Carpet work gets Pamela Feggans holing more putts again

Published on Wednesday 8 December 2010 17:20

PAMELA Feggans made an encouraging start in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, helped by the practice she's been doing on her putting on the carpet at home in Ayrshire.

The 28-year-old from Patna shot a one-under-par 71 at The Emirates to sit in the top 20, four shots behind leader Florentyna Parker of England, after the opening round in the final event of the Ladies' European Tour season.

Feggans, who is lying 113th on the Henderson Money List - the lowest of the six Scots in this week's field - and needs a big performance to retain her card for next season, had five birdies in her round.

"My putting has been so much better this week. I've struggled a lot with my putting but today I had 26 putts, which was good," she said.

"I've been working a lot on my stroke at home on the carpet because it is hard when it's winter greens. And I came out a week early here, so I've been doing a lot of drills."

Feggans, who is playing in Dubai for the first time this week, was pleased the way she bounced back from a double-bogey 5 at the short fourth - her 13th hole.

"My tee shot was plugged big time in a bunker and I didn't get out the first time. But I managed to keep my head, made a good par save on the next hole and played okay on the way in," added the Scot.

"I'm excited to be here this week and a top ten would be great."

Fifer Krystle Caithness managed just one birdie in her 75, a shot fewer than three of her fellow Scots - Vikki Laing, Lynn Kenny and Carly Booth - with Kylie Walker two strokes further adrift.

Parker, a 21-year-old who is based in Hamburg, set a blistering pace as she opened with five birdies in seven holes on the Majlis course.

She leads by a shot from Russia's Maria Verchenova, who is playing the tournament on an invitation.

In the battle to be European No 1, South African Lee-Ann Pace (73) is two shots ahead of Laura Davies.

The English player blamed a lack of sleep after receiving a late night phone call.

"I felt a bit rough yesterday; I didn't play particularly well, and so I was hoping for a good night's sleep," said Davies.

"But I got a phone call at one o'clock this morning and, unfortunately, could not go back to sleep.

"You do not like to make excuses, but from the word go, I was in trouble out there. I did really well to shoot level on the front, and then made a ridiculous double-bogey on ten and then it was a real struggle. To be honest, three-over is not a bad effort."