Following a remarkable performance at the Abu Dhabi Challenge, Euan Walker, a Scottish golfer, aims to build on his momentum at the upcoming UAE Challenge at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.
The UAE Challenge is the second event in the back-to-back Challenge Tour tournaments in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Walker, aged 28, concluded the Abu Dhabi Challenge with a course record-tying final round of ten under par, finishing in a tie for fourth at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting, and Golf Club, marking his best result of the season. He is keen to carry this success into the UAE Challenge.
“To get a result like that at this stage in the season is great,” Walker said. “I’ve had a couple of results in the top 20 this season, but there’s a big difference between that and finishing in the top five.
It gives me confidence going into this week. I know that my game is good and that I’m playing well.”
Walker attributed his final-round success to his precision off the tee, a skill he hopes to carry into Saadiyat Beach.
“I drove the ball beautifully on Sunday, which put me in position to make a good score.
I was on every fairway and it’s not often you do that. Saadiyat Beach is a long course, but it’s relatively generous off the tee.
I think the bigger hitters have an opportunity to be aggressive with the driver and significantly shorten the course.”
Despite not being one of the longer hitters, Walker is optimistic about his chances and plans to rely on his accuracy.
“I’m not one of the longer hitters, so I’m not going to have that opportunity, but the key for me will still be to keep the driver in the fairway.”
Having won the 2022 British Challenge presented by Modest! Golf Management, Walker aims to return to the winner’s circle and achieve a top-20 finish in the Road to Mallorca Rankings to secure promotion to the DP World Tour.
“Last week shows I’ve got the ability to shoot scores low enough to win. I’m good enough to get over the line and I’ll be trying my best every week to make it happen. It would mean a lot to make it to the DP World Tour.
When you’re a junior you dream of playing there one day, so promotion would be a dream come true.”
The UAE Challenge at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club features a strong field, including DP World Tour winners Alvaro Quiros, Alexander Levy, and Chris Wood, alongside Road to Mallorca Number One Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
Walker tees off at 7:40 am alongside Alexander Levy and last week’s Abu Dhabi Challenge winner Garrick Porteous, with round one beginning at 6:30 am local time.
