Paul Waring’s Dubai move pays off as he aims for more glory at 'home'

Fast forward to today, and Waring sits fourth in the season-long standings, thanks in large part to his career-defining win at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship - a victory that also earned him a coveted PGA Tour card for next season, awarded to the top 10 players not otherwise exempt.

Waring’s impressive turnaround owes much to a major life change: a move to the UAE. The 39-year-old traded his home in Wirral, England, for a new base on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, over 5,400 kilometres away, and it’s clearly paying off.

“I just got to a point with my career that I needed to make a little change,” Waring told a media huddle that Gulf News was part of at the DP World Tour Championship.

“And that change was to go somewhere with some of the best facilities in the world. I've got a lot of friends here as well, and also, with the way the DP World Tour was going, we were basing ourselves more and more into Asia.

“It saved me, what, seven hours of travel out of Manchester Airport, and four hours of jet lag when we’re spending so much time in Asia.

“From playing in Korea at the end of October to May, I'd have gone through Dubai for every single event. So, over half my season I’d go through Dubai International Airport—it actually made sense to me to base myself here, especially for the winter.

“And it kind of showed in how strong my start was last year. I think I finished just outside the top 10 at Leopard Creek, then I finished 16th in Mauritius just before Christmas. Those little things, those two weeks, I think just put me in great stead to start the season.

“So, honestly, my wife’s here as well, family and friends. It's been one of the best decisions of my life - it really has.”

Waring’s move to Dubai makes this week’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates feel like a true “home” event.

A member at the course for the past year, he also trains regularly at the Tommy Fleetwood Academy on-site, adding a sense of familiarity that could prove pivotal.

That local knowledge might just be a valuable edge for Waring as he prepares for just his fourth start in the DP World Tour Championship - and his first since 2022.

"I've been a member of Jumeirah Golf Estates now for a full year,” he said.

“I play every Friday with a group of lads in the 500 Club. It’s a great group of lads, and it just provides me with a bit of competitive golf.

“So, we switch between the Earth course and Fire course—everyone holes out. They put me off +6, so I do believe my handicap is going to get changed to +7 or +8, not because they’re being greedy!

“So, I get to play these courses week in, week out, and obviously, we’ve got the Tommy Fleetwood Academy down at the bottom as well. It's a great place for me to be and to surround myself with the people here as well.”

With $3 million on the line for the tournament winner, a victory this Sunday would cap off a memorable two-week stretch for Waring.

While he admits he feels “comfortable” playing in his “own backyard,” the Earth course will present a slightly different challenge than he’s used to.

DP World Tour officials have ensured the course meets the rigorous standards expected at this level, promising a test that will push even the most seasoned players.

“The golf course is set up differently than what we play week-to-week, I’m not going to lie,” he said.

“A lot of rough, and you can lose your ball just a yard off the fairway, which makes it fun, and there are sticky areas around the greens where they’ve shaved some of the areas down.

“Like I said, a little bit sticky, a little bit sandy, so chipping is going to be a bit different. I think you might see a few of the world's best players making some funny mistakes around the greens this week, but it is what it is.

“No, I’m looking forward to getting going on a golf course that I know and love, and with the support of everyone I know and love as well. It should be good fun.”