As the Rolex Series returns to the DP World Tour with the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Anthony Wall writes our Commentator's Column.
The two-time DP World Tour winner talks about last week's Hero Cup, the Tour's rising stars and why the Desert Swing can be so important to a player's season.
I think we've got a great season ahead. Last week at the Hero Cup we saw some real camaraderie and a lot of guys that people don't necessarily know a lot about prove that they are close to being proper players in the world of golf. There'll be a few of them that will take that into a huge Rolex Series event like this. These events are career defining for young kids because they propel them up the World Rankings and the Race to Dubai and all those things.
Robert MacIntyre is a prime example of a player who will now be thinking he can mix it with the best. He played great last week, his stats were wonderful, and I'm sure he will feel so different coming to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship because he's already had a week of golf. He should be amazing because he'll be ready to go, he won't be rusty. He's my favourite this week - I don't like to pick the obvious. He's got it all and I saw in his body language last week, how happy he was to play and I thought 'that's a man in form'.
I remember being in a team environment myself at the Royal Trophy in 2007;that team was amazing and we won by miles. The confidence I gained helped me have three great weeks in the UAE and I think you'll see the benefit of that with players like MacIntyre, Guido Migliozzi, Jordan Smith, the really good players that are waiting in the wings to step up.
All professional sportspeople can do it: tennis, golf even motor racing, it's about acceptance of the environment that you're in. Do I feel comfortable? Have I got the respect of my peers? Am I in my comfort zone and can I perform or do I need to be out of my comfort zone in order to perform well? All of these factors come in to play and I think the more you can play in events like last week and in fields as great as this on a golf course as good as if this – if you can perform in those situations then you’re away.
These Desert Swing events are a part of the schedule that every player looks at along with the summer at the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open and then BMW PGA Championship. Those are the three times that you see caddie and coach changes and that's because they're the biggest and best events with the most points. These were always the best events of the year for me. You couldn't wait to get away from the European winter because you wanted to play - you're a golfer and that's what you want to do. And also because you knew what you were doing and where you were playing.
The conditions here at Yas Links are incredible, the tees are better than any greens most people will ever see. When you’re a junior and amateur golfer and you play for your country, you get used to playing great golf courses but the average guy will never play a top ten or 20 golf course in the world. This is the part of world I would come for my holidays.
The Rolex Series has made a huge difference. Everyone at the DP World Tour is working so hard because they're passionate, a bit like the players last week at the Hero Cup. Rolex are a classy organisation and they elevate everything they do.
I always used to be able to compete at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. I took pride in myself in being ready for the first event. I used to love turning up and seeing people bashing balls all day and trying different balls and drivers because on the other hand I always felt ready when I got to my first event. In 2009, I finished top ten in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and I had my card secured after just three weeks. I remember landing into London in the snow and the satisfaction that I felt was - apart from finishing fourth at the Scottish Open in 2017 when I was really struggling with my health - the most satisfied I ever felt. Even above my wins because I secured my job that early in the season and could go back to the cold and relax in the snow and be a dad. It was because these events were so strong, I have so much respect for the area and what they do for golf and for us as a Tour.
It's going to be hard and fast this week. Last year was a bit of a false impression, the weather was quite dull and it was windy and chilly so it was difficult to get a real feel of how to play it. I think strategy plays a huge part and the caddie plays a huge part, you need a strong game plan. The best player who's playing the best will still win because the course is awesome and the condition is second to none. I think you need to be quite a long hitter.
