“Becoming a UAE National is my way of giving back a little.”

It’s a home event for me this week! Well, I have felt like it has been a home event for a long time because I’ve been playing as a Dubai resident for 13 years. But this year is a little bit more special as I’m now playing as a UAE National.

I’ve always loved this golf course; it’s definitely in my top two golf courses in the UAE, and this tournament is amazing. The atmosphere is like a festival, and everybody marks the date in their calendar to come here. So, it’s a very special event, and I’m very happy to now be playing as a local player.

When I’ve been practising over the last few weeks, as a UAE National, juniors have started to approach me for pictures and selfies, which is the best. That’s what the Emirates Golf Federation really wants to encourage – kids’ participation and bringing more youngsters into the game.

I’ve always felt super welcome here since the very first time I came to the UAE when I was 19 years old. I just feel like everybody has helped me from an early stage in my career, and I made friends with plenty of Emiratis from the word go. So, I guess becoming a UAE National is my way of giving back a little.

I’ve had some time off since the last DP World Tour tournaments I played in South Africa last month. The first week, I just did nothing and completely rested. Then it was Christmas and New Year, and I started practising again around 11 days ago here in Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates and Dubai Creek. I’ve been trying to get out on the course and get back into the competitive rhythm. I think that’s similar for everyone here, really – just seeing how we will all play after a bit of a break. But I just can’t wait to start the season.

My form at this event isn’t anything to write home about, but I was talking on the range to a few players, and we were saying how we feel the fairways are maybe a touch narrower this year. Some years the rough has been thicker than others, but the fairways are always narrow. So it’s a tournament where many players are going to miss a lot of fairways, and I feel like the longer hitters have a bit of an advantage because you are playing from the rough much closer to the green. But still, it’s a course I’ve always loved, and I’m eager to do well here this week for the UAE.

Main Image: Harry Grimshaw