By Kent Gray
George Groves lived up to his world No.1 billing and felt like it too, praising the organisers for their tour-level hospitality after capturing the inaugural European Disabled Golfers Association (EDGA) Dubai Finale title on Saturday.

Played on the sidelines of the 11th DP World Tour Championship at JGE, the Englishman backed up his opening 77 on Earth with an 82 in the final round. Groves’ 159 aggregate was 15 over par for the 36 holes, three strokes better than Chad Pfeifer who applied some final-round pressure with a best of the day 79.

Englishman Mike Browne, two shots back in second place overnight, was disqualified for signing for an incorrect score. It was the only blight on an otherwise memorable championship, especially for Groves, the leading playing in the USGA and R&A sanctioned World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) ratings.

“It’s fantastic. I’m going to go home very proud of myself, celebrate with my friends and family. It will be really good,” said Groves who has Erb’s Palsy which leaves him with 20 percent strength in his left arm after a medical accident during birth.

“The putts went in. The greens are very, very hard to read. They are very quick. They are the quickest greens I’ve found all year, and I knew it would be a struggle coming in today and yesterday. Feels incredible, and I’m just happy to get the win.

Winner by three strokes ?@georgegroves21 is the @edgagolf Dubai Finale champion!#DPWTC pic.twitter.com/GimlUukHFY

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 23, 2019

“Being in Dubai and playing in the final was unbelievable, I wouldn’t mind coming here and playing golf again, that’s for sure. The European Tour has been fantastic with us and given us all immense support. They have treated us like true professionals like they would with the big stars on the tour. It’s incredible that they invited us over to play on the same course and same conditions, it was a very good experience.”

George Groves with Ismail Sharif (left) and Khalid Al Awar (right) at the prize-giving.

Danny van Otterdijk, SVP Group Communications at DP World said: “Congratulations to George for winning the EDGA Dubai Finale and well done to the rest of the field who really animated the tournament this weekend.

“We’ve seen some fantastic golf and DP World, together with the European Tour, are privileged to have hosted the EDGA players alongside the pros competing in the DP World Tour Championship this year.

“Inclusion sits at the heart of DP World’s values and is integral to both our business and our sponsorships. One of the main objectives of our golf programme is to inspire people of all ages, backgrounds, genders and abilities to get involved in the game. We believe this tournament has done exactly that.”

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