The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open this week is always one of the best run events of the season and one of the favourites for players, caddies and even golf coaches with the traditional Irish and Dubai Duty Free hospitality.
Sadly, I cannot travel there this time as I am self-isolating at home in Rotherham. I returned from the US Open on Monday last week and I was contacted by the Health Authorities who informed me that one of the passengers on the flight from LA to Heathrow tested positive for COVID-19, so every passenger on the plane is in the same ‘boat’ as me and have all been ‘tracked & traced’ and are subject to self-isolation at homes or even hotels in England.
I am hoping to go to the Scottish Open next week at The Renaissance, subject to COVID-19 safety, and then — of course — the Open Championship at Royal St Georges the week after.
You may have heard and read about my thoughts on the ‘COVID Bubble’ restrictions set by the R&A for the Open week.
To repeat, I am confused how 32,000 spectators a day can attend the Open but I cannot share a house with four mates, caddies or fellow coaches next to the golf course. My only option I now have is to stay in an hotel some 50 miles or so from the golf course.
In the end I am sleeping solo. I can only stay in an R&A approved hotel some two hours drive both ways, there and back, each morning and evening. This arrangement means I add four hours on top of my usual shift of 14 hours on the driving range adding up to an 18-hour day.
It is going to be a long week at the Open, but hopefully a successful one.
Coming back to this week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, and my players. Firstly, Rory is in good shape post his US Open performance. I have told him to just go out and win this week. A win is just around the corner for Rory. It is all about his putting.
If Rory putts averagely he will be in contention every week and if he putts well he will win.
Thomas Pieters and Jazz Janewattananond are both ticking over nicely.
Dubai resident Adri Arnaus is being coached and looked after by Mike Walker and Adri looks strong and could have a good week.
However, my partner in crime Mike may not be able to stay in Ireland as he may have to self-isolate as he may have been in contact with a COVID-19 positive person. We are hoping Mike will be OK.
Matt Fitzpatrick, Mike’s ‘star player’, is not playing but was hitting balls on my Rotherham range earlier today.
Graeme McDowell is looking forward to experiencing a home crowd and to a decent week. I do Graeme’s short game and we have been chatting on WhatsApp and he seems in good spirits.
It is remarkable how the modern pro with modern technology can still be looked after and managed by his coach, even if it is me at 70 years old.
Padraig Harrington is having a good season and is the one player who seems to be able to handle being a Ryder Cup captain as well as keep his game sharp. “Compartmentalisation’ is what it is termed and Padraig is the best at this thanks to his unique mental strength.
Padraig will be 50 years old just before this year’s Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits and we wish him continued success over the next three or four months, The Ryder Cup will be upon us all very soon.
I checked my passport and COVID-19 tests as I cannot do much else at home in Rotherham.
Statistic of the day is that over the last 16 months I have had 5 self-isolations, been double COVID vaccinated and had over 100 COVID tests. I have had six COVID tests last week alone at the US Open.
In summary and the good news is that I have had zero positive tests since contracting COVID in March 2020. I cannot wait for this to be well behind us, but maybe we just have to live with it.
Finally, I will be cheering on England against Germany at Euro 2020 on the TV on Tuesday night. When you read this article in Gulf News, the result will be known to you all. But my pre-emptive prediction is for a 2-1 England win with Harry Kane scoring the winner in the 78th minute. You heard it here first!
Good Luck to England and to all at the 2021 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open for a special week.
