Quiros' smart round puts birthday celebrations on hold
Cards six-under 66 in Abu Dhabi and admits focus is on game not celebrations
Abu Dhabi : Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, who carded a smart round of six-under-par 66 at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship yesterday, was forced to mark his 27th birthday on a quiet note with an eye on the Falcon Trophy.
Quiros, who scored a hole-in-one last year but is yet to take up his prize, a free stay at the Emirates Palace, said he had no plans to celebrate his birthday.
"Not technically, I have to be focused for tomorrow," Quiros told reporters in a post-match press conference after finishing his round of 66 in the morning. "I tried to use my free stay at the beginning of this week but the hotel was fully booked and I couldn't use it. Next year I will make this trip earlier and I will enjoy the weather a bit more here," said Quiros.
Quiros, who is one of the big-hitters on the Tour and won the Qatar Masters in Doha last year, said the region's three events were his best on the Tour.
"I'm very happy to come to these three weeks (Gulf Swing of Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai). For me, my personal feeling is they are the best three weeks that we have in a row on the European Tour. We have almost guaranteed good weather, the golf courses are really good and normally I am in good shape," he said.
The Spaniard, who shares his birthday with his Scottish caddie Alistair McClean, said it would be difficult to keep the level of six under over the next three days.
"I think it's going to be very difficult to keep the level of six under every day. The greens are becoming tougher and quicker, and the rough is very heavy."
Commenting on the new grooves and its impact, Quiros said: "I think the new grooves are going to be different, a different thing. We understand the leaders don't miss many times in a week, but with the new grooves it will be more difficult."
Commenting on his plans over the next rounds, Quiros said: "It is just the first round. It means nothing if I don't play good over the next three rounds. So, tomorrow is going to be a new day. I am going to start from zero again."
