Richie Ramsay '˜really impressed' by European Tour newcomer Bob MacIntyre

Bob MacIntyre tees off at the third on his way to a two-under 70 in the opening round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Picture: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Inages

Playing together in the opening round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship that saw Irishman Shane Lowry storm into a three-shot lead with a course record-equalling 10-under-par 62, the pair carded matching 70s, with MacIntyre’s encouraging effort in the UAE coming on his debut in a Rolex Series event.

On a day when Scott Jamieson fared best among the eight Scots in the field with a 69, the left-hander carded five birdies as he took up where he’d left off when finishing joint-15th in both the South African Open and Alfred Dunhill Championship in his final two events in 2018.

“It was good to play with Bob - a fellow Scot and also someone a bit younger than me,” Ramsay, a three-time European Tour winner, told The Scotsman. “I said to Bro (Ramsay’s caddie) that I couldn’t remember the last time I had played with a younger Scottish guy out here - it’s been way over five years probably.

Richie Ramsay was pleased with his start in his first outing since the Valderrama Masters last October. Picure: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

“I was really impressed. He’s got the game - and this might sound funny - that you need for the future. He hits the ball a good distance and is pretty straight. He putts good and seems quite free. He’s still got a lot of feel. He’s not bogged down in the mechanics of the swing.”

While a tad disappointed that a three-putt had denied him a closing birdie, MacIntyre was pleased overall with his opening day’s work in 2019, having headed into this event sitting 29th in the Race to Dubai on the back of making three cuts out of his opening four events of the new season.

“My patience was probably the thing that pleased me most today,” he declared. “To come back after four of five weeks off and be able to show that was good. It’s tight round here, so you are not going to produce perfect shots all the time. It’s about hitting the middle of the green at a lot of holes and then trying to take your chance when you hit a good one.”

While Liam Johnston, another of the Scottish newcomers on the circuit this season, has the vastly-experienced Ken Herring on his bag, MacIntyre is enjoying the challenge of learning about new courses with a fellow 22-year-old, Irishman Greig Milne. “It’s not often you get two rookies coming out on the European Tour, but we are working well together,” said MacIntyre.

Scott Jamieson fared best of the eight Scots in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship with a three-under 69. Picture: Warren Little/Getty Images

Ramsay’s par-breaking start at Abu Dhabi Golf Club came in his first competitive outing since digging deep in the final regular event of last season - the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama - to hang on to his card for an 11th successive season.

“I’m more than happy with two-under,” declared the Aberdonian, who dropped his only shot of the day at the 16th. “It is probably the longest break I’ve ever had but, as much as I like planning, execution and doing all the right things, sometimes you’ve just got to get away.

“My head needed a break. That was the biggest thing for me at the end of last season, having already felt a bit tired at the start of it. It’s not just one season. It’s the effect of multiple seasons playing, playing and playing.

“Sometimes getting away from things is the best thing you can do and it was certainly good for me. You build up a bit of scar tissue over the years, but my mind is a bit free now and I just need to maintain a level of confidence and belief that I have just now.”

Jamieson started strongly by picking up three birdies in the first four holes and had got it to four-under before dropping a shot at the ninth - his final hole - after finding water off the tee.

“I played really well on my front nine but didn’t drive it as well on the back nine,” said the Glaswegian, who finished joint-third in his first outing of the new season in the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa last month.

“I’ve not had a good finish here but, if I can keep shooting three-under par this week then I’ll be pretty happy.”

David Drysdale and Grant Forrest joined Jamieson, MacIntyre and Ramsay in red figures, though Drysdale was bitterly disappointed to undo some good work, notably a run of three straight birdies just after the turn, with a double-bogey 7 at the 18th.

“That was a dreadful finish,” he admitted. “My drive left me with only 215 yards to the green but, unfortunately, it was up against a rock in the desert and I then got greedy with my third shot from a bunker. It was the easiest 7 you could ever make.”

Grant Forrest also opened with a 71, holing a 25-footer for a bogey at the third - his 12th - to give himself a “bit of a momentum boost” before picking up two birdies in the last three holes.

“It was a bit up and down,” said the Craigielaw player. “It’s not the best golf I’ve played but I dug in and I was pleased with my patience and attitude out there.”

Johnston, a two-time winner on the Challenge Tour last year, lit up his first Rolex Series round with an eagle-3 at the tenth only to then drop three shots in the next two holes as he opened with a 73.

“I hit a 5-wood from 266 yards to five feet - my best shot of the day - for the eagle but then put the handbrake on the next two holes,” said the Dumfries man. “My score was a fair one as my game wasn’t at its best I got it round okay.”

Stephen Gallacher dropped four shots in three holes from the 12th as he had to settle for a 74, one better than David Law, who felt “rusty” in an event he feels has “come a week too early” for him.