ADRI'S ASCENT

A MAIDEN EUROPEAN TOUR TITLE AND RACE TO DUBAI GLORY ARE THE SPANIARD’S LOFTY GOALS FOR 2020

- KENT GRAY

AFTER winning the Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final at Al Hamra Golf Club in late 2018 to graduate to the big stage in style, Adri Arnaus remained in last season’s European Tour rookie-of-the-year conversation right up to November’s DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The Spaniard eventually finished 41st in the Race to Dubai standings, highlighted by three runner-up finishes and major championship appearances at Pebble Beach and Royal Portrush. Now a Dubai resident, the 25-year-old has even loftier goals for 2020. Golf Digest Middle East caught up with Arnaus on the eve of this year’s Desert Swing where he will tee it up in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and King Abdullah Economic City.

With the beauty of hindsight, how did your win at the 2018 Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final, to finish 2nd on the Challenge Tour OOM, help you for your rookie year in the European Tour? Winning the Challenge Tour Grand Final obviously helped me to have a better ranking position going into European Tour but most importantly it proved me that I was ready for it and that I could get it done at the highest level. All year I had been close to winning and to do it on the last one was special.

We read that you got a dog for winning at Al Hamra G.C.? Yeah, that’s right. Another good thing that came with that win was that me and my family got a little Labrador puppy. My dad and I had a bet that when I won on Challenge Tour we would get a dog so it was great to get one by Christmas a year ago.

You’ve obviously enjoyed a great rookie season on the European Tour but how have you found the step up? My first year on tour has been a lot fun. One of the things that made it great are the tougher set ups and the crowds around it. I’ve really enjoyed it.