75.
My game is getting there, and the hard work is paying off, just need to stay patient. Time for a week off before another four week stretch starting in Finland.”
Grenville-Wood will return to Challenge Tour action at the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge supported by Finnish Golf Union, where he will be hoping to climb back into the top 45 of the season-long rankings.
Only the top 45 players on the Road to Mallorca qualify for the Challenge Tour Grand Final at the beginning of November in Mallorca, with the top 20 securing DP World Tour playing privileges for next season.
Those that do secure their card will get the opportunity to compete against the likes of Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood on the Race to Dubai schedule, which features four events in the UAE – the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Ras Al Khaimah Championship, Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
While Grenville-Wood won’t be featuring this week on the Challenge Tour, another UAE resident will in the form of amateur golfer Oscar Craig.
Craig, who is Tommy Fleetwood’s stepson, will be making just his second Challenge Tour start at the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by the R&A after receiving an invitation into the event.
The youngster made headlines on his debut earlier this year at the UAE Challenge, becoming the only amateur to make the cut, with his stepdad Fleetwood acting as his caddie for the week at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.
