Padraig shoots a bogey free round of five under par 67 to finish at 19 under par and just four behind the winner. He got off to a nice start with a couple of birdies going out and came home strongly with three more birdies. The highlight of the day was a 15 foot putt on the last for birdie but his tied 8th place looks to be just short of making the season ending Dubai World Championships. He said after “When I finished and I was fifth, it looked like I maybe had a chance. But it was just a step too far.” He will finish his season playing with his son Paddy at the PNC Father Son Championship.
Padraig hits the top ten at the AVIV Dubai Championship heading into Sundays final round but needs something similar to make the season ending Dubai World Championships. He got off to a poor start with a dropped shot on the short par three second hole but bounced back with two birdies to be out in 35 shots. Four birdies in five holes from the 12th to the 16th saw him sign for another 67 and in with a real chance of progressing. He trails the leaders by five shots and tees off Sunday at 10.57am local time with Paul Casey and Adrian Meronk.
Padraig continues his good form in Dubai as he chases a spot in the season ending Dubai World Championships. He got off to a mixed start swapping two birdies with two bogies but finished his front nine strongly with two closing birdies in his last three holes to be out in 34 shots. He played nice steady golf on the back nine to pick up three more shots, starting with two early birdies and a very pleasing birdie at the par five last hole to sign for a five under par round of 67. His nine under par total leaves him sharing 22nd place with 15 under par leading the field. He tees off Saturday at 10.15am local time needing a low weekend to progress!
Padraig opens his account in Dubai with a very pleasing round of four under par which leaves him just out side the top 20 heading into Fridays second round. Starting on the back nine, he dropped a shot on the par three 11th hole but then rallied superbly to record five birdies in seven holes. He then played very steady golf as he reeled off eleven pars. Padraig looks like he needs a top ten finish to make it to the season ending DP World Championship next week!
Tee Times – Thursday at 7.30am local time and Friday at 11.50am with Antoine Rozner and Stephen Gallagher.