Tour Schedule
Abu Dhabi Golf Championship >>
26 Jan - 29 Jan 2012
Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Q&A with Padraig
Padraig answers about life on and off the course.
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Gallery
See what Padraig has been getting up to off the course. Click to see photo >
Tour Schedule - Coming Up
AT-T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am >>
09 Feb - 12 Feb 2012
Multiple Courses - Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, California, Monterey Peninsula CC, Pebble Beach, California, Spyglass Hill GC, Pebble Beach, California
Message Board
James Mullan : Co. Tyrone
How's it goin Padraig. Just a quick note to wish you all the best for 2012. I've been lucky to have watched you play a few times and the way you carry yourself both on and off the course is a credit.
See you up in Portrush, hopefully you'll have bagged a few wins by then.
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Merchandise
This rare authentic officially licensed limited edition print dedicated to the outstanding achievement of Padraig is now available.
Abu Dhabi Golf Championship
Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.
Solid opening round of one under par 71 leaves Padraig in a tie for 20th place. Five under par leads the field. In a mixed card, he had five birdies, four bogies and nine pars on a tricky afternoon for scoring. He is well placed with an early start Friday and will be hoping for the same calm conditions that the first round leaders got.
Padraig continues his quest to qualify for the first world golf championship of the year in February as he tees it up at the Abu Dhabi golf club in the United Arab Emirates. The top four players in the world rankings play and there will be ranking points a plenty this week. It is an event that has bitter sweet memories for Padriag as he made a sensational start to the event last year with a stunning 65 but was disqualified on a technicality. His good form last week in Fancourt was blighted with a couple of poor finishes so he will be hoping to eradicate the mistakes and challenge for the lead come Sunday afternoon. He tees off in the opening round at 12.15pm local time with in form player, Charl Schwartzel and Thomas Bjorn.
Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship - Preview
I am back in Abu Dhabi for the HSBC Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. This year it is my second event of the season whereas last year I was opening my season here. In fact I have opened my season here for the last few years and have done quite well, bar 2010 - in the first round I opened up with a 65 which had me in the lead only to find out on Friday morning that I was disqualified as my ball had moved when replacing it on a green and had not fully returned to its original spot. Since then the rule has been changed whereby I now would receive a two shot penalty and remained in the tournament.
Even though I was disqualified last year it is still good to be back as I have played well on this course, although not as well as Martin Kaymer. I have been coming here since the tournament started so I know the course well; there have been a few tweaks to it over the years but in general it is the same golf course. It’s nice to turn up at a course that you know well as you don’t feel under pressure to get acquainted. I arrived here on early Tuesday morning from South Africa after travelling all day on Monday. Normally I would have tried to get out on Sunday night so as to be here on Monday but I didn’t feel I had to be here playing the course.
Normally I am here this week feeling a little unsure about my game and what to expect but having my first event under my belt helps me feel a little more settled. However this week is my first week working with Dave Allred, Johnny Wilkinson’s kicking coach. He has been working with Luke Donald for a couple of years now also. I spoke to him for the first time the week of last year's Irish Open and we have been in contact since but this is the first time that we have got together to work. I have asked him to come and look at my practice routines and how I prepare for tournaments to see what he thinks. We have only had a couple of days together but so far I am really enjoying what he has to say. He is bringing a new dimension to my practice - in a sense he will reinvigorate my practice session and as a result help me be more prepared for a tournament. It has been very interesting so far; the practice days were busy but very enjoyable.
This is always a busy week - as it is so early in the season a lot of people travel out. Pete Cowen is here which is great as I hadn’t seen him for a few weeks and I wanted to check a few things with him. The good news was that he was very happy with the work I have done. I have also been working with my putting coach, Paul Hurion, this week. Again I haven’t seen him for a while so it was good to get to spend some time with him.
All in all it has been a busy few days, but enjoyable. In one sense I wish I didn’t have to play a tournament but then on the other hand I am looking forward to getting started and to see how the things I have been working on go. Even though I have been working with Dave, Pete and Paul this week I am still here to try and win.
Talk soon,
Padraig.
Solid opening round of one under par 71 leaves Padraig in a tie for 20th place. Five under par leads the field. In a mixed card, he had five birdies, four bogies and nine pars on a tricky afternoon for scoring. He is well placed with an early start Friday and will be hoping for the same calm conditions that the first round leaders got.
Padraig continues his quest to qualify for the first world golf championship of the year in February as he tees it up at the Abu Dhabi golf club in the United Arab Emirates. The top four players in the world rankings play and there will be ranking points a plenty this week. It is an event that has bitter sweet memories for Padriag as he made a sensational start to the event last year with a stunning 65 but was disqualified on a technicality. His good form last week in Fancourt was blighted with a couple of poor finishes so he will be hoping to eradicate the mistakes and challenge for the lead come Sunday afternoon. He tees off in the opening round at 12.15pm local time with in form player, Charl Schwartzel and Thomas Bjorn.
Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship - Preview
I am back in Abu Dhabi for the HSBC Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. This year it is my second event of the season whereas last year I was opening my season here. In fact I have opened my season here for the last few years and have done quite well, bar 2010 - in the first round I opened up with a 65 which had me in the lead only to find out on Friday morning that I was disqualified as my ball had moved when replacing it on a green and had not fully returned to its original spot. Since then the rule has been changed whereby I now would receive a two shot penalty and remained in the tournament.
Even though I was disqualified last year it is still good to be back as I have played well on this course, although not as well as Martin Kaymer. I have been coming here since the tournament started so I know the course well; there have been a few tweaks to it over the years but in general it is the same golf course. It’s nice to turn up at a course that you know well as you don’t feel under pressure to get acquainted. I arrived here on early Tuesday morning from South Africa after travelling all day on Monday. Normally I would have tried to get out on Sunday night so as to be here on Monday but I didn’t feel I had to be here playing the course.
Normally I am here this week feeling a little unsure about my game and what to expect but having my first event under my belt helps me feel a little more settled. However this week is my first week working with Dave Allred, Johnny Wilkinson’s kicking coach. He has been working with Luke Donald for a couple of years now also. I spoke to him for the first time the week of last year's Irish Open and we have been in contact since but this is the first time that we have got together to work. I have asked him to come and look at my practice routines and how I prepare for tournaments to see what he thinks. We have only had a couple of days together but so far I am really enjoying what he has to say. He is bringing a new dimension to my practice - in a sense he will reinvigorate my practice session and as a result help me be more prepared for a tournament. It has been very interesting so far; the practice days were busy but very enjoyable.
This is always a busy week - as it is so early in the season a lot of people travel out. Pete Cowen is here which is great as I hadn’t seen him for a few weeks and I wanted to check a few things with him. The good news was that he was very happy with the work I have done. I have also been working with my putting coach, Paul Hurion, this week. Again I haven’t seen him for a while so it was good to get to spend some time with him.
All in all it has been a busy few days, but enjoyable. In one sense I wish I didn’t have to play a tournament but then on the other hand I am looking forward to getting started and to see how the things I have been working on go. Even though I have been working with Dave, Pete and Paul this week I am still here to try and win.
Talk soon,
Padraig.
