Tom Buchanan hoping to sign off at Al Ain by celebrating Scottish success

Tom Buchanan, who hails from Stranraer and did his PGA training at Duddingston in Edinburgh before moving to the Middle East, is the operations manager at this week’s venue, but is bringing down the curtain on his 12-year spell there after the final putt drops on Sunday.

“I’m moving to pastures new outside of AESGC and it would be a wonderful way to end my spell with a Scottish winner,” he told The Scotsman. “I’m sure we would have mutual celebrations on Sunday night!”

Daniel Young, who has made a promising start to the 2024 campaign, spearheads the Scottish contingent in the first leg of a desert double-header for the Challenge Tour, with Saadiyat Beach staging next week’s UAE Challenge. Challenge Tour card holders Euan Walker, Craig Howie and Jack McDonald while Michael Stewart has secured an invitation along with Dubai-based duo Tom Ogilvie and Louis Gaughan.

“It’s fantastic to host the biggest golf event in the club’s history,” said Buchanan of the $300,000 event, which features two former Ryder Cup players in Nicolas Colsaerts and Chris Wood. “I would like to thank the trust that the DP World Tour and Emirates Golf Federation have put in us to deliver a top-class event.

“It’s a fantastic field and great to see so many Scottish lads in it, many of whom have been here in the winter during my 12 years at Al Ain. We have always been proud of our facilities and golf course, so to be able to host this quality of player and field, we hope that many will see it in the light we hold it.

“Our golf agronomy team led by Thomas Love (who formerly worked at Glenbervie) and operations team led By Shane Peacock deserve huge credit for the presentation of course, as well as the smooth handling in the operations, allowing players to enjoy our facilities and have an enjoyable experience.”

One of those players who is well acquainted with Al Ain is Craig Howie, who first went there when he was at Stirling University and, through that, is now officially attached to the club.

“It’s great to get away from the hustle and bustle of cities like Dubai,” said the Peebles man. “Al Ain is a little bit quieter, so it’s a perfect place to come and work away from distractions. The course is always in great condition and the team does a great job of keeping it like that. The practice area is as good as you’ll get anywhere else.”

Howie, who held a DP World Tour card two seasons ago, has made a solid start to the new season, having made the cut in all six events. “I’ve been pretty consistent this year, but I’ve not really had a big finish, so I’m looking to improve on that this week,” he said. “I haven’t got super high expectations, but it’s obviously a course I know well, which could be a difference maker.”

Dubai was hit by some of its worst-ever weather earlier in the week, but, according to Buchanan, it’s now set to be fine and dandy for the next four days.