Final round of level par sees Padraig in a tie for 20th but it could have been so much better. He got off to a slow start with a dropped shot at the par four third hole but picked one up at his ninth hole to be out in level par. He then reeled off two birdies early in the back nine to be sitting inside the top ten but a disasterous double bogie at the last put paid to an otherwise good days work but overall a great week to start the season!
Third round of four under par 68 sees Padraig in a tie for 17th place heading into Sundays final round. He was out in level par after picking up a shot on the par five 2nd hole but giving it back at the 4th hole. The back nine proved more fruitful as he started with two birdies and added two more towards the finish on the 15th and 17th holes. Eleven under par leads and Padraig tees off at 10.55am local time.
A fantastic second round of one under par, the third best score of the day, in gale force conditions, sees Padraig go into the weekend in the top thirty at level par. After a disappointing first day where he played well but had little to show for it, he gritted his teeth as all around him struggled in the very tough conditions with a gusting wind causing havoc among the field. He got off to the perfect start with two opening birdies but the course bit back with a double bogey on the par four 12th hole. He picked up one more shot at the par three 17th to be out in one under par. Turning to the front nine, he reeled off six straight pars before swapping a birdie and a bogey to sign for a 71. Seven under par leads heading into the weekend.
Padraig shoots an opening round of one over par 73 but was disappointed with the result as he felt he had played quite well. Two birdies were cancelled out by two bogies as he was out in level par and he did get to one under after eleven holes. But two dropped shots coming in left a sour taste. He has an early start Friday at 7.50am and with heavy winds forecast, he will be hoping to bring all his links experience to the fore.
Padraig starts his 2022 season next week in Abu Dhabi for the first Rolex Series event on the DP World Tour. The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship reads like a who’s who of golf with Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa and Rory McIlroy all playing. Seven major champions play alongside former winners, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry and Lee Westwood. There is a new venue in play this week as the Yas Links takes over as the host course. Designed by Kyle Phillips and only opened in 2010, it plays to nearly 7,500 yards from the tips with eight of the holes running along the coastline. Tyrrell Hatton is your defending champion this week.
Tee Times – Padraig plays with Henrik Stenson and Danny Willet at 12.15pm Thursday and 7.50am Friday.