Greetings from a cold and fresh Scotland and the $5 million Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on the DP World Tour.
Round one today for us was over the Old Course at St Andrews.
I shot a one under par 71, which leaves me in tied 110th with players still on the golf course completing their rounds.
I started my round from the 10th tee, which is a long way from town and is more than a walk and even more than a taxi ride, it is a minibus shuttle with nine holes out and nine holes in here at the home of golf.
I dropped an early shot on the 12th hole, but got going on holes 14 and 15, where I went eagle – birdie with me holing from 33 yards for a three on the par five, 618 yard hole.
Dropped shot
An inevitable dropped shot on the 17th Road Hole, perhaps the most famous and arguably most difficult golf hole in the world, and a bogey – birdie start on the front nine saw me return a card of 35 – 36.
In the team event alongside my amateur partner, football legend, Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko we are four under par and tied 136th.
The weather was reasonably kind today, and we saw some excellent scoring, but looking at the forecast for tomorrow (Friday), it looks a horror. It is predicted to be cold, cloudy and blustery, with wind gusts upto 40 – 45 mph.
That may be strong enough to take us off the golf courses with balls not staying on the putting surfaces. I would imagine they will not cut or roll the greens in the morning.
‘Batten down the hatches’ is the motto for tomorrow, and it looks like our caddies are going to earn their money.
You may have read and seen that I am now officially attached to The Els Club, Dubai, which I will proudly represent. I wish we were having the weather they get at The Els Club and in Dubai this week – but is seems it is not meant to be!
The current leader is Romain Langasque (Fr) who shot an 11 under par 61 at St Andrews, followed by two further Frenchmen: Frederic Lacroix and Antoine Rozner, winner of the 2020 Golf in Dubai Championship on the Fire course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, who shot 62 and 63 over Kingsbarns Golf Links and St Andrews respectively.
Tomorrow (Friday) we have a 9 am tee time, first off at Carnoustie Golf Links along with Francesco Laporta (It) and his amateur partner.
Worst of the weather
Hopefully, we can get our round completed before the worst of the weather.
Typically, the pin positions this week are all friendly, due to the amateur participation, and, of course, they have to remain in the same position for three days.
Wish me and Andriy the best of luck.
We will be wrapped up and ready for all the elements that are thrown our way.
It looks like it will be one of those days where we will experience all four seasons in a couple of hours!
Speak to you tomorrow!
- Adrian Meronk, 29 years-old, is a Dubai resident who plays under the flag of Poland and has one victory to his name on the DP World Tour, the recent Horizon Irish Open. Adrian is an Ambassador for Dubai based White Eagle Sport.
