Joshua Grenville-Wood: Five Things to Know 

After featuring in four consecutive events on the International Swing in the Middle East, Joshua Grenville-Wood’s stock has risen as he looks to realise his goal of securing full playing privileges on the DP World Tour.

Despite the disappointment of a missed cut on his Rolex Series debut at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, he bounced back in style with a top 10 at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship.

But in a sign of how far he believes he can go in the game, Grenville-Wood said he felt at “rock bottom and so far off” after failing to force his way into contention in both Bahrain and Qatar.

Here are five things to know about the 25-year-old Emirati golfer.

His journey so far in the game

Grenville-Wood was born and grew up in the United Kingdom before moving to Atlanta in the United States of America where his father worked as a teaching professional at Whitewater Creek Country Club in Georgia. He first picked up a club at the age of two, before he played his first nine-hole round at the age of five and was soon playing in kids tournaments. He played in over 500 tournaments both in the UK and in the USA as a junior, before he turned professional at the age of 19. He and his family then moved back to the UK, where his career in the paid ranks began on the now-defunct EuroPro Tour. Since then, and after moving out to live in Dubai, he has played on the DP World Tour, European Challenge Tour, MENA Tour, Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour. He takes pride in his clubhead speed being his key attribute, with two-time DP World Tour winner Eddie Pepperell saying he is among the fastest out on Tour. "I would like to think I am top three in terms of longest hitting," Grenville said. "It is definitely something I have always wanted to maintain and improve."

Change of citizenship

Since October 2023, Grenville-Wood has played under the United Arab Emirates flag after being granted citizenship following his decision to make Dubai his permanent home towards the end of 2021. With no current status on the DP World Tour, Grenville-Wood is relying on invites from sponsors and the Emirates Golf Federation, through whom he secured a series of invites to play in the Middle East as part of the International Swing.

His priority is a DP World Tour card

Priority this season for Grenville-Wood is to secure membership on the DP World Tour for 2024-25. Having finished in a tie for sixth at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters last season on just his second career start at that level, he firmly believes he has the game to contend among the best. A second top ten has since followed in Ras Al Khaimah but producing on a consistent basis will now be his focus when he gets the chances. The obvious route to achieve that is by finishing inside the top 19 of the Non-Members Race to Dubai Ranking. He currently sits 18th after picking up some points at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters despite a disappointing closing 78 which saw him tumble down the leaderboard. Otherwise, he could seal his card by finishing among the top 20 on the Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca Rankings. He is expected to feature in the two UAE-based events on the Challenge Tour in April, having finished in a tie for second at the Abu Dhabi Challenge last year.

Living with ADHD

Off the course, the ADHD Foundation – a cause he represents – is close to Grenville Wood’s heart having grown up with the condition from a young age and it running in his family. Since his diagnosis at the age of five, he has spoken of suffering from bullying while at school. While he struggled with it as a child, he has looked to turn it into a strength and mentor young kids while also raising an awareness of ADHD. The main symptoms are hyperactivity and inattentiveness – so how does Grenville-Wood combat this while competing at the elite level of a professional sport? “It is quite easy to overthink scenarios and to rush your way around a golf course, not take in everything,” he told the DP World Tour. “Sometimes I find there is literally nothing I can do (to combat it). I know I am going to have days when I am going to struggle mentally and it is just how I can bounce back from that.”

Click on the video below to see a feature filmed with Grenville-Wood while playing on the Challenge Tour in 2019 about growing up with ADHD and the role it has played in his career so far.

Olympic aspirations

Another reason behind his decision to swich allegiance was a desire to pursue playing at the Olympic Games, with this year’s edition in Paris in his sights. With a 60-strong field set to contest the men’s tournament at Le Golf National this summer, Grenville-Wood needs a strong run of form over the coming months to climb the Olympic Golf Ranking and secure a quota place, with up to a maximum of two athletes per National Olympic Committee. “It is a dream of any athlete to play in the Olympics” he said. “To play in the Olympics at a golf course I know very well in Le Golf National would be amazing. It would be so cool.”