The final stage of the DP World Tour kicks off in Abu Dhabi on Thursday – Lindell: "Let's try to enjoy these weeks."
Oliver Lindell's debut season on the DP World Tour has been nothing short of sensational. His first major start at The Open and numerous top 10 finishes will culminate in the upcoming final competitions. Lindell is ranked 40th in the Road to Dubai rankings as the first competition of the final stage gets underway in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
The 70 best players in the rankings qualify for the Abu Dhabi competition, and the 50 best players qualify for the season finale in Dubai a week later. Lindell has practically and almost certainly mathematically secured his place in Dubai, especially as a few players ahead of him have withdrawn from the Yas Links Golf Club competition starting on Thursday.
"The goals for the season have been achieved, and now we're just trying to really enjoy these weeks. However, the heat here makes it a bit challenging. There is no shade at all on these courses, so you have to be out in the sun all day."
Compared to European courses, the courses in the Middle East lack trees, which provide shade and also act as obstacles that make the game more difficult. The level of play on the easy Yas Links course has been fierce over the years, although the brightest stars of European golf are naturally present. Last year, every player in the competition finished under par in the four rounds. The conditions are possibly the best of the entire season, as befits a final.
"It's an incredible place – the course is in top condition. The fairways here in Abu Dhabi are as short as the greens we have at home. The surfaces are also really firm. There are big greens and wide fairways here, and if you don't hit them, you'll be in trouble," said Lindell.
"The roughs aren't particularly long, but the ball often sinks so deep that you can't get it out. With a bit of luck, you might get a good shot out of it, but as a rule, the roughs are really tight. It's nice to be back on the course after a long break."
It has been almost a month since the Porvoo native's last tournament in Spain. However, he returned to Spain during the long break to keep his game sharp together with other Finnish golfers who were training there.
Lindell joins a select group of Finnish players, including Sami Välimäki, Kalle Samooja, Tapio Pulkkasen, Mikko Ilonen and Mikko Korhonen, who have previously competed in the DP World Tour finals.
Lindell will tee off for his opening round on Thursday at 8:55 a.m. Finnish time, alongside Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen of Denmark and Johannes Veerman of the United States.