Scotland’s David Drysdale admits he needs to be displaying closer to home the form that helped him retain his Tour card with his best finish in nearly two years at the Perth International.
Drysdale is celebrating a near 20,000 mile round trip ‘Down Under’ coming out on top in retaining his Tour card with a share of fourth place in Perth, Australia.
Drysdale ended his 13th season on a lucky note with a final round 71 for an 11-under par tally on the Lake Karrinyup course in Perth, Australia.
David Drysdale admits he needs to be more consistent season-long after retaining his Tour card(Photo – Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)
Dane Thornbjorn Olesen recovered from a shaky start to his inward nine and hang on to win a second Tour title by three shots with a last day 71 for a 17-under par total.
Ryder Cup winning rookie Victor Dubuisson warmed-up for the start later this week of the Tour’s Final Four Series with a storming 66 and second place on 14-under par.
Drysdale arrived in the world’s remotest capital city lying 116th on the Race to Dubai money list and needing a top-10 finish to retain his Tour card.
And the 39-year old did that in style holing a 30-foot birdie putt at the last to pick up 13 places and end his season 103rd on the money list.
“I am still shaking from that putt on the last,” he said.
“It was not the best of days as I struggled a bit but standing in the fairway on the last faced with 202 yards into the wind and a 3-iron in my hand thinking I had to get up and down to have a chance….especially with Pavan, with his name on the board, Kim and Matthew Nixon all in the mix.
“So to see that putt drop on the last was unbelievable. I came here thinking I had to finish seventh would be enough to keep my card but then a few guys behind me on the money list were playing well, so I’m delighted to hold onto my card.”
Drydale’s Perth result was his best in nearly two years since finishing third in the January 2012 Joburg Open.
But then Drysdale, who is still without a win in 344 Tour events, knows he needs to start producing efforts like he has in far off Australia more often closer to home and not leave it to his final event to secure Tour membership.
“The situation I faced this week is not where you want to be because it’s not just one week coming here and saying what you need to do to hold onto your card,” he added.
“It’s the whole season and I know I should not be in this position knowing the golf I can play and the stuff I can produce when my back is against the wall.
“So I need to recreate this week’s performance all year round.
“But for now I’m going to have a few beers before catching the flight home and then take a few weeks off before heading back to South Africa early in December.”
Also celebrating holding onto his Tour card is Bridge of Allan’s Craig Lee who shot a last day 71 to end in a share of 53rd and moved up one place to end his third full Tour season 108th on the moneyh list.
However it was disappointment for Fifer Peter Whiteford who is headed to next month’s Q-School after slumping to a share of 35th place on three under par.
Whiteford took with the lead on Friday after a pair of opening 66s but slumped horribly over the weekend with rounds of 75 and 78.
It is the first time since 2009 Whiteford has failed to retain full automatic Tour membership.
And Paul Lawrie, who also did not compete in Perth, ends his 23rd Tour season 118th on the money list but retains his card given his 25th standing and well inside the top-40 all-time and fully exempt money earners.
