I shot a third-round level par 72 for a 54 hole total of eight under par – to drop six places on ‘moving day’ to be in tied 14th in the $300,000 Abu Dhabi Challenge with 18 holes to play.
The summary of my day – I drove it poorly and as I said earlier in the week, the National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club is a driver’s course.
My bogey hole this week is number five measuring 468 yards – which I have doubled twice. It is playing the second toughest hole of the week so far at an average of 4.28 – probably mainly thanks to me!
I received a nice message yesterday evening as I got an invite to play in next week’s DS Automobiles Italian Open at Marco Simone in Rome – so I am not playing now on the Challenge Tour at Saadiyat.
Then my schedule is to play in the Soudal Open in Belgium on the DP World Tour.
I am the Captain of the European Junior Ryder Cup Team to take place in Rome later in the year – so it will be good to have a look how all the planning is going for both the Ryder Cup and the Junior Ryder Cup.
Tomorrow (Sunday), I will be watching Rangers v Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final at 4.30 pm UAE time at the golf club with my caddie and son Jack. I just hope the best club in green hoops wins! Jack and I are Season Ticket holders at Celtic Park whenever they are playing and we are back home in Scotland.
I am this week staying with all the family on site at The Westin – Abu Dhabi; my wife Helen, Jack and daughter Ellie.
I wish all tournament venues had a brilliant set-up like this week, with a decent range and a quality hotel overlooking the range - a five iron from our hotel room gets me to the 1st tee, practice putting green and practice ground.
No targets for tomorrow
I have no targets for tomorrow’s final round – I have had 16 birdies in the three tournament rounds plus a further seven in the Pro-Am.
I just need to eliminate the mistakes and I am positive for what is ahead of us tomorrow.
It will depend on the weather which is forecast to reach 38 degrees, the hottest day of the week, the pin positions and how I am hitting the ball.
I am now making a quick visit to the Challenge Tour’s physio after finishing this diary piece to put my broken body back together and to remove a few stiff areas – but that is normal for most of us – nothing really to worry about.
Speak to you all after tomorrow’s final round.
Stephen Gallacher - is a 48 year-old Scot, has won four times on the DP World Tour, including both the 2013 and 2014 Dubai Desert Classic
