A real storm. In the United Arab Emirates, the biggest atmospheric disaster in 75 years has just occurred. A deluge in the desert. Flooded roads, cut-off communications, collapsed streets.
It’s not that we’re now focusing on the weather in the Arabian Peninsula, but this is the scenario that the 156 players of the Challenge Tour who will play the Abu Dhabi Challenge this week have found.
The second division of the European Circuit returns after a three-week break and has come face to face with an unprecedented storm. The two-tournament tour in the UAE kicks off under water in terrible conditions.
This first stop is held at Al-Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Club, a spectacular complex that has withstood the storm impressively. Despite the heavy rain on Monday and Tuesday, the course has weathered the storm well. Some bunkers and puddles that have not yet been reabsorbed need to be fixed, but the fairways are in great condition and the greens are perfect. Logically, the greens are softer than would be optimal, but given the amount of rain, anyone would have signed for it. Hats off to all the work done in these days and for the chosen venue for this week. However, this morning it was decided to suspend the Pro Am day so that the course could recover and because the access to the facilities was not completely fixed. The weather conditions for the tournament are expected to be almost perfect. Good
On the return of the Challenge Tour, nine Spaniards will be part of the line-up in Abu Dhabi: Lucas Vacarisas, Joel Moscatel, Alejandro Cañizares, Borja Virto, Victor Pastor, Javi Sainz, Ángel Ayora and Álvaro Quirós. The latter two have received tournament invitations. The nine will go for the first Spanish victory of the season and recover from the stumble of the last tournament in India. In Kolkata, no Spaniard was able to make the cut, something that had not happened in the Challenge Tour for more than six years.
At this point in the season, none of our players are within the twenty positions that grant cards for the DP World Tour. The best positioned is Victor Pastor who is in 22nd place and on the verge of the big goal. The next Spaniard on the list is Ángel Ayora who, despite not playing the tour in India, would make it to the final of the Road to Mallorca. Ángel returns to the Circuit after making his debut three weeks ago in Puerto Rico on the PGA Tour.
Among the top contenders for the title in Abu Dhabi is the champion of the last tournament of the circuit, the young Dane Rasmus Neergard-Pettersen who is looking to continue breaking down doors at a blistering pace.
