Scottish quartet on Fire with strong starts in Dubai

Two days after St Andrew’s Day, the Saltire is prominent on the leaderboard in the inaugural Golf in Dubai Championship after Craig Howie, Marc Warren, Bob MacIntyre and Grant Forrest all produced strong starts in the UAE.

Marc Warren plays his tee shot on the 18th hole during day one of the Golf in Dubai Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates . Picture: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

In a low-scoring opening round on the Fire Course at Jumeirah Estates, where the season-ending DP World Tour Championship takes place on the neighbouring Earth Course next week, the Scottish quartet all went deep into red figures in the afternoon wave.

In his first competitive outing in Dubai, Peebles man Howie and Glaswegian Warren both came home in 30, albeit on different halves, as they carded eight-under-par 64s to sit just three shots behind leader Andy Sullivan in joint-fifth.

Oban man MacIntyre and Haddington-based Forrest are also handily-placed, lying in a tie for 12th after they signed for matching 66s, both made up of two halves of 33.

“I’m obviously really pleased with that and being bogey-free is always good,” said Howie of his effort, which was illuminated by an eagle at the par-5 seventh - his 16th hole - after finding the heart of the green with a 4-iron.

“Overall, it was pretty solid and really stress-free, which is helpful. I was plodding along around the turn not doing much, but then caught fire on my back nine.

“I have never played in Dubai before. This is my first time here. The course is obviously score-able and I feel very comfortable on it.”

The 26-year-old is still on the Challenge Tour but finished fourth behind Warren in the co-sanctioned Austrian Open in July before recording another top-five effort in the UK Championship, a full main tour event, at The Belfry in August.

“I don’t get a whole lot of opportunities on the main tour, so you have to make them count when you do get to play and I’ve been fortunate to do that a couple of times this season,” he added.

Warren, who has already secured his spot in next week’s Rolex Series event along with MacIntyre, made his score with a burst of five straight birdies on the back nine after being one-over early on.

“It was obviously good out there today, especially after five weeks at home and not really playing much golf due to the weather,” said the 39-year-old, who returned to winning ways after a six-year drought with that success in Austria.

“I was expecting a little bit of rust early on and parred the first then bogeyed the second and then it was plain sailing after that.

“I gave myself a lot of chances, felt I stayed patient on the front nine and then got the rewards with a really strong back nine.

“I had seen Andy’s score before I went out and tried not to go chasing it because those rounds don’t come around too often. Eight-under-par is an ideal start for me and patience was the key.”

MacIntyre, who is riding on the crest of a wave after his breakthrough win on the European circuit in last month’s Cyprus Showdown, signed for nine birdies.“I’m happy enough,” said the left-hander afterwards. “I’m swinging it great and the putter is good as well. I’m throwing it at pins because I feel like I’m swinging it great. I just have to keep continuing to do that and see where we end up.”

As he bids to break into the world’s top 50 by the end of the year, MacIntyre feels he is really starting to benefit from adopting a different mindset to when he was crowned as European Tour Rookie of the Year just over 12 months ago at the same venue

“Last year I was always talking about winning a golf tournament, this year I’ve taken my mind off winning tournaments and letting it happen,” he said.

“Thankfully it did. When I came back from injury (at the start of the season), I thought I’d lost my game a little bit. It took me a wee while to find my feet again but it feels unbelievable when you do (win). It just takes a monkey off your back.”

Forrest was also pleased with his day’s work, which included an eagle at the par-5 13th, as well as six birdies as he bids to jump into the top 60 in the Race to Dubai on Saturday night to join Warren and MacIntyre in the season finale.“I’m happy with the start as nny time you start a tournament with six-under-par is good,” said the 27-year-old, who sits 75th in the standings.

“There’s some low scoring out there, but, at the same time, there’s plenty of trouble around the greens if you miss in the wrong places as the pins are tucked away.

“It’s about staying patient and I rolled a few good putts in out there today. The greens are pretty pure so, if you give yourself enough chances, you are going to make a few and the par-5s are quite gettable as well.

“I probably need a top-five to get into next week and that is going to take a low score judging by the scoring today.

“I’m happy with the way I played today and it’s about letting it happen rather than trying to force things.”

Two-time Omega Dubai Desert Classic champion Stephen Gallacher fared next best among the Scots with a three-under-69 in the morning, when Euan Walker also broke par with his 71.

On a day when no less than 73 players ended up in red figures, Ewen Ferguson and Daniel Young had to settle for par-72s and now face a fight to make the cut along with Liam Johnston (73).

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