Rick Bevan talks exclusively to Dubai-resident Adri Arnaus about life back on the HotelPlanner Tour and the mental resilience needed to succeed in golf at the top level.
Golf, by nature, is a game of disappointments. You lose far more than you win, and at the top level the competition is so fierce that just retaining player privileges is a stern challenge. Add to that the physical demands of a sport where Tour pros play an average of 108 holes a week — plus countless hours on the range — and it’s no surprise injuries and time off become part of the deal.
Dubai-resident Adri Arnaus has experienced all of that. A standout amateur in Spain and former Texas A&M star, Arnaus made an immediate impact after turning professional. He won the Challenge Tour Grand Final in Ras Al Khaimah in 2018, earning instant promotion to the DP World Tour. A top-50 finish in his rookie season was followed by steady improvement, peaking with an emotional win on home soil at the Catalunya Championship in 2022 and a place inside the top 25 on the Race to Dubai.
But the rise stalled. Injury disrupted his rhythm in 2023 and, trying to get to grips with enforced swing changes last season, he narrowly missed out on retaining his DP World Tour card for 2025.
Now, he’s back where it all began — the Challenge Tour, rebranded this season as the HotelPlanner Tour — but with a new mindset, a more compact swing, and a quiet confidence that better days lie ahead.
“I’ve been putting in a lot of work over the last year,” says Arnaus when we catch up following his fourth-place finish in the UAE Challenge at Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club. “After the injury, I had to restructure my swing — which is easier said than done. I’ve focused on simplifying it. I swing it fast, so a more compact move helps me stay in control. Add in the short game and putting work, and I feel like I’m heading in the right direction.”
He’s also evolved mentally. That mindset shift has roots in a Joe Dispenza seminar he attended in the offseason ahead of his DP World Tour campaign last year as his comeback from injury continued. The focus was on staying present, clear-headed, and grounded through meditation. It’s a process-driven approach that suits Arnaus.
“I try to bring out the best version of myself every day,” he says. “If I’m 1% better than yesterday, I’m doing my job. It’s about taking one shot at a time and staying in the moment.”
That calm clarity has been essential. He admits last year was a grind — a search for form that never quite clicked. But he never lost belief.
“Golf can be brutal when things aren’t going your way. The days get long. But I’ve always tried to learn from the tough times and make smarter decisions moving forward.”
He knows the road back to the top isn’t easy. The standard on the HotelPlanner Tour is higher than ever.
“Even back in 2018, it was tough to win out here. Now, it’s even deeper. The young guys are fearless and so well prepared. You’ve got to be sharp every single week.”
Playing at home — both in Spain and now in Dubai — brings an added comfort. Arnaus has been based in the UAE for several years, and he and his wife, Cristina, now consider it home.
“We’ve built a great group of friends here, almost like a second family,” he says. “We’re even thinking of staying during the summer now between events. It just feels right.”
Off the course, he keeps things active — gym sessions, watching La Liga with mates, and, like many members of Dubai golf community, plenty of padel. He recently joined Emirates Golf Club and now hits the fairways five or six times a week when not on Tour, mixing it up with Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai Creek, or the occasional round in Abu Dhabi.
“I’ve changed my approach this year,” he says. “I’m playing more, keeping sharp between events. Emirates has been really welcoming — it’s part of our daily routine now.”
And while he’s at ease with where he is, he’s also clear on where he wants to go.
“I don’t want to feel like I belong on the HotelPlanner Tour forever,” he says. “The goal is to get a couple of wins and earn one of those cards. The points system now has changed slightly and you really need to go low on Sundays when you have the chance and maximise those opportunities.
“That’s the plan — take the chances when they come and make it count.”
With his game trending in the right direction and his mindset locked in, don’t be surprised to see Arnaus back on the DP World Tour sooner rather than later.
