DUBAI // A little jet-lagged and jaded, Ricardo Gouveia quickly found his second wind at Jumeirah Golf Estates (JGE) on Monday.
Less than 24 hours before, the Portuguese had tied for third at the Foshan Open, the penultimate event on the 2015 Challenge Tour, to move top of the Road to Oman rankings, but his celebrations were cut short since he had to catch a plane from China to Dubai for a press briefing with local media the following morning.
Landing at 5am, he was at JGE’s European Tour Performance Institute a few hours later. Not that it mattered much: Gouveia has already secured graduation to Europe’s main circuit for 2016, meaning next year he will have plenty of time to live the good life. His current surroundings simply underlined that.
“I’ve heard a lot of good things about this place, and I know a lot of tour players come here to prepare for the season,” he said, looking around at the state-of-the-art facilities. “It’s just unbelievable and I’m very humbled to be here.
“You see all of this: the gym, the video room, the chipping area, everything is top-notch, like on the European Tour. So it’s a bit different to the Challenge Tour and it’s great to have this opportunity. Hopefully I’ll grab it with both hands.”
Gouveia, 24, is not the only one intent on making the most of it. He is joined at the performance institute this week by some of his Challenge Tour peers, as JGE provides them the chance to use their facilities and acclimatise ahead of next week’s season finale in Oman.
Before taking part in the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final in Muscat, the players will compete in Wednesday’s ICAEW Challenge Tour Pro-Am on the Fire Course, while they will also receive tuition from Jean-Jacques Rivet, the swing biomechanics guru who has worked with several European Tour professionals.
With a victory and 10 other top-10 finishes already this season, Gouveia seems ready for the step up now. Not that he is resting on his laurels: the immediate target is concluding the campaign as Challenge Tour No 1.
“It would mean the world to me,” he says. “It’s been such a great season and to finish it off with a win would be very satisfying. But I’m not really thinking about my good season now. I just want to round it off in Oman and perform well there.”
Gouveia’s nearest competitor in the rankings is Sebastien Gros, one of three rivals seeking to seize the season’s crown in Muscat. Yet the man they chase, leading by €3,980 (Dh16,100), is adamant being front-runner will not affect him.
“There’s always pressure; I’m trying to win an event, so there’s pressure on that,” Gouveia says. “But there’s always pressure when you play golf. If you play without any it means you don’t care. If I win in Oman I know I’m going to be top of the rankings. That’s all the motivation I need.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Things Heard & Seen
Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton
2/5
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
Result
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Brraq, Ryan Curatolo (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m; Winner: Bright Melody, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Naval Crown, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m; Winner: Volcanic Sky, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Zainhom, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The years Ramadan fell in May
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The years Ramadan fell in May
