Thursday’s first round saw me shoot a level-par round. I felt I played well, and managed four birdies during the day.
Starting on the easier back nine I turned in 35 — level for the round, and birdies on holes 1 and 3 got me going. A disappointing double on the fifth and bogey on the last meant I settled for a 72.
As the saying goes: “You cannot win the tournament in round 1, but you can certainly lose it.”
Overall, I was pleased with my striking of the ball and general golf course management. Whenever I managed to gain some momentum, there always seemed to be a three putt around the corner.
I made a few silly mistakes on the day, and in this company of world-class players, you just cannot afford to not give it your best.
I will go out with some players and their wives and friends to relax on Thursday night.
This is what the DP World Tour is all about, and one of the real differences to the PGA Tour. As a Dubai resident, I do feel a responsibility to make sure that all the players have a fun time in my adopted home city.
We are all a little spoilt sometimes on taking a city, as our home, for granted and when I host players, their families and friends, it is with pride that this is my new home city. We all need to be reminded at times, on how lucky we are to live in such an incredible city as Dubai.
My babysitter is my manager Richard Rayment. Richard is also a best friend and essentially part of our extended family. I thank Richard, his wife Gabby and their daughter Nicki for opening their family circle to ours.
In a sometimes lonely and competitive world and life that is professional golf, it is nice to have people around us that we can 100 per cent rely on.
We are all one big family on the DP World Tour, but when we tee off, there is only one focus on all our minds and that is to do our best and beat everyone else, sometimes things click and sometimes they just do not.
I perhaps did not get all the breaks I deserved on Thursday, but with a positive attitude I will start Friday. I will always commit 100 per cent to my game. I know nothing else.
